Understanding God’s election
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1 Corinthians 4:7b; John 3:27; Romans 9:15-16 What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did also receive it, why do you boast as not having received it? John replied, "A man can receive only that which is given him from heaven." "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then, it does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
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I don't understand the distinction you draw between accepting faith as a gift of God and placed into the possession of its recipients - that being the equivalent of "jamming it down someone's throat"? I don't consider the receiving of such a wonderful gift as that - a gift in the truest sense, doesn't actually become a gift, until it comes into the receiver's possession. Neither do I believe that someone is pre-programmed before birth with faith, but rather, that it comes as a result of spiritual rebirth (being born again) upon salvation.
No one, until born-again and given faith, desires true faith. For to desire it, is to already have it. Faith, by definition, is antithetical to natural man, as it is un-acquirable through the efforts of natural man, it being dependent upon the mercy of God which is far beyond the understanding, power, and inclination of natural man.
Those saved - those whom by salvation are given faith - began from the condition of being dead in sin, unable to obtain true faith, blinded to the gospel. Had they not received it as an unsolicited gift, then they would not have been able to appropriate it at all. Yet, when it is received, it is so with joy unspeakable. Even though, so to speak, a gift "jammed down their throat", once it is received, its recipients become unwilling to forfeit or part with it because with it comes spiritual wisdom to realize what has been given them - the heart also becoming changed. Those to whom it is not given, will not be able to accept its true tenets, nor even desiring to accept them. Those who think they have obtained true faith of themselves - through their own efforts - by that, reveal they still lack true faith and an understanding of true faith.
[2Co 4:3-4 KJV]
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
No one, until born-again and given faith, desires true faith. For to desire it, is to already have it. Faith, by definition, is antithetical to natural man, as it is un-acquirable through the efforts of natural man, it being dependent upon the mercy of God which is far beyond the understanding, power, and inclination of natural man.
Those saved - those whom by salvation are given faith - began from the condition of being dead in sin, unable to obtain true faith, blinded to the gospel. Had they not received it as an unsolicited gift, then they would not have been able to appropriate it at all. Yet, when it is received, it is so with joy unspeakable. Even though, so to speak, a gift "jammed down their throat", once it is received, its recipients become unwilling to forfeit or part with it because with it comes spiritual wisdom to realize what has been given them - the heart also becoming changed. Those to whom it is not given, will not be able to accept its true tenets, nor even desiring to accept them. Those who think they have obtained true faith of themselves - through their own efforts - by that, reveal they still lack true faith and an understanding of true faith.
[2Co 4:3-4 KJV]
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
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You're talking with a foolish angry unteachable one when they label someone a Calvinite.
It's amazing really. Anything not Armenian is Calvinism!
As if John Calvin founded the Reformation. Instead of encapsulating the entirety of the Gospel that was born due to Genesis and the fall.
And no matter how many times you wrote it, that John Calvin's teachings were preceded by others before him, the stubborn bigots don't let it sink in.
And they are bigots make no mistake. They're ignorant, unteachable,hate filled,narrow minded, and bigoted.
But.....God loves them.
They're sure of it as much as they're certain God doesn't know those who are "Calvinites".
How many actual adult Christians do you imagine post here?
Seriously.
Calvinites
It's not even a proper term for those aligned with Calvinism.
It gets old after awhile,do you agree?
It's amazing really. Anything not Armenian is Calvinism!
As if John Calvin founded the Reformation. Instead of encapsulating the entirety of the Gospel that was born due to Genesis and the fall.
And no matter how many times you wrote it, that John Calvin's teachings were preceded by others before him, the stubborn bigots don't let it sink in.
And they are bigots make no mistake. They're ignorant, unteachable,hate filled,narrow minded, and bigoted.
But.....God loves them.
They're sure of it as much as they're certain God doesn't know those who are "Calvinites".How many actual adult Christians do you imagine post here?
Seriously.
Calvinites
It's not even a proper term for those aligned with Calvinism.
It gets old after awhile,do you agree?
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But regeneration precedes faith since the dead have zero ability to repent and believe the gospel. We can know this from Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 when he told this teacher that unless he's born from above he cannot [presently] see (understand) the kingdom of God. Jesus clearly taught that something supernatural must happen to him before he can understand the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Moreover, in this "new birth" or "birth from above|" metaphor, we should understand that just as physical life doesn't begin at birth, likewise spiritual life also begins ('in the womb") at the point of regeneration and one becomes born again upon a true heart-felt belief and confession with the tongue that Jesus is their Lord and Savior.
Moreover, in this "new birth" or "birth from above|" metaphor, we should understand that just as physical life doesn't begin at birth, likewise spiritual life also begins ('in the womb") at the point of regeneration and one becomes born again upon a true heart-felt belief and confession with the tongue that Jesus is their Lord and Savior.
So, now you're going to boast that you found God instead of God finding you? Did not Jesus come into the world to seek the lost, or did he come into the world so that the lost would seek him? When A&E sinned, did they seek God, or did God seek them? Don't you know that it's written that "no one seeks God"?
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me, I will never drive away.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,
but raise them up at the last day." John 6:37-39
The drawing process takes time.
If it were irresistible?
That would not be the case!
Now, on the other hand?
The Rapture?
That can not be resisted!
In a twinkling of an eye - instantly gone!
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone
to come to repentance" 2 Peter 3:9
If no time were needed for a person's volition to make a decision?
It would not be slow in appearance.
We would be just zapped into salvation instantly!
By the way....
Repentance means?
Having a change of mind.
Hence? ................."Volition."
Please don't be slow on getting this.
Don't use your volition to find ways to resist the truth you were just presented.
A TULIP bed is for the dead.
Neither were irresistible supernatural events in your world. Yet, both recipients of God's supernatural grace could not resist God's power.
That is what Romans 8:28 is also saying in the Greek...
"And we (have come to know) know that all things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose"
It takes enduring and maturing to be able to see Romans 8:28 as matter of fact.
............
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Go ahead. Preach that Holy God forces shotgun weddings on the Bride because nobody really chooses Him, breaks His Own covenants with premeditated glee, and demands pre-birth hellfire for all.
Such is the product of the free will you that have been bequeathed.
And I am free to preach otherwise. And I most will.
Such is the product of the free will you that have been bequeathed.
And I am free to preach otherwise. And I most will.
God reveals Jesus when He is done drawing. Not while drawing. For He hands the one who was being drawn by the invisible God,
over to being able to see the physical manifestation of the one who had been drawing him! That is why they come right to Him!
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
John 14:9
That's the teaching of Romans 3:10 and following. Fallen man is predisposed to the avoidance of God. We see this with Adam almost immediately after sin. His inclination was to hide from God.
Further, the corruption of all his faculties is easily seen. In his heart he experienced both shame and fear. These are new emotions. Thus, he experienced the presence of God in a different way in that he hid from God and covered himself. In short, his heart was different, his thoughts were different, and his choices or volition was different.
If you look at the work of God in an individual in salvation, such as in Acts 2:37, you find God working to fix the heart which corrects the thinking. This, in turn, produces God-honoring responses.
Further, the corruption of all his faculties is easily seen. In his heart he experienced both shame and fear. These are new emotions. Thus, he experienced the presence of God in a different way in that he hid from God and covered himself. In short, his heart was different, his thoughts were different, and his choices or volition was different.
If you look at the work of God in an individual in salvation, such as in Acts 2:37, you find God working to fix the heart which corrects the thinking. This, in turn, produces God-honoring responses.