Subject: Two "wills" of God? |
Bible Note: Dear Tim, Praise God with me, for we do have Him in common. You said "Where we differ though is the question of whether 'spiritually dead' means 'unable to respond'." The calvinist does not deny but rather affirms that mankind does in fact know the truth. We believe that the witness of nature and the works of creation and providence so clearly reveal God that all men will be found without excuse before God. Hold on to your hat now. We believe that fallen man has the freedom to choose! However, because man's nature is corrupt and the desires of his heart are only wicked continually, he is unable to choose to surrender to God. Not because God prevents him, but because in his fallen state he has no desire to do so. That is why Jesus said "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;". Men are damned, not because they did not know the truth, but because they suppress it. Man requires God's grace before he is able to desire salation. Faith is a spiritual attribute that is a gift of God given to those who He draws to Christ. I'll continue later. John |