The Bible Teaches that Repentance and Faith are Gifts from God.

[Alan Dale Gross]

"The unbeliever cannot understand or accept the gospel, for it is foolishness to him;
How then can he respond to it and believe in Christ as his Savior?

"Every intent of his heart is evil, and he seeks not after God;
How then can he turn to Christ for salvation and embrace Him as his righteousness?

"He is enslaved to sin;
How then can he turn from his wickedness to Christ and bow before Him as Lord?

"The unbeliever is not able to please God, obey God, or do anything at all that is good;
How then can he respond to God’s command to believe?

"There is no fear of God before his eyes;
How then can he humble himself before God and trust in Him for salvation?

"He hates God, loves sin, and is unwilling and undesirous of coming to Christ;
How then can he repent and do so?

"He is spiritually blind; how then can he make himself see? He is spiritually dead;
How then can he make himself live?..."

"When a person repents and believes in Christ, it is because God has Opened his or her heart to respond to the gospel. What is impossible with man is possible with God. This same pattern can be seen clearly in Jesus’ teaching: "No one can come to Me [impossible with man], unless the Father Who sent Me draws him [possible with God]; and I Will Raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44). In this verse Jesus teaches that although no man is able to come to Christ, God the Father is Able to Draw men to Christ and does so when He Calls them unto salvation. This is commonly known as Effectual Calling.

Any attempt to deny that God's Call unto salvation is Effectual must be rejected on the basis of Romans 8:30; "Moreover whom He did Predestinate, them He also Called: and whom He Called, them He also Justified: and whom He Justified, them He also Glorified."

This verse implies at least two things:
1.) Not all men are Called (because not all are Justified,
and 2.) those who are Called are Called Effectually (because they are Justified).

"For this reason Scripture teaches that repentence and faith are gifts from God. When an unbeliever repents of his sins and believes in Christ, it is not the fruit of his inherent ability to repent and believe but rather the result of God Opening his heart and Granting him repentance;

Acts 5:31; "Him hath God exalted with His Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

11:18; "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles Granted repentance unto life.

2 Tim. 2:25; "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"

and for God to Grant him faith;

"This is proved by the passages already quoted that designate repentance as a gift of God; because repentance and faith are inseparable graces. Each one, when appearing alone in the Scriptures, embraces the other; for, if this were not true, the passages which mention only the one or the other would teach that one may be saved without both repentance and faith or that the soul might have faith and then afterward be given repentance, causing them to repent of having faith.

Faith is a gift of God, is proved by passages which teach that our coming to Christ and believing on Him are the result of the working of God's Power.

John 6:37, 65; "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I Will in no wise cast out,"

"And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father."

Eph. 1:19, 20; "And what is the Exceeding Greatness of His Power to us-ward who believe, according to the Working of His Mighty Power, 20; "Which He Wrought in Christ, when He Raised Him from the dead, and Set Him at His Own Right Hand in the Heavenly Places,

From SIMMONS- REPENTANCE AND FAITH

The NEW TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

Acts 13:48; "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were Ordained to Eternal Life believed."

18:27; "And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:"

Eph. 2:8-9; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9; "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Phil. 1:29; "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

2 Pet. 1:1; "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:"

Faith is a gift of God is further proven by the fact that faith is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 5:22; "But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"

"Therefore, repentance and faith are not works that man performs in order to earn his salvation—they are the change of heart brought about by God Himself. Salvation is by grace from start to finish.

The OLD TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

"This work of God in changing men’s hearts is reflected in the imagery used in several Old Testament prophecies. For example, God says in

Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26,27.

Jeremiah 24:7, "And I Will give them a heart to know Me, for I Am the Lord;... and they Will Return to Me with their whole heart."

The sinner must turn to God with his whole heart in order to be saved, but it is God who Opens his heart and Enables him to do so. Prior to this, the unbeliever is hardened and unresponsive toward God—his heart is made of stone. Only when God Works in his heart and Effectually Draws him to Christ does he respond to the gospel.

