Silverhair
Well-Known Member
Is Paul telling the Elders at Ephesus that they came to Christ on their own?
*Acts 20:15-32*
And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."
Is Paul telling the people in Athens, at the Areopagus, that they can come to God on their own?
*Acts 17:22-34*
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Do men come to God on their own?
What does the text tell us?
I observe that men do come to God. But do they come of their own volition or by God causing them to come. I believe these passages show us that we come because God causes people to come to Him by His appointment.
Is Paul telling the Elders at Ephesus that they came to Christ on their own?
*Acts 20:15-32*
Acts 20:20-21 teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 20:25 I went about preaching the kingdom
Act 20:27 I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God
Act 20:28 the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood
Paul is telling the Elders what he had done and what they should do. He preached the gospel and they were to guard the flock after he departed.
Does the text say that no one came to faith when Paul preached the gospel message? No one can save themselves but they can and do respond to the gospel message, that’s called free will.
Austin in what way do you think Acts 20:15-32 relates to your question?
Is Paul telling the people in Athens, at the Areopagus, that they can come to God on their own?
*Acts 17:22-34*
Act 17:23 Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you
Act 17:27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him
Act 17:30 God at present exhorts all men everywhere to repent
Act 17:31 He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed
Here again we see that Paul is proclaiming the gospel message and indicating that they can seek for God and if they do they can find Him. God exhorts all men to seek Him because His desire is for all to come to repentance 1Timothy 2:3-4. And we see that some of those that heard Paul speak at the Areopagus did respond to his gospel message and believed.
Act 17:34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
So once again we see free will in action. We do not see in these texts that you presented any indication that God had caused them to believe.
Austin you are reading into the text what is not there.