Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Was it our choice to be born physically? | Rev 13:8 | ne14pool | 88300 | ||
Tim, In your response, you mentioned that you can not choose where to be born. How true! Not only did we not play a role in where we would be born, but we didn't play a role in our birth. The same principle that applies to our physical birth also applies to our spiritual birth. It was not our choice, but God choose us to be born of the Spirit! Just as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3. Jesus declared to him "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (born from above) Nicodemus took Jesus literally and asked, "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. God determined that we would be born spiritually, it was no more our choice that it was our choice to be physically born. That is why Jesus said to his disciples in John 15:16. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Then in John 1:12-13 it says "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. Note: Not a human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. Then in speaking of the Sovereignty of God in choosing who he will, it says in Rom 9:16 "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." It wasn't your desire or effort to seek God. But it was God who by His Spirit caused you to be born from above and he caused your Spirit to awake from the dead and He opened your eyes to the truth. Then we beheld Christ and His wonderful work upon the Cross and we believe the good news of what he did for us. While we thought it was our faith we mustered up, all the while it was God that was working in us to draw us to Himself. Because we were enabled by God to come to Christ. We were the love gift that was given to Christ before the foundation of the World. Once we were awaken by God spiritually we then fixed our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him (that is us - His bride) endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. I don't mean to ramble on, but I couldn't help in when you mentioned we don't choose our place of birth... That comment triggered all this... Take care and may God continue to bless you richly! In Christ...Doug |
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2 | Was it our choice to be born physically? | Rev 13:8 | Morant61 | 88324 | ||
Greetings Doug! Pretty much everything you said, I agree with. The only difference is that while you stopped at Rom. 9:16, I go on to Rom. 11:32. :-) Arminians do not believe that salvation is dependent upon the will of man. It is all of God. It is a gift, but the gift is offered to man and must be accepted. If Christ did not draw, no one could be saved. But, John 12:32 says that Christ will draw all men to Himself when He is lifted up. To me, my friend, one must read Romans 1-11 as a unit. The whole 11 chapters demonstrates that God's plan of election was to always work through individuals and nations in such a way that Rom. 11:32 was possible. Thanks for you response! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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3 | Are those drawn 2 Christ raised to life? | Rev 13:8 | ne14pool | 88408 | ||
Tim, You had said, that If Christ did not draw, no one could be saved. Which I agree with. Then you went on to quote John 12:32 which says that Christ will draw all men to Himself when He is lifted up. Which I interpret to mean men of "all types" (Jew and Gentile) not all men individually but collectively. I say that because if you believe that Christ draws all men to himself, then all men must be saved because in John 6:44 Jesus proclaimed that "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. Notice that same one that is drawn by the Father is also raised up on the last day. Keep in mind the context of this verse, it is salvation. So if you hold to the belief that God draws all men (individually to himself, then you must also believe that those that are drawn will be raised to eternal life with God (John 6:44) In Christ...Doug |
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4 | Are those drawn 2 Christ raised to life? | Rev 13:8 | Aspiring Overseer | 88410 | ||
Tim, Doug and any other readers, Belief that God is the one and only God is necessary before anyone will devote energy to listen to the Word. They will not understand that word unless they are sincere in their desire to seek God. When John 6:44 and 6:65 state that the Father draws or grants salvation, it is implied that He does that due to their obedience of faith. Some are not seeking and some seek, but not with understanding. It is only those who seek understanding and demonstrate obedience that the Father draws to Christ. AO |
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