"Left to himself, the unbeliever’s heart will remain evil and enslaved to sin, neither able nor willing to repent of sin and believe in Christ. For him salvation is impossible. But the things impossible with men are possible with God, for He is the One Who takes the initiative in salvation by giving His chosen ones eyes to see, ears to hear, and the heart and ability to respond to the gospel in faith and repentance. Our heart-opening God is truly the God of all grace."

Adapted from https://biblesnet.com/matt-waymeyer-evangelism-101-laying-the-foundation.pdf

 

[Charlie24]

"The unbeliever cannot understand or accept the gospel, for it is foolishness to him;
How then can he respond to it and believe in Christ as his Savior?

"Every intent of his heart is evil, and he seeks not after God;
How then can he turn to Christ for salvation and embrace Him as his righteousness?

"He is enslaved to sin;
How then can he turn from his wickedness to Christ and bow before Him as Lord?

"The unbeliever is not able to please God, obey God, or do anything at all that is good;
How then can he respond to God’s command to believe?

"There is no fear of God before his eyes;
How then can he humble himself before God and trust in Him for salvation?

"He hates God, loves sin, and is unwilling and undesirous of coming to Christ;
How then can he repent and do so?

"He is spiritually blind; how then can he make himself see? He is spiritually dead;
How then can he make himself live?..."

"When a person repents and believes in Christ, it is because God has Opened his or her heart to respond to the gospel. What is impossible with man is possible with God. This same pattern can be seen clearly in Jesus’ teaching: "No one can come to Me [impossible with man], unless the Father Who sent Me draws him [possible with God]; and I Will Raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44). In this verse Jesus teaches that although no man is able to come to Christ, God the Father is Able to Draw men to Christ and does so when He Calls them unto salvation. This is commonly known as Effectual Calling.

Any attempt to deny that God's Call unto salvation is Effectual must be rejected on the basis of Romans 8:30; "Moreover whom He did Predestinate, them He also Called: and whom He Called, them He also Justified: and whom He Justified, them He also Glorified." This verse implies at least two things: 1.) Not all men are Called (because not all are Justified, and 2.) those who are Called are Called Effectually (because they are Justified).

"For this reason Scripture teaches that repentence and faith are gifts from God. When an unbeliever repents of his sins and believes in Christ, it is not the fruit of his inherent ability to repent and believe but rather the result of God Opening his heart and Granting him repentance;

Acts 5:31; "Him hath God exalted with His Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

11:18; "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles Granted repentance unto life.

2 Tim. 2:25; "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"

and for God to Grant him faith;

"This is proved by the passages already quoted that designate repentance as a gift of God; because repentance and faith are inseparable graces. Each one, when appearing alone in the Scriptures, embraces the other; for, if this were not true, the passages which mention only the one or the other would teach that one may be saved without both repentance and faith or that the soul might have faith and then afterward be given repentance, causing them to repent of having faith.

Faith is a gift of God, is proved by passages which teach that our coming to Christ and believing on Him are the result of the working of God's Power.

John 6:37, 65; "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I Will in no wise cast out,"

"And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father."

Eph. 1:19, 20; "And what is the Exceeding Greatness of His Power to us-ward who believe, according to the Working of His Mighty Power, 20; "Which He Wrought in Christ, when He Raised Him from the dead, and Set Him at His Own Right Hand in the Heavenly Places,

From SIMMONS- REPENTANCE AND FAITH

The NEW TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

Acts 13:48; "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were Ordained to Eternal Life believed."

18:27; "And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:"

Eph. 2:8-9; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9; "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Phil. 1:29; "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

2 Pet. 1:1; "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:"

Faith is a gift of God is further proven by the fact that faith is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 5:22; "But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"

"Therefore, repentance and faith are not works that man performs in order to earn his salvation—they are the change of heart brought about by God Himself. Salvation is by grace from start to finish.

The OLD TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

"This work of God in changing men’s hearts is reflected in the imagery used in several Old Testament prophecies. For example, God says in

Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26,27.

Jeremiah 24:7, "And I Will give them a heart to know Me, for I Am the Lord;... and they Will Return to Me with their whole heart."

