Results 1 - 2 of 2
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is hearing necessary for salvation? | Rom 10:17 | John Reformed | 77616 | ||
Dear Disciplerami, You wrote: Paul said, "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."...We both believe the truthfulness of this statement, but difference we have is how did those "saved" get into the saved column; because they too were at one time in the "perishing" column." -------------------------------------------------- The problem, as I see it (for those who deny original sin and God's freedom to save only those which, for His own good pleasure, He has chosen to save), is that sinners who desire Christ have something that those who do not desire Him, but reject the gospel lack. Namely, the desire to turn from sin and seek that righteousness that is found in Christ alone. Sure, the world is filled with untold millions of guilt ridden people who desire to be set free from their bondage. But, rather than admit their hopeless condition, they turn to psychiatry, 12 step programs, pagan religions etc. Anything is preferrable to surrendering to their Creator, even though they know the truth through natural revelation i.e., the witness of creation itself! They refuse to surrender their immagined autonomy and will go to any legnth to banish the very thought of Him from their minds. Even to the point of murdering His prophets, His people and His Son. For many christians the proclamation of the gospel, appealing to reason and emotion, and the witness of personal godliness in our own walk is the answer to "how to win souls for Christ". Don't get me wrong! I am all for doing just that, as often and for as many lost sinners as God places in our path. Where I differ is on the basis by which these "methods" bear fruit unto salvation. I reject the notion that it is the "free will" of the natural (unregenerate) man that makes the differece between eternal life an eternal death. John 3:16 states "whosoever" believes. My question is, where does the desire to place one's faith in Christ come from? If two people hear the same gospel and one desires to believe it but the other lacks that desire, considering the gospel as foolishness, where did the desire in the "willing" one come from? I say the bible teaches that this desire is by way of God's grace. Under your system, Christ's death on the cross did not accomplish salvation for anyone, it merely made salvation a possiblity. Those who are saved save themselves by making the right choice. Only those who have a spark of decency in their hearts or enough common sense to recognize their peril will opt for Christ. It is as if God has thrown a life-preserver to the human race, but only the smart ones who are good swimmers have the desire and ability to reach it. The rest either fail to see their need of rescue, or do not have the capacity to recognize the virtue of the Life -preserver as the means of preventing them from sinking to the bottom of the sea! Could this have been God's plan, to make salvation possible for all but assured to none? Is 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; -------------------------------------------------- You stated: "I do not believe that the soveignty of God denies the person the ability to accept or reject spiritual truths." The fact that you deny that the sin of Adam brought spiritual death to all his seed, is the reason why you cannot understand nor believe the plain teaching of 1 Cor 2:14. John Reformed |
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2 | Is hearing necessary for salvation? | Rom 10:17 | disciplerami | 77632 | ||
continued... I choose to believe that our nature is such, that with sufficient evidence, man can be held accountable for making his choices. It is overwhelming evidence that God exists. Therefore, those who go the godless, atheistic path deserve no pity. They, in essence, have looked God in the face and turned away. Every sinner stands before the two paths. The one is fun and easy for a while with the promise of punishment at the end. The other is straight, narrow, and difficult with the promise of eternal blessings at the end. Men know the choice: some say I'll take the easy path now and later switch to the straight and narrow when I won't have to walk it so long. Men know the punishment and rewards. Too bad that they choose the immediate over the long-term. The good news is that we all can watch the fleeting, passing pleasures of this life and come to our senses. We can note our mortality and act upon our longing to live forever. Making the choice to turn from the world and to God is sort of like a young man who looks at the girl of his dreams. Asking her to marry will mean responsibility, committment, sacrifice and rewards of love and children and friendship that a single man can never know. If he chooses not to marry, he chooses the freedom, and materialism: the selfish, short-term, lonely path. The man makes a judgment about values, about what is worth more? You can't have the rewards without the sacrifice. This lesson Jesus taught us. Part of following the Savior is the requirement that we count the cost of being a disciple. The rich young ruler had the potential of being saved, but he made a value judgment--Jesus loved him, so it doesn't make sense that he turned away because God didn't give him that extra bit of desire. The young man made a choice on his own. Jesus stipulated that only those who deny themselves and carry the cross could follow Him. You must believe that the cross carrier is the one that God placed the desire in, and I believe that the cross carrier is the one who considered the merits of both paths, and chose to follow Christ. Just as a man can make a choice to invest in long-term versus short-term, any man can weigh the evidence [hear the purity and promises of the Gospel versus condemnation for sin] and make an intelligent, spiritual decision to become a Christian. Thanks for the thoughts you shared. Disciplerami |
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