Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Hebrews 6:6 explained | Hebrews | John Reformed | 42806 | ||
Dear Tim, You provided two examples of God providentialy saving people. The Ethiopian eunuch and the dear lady that you ministered to. But Tim, you cannot say that all people everywhere over all of time have been given an opportunity to recieve Christ. I used to wonder at God's choice of Israel as His people. Why did He choose one remote tribe out of all the tribes throughout the globe? That does'nt seem fair. Why did He command His chosen people to completely annihilate the Caaninite tribes? That's euthenasia. They were not even given an opportunity to surrender or repent. That does'nt seem fair. Why did He love Jacob but hate Esau, even before they were born? that does'nt seem fair. When Jesus preached in parables to the people, why did He explain their meaning to the disciples but deliberately withold the explanation to the crowds? Was that fair? When He called Saul, He did so in an overwhelmingly miraculous display of His power but most others are called by the "foolishness of preaching" and that isn't fair either. Millions have died without the benefit of a preacher by their side to proclaim the gospel. Was that fair? How many Ethiopians died while the eunuch was still travelling home? If He miraculously transported Phillip then, He certainly could provide witnesses of the Gospel to all of mankind by divine power. What of the people of India or China of the First century? Do we have any eviedence from the past of budding churches in New Guinea or Siberia. NO we do not. NOT FAIR! If we can be saved apart from Gospel by the witness of nature and the LAW of God written on all human hearts, then we can be saved apart from th knowledge of the cross of Jesus Christ. There is no escaping the facts. If one accuses Calvinists of preaching an unfair doctrine of election because it does not include the abiliy of man to choose salvation for himself, then the Arminian must prove conclusively that all men have an equal opportunity to hear the Gospel. Otherwise God would have been unfair! We could also dispense with Matt 1:21... "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He WILL save His people from their sins." We must sadly conclude that He tried His best but unfortunately most all of them turned away and foiled His plan. Your Brother in Christ, John Reformed |
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2 | Hebrews 6:6 explained | Hebrews | Morant61 | 42809 | ||
Greetings John! Why did God choose Israel over other nations? Why did God choose Jacob over Easu? Paul answers these questions in Rom. 11:28-32: "As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all." God's plan in everything He did, every choice He made, was to extend mercy to everyone. Did everyone have a preacher? No! But, everyone has had the Holy Spirit drawing them. If they responded to that, God was more than able to provide them with the Gospel - just like with the Ethiopian. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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3 | Hebrews 6:6 explained | Hebrews | John Reformed | 42888 | ||
Brother Tim, "God's plan in everything He did, every choice He made, was to extend mercy to everyone." I agree Tim, God does offer mercy to all, however it must be pursued through faith. Unredeemed mankind are incapable of faith because they are dead in sin. God extends to those who are being saved the gift of faith and this is a purely gracious act on His part. I cannot accept the unscriptural notion that man is not so dead that he cannot make a positive response to the gospel. I believe that the redeemed are born again by the will of God, and not by the will of man. Thanks for your thoughts, but we are diametricaly opposed on the soverignty of God and the sinful condition of man. I can see why it takes God's enlightenment to change a persons doctrine. Brother John |
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4 | Hebrews 6:6 explained | Hebrews | Morant61 | 42926 | ||
Greetings John! I could have told you that we saw things differently before we started! ;-) But, thanks for the discussion my friend! As I stated before, even though we disagree, both Calvinism and Arminianism are within the veil of orthodox Christianity. Though we may not see things exactly the same, we serve the same God. I look forward to interacting with you on other issues! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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5 | Hebrews 6:6 explained | Hebrews | John Reformed | 42950 | ||
Dear Tim, Because of my belief in the preordination by God of all things, I am certain that our conversation has not been for naught. For He is pleased to use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. God Bless, John |
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