Birth Before Belief

Everyone should read and study Romans Chapter 9 That is proof of who chooses what

 

When was Lazarus raised from the dead? Since the dead can’t hear Lazarus must have been raised from the dead by the power of GOD before the LORD called unto him. Or could it be the dead heard his voice by the power of GOD and was then quickened? I believe the later and think that to be consistent the Calvinist would believe the first. Am I right or is there another option I overlooked.

John 11:14 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

John 11:43 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

John 5:25 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

John 3:14 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Were those in the wilderness saved when they looked?

 

No, they aren't.

 

I believe the chair existed before I sit in it.

 

Just as we believed Christ died for our sins before we repented and received baptism.

 

Except scripture never describes it that way.

 

Depending on how you interpret it. Some see the gospel as a system of works for the self-righteous through which they save themselves. Others hear it as the good news that they have eternal life or else they would not believe.

 

Does repentance precede Faith? I will answer with my belief first. I see Saving Faith as being a gift of God made up of knowledge from God, belief in God, trust in God, and assurance from God. Knowledge through hearing the quickening Word of God, our believing being made possible because of the quickening, trusting because of the assurance of and from God. Now I see repentance and faith as being joined together because we know whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

 

Interesting who are these people?

Which is everyone on this board and all Christians I know.

 

Conditional salvation based on human response = salvation by self-righteousness.

 

Please show me in scripture where it describes any and all human response as self-righteousness

 

If you end up saving yourself by complying with what you believe are God's demands, it is self-righteousness.

 

I think the real question is which comes first, God regeneration of us, or saving us?

 

Ok, I will ask once again, please show me in scripture where it describes any and all human response as self-righteousness

 

Grace = unmerited favor. Conditional salvation = merited favor (debt on God's part).

 

So you do not have any scripture to back up your claim just philosophy. Is that right?

 

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:4–5)

But, you contradict this when you make faith a condition or work.

 

Again you misuse the scripture to support your claim. Paul is speaking of the law Romans 3:27-28

 

How is choosing to believe any different from trying to keep the first commandment?