rolleyes ... a distinction without a difference.
Final point I made from the post you quoted: The point is that God's Word spoken from the lips of the believer is one of the means God uses to draw people to Himself.
The angel told the apostles Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life (Acts 5:20).
who goes? ... believers
who speaks? ... believers
Who gives the increase when the words spoken are believed? ... God
Even the section of Scripture we were discussing states Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man (1 Cor 3:5).
Does that mean Paul and Apollos were in any way, shape, or form responsible for the salvation of those to whom they spoke? No! Paul clarifies neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase (1 Cor 3:7).
What was happening in the church at Corinth was division among the believers and there were contentions because people were following men instead of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:11-13). Because they were following men rather than the Lord, their spiritual growth and maturity was stunted. In 1 Cor 3:1, Paul stated I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. According to 1 Cor 2:1, with most of the believers at Corinth Paul could not go beyond Christ and Him crucified (the gospel), which is just the beginning of the new life afforded to the believer. In 1 Cor 3:2-3, Paul stated they were carnal ... unable to feed on the meat of the Word.
Throughout all of Scripture ... from Genesis to Revelation ... God "employs human agency to share the gospel". That is a method God is pleased to utilize.
God tells us we are laborers together with Him. What an awesome privilege/responsibility.
And of course it is God Who does all ... from giving the believer the words to speak to the unbeliever to bringing the unbeliever from death to life!!! I don't even know why you felt the need to state "man's part in salvation is insignificant" as if I or anyone else who has posted in this thread has stated otherwise.
Salvation is wholly by, of, through God's grace.
Read the section in Romans 1 again, Cameron143 ... and start with vs 16. Alot of folks read from vs 18 without even considering what is written in the verses just before God discusses the consequence of unbelief.
Romans 1:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it [the gospel of Christ] is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein [the gospel of Christ] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
It is the gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe. Then God goes on to reveal the consequence of suppressing the truth in unrighteousness:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [Greek = katechō] the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse
They are without excuse because God has shown to them that which may be known of God ... but, according to vs 18, they suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
In vs 18, the words "who hold" are translated from the Greek word katechō which means to suppress, restrain ... katechō is in the present tense which indicates that ungodly men and women are continually, actively, willfully (active voice), deliberately restraining, hindering and withholding the truth about God. The active voice indicates this is a volitional choice, a choice of their will.
As I have stated many, many times ... God has provided all that mankind needs in order for mankind to come to Him when He reaches out to us ... and I believe God reaches out to each and every person more than once in his or her lifetime. God always makes the first move ...
for those who do not suppress the truth in unrighteousness, they reap the blessing and benefit as stated by God
for those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, they reap the consequence as stated by God
.
Final point I made from the post you quoted: The point is that God's Word spoken from the lips of the believer is one of the means God uses to draw people to Himself.
The angel told the apostles Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life (Acts 5:20).
who goes? ... believers
who speaks? ... believers
Who gives the increase when the words spoken are believed? ... God
Even the section of Scripture we were discussing states Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man (1 Cor 3:5).
Does that mean Paul and Apollos were in any way, shape, or form responsible for the salvation of those to whom they spoke? No! Paul clarifies neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase (1 Cor 3:7).
What was happening in the church at Corinth was division among the believers and there were contentions because people were following men instead of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:11-13). Because they were following men rather than the Lord, their spiritual growth and maturity was stunted. In 1 Cor 3:1, Paul stated I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. According to 1 Cor 2:1, with most of the believers at Corinth Paul could not go beyond Christ and Him crucified (the gospel), which is just the beginning of the new life afforded to the believer. In 1 Cor 3:2-3, Paul stated they were carnal ... unable to feed on the meat of the Word.
Throughout all of Scripture ... from Genesis to Revelation ... God "employs human agency to share the gospel". That is a method God is pleased to utilize.
God tells us we are laborers together with Him. What an awesome privilege/responsibility.
And of course it is God Who does all ... from giving the believer the words to speak to the unbeliever to bringing the unbeliever from death to life!!! I don't even know why you felt the need to state "man's part in salvation is insignificant" as if I or anyone else who has posted in this thread has stated otherwise.
Salvation is wholly by, of, through God's grace.
Read the section in Romans 1 again, Cameron143 ... and start with vs 16. Alot of folks read from vs 18 without even considering what is written in the verses just before God discusses the consequence of unbelief.
Romans 1:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it [the gospel of Christ] is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein [the gospel of Christ] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
It is the gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe. Then God goes on to reveal the consequence of suppressing the truth in unrighteousness:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [Greek = katechō] the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse
They are without excuse because God has shown to them that which may be known of God ... but, according to vs 18, they suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
In vs 18, the words "who hold" are translated from the Greek word katechō which means to suppress, restrain ... katechō is in the present tense which indicates that ungodly men and women are continually, actively, willfully (active voice), deliberately restraining, hindering and withholding the truth about God. The active voice indicates this is a volitional choice, a choice of their will.
As I have stated many, many times ... God has provided all that mankind needs in order for mankind to come to Him when He reaches out to us ... and I believe God reaches out to each and every person more than once in his or her lifetime. God always makes the first move ...
for those who do not suppress the truth in unrighteousness, they reap the blessing and benefit as stated by God
for those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, they reap the consequence as stated by God
.
