Results 1 - 11 of 11
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | John Reformed | 60409 | ||
Hello Ed, That men are spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins, and have no natural ability to save themselves, is the basis for the Reformed doctrine of "total depravity"! I'm surprised that you were surprised by my statement. I challenge anyone to tell me what was it in them that caused them to "choose Christ". Did they have some desire for God down deep inside that those who reject the gospel lack? Of course not! Every christian, arminian and calvinist alike, would reply that it was God that opened their eyes and ears. Not to put words in your mouth Ed, but I'm certain that you would say the same thing. Mark 4:11 "And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,". Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Why were these "pierced to the heart" and yet others mock the message of the gospel. The difference is grace. Rom 9:16 "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." John 3:27 "John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven". Would'nt it be nice if we could use a tractor instesd of a plow? So much easier... Your Brother, John |
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2 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | EdB | 60412 | ||
John I understand and agree with the total depravity of man, and therefore I wasn't surprised. What took me off guard was 1 Cor. 2:14. Reading with the basis you placed in my mind I read it as spiritual knowledge for salvation. I then explained that I thought God gave everyone this spiritual awakening, but you quickly pointed that couldn’t be since Paul was talking to the saved. I was kind at a lost, I knew you weren’t right but I was at a lost to explain the correct meaning of this verse. It wasn’t until later when I read 1 Cor. 2:14 in context without thought of your input that I saw I had always read it to mean after salvation we experience a spiritual awakening. This had nothing to either salvation only the state of man after salvation. Your not putting words in my mouth we agree God does something in us at salvation. I believe Jesus death was for the everyone, that He paid the price for the world you believe it was for a select few. I believe God gives each of us the ability to choose of reject Jesus. You believe God makes those he chooses accept Jesus. When the Pharisees were arguing with Jesus and Jesus kept giving them anointed answers to which they could not argue, do you not believe they knew he was in fact God but refuse to humble themselves to Him? Jesus did call them stiff necked. The word says to say there is no God is foolishness, did God create fools destined to hell? Yet God says seek wisdom. Maybe there should be a caveat there “except you fools that are going to hell no matter what”. In your world two men hung on the cross both to die, one was picked by God to spend eternity in Heaven the other in Hell. In my world two men hung on the cross to die both were given the opportunity to go to heaven but one choose hell. In you world salvation is decided in my world it has not yet been satisfied. In your world I ask what is the point? In my world the point is 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for ALL to come to repentance. Why you ask because, "God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOEVER beleives in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." “Emphasis mine” EdB |
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3 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | John Reformed | 60435 | ||
Hi Ed, I just want to clear up a misconception you have regarding my view of salvation. You said: " You believe God makes those he chooses accept Jesus." NO Ed. I do NOT believe that God ever violates the will of anyone, anytime or anywhere. My view actually is that in order for an unsaved person to recieve the ability to believe in Christ, he must recieve the gift of faith. This faith accompanied by repentance occurs in conjunction with regeneration (the act of God alone in taking away our heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh). For the first time this person is free of his bondage to his father the devil. He now understands spiritual things and readily, of his own free will, recieves Christ as his Lord and Saviour. Momma is calling me to go to bed. God willing, I'll finish in the morning. Good Night, John When the Pharisees were arguing with Jesus and Jesus kept giving them anointed answers to which they could not argue, do you not believe they knew he was in fact God but refuse to humble themselves to Him? |
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4 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | EdB | 60491 | ||
John You said "NO Ed. I do NOT believe that God ever violates the will of anyone, anytime or anywhere. My view actually is that in order for an unsaved person to receive the ability to believe in Christ, he must receive the gift of faith. This faith accompanied by repentance occurs in conjunction with regeneration (the act of God alone in taking away our heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh). For the first time this person is free of his bondage to his father the devil. He now understands spiritual things and readily, of his own free will, receives Christ as his Lord and Savior." Can the person reject Jesus at that time? If not then it is forced on him no matter how you say it. If there is no possibility of rejection then the opposite must be true acceptance is mandated. Be careful you used the "free will " word here and I'm sure you called someone else to ask to show where that word/concept appeared in the Bible. EdB |
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5 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | John Reformed | 60493 | ||
Dear Ed, Your question is "Can the person reject Jesus at that time?" I do not believe that after a person is born again that they would ever have even the desire to reject Jesus. Anyone who believes otherwise has not properly understood the meaning of what it is to be "new creature" in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. John 1:12,13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, but of God.(my caps) John 15:16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, I believe that "calvinism" is despised by some because it is misrepresented or misunderstood by it's opponents. God Bless, John |
