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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Does God "pass-over" or does He "harden" | Rom 9:18 | DocTrinsograce | 138254 | ||
Hi, Nwells... welcome to the forum! I agree with your analysis for the most part. I also understand the points that Pastor Glen and Kalos are making. I really appreciate Jonathan Edwards -- arguably America's greatest theologian -- on this point. He spends quite a bit of time on it in "The Freedom on the Human Will." Its fairly weighty, but well worth the read. I probably can't do Edwards justice, so don't judge him by my own inadequacies. Basically, Edwards points out that nothing can do anything outside of its own nature; thus: birds act like birds, dogs act like dogs, etc. (In fact, this is also true of the Divine nature -- God cannot, for example, sin because it is not in His nature to sin, etc.) We could talk a lot about this, but I'll try not to put you to sleep. :-) From scripture and personal observation we can see a number of things about the nature of the lost person. One thing that we know is that they have no desire to do the will of God. Edwards points out that the will is the mind choosing. Choices are made based on what the mind deems is best. (Its all more complicated than this, but I'm trying to reduce it to the most basic of definitions.) The lost person cannot deem any Godly choice as a "good" course of action, so they never choose Godliness. This includes belief in Christ and obedience to Salvation. In order, therefore, for a person to be saved, God must divinely intervene. He must regenerate the lost person. (Another discussion on ordo solutis could stem from this, but I'll refrain.) When God performs this miracle, the beneficiary has a new nature. This new nature allows them to choose what they could not choose before. The long and short of it is that simultaneously God's sovereignty and holiness is retained, man remains responsible, and man's so-called free will is not impinged upon. Perhaps this helps to give another perspective on this interesting theological topic. Thank you for your contribution to the forum. I hope that you hang around and continue to participate! In Him, Doc |
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2 | Does God "pass-over" or does He "harden" | Rom 9:18 | He-man | 138255 | ||
I would remind you of this quote and with more to follow.. "“ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day . " (John 6:44, NASB95) Matthew 7:7,8 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 22:14 14 For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 18:2,3 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769. |
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3 | Does God "pass-over" or does He "harden" | Rom 9:18 | DocTrinsograce | 138256 | ||
That verse appears consistent with Edward's epistemology. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. | ||||||