The sinner must turn to God with his whole heart in order to be saved, but it is God who Opens his heart and Enables him to do so. Prior to this, the unbeliever is hardened and unresponsive toward God—his heart is made of stone. Only when God Works in his heart and Effectually Draws him to Christ does he respond to the gospel.

"Left to himself, the unbeliever’s heart will remain evil and enslaved to sin, neither able nor willing to repent of sin and believe in Christ. For him salvation is impossible. But the things impossible with men are possible with God, for He is the One Who takes the initiative in salvation by giving His chosen ones eyes to see, ears to hear, and the heart and ability to respond to the gospel in faith and repentance. Our heart-opening God is truly the God of all grace."

Adapted from https://biblesnet.com/matt-waymeyer-evangelism-101-laying-the-foundation.pdf

I agree that man is totally depraved, as the apostle Paul demonstrated, and Calvin coined. But the apostle Paul also said that faith comes by the hearing of the Word of God.

The Gospel message given by you and me to the lost contains the faith to believe, The Holy Spirit produces that faith to believe in that message given.

Where I disagree is that man who loves the things of this world can and will reject that Gospel message and the faith to believe goes out the window with the message.

The choice is given to man by God, not God making the choice for him.

 

[Silverhair]

"The unbeliever cannot understand or accept the gospel, for it is foolishness to him;
How then can he respond to it and believe in Christ as his Savior?

"Every intent of his heart is evil, and he seeks not after God;
How then can he turn to Christ for salvation and embrace Him as his righteousness?

"He is enslaved to sin;
How then can he turn from his wickedness to Christ and bow before Him as Lord?

"The unbeliever is not able to please God, obey God, or do anything at all that is good;
How then can he respond to God’s command to believe?

"There is no fear of God before his eyes;
How then can he humble himself before God and trust in Him for salvation?

"He hates God, loves sin, and is unwilling and undesirous of coming to Christ;
How then can he repent and do so?

"He is spiritually blind; how then can he make himself see? He is spiritually dead;
How then can he make himself live?..."

"When a person repents and believes in Christ, it is because God has Opened his or her heart to respond to the gospel. What is impossible with man is possible with God. This same pattern can be seen clearly in Jesus’ teaching: "No one can come to Me [impossible with man], unless the Father Who sent Me draws him [possible with God]; and I Will Raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44). In this verse Jesus teaches that although no man is able to come to Christ, God the Father is Able to Draw men to Christ and does so when He Calls them unto salvation. This is commonly known as Effectual Calling.

Any attempt to deny that God's Call unto salvation is Effectual must be rejected on the basis of Romans 8:30; "Moreover whom He did Predestinate, them He also Called: and whom He Called, them He also Justified: and whom He Justified, them He also Glorified."

This verse implies at least two things:
1.) Not all men are Called (because not all are Justified,
and 2.) those who are Called are Called Effectually (because they are Justified).

"For this reason Scripture teaches that repentence and faith are gifts from God. When an unbeliever repents of his sins and believes in Christ, it is not the fruit of his inherent ability to repent and believe but rather the result of God Opening his heart and Granting him repentance;

Acts 5:31; "Him hath God exalted with His Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

11:18; "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles Granted repentance unto life.

2 Tim. 2:25; "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"

and for God to Grant him faith;

"This is proved by the passages already quoted that designate repentance as a gift of God; because repentance and faith are inseparable graces. Each one, when appearing alone in the Scriptures, embraces the other; for, if this were not true, the passages which mention only the one or the other would teach that one may be saved without both repentance and faith or that the soul might have faith and then afterward be given repentance, causing them to repent of having faith.

Faith is a gift of God, is proved by passages which teach that our coming to Christ and believing on Him are the result of the working of God's Power.

John 6:37, 65; "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I Will in no wise cast out,"

"And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father."

Eph. 1:19, 20; "And what is the Exceeding Greatness of His Power to us-ward who believe, according to the Working of His Mighty Power, 20; "Which He Wrought in Christ, when He Raised Him from the dead, and Set Him at His Own Right Hand in the Heavenly Places,

From SIMMONS- REPENTANCE AND FAITH

The NEW TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

Acts 13:48; "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were Ordained to Eternal Life believed."

