Results 1 - 14 of 14
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | mark d seyler | 164411 | ||
Is this invitation open to everyone? | ||||||
2 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | ebrain | 164416 | ||
It is addressed to all christians, who are finding living the christian life very hard indeed. Paul himself had problems see Romans Ch 7 v 14 to Ch 8 v 8. As Jesus said "Without me you can do nothing" John 15:5. |
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3 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | mark d seyler | 164418 | ||
Hi Ebrain, Where in the text does Jesus qualify His words to only include those who were Christians (which word had not even been coined yet)? Love in Christ, Mark |
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4 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | ebrain | 164446 | ||
Becomming a christian does not require the abandonment of common sense, reason and logic. Our Lord knew full well that belivers even after 2000 years would still have the same problem of how to live the christian life. What is required here, and elseware is spiritual insight, and not just not acedemic knowledge. Yours in Christ. Edwin. |
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5 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | mark d seyler | 164449 | ||
Hi Edwin, So if I understand you correctly, you are saying that this invitation, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." is given to believers only. Is that correct? And He is not inviting non-believers? Is that what you are saying? If so, what I am asking you is how would we know that this invitation is other than a general invitation? Love in Christ, Mark |
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6 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | ebrain | 164471 | ||
Here we have yet another example of quoting Scripture verses out of context, you must also read vs 29-30. Here our Lord explains that you are to take His yoke upon you, note it is "My yoke", not our, or your yoke, His yoke, the method He employes to make a heavy burden light. You are told to "Learn from Me", find out how He does it, and you will discover how you can do it. These are spiritual things, and as we are told at 1st Cor 2:14-16, spiritual things are spiritually discerned. The natural man i.e. the non christian is spiritually dead. Please explain to me Mark how a non beliver could possibly understand these verses? How can anyone other than a christian possibly take upon himself the "Yoke of Christ"? Every blessing. Edwin. |
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7 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | mark d seyler | 164481 | ||
Hi Edwin, You ask, How could a non-believer take Christ's yoke? By coming to Christ. Jesus spoke these words to the crowds. To those who believed, and to those who did not. This was a general invitation given to all. And if it is given to all, all are able to come, because God is not a deceiver, inviting men to come to where they cannot possibly go. Love in Christ, Mark |
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8 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | ebrain | 164485 | ||
You say that "all are able to come", if this is the case, please explain John Ch 6 vs 44 and 65, also Matt Ch 19 v 26. Love in Christ. Edwin. |
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9 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | mark d seyler | 164486 | ||
Hi Edwin, Staying with Matt 11:28 for a moment, do you think that this verse means what it says, that as Jesus gives an invitation to "the crowd", that it is a sincere invitation? Do you think that if someone, anyone, picks up the Bible and reads this verse, that Jesus is inviting that person to come to Him? Or do you think that, although this is plainly what it says, that it means something else? Love in Christ, Mark |
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10 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | DocTrinsograce | 164524 | ||
Dear Brother Mark, If you will kindly excuse my interposing here a moment... I think you are mixing up a variety of doctrines. The doctrine of the universal offer of the Gospel does not preclude the doctrine of election. The doctrine of the clarity of the Scripture does not preclude the doctrine of the necessity of the Holy Spirit for men to comprehend it. Blurring the distinctions between these doctrines leads to much of the confusion we have today concerning them. Bruce Demarest writes, "The universal offer of the Gospel is not a sham nor a grand deception, for the reason that ALL who respond affirmatively WILL receive what God has promised. Deception or fraud occurs when what is promised is not given once the terms of the agreement have been properly satisfied." (My emphasis.) Frankly, I know of no Christian theology that fails to recognize the universal offer of the Gospel. (Admittedly, that might be a limitation of my own experience.) John Calvin wrote, "God invites all indiscriminately to salvation through the Gospel, but the ingratitude of the world is the reason why this grace, which is equally offered to all, is enjoyed by few." Later, John Wesley wrote frequently on what he called the "free offer" of the Gospel. I'm also quite puzzled that you would see the Bible as being anything other than a message to God's own people. The Scripture itself is quite specific about its purpose. (For example, we often reference 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which clearly states the purpose of Scripture -- and that purpose is not offered to the lost.) It is so easy in our posts to get far afield! Then the job of discussing our various perspectives becomes so much more difficult. In Him, Doc |
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11 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | mark d seyler | 164544 | ||
Hi Doc, Thank you for making my point for me. This perhaps was my error, but as I read your posts quoting the "Council of Orange", and subsequently, they seemed to me to portray the doctrine of election to the exclusion of the universal offer of the Gospel, and our personal responsibility to receive it. As I questioned you of your beliefs regarding this, your answers, especially in post 164511 seemed to confirm that this was what you believed and wished to express. I would like to suggest that I may not be "mixing up doctrines", which would say that I am perhaps confused, or some such, but that I know that anything the Bible teaches must be in harmony with everything else it teaches. When we promote one doctrine to the exclusion of another doctrine, then it is not a balanced teaching. I do take exception to your quote of Bruce Demarest, in that an offer that cannot be received is not really valid. Let's take for example that you needed a kidney transplant to survive. Now I know that your blood-type does not match mine, and that there is no way that you can accept a transplant from me, yet I offer to you my kidney. That offer would be absolutely meaningless to you. And on my side, I would be offering to you something I know I will never have to give. That would be true if God made an offer of salvation to one who was not able to receive it. That would be a "universal offer" in name only, but without substance. I, of course, argee with you that the Bible was given for the purposes in 2 Tim 3, but I don't beleive that the Bible has no purpose to the unredeemed. If there is absolutely nothing else, it will be the standard by which they are judged on that day, as they are judged according to their works. Their works, that is, against the standard of God's Law, written in His Word. If no one were saved, the Bible would still serve it's purpose. I appreciate your quote of Calvin, that when someone does not receive the offer of salvation, it is because they have rejected it, and not simply because they are unable to received it. It has seemed to me before that you have been saying that there are those who are unable to receive salvation, and that to them it is neither offered nor available. Thank you for clarifying this for me. The fact is, the Bible teaches both things, that we are unable to respond to His call without the work of the Holy Spirit, but also that His offer is freely given, and it is us who either receive or reject. That is why this issue has been debated for centuries, and why we have agreed to not continue that debate here. Thank you for your patience with me, and for clarifying these matters! God bless you brother! Love in Christ, Mark |
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12 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | DocTrinsograce | 164547 | ||
Dear Brother Mark, It is easy to start talking about apples when discussing oranges. After all, they are both fruit! :-) Although we know from Scripture that the Word of God is not necessary to insure the guilt of the lost, and that the Word of God is necessary for the very life of the believer. I admit that "to whom much is given much is required." I'm not sure I'd call both things a "purpose" for each of the parties involved. I will refrain, however, from quibbling. :-) Yes, reformed theology acknowledges the Scriptural doctrine of the full responsibility of the hearer of the Word. God does, indeed, bless me! For which thing I am grateful! I can argue from the Word that this blessing includes His gift of brethren such as you. :-) In Him, Doc PS Why can't I be on the forum all day? These people here at work just don't seem to have their priorities straight! |
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13 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | mark d seyler | 164548 | ||
Hi Doc, There will come a time that I will be able to spend 1000 years with you sharing in the things of the Lord. Let's go now! (Or, when the Lord wills!) :-) Love in Christ, Mark |
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14 | Is this invitation open to everyone? | Matt 11:28 | DocTrinsograce | 164549 | ||
Yeah, but if we only get a 1000 years, when will you get to say anything? :-) | ||||||