Jesus Christ: The Atonement For The Human Race

always glad to be reminded! . The question that I have for you Mr Cassidy, what exactly is this CALL? Is it to REPENTANCE and FAITH (Mark 1:15)?

 

I am speaking of the God-given ability to respond to His call to salvation, which is only possible with the pre-convicting of God the Holy Spirit.

 

If God "enables" only His elect to receive the Gospel and be saved, then what is the purpose in preaching the same Gospel to the non-elect, seeing that God know full well that they can NEVER accept it, as He is not enabled them to? This makes God into a deceiver!

 

Not so. A person that is not a believer is not necessary a follower of the devil! They are blind by the devil to stop them believing the Gospel and being saved. This cannot be their fault, as it is outside of their power. However, when they hear the Gospel Message, the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sins and they repent and believe and are saved. All are not, because they majority hate the Light and love darkness. Not because God does not want to save them, as the Bible tells us over and again.

 

Or, as the best text has it, "repentance for remission of sins"

that said. The fact remains, that some believe that God regenerates the hearts of the elect before they can respond to the Gospel call, thereby enabling them to believe the Gospel and be saved. If, this is something only for the elect and predetermined before the foundation of the world, then the "offer" of the Gospel to the entire human race cannot be sincere, as God has placed a barrier for the "non-elect" as they CANNOT respond to the Message, because He will not enable them to believe!

 

μετάνοιαν καὶ] A C D F H K L N W X Δ Θ Π Ψ 063 f1 f13 28 33 157 180 205 565 579 597 700 892 1006 1009 1010 1071 1079 1195 1216 1230 1241 1242 1243 1253 1292 1342 1344 1365 1424 1505 1546 1646 2148 2174 Byz Lect ita itaur itb itc itd ite itf itff2 itl itq itr1 vg syrs syrh syrpal arm eth geo slavmss Cyprian Eusebius Hilary Augustine Hesychius ς NA CEI ND Riv Dio TILC Nv
μετάνοιαν εἰς] p66,75 ‭à B syrp copsa copbo slavmss Diatessarona (Diatessaront) Diatessaronv WH NR NM

p66, (circa 200 CE) the oldest Greek authority
p75 (circa 175-225 CE),
The Diatessaron, (c 150 - 160 C.E.)
NIV, ESV, NASB, CSB, HCSB, NET Bible, NAS 1977

oldest Greek authority for καὶ, is the 5th cent, codex A

 

you can't have it both ways! If, as you say, that it is God Who "enables" the elect to respond to His Call; then it can only be, that He does not do the same for those who are non-elect. In which case they are not really "rejecting" Jesus, nor be accountable, as they have not been given any opportunity to respond to the Gospel, as any aid from the Holy Spirit, which the elect have, is withheld. They cannot reject or accept, as their "wills" are in "bondage" as some claim, and they cannot.

 

that is not what we are talking about. It is whether ALL who have the Gospel preached to them, have the "ability" given by the Holy Spirit by His convicting, to either accept or reject the Gospel of salvation. If God "regenerates" the elect, and thereby enabling them to accept the Gospel, then the fact that the non-elect are "passed by", and do not have the same, can only mean that the Gospel that is preached to the non-elect, is both pointless and insincere, as God knows before that they can not respond, as He has made sure of this. This, my friend is a monstrous doctrine!

 

what is wrong with your "theology", is that you have God send His Gospel Message for the salvation of ALL sinners, without exception; but has made sure that those who are not predetermined by Him to salvation, He has left unable to respond, as He has not given them the same "grace". This is a false presentation of the Gospel, because it is fully known before that the greater majority have been already excluded from ever accepting the Gospel, and can never be saved"! This is NOT taught anywhere in the Holy Bible.