People do not receive the Holy Spirit until they hear and believe the gospel (Eph 1:13).
Doctrine of Unconditional Election
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Try?
The slur slingers are apparently those who think holding to the Gospel is exclusively Calvinistic.
That doesn't offend me. Limited knowledge is only offensive when someone refuses to learn they're wrong.
Most I've encountered who accuse Calvinist don't actually know what Calvinists believe.
Actually, I understand John 1:12 in light of John 1:13.
[Jhn 1:13 KJV] 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
You have to read all of Ephesians 1and in context of Jesus' Gospel.
For instance, this part of chapter 1 that surrounds the single verse you posted.
''11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.''
Again, the whole chapter reading is best.
Thank you. God bless you as well.
Okay. But how do you square your belief that if someone does anything at all then it
cannot be grace? Since being born again is contingent upon receiving and believing?
Were you forced to believe? Did you have any choice in the matter?
No, being born again is not contingent upon receiving and believing. I think that just the opposite is
true - that God alone makes certain of us born-again, and by that, comes a true belief in Christ.
No one has a choice as whether they become saved/born-again or not. It is solely by God's sovereign
will, prerogative and good pleasure alone that it happens.
Those whom God saves contribute nothing to it and are only beneficiaries.
That is why Jesus Christ has the title of Saviour and we do not - and why I said that should we have to do anything whatsoever
to receive grace (then by that prerequisite) it cannot be grace.
[Rom 11:5,6 KJV]
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
My point is God hardens men with the Gospel, and then justly condemns them. When God hardens, its judicial and just and its for destruction Joshua 11:20
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Yes the natural man fits himself for destruction because God is fitting him for destruction. All men are born sinners ripe for destruction by nature, even the elect are by nature children of wrath as others Eph 2:3
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
So without the intervening Grace of God, the elect also fit themselves for wrath and destruction. God could have hardened them as well if He so pleased and would have been just.
So the non elect natural man cannot but fit himself for destruction since God has already created him for that purpose. Gods Eternal purpose causes our actions.
Ate you calling God a liar? God said he would destroy them in forty days. That’s what he said. Don’t change a word to fit a certain narrative.
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
As a matter of fact, I'm not a sheep. Sheep were of the household of Israel. I'm a Gentile. Remember to rightly divide the word of truth. Paul never calls believers sheep. You find that before the cross as a reference to Israel. And neither is that passage concerning other sheep I have. Nope, not Gentiles either.
Do you believe the book of Jonah is true?
Eph 1:13 - The "YE" in this verse pertains to "the faithful in Christ Jesus" Eph 1:1.
Acts 16:30-31 - "Saved" in these two verses, according to Strong's concordance, means "delivered". The natural man, (1 Cor 2:14), before he has been quickened to the new spiritual life (Eph 2) will not ask "how can I be saved", as he cannot discern the things of the Spirit, and thinks them to be foolishness. Only God's sheep (those who have been born again) can hear and believe (John 10:25-29) When a newborn babe in Christ has matured enough to believe the gospel, he is delivered (not eternally, but here in time.) from his ignorance
Rom 10:9 - Same explanation as Acts 16:30-31.
John 3:16 - The "world" is "the world of believers", Do the following verses refer to the same world that God loves in John 3:16?
John 14:17 - Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seerh him not, neither knoweth him.
John 15:18-19 - If the world hateth you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own, but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world
hateth you.
John 16:19-20 - Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me, and again, a little while ye shall see me? Verly, Verly, I say unto you, That ye shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice, and
ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
This is the world of John 3:16: John 17:6-9 - I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou has given me are of thee, for I have given unto them the words which thou hast given me, and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them, I PRAY NOT FOR THE WORLD, but for them thou hast given me, for they are thine.
Do you have more?
You must add to or take away from the word of God to prove your theology...not good.
Yes, Ephesians 1:13 is a reference to those faithful believers but before they were saved. Paul's explaining how they first heard the word, believed the word, then were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Acts 16:31, the man is asking how to be saved, delivered from sins and have everlasting life.
John 3:16, you must add to the word of God to make it fit your theology.
Calvin was a RCC priest who was a murderer. I suggest you flee his theology.
Here is what you said:
You gave your Calvinism interpretation of them. "Calvinist" and "correct" are not synonyms.
The Ethiopian eunuch was already born again, evidenced that he was on his way to Jerusalem for to worship. Believing is a product of already having been born again. In your study of the scriptures, keep in mind that saved, according to Strong's concordance, means delivered. A born again child of God, when he believes, is delivered from his ignorance of the gospel.
Sorry ForestGreenCook, he was not already saved. He was going to worship the God of the OT, the God of the Jews. He was reading the OT scriptures but had no understanding of who Jesus was. He needed someone to teach him who already had understanding. Philip had the Holy Spirit, but not the Eunuch. Once the Eunuch heard the truth about Jesus, he believed. Nothing whatsoever in the passage leads one to believe otherwise. It is not wise to read a man made theology into the scriptures, instead, leave it for what it says.