18:27; "And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:"

Eph. 2:8-9; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9; "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Phil. 1:29; "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

2 Pet. 1:1; "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:"

Faith is a gift of God is further proven by the fact that faith is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 5:22; "But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"

"Therefore, repentance and faith are not works that man performs in order to earn his salvation—they are the change of heart brought about by God Himself. Salvation is by grace from start to finish.

The OLD TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

"This work of God in changing men’s hearts is reflected in the imagery used in several Old Testament prophecies. For example, God says in

Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26,27.

Jeremiah 24:7, "And I Will give them a heart to know Me, for I Am the Lord;... and they Will Return to Me with their whole heart."

The sinner must turn to God with his whole heart in order to be saved, but it is God who Opens his heart and Enables him to do so. Prior to this, the unbeliever is hardened and unresponsive toward God—his heart is made of stone. Only when God Works in his heart and Effectually Draws him to Christ does he respond to the gospel.

"Left to himself, the unbeliever’s heart will remain evil and enslaved to sin, neither able nor willing to repent of sin and believe in Christ. For him salvation is impossible. But the things impossible with men are possible with God, for He is the One Who takes the initiative in salvation by giving His chosen ones eyes to see, ears to hear, and the heart and ability to respond to the gospel in faith and repentance. Our heart-opening God is truly the God of all grace."

Adapted from https://biblesnet.com/matt-waymeyer-evangelism-101-laying-the-foundation.pdf

It is amazing that for someone who quotes so much scripture you can totally miss what the text actually says.

You are reading all those verses through the lens of your calvinism, which is your first error. When you attempt to make the word of God fit into your religion then you are on the wrong path.

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

Where I disagree is that man who loves the things of this world can and will reject that Gospel message

John 3:5; "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7; "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8; "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

"The Master’s Instruments: Since salvation is solely the work of our heart-opening God, where does that leave man? Does the believer assume any role whatsoever in the salvation of the lost?

"In response to this question, some have insisted that the Christian must passively surrender to the sovereignty of God and simply sit back and wait for God to zap whomever He pleases. What such individuals fail to realize, however, is that just as a surgeon uses special instruments to perform a delicate surgery, so also does God use instruments of His choice to grant new life to a sinner.

"The first instrument employed by the Master Surgeon is a divine instrument, namely the Word of God. James writes, "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth" (James 1:18). Notice that James first states that his readers were "brought forth"—or born again—in the exercise of God’s will. In other words, it was the sovereign purpose of the Lord that they be made alive in Christ. And how was it that He brought them forth in keeping with His sovereign will? They were brought forth, James writes, "by the word of truth." James says the instrument or the means by which God granted them new life was the message of the gospel.

"The Apostle Peter reminds his readers of this truth in similar fashion, writing, "you have been born again…through the living and abiding word of God…which was preached to you" (1 Pet 1:23, 25). Again, Scripture states clearly that God has caused His children to be born again through—or by means of—His word.

"This same teaching is found in Paul’s epistles as well: The apostle reminds Timothy that Scripture is "able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15); he writes to the church at Rome that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17); he tells the Ephesian believers that Jesus has cleansed the church "by the washing of water with the word" (Eph. 5:26); and he assures the Romans that the gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18).

"At this point some may object and say that the gospel is offensive to unbelievers, and that another means must be used in seeking their salvation. After all, it’s so exclusive and intolerant, and not at all what people today are looking for. Preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel simply will not be effective.

"The example of the Apostle Paul, however, points in the opposite direction: "For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom," the apostle writes, "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness…" (1 Cor. 1:22-23). In other words, Paul remained committed to the divine message regardless of its offense, for he knew that it was "to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (v. 24).

"The bottom line is that any doubts regarding the gospel as the God-ordained means through which He saves sinners may be sufficiently put to rest with the simple and wonderful truth that "God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).

"The second of the Master’s instruments is not a divine instrument, but rather a human one, for the gospel message needs a messenger. This simple truth can be seen clearly in Paul’s epistle to Rome, where he writes, "How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14)

"Paul’s point here is not difficult to grasp—sinners cannot believe in the One of whom they have not heard, and they cannot hear of Him without someone preaching to them. In other words, the preaching of the gospel is indispensable to the salvation of the lost.

