Unable to Believe the “Foolish” Gospel
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That was how I understood your OP which is why I posted what I did because I thought it needed further clarification in that salvation is impossible for man without the grace of God.
God supplies what is needed for man to see the truth and in seeing, what man really prefers, light or dark, is revealed.
God does not decide who believes or who doesn't believe but His promise is to save believers. It is by His determination alone that believers are saved and not by the act of our believing.
People seem to get confused by this. If you say "you have to believe in the Gospel" (which you do for salvation (Rm.1:16), they seem to think you are saying that it's one's own believing that saves them, forgetting it is only because this is what God has determined for believers in His great love and mercy.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The promise is to believers. There are only two types of people in the world, believers and unbelievers. The grace of God does not cause us to be one or the other, His grace reveals which one we are.
God supplies what is needed for man to see the truth and in seeing, what man really prefers, light or dark, is revealed.
God does not decide who believes or who doesn't believe but His promise is to save believers. It is by His determination alone that believers are saved and not by the act of our believing.
People seem to get confused by this. If you say "you have to believe in the Gospel" (which you do for salvation (Rm.1:16), they seem to think you are saying that it's one's own believing that saves them, forgetting it is only because this is what God has determined for believers in His great love and mercy.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The promise is to believers. There are only two types of people in the world, believers and unbelievers. The grace of God does not cause us to be one or the other, His grace reveals which one we are.
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Unto those that believe God and those that might choose to believe God, yet to choose
It is the power of God that has continued on ever since the resurrected Son, Which is the power of God giving new life to (Born again) to each one the tells God from within them, they believe God over all the hype here in this world, still going on today, thanks
Acts 5:38-42
Authorized (King James) Version
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ
It is the power of God that has continued on ever since the resurrected Son, Which is the power of God giving new life to (Born again) to each one the tells God from within them, they believe God over all the hype here in this world, still going on today, thanks
Acts 5:38-42
Authorized (King James) Version
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ
What do you think it is that God's grace gives to a person?
Grace is God's enabling power.
Power to enable those who would otherwise be helpless to do, or choose freely.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s
power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
grace and peace ...........
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OP did you read your own post? You said "Do you really think that people in this hopeless condition are going to be able to choose to believe in Jesus and the Gospel?" Yet here you are 
Did He not find you?
Did He not find you?
You said "Do you really think that people in this hopeless condition
are going to be able to choose to believe in Jesus and the Gospel?"
Yet here you are Did He not find you?
are going to be able to choose to believe in Jesus and the Gospel?"
Yet here you are
Did He not find you?
Jesus and the Gospel on their own, i.e. without God's intervention.
God must provide the faith to believe!
He provides grace and truth first, then after one believes, He provides faith.
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Faith comes from the word and is the word of truth alive and working in ones life. You can't have saving faith prior to being in union with the Word.
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Faith comes from the word and is the word of truth alive and working in ones life. You can't have saving faith prior to being in union with the Word.
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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He can not provide the gift of faith until after the barrier of the flesh's depravity is deactivated.
God's power of Grace turns off the power of the flesh's dominance over our soul.
Then the Word of God (faith) is revealed to the soul after it was made free of the flesh (by grace).
Then the soul, in the freedom just granted it by grace, will decide to accept, or reject, the word of God.
For our "faith" consists of what we believe when hearing the Gospel message.
Our gift of Faith comes by hearing the Word of God!!!!!!
So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard
through the word about Christ." Romans 10:17
Faith is not something God imposes upon us.
Its not something He makes us to have outside of our will.
Faith is something we accepted when the Gospel was presented benevolently.
But, first, before faith can be given?
Grace must shut down the barrier of the depravity of the flesh.
The flesh was what had imprisoned our soul, and prevents man from believing.
Then, and only then.
Our soul is made free to believe... and chooses to do so, or not to.
Grace and peace .........
