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NASB | Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 13:8 All the inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slain [as a willing sacrifice]. |
Subject: Can the "natural man" desire Christ? |
Bible Note: Dear Hank, You've asked several questions and, God willing, I hope to be able to answer them to your satisfaction. 1. So who, John, are "all the Father sent Him (Christ)?" John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." Therefore, I would say all whom the Father draws are those who are raised up on the last day. That is why the elect are called the elect! They are God the Father's chosen people, whom He sends to His Son, so that through The Son's sacrifice on the cross they recieve eternal life. 2. Are they not all who hear and CHOOSE to respond to the gospel call? Yes indeed! They are those who hear and choose. They do so, not because they have any virtue in themselves, but that they are the recipients Of God's mercy and they have been taught by God. John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. Here again, this must refer to the elect for all that are drawn by the Father are taught by Him as well and come to the Son. All who come to the Son are rased up on the last day. 3. If you say they are the "elect" then who are they but those who hear and believe? None but they elect hear and believe.John 6:64 "But there are some of you who do not believe." 4. Are you saying that man does not have any option whatever whether to believe the gospel and respond to it or reject it? No. I believe that all men have an option, but only those to whom saving grace has been granted opt for Christ. The rest are passed by and are left to continue in their rebellion and hatred of God. John 6:65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." 5. You say that Adam and Eve reponded negatively. What does this do to Calvinism's "I" petal of the TULIP -- irresistible grace? I'm not certain that I understand this question. Adam and Eve were called by God so that they might recieve God's punishment for disobeying His command. Eve blamed the Serpent and (it might be said) Adam blamed God for giving him Eve in the first place. the least he did was to attempt to shift the blame onto his wife. The first real woking of grace is in the story of Caine and Abel. 6. What does this do to Calvinism's "I" petal of the TULIP -- irresistible grace? The first real woking of grace is in the story of Caine and Abel. As far as TULIP is concerned, one must keep mind that it is an anagram. "Irrisistable" had to be used for lack of a better word starting with "I". Efficatious Grace is more commonly used among calvinists as bearing a much better discription of a Grace that actually works in those to whom God grants it. 7. ... did Adam and Eve make any theological choices not only before but also after their fall? If they did, and if they have been recorded in Scripture, I must plead ignorance as to what they were. 8.What do the "elect" have to do to be saved? In a sense, there is nothing that man can do to save himself. Of course the Bible teaches that faith is the prerequisite to salvation. But even faith comes by way of God's providence.John 3:27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven." I'm sure tou would agree that "nothing" means "nothing" not even salvation. 9. What do the "elect" have to do to be saved? I believe by "have" you mean are they compelled against their will. No. The fact is that they are raised from spiritual death to spiritual life and set free to love and to obey their King. Of course christians are still burdened with the remnants of the "old man" and are far from perfect in their capacity to love and obey Him as they ought. Nevertheless, God graciously keeps them from falling irredeemably. In fact He shapes ALL things together for good in their lives (Rom 8:28). 9b. Do they have a choice in the matter or is God going to save them whether they want to be saved or not? The love of God in the hearts of His adopted children is irresitable. 2 Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; You may still disagree Hank. But I have tried my best to answer your questions from God's Word. Grace and Peace, John |