"God, in His infinite wisdom, was pleased to determine that sinners be saved through a message brought to them by human messengers (i.e. "the message preached" in 1 Cor. 1:21). It is for this reason that the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). Therefore, while the evangelist is not a divine instrument per se, he is a divinely ordained instrument, and one that plays a vital role in God’s plan to save His people.

"Most simply stated, then, evangelism consists of the human messenger proclaiming the divine message to depraved sinners. God is indeed the One who saves, but the Master utilizes instruments of His choice to carry out His work. And these instruments—both the message and the messenger—play an indispensable role in the work whereby our life-giving God does what no human surgeon could ever hope to accomplish."

The choice is given to man by God,

Doesn't it make you wonder why God never said He did this to a lost soul?

 

[Charlie24]

John 3:5; "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7; "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8; "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

"The Master’s Instruments: Since salvation is solely the work of our heart-opening God, where does that leave man? Does the believer assume any role whatsoever in the salvation of the lost?

"In response to this question, some have insisted that the Christian must passively surrender to the sovereignty of God and simply sit back and wait for God to zap whomever He pleases. What such individuals fail to realize, however, is that just as a surgeon uses special instruments to perform a delicate surgery, so also does God use instruments of His choice to grant new life to a sinner.

"The first instrument employed by the Master Surgeon is a divine instrument, namely the Word of God. James writes, "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth" (James 1:18). Notice that James first states that his readers were "brought forth"—or born again—in the exercise of God’s will. In other words, it was the sovereign purpose of the Lord that they be made alive in Christ. And how was it that He brought them forth in keeping with His sovereign will? They were brought forth, James writes, "by the word of truth." James says the instrument or the means by which God granted them new life was the message of the gospel.

"The Apostle Peter reminds his readers of this truth in similar fashion, writing, "you have been born again…through the living and abiding word of God…which was preached to you" (1 Pet 1:23, 25). Again, Scripture states clearly that God has caused His children to be born again through—or by means of—His word.

"This same teaching is found in Paul’s epistles as well: The apostle reminds Timothy that Scripture is "able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15); he writes to the church at Rome that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17); he tells the Ephesian believers that Jesus has cleansed the church "by the washing of water with the word" (Eph. 5:26); and he assures the Romans that the gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18).

"At this point some may object and say that the gospel is offensive to unbelievers, and that another means must be used in seeking their salvation. After all, it’s so exclusive and intolerant, and not at all what people today are looking for. Preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel simply will not be effective.

"The example of the Apostle Paul, however, points in the opposite direction: "For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom," the apostle writes, "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness…" (1 Cor. 1:22-23). In other words, Paul remained committed to the divine message regardless of its offense, for he knew that it was "to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (v. 24).

"The bottom line is that any doubts regarding the gospel as the God-ordained means through which He saves sinners may be sufficiently put to rest with the simple and wonderful truth that "God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).

"The second of the Master’s instruments is not a divine instrument, but rather a human one, for the gospel message needs a messenger. This simple truth can be seen clearly in Paul’s epistle to Rome, where he writes, "How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14)

"Paul’s point here is not difficult to grasp—sinners cannot believe in the One of whom they have not heard, and they cannot hear of Him without someone preaching to them. In other words, the preaching of the gospel is indispensable to the salvation of the lost.

"God, in His infinite wisdom, was pleased to determine that sinners be saved through a message brought to them by human messengers (i.e. "the message preached" in 1 Cor. 1:21). It is for this reason that the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). Therefore, while the evangelist is not a divine instrument per se, he is a divinely ordained instrument, and one that plays a vital role in God’s plan to save His people.

"Most simply stated, then, evangelism consists of the human messenger proclaiming the divine message to depraved sinners. God is indeed the One who saves, but the Master utilizes instruments of His choice to carry out His work. And these instruments—both the message and the messenger—play an indispensable role in the work whereby our life-giving God does what no human surgeon could ever hope to accomplish."

Doesn't it make you wonder why God never said He did this to a lost soul?

I agree with much of what you've said here, and that you give God all the praise and glory for our salvation!