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6 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | EdB | 60545 | ||
John Again I do not believe the awareness of a sin nature and the need to for a savior occurs at the same time as 2 Cor 5:17. 2 Cor. 5:17 is further into the salvation process when a person trusts Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. I think John 1:12-13 explains the process. To those who received Him (Believed in Jesus) He gave the right to become children of God. The process of becoming a child of God is not by anything a person does but by the will and grace of God. The process starts by God giving an awareness of the sin nature, then acceptance or rejection of Jesus, upon acceptance adoption into the family. John think of your own salvation. Isn’t this the steps that took place? Also do you not know people that are totally aware of their sin nature, their lostness, yet their refusal to accept Jesus as Lord and Master. If not come with me I’ll introduce you to some. John 15:16 Is Jesus talking to his disciples, before the cross. Jesus is telling them that he had chosen them, He had caused their of a lack of a better word their curiosity to be peaked and that lead them to Him. They hadn't become so astute that they knew to follow Him but were rather called. Again this is talking to directly to His disciples before the cross. It has nothing to do with salvation. Most reject Calvinism because it flys in the face of, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that WHOSOEVER shall believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life. Calvinism adds the caveat “not you the non elect” EdB |
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7 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | John Reformed | 60553 | ||
Hi Ed You said: Most reject Calvinism because it flys in the face of, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that WHOSOEVER shall believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life. I noticed that you capitalized the term "whosoever". Who does whosoever refer to? It refers to whosoever SHALL BELIEVE. Does it not? Therefore, those who will not perish but instead have etenal life are those who believe. Right. The elect in Scripture are identified as believers who have been chosen by God. Election of Grace - The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles. (2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 9:4). (3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2; John 13:18). (Easton's Bible Dictionary) Who else beside the elect will be saved? The elect is the term used in the Bible that indicates those people that God has chosen for salvation. Arminians claim that election is based on man's choice and calvinists claim election on God's choice, but both groups claim that it refers to those who are saved. Calvinism, therefore, does not "fly in the face" of John 3:16. God Bless, John |
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8 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | EdB | 60558 | ||
John "The world" is all inclusive of mankind. Whosoever is an open invitation. Not just to the elect but an open opportunity to mankind. Just as one man brought sin into the world or mankind one man took it away and freed all mankind, not just a select group. If I read John 3:16 as you would have it, it would read, “God so loved the elect that He sent his only begotten Son to the world that a chosen group would believe and have eternal life.” Your absolutely right God did elevate man but for what reason? To bless the rest of mankind. Abraham was chosen so that God through Abraham would bless all nations. Notice it does not say the elect of all nations. David to bless Israel, Jacob to preserve the promise to the world that were made to his father. Surely you have to see, if God allowed sin to infect all men through Adam God, by His very nature, allowed all of mankind to be inoculated from sin by Christ. To do otherwise just doesn’t make sense. EdB EdB |
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9 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | John Reformed | 60564 | ||
Yes Ed, The gospel is an open invitation to all, however it saves only those whosoever believe. It does not save the "world". That is univeral salvation and I know you don't believe THAT! The term "elect" identfies that group of people who have in the past, are now or who will in the future place faith in Christ for salvation. Elect is not a theological term created by calvinists. It is a Biblical term given us by God. John |
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10 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | mbooker | 60568 | ||
Good Afternoon Brother John!! I am smiling as I read this post because I think I see eye-to-eye with you! :) I was under the impression that the Reformed View believed that the gospel was an invitation, not to all, but only to the elect. But from your post, I have been corrected in my impression! :) I too believe that the gospel is open to all but it will only benefit/save those that believe in Christ. I am sooo excited about this moment of unity!! :) Have a blessed day Abba Father bless... Meredith |
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11 | How can anyone be saved? | 1 Cor 2:14 | John Reformed | 60570 | ||
Praise the Lord Meridith! I too am smiling and happy. There is a form of calvinism known as hyper-calvinism to which I do not subscribe. Some of what they teach is at times confused with the historical teaching of the reformers themselves. Reformed theology teaches that call of the gospel should be extended to all people world-wide in obedience to "the Great Commission" given His church by Jesus Christ. We are not given to know who it is that the Father has chosen. Our responsibility is to be faithful in presenting the same gospel as Paul preached: Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Blessed are the feet that carry good news. To God alone be the glory. John |
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