Bible Question:
JIBBS; You stated "The Bible is very clear about the INABILITY of natural man to recieve Christ" and then you fail to support that statement with a single verse of Scripture. Look at the following text John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day It is clear from the above verse that once God draws an individual, the individual can then come, because He has been enabled to do so by Sovereign God. No one seeks after God, except those whom God has first sought out. We love Him because he first loved us. In Rom. 10:20 we read that Isaiah said: (in Is. 65:1) I was found of them that sought me not; I was revealed unto them that asked not after me. Our knowing God is a consequence of God taking knowledge of us. We know Him by faith, because He first singled us out by grace No man can come to Jesus, except God draws him John 6:44 When God by his mercy and grace reveals Himself to us, we are then enabled to choose whether or not to believe. God does not believe for us, but after making us spiritually alive, He gives us the ability to respond in belief Consider John 1:12: "s many as received him [elabon, aorist indicative, a definite act in past time - conversion] to them gave he [edoken], an aorist indicative, a definite act in past time - conversion] power to become [or to be] children of God, to those who believe [pisteuousin, present participle, present progressive action - perseverance in faith]. The distinction is vivid in Verkuyl's translation: "But to those who did accept Him, He granted ability to become God's children" (Life In The Son - Robert Shank) In His Service New Creature |
Bible Answer: NC The natural man recieveth not the things of the Spirit. 1 Cor 2:14 Tell me, is the Gospel a spiritual thing? In Christ, JIBBS |