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NASB | Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ. |
Subject: Is hearing necessary for salvation? |
Bible Note: 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 |