Here's what I discern about your beliefs. All quotes are Irenaeus' observations of the Valentinian gnostics in Against Heresies book 1, chapter 6. Your quotes are bulleted
Gnostics believed in the total depravity of the material world, and by extension, the flesh
You believe in the total depravity of the flesh
Gnostics believed grace was a spiritual substance or power that descended from above in a mysterious conjunction with the elect that enabled them to receive gnosis that freed them from the total depravity of the material world
You have a similar view of grace
Gnostics believed gnosis freed them from the prison of the material world by awakening them to their spiritual nature
You have a similar view. Replace "word of God" with gnosis. The choosing to do so, or not to, is IMO what the gnostics called practicing the mystery of conjunction, ie, believing gnosis freed them from totally depravity of the material world because they were spiritual in nature
You exude a spiritual superiority over other Christians who you consider to be at a lower level. I have yet to see you exhibit one of the spiritual fruits in Galatians 5:22-23
Gnostics believed in the total depravity of the material world, and by extension, the flesh
"matter is incapable of salvation"
"it is impossible that material substance should partake of salvation (since, indeed, they maintain that it is incapable of receiving it) "
You believe in the total depravity of the flesh
- Grace must shut down the barrier of the depravity of the flesh.
- He can not provide the gift of faith until after the barrier of the flesh's depravity is deactivated.
"For they declare that we [Christians] simply receive grace for use, wherefore also it will again be taken away from us; but that they themselves have grace as their own special possession, which has descended from above by means of an unspeakable and indescribable conjunction; and on this account more will be given them. They maintain, therefore, that in every way it is always necessary for them to practise the mystery of conjunction.
You have a similar view of grace
- Grace is God's enabling power.
- Power to enable those who would otherwise be helpless to do, or choose freely.
- God's power of Grace turns off the power of the flesh's dominance over our soul.
"Wherefore also they maintain that good works are necessary to us [Christians], for that otherwise it is impossible we should be saved. But as to themselves, they hold that they shall be entirely and undoubtedly saved, not by means of conduct, but because they are spiritual by nature."
You have a similar view. Replace "word of God" with gnosis. The choosing to do so, or not to, is IMO what the gnostics called practicing the mystery of conjunction, ie, believing gnosis freed them from totally depravity of the material world because they were spiritual in nature
- The flesh was what had imprisoned our soul, and prevents man from believing.
- Then the Word of God (faith) is revealed to the soul after it was made free of the flesh (by grace).
- Then the soul, in the freedom just granted it by grace, will decide to accept, or reject, the word of God.
- Then, and only then.
- Our soul is made free to believe... and chooses to do so, or not to.
"Animal men, again, are instructed in animal things; such men, namely, as are established by their works, and by a mere faith, while they have not perfect knowledge. We of the Church, they say, are these persons."
"...they run us [Christians] down (who from the fear of God guard against sinning even in thought or word) as utterly contemptible and ignorant persons, while they highly exalt themselves, and claim to be perfect, and the elect seed"
You exude a spiritual superiority over other Christians who you consider to be at a lower level. I have yet to see you exhibit one of the spiritual fruits in Galatians 5:22-23
- It's not always a lovey-dovey God's expression. That was intended for baby Christians.
- Search and pray... Find someone who can teach you the word of God on the same level that Peter, Paul, and John did.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions:
.
“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message:
‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received; freely give. "
Matthew 10:5-8
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message:
‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received; freely give. "
Matthew 10:5-8
.
The book of John?
3:16
5:24
6:40
Romans 10:9-10?
Believing on the Lord Jesus is not a work.
It is.. led by the Holy Spirit.. changing your mind, heart, about Jesus, and entrusting your salvation with Him.
If you believe in salvation before belief, it doesn't mesh with the book of John..plus a whole load of other verses.
A lost person can choose to change their mind about many many things. But you say they can't believe on Jesus Christ?
I understand some verses that include the word save and deliverance arent about eternal salvation because already converted people are being addressed, but that doesn't cover all verses about believing on Jesus Christ for eternal life.
3:16
5:24
6:40
Romans 10:9-10?
Believing on the Lord Jesus is not a work.
It is.. led by the Holy Spirit.. changing your mind, heart, about Jesus, and entrusting your salvation with Him.
If you believe in salvation before belief, it doesn't mesh with the book of John..plus a whole load of other verses.
A lost person can choose to change their mind about many many things. But you say they can't believe on Jesus Christ?
I understand some verses that include the word save and deliverance arent about eternal salvation because already converted people are being addressed, but that doesn't cover all verses about believing on Jesus Christ for eternal life.