Concerning God giving man the choice to be saved, it's obvious from the very beginning of man that God gives that choice. I don't have to repeat all those verses, you've heard them many times.

It's not so much as to what God said about our salvation, it's what He did. We see it over and over in the Scripture where God stretches out His hand to the salvation of man, but man rejects. That is the history of God's chosen people, Israel.

How can it possibly be that the most popular verse in Scripture has been perverted in assigning an elect group as the world, that Christ died only for an elect group?

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

God wants all of mankind to be saved, there is no excuse for man to get that wrong from Scripture. God help us to understand this.

If man doesn't want God, then God honors that decision and the consequences are no secret to man.

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

I agree with much of what you've said here, and that you give God all the praise and glory for our salvation!

Praise the Lord God Almighty. That's what I try to do, with God's Blessing.

Concerning God giving man the choice to be saved, it's obvious from the very beginning of man that God gives that choice. I don't have to repeat all those verses, you've heard them many times.

Could you name one?

We see it over and over in the Scripture where God stretches out His hand to the salvation of man, but man rejects.

Right. They are all Spiritually blind. No choice is offered.

How can it possibly be that the most popular verse in Scripture has been perverted in assigning an elect group as the world, that Christ died only for an elect group?

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

"Not every man in the world is here meant, or all the individuals of human nature; for all are not the objects of God's Special Love, which is here designed, as appears from the instance and evidence of it, the gift of His Son: nor is Christ God's gift to every one; for to whomsoever He gives His Son, He gives all things freely with Him; which is not the case of every man."

"The whole kingdom of the chosen ones, as consisting of Jews and Gentiles, here designed; for though these are called the world, John 6:33; and are the objects of God's Special Love, and to them Christ is given, and they are brought to believe in him, and shall never perish, but shall be saved with an everlasting salvation; so the Gentiles particularly, and God's elect among them, are meant; who are often called "the world", and "the whole world", and "the nations of the world", as distinct from the Jews; see Romans 11:12, compared with Matthew 6:32.

"For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." John 6:33.

Here in Romans, the Lord EQUATES the word 'world' with 'the Gentiles'.

"Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?"

John 3 Gill's Exposition

God wants all of mankind to be saved

No verse suggests anything like this. This happens to not be true in the least.

there is no excuse for man to get that wrong from Scripture. God help us to understand this.

You prayed here, which is GREAT. Maybe you'll get an answer to that prayer then.

I will believe and have faith you will.

If man doesn't want God, then God honors that decision

Why, then, oh why, doesn't the Bible teach:

If man doesn't want God, then God honors that decision

The lost are all condemned already. They have a Nature that is unable to decide.

18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19; "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20; "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21; "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

Vs 21; "God says the ones who come to Jesus in salvation were wrought in God.

 

[Charlie24]

Praise the Lord God Almighty. That's what I try to do, with God's Blessing.


Could you name one?


Right. They are all Spiritually blind. No choice is offered.


"Not every man in the world is here meant, or all the individuals of human nature; for all are not the objects of God's Special Love, which is here designed, as appears from the instance and evidence of it, the gift of His Son: nor is Christ God's gift to every one; for to whomsoever He gives His Son, He gives all things freely with Him; which is not the case of every man."

"The whole kingdom of the chosen ones, as consisting of Jews and Gentiles, here designed; for though these are called the world, John 6:33; and are the objects of God's Special Love, and to them Christ is given, and they are brought to believe in him, and shall never perish, but shall be saved with an everlasting salvation; so the Gentiles particularly, and God's elect among them, are meant; who are often called "the world", and "the whole world", and "the nations of the world", as distinct from the Jews; see Romans 11:12, compared with Matthew 6:32.

"For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." John 6:33.

Here in Romans, the Lord EQUATES the word 'world' with 'the Gentiles'.

"Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?"

John 3 Gill's Exposition

No verse suggests anything like this. This happens to not be true in the least.


You prayed here, which is GREAT. Maybe you'll get an answer to that prayer then.

I will believe and have faith you will.


Why, then, oh why, doesn't the Bible teach:

The lost are all condemned already. They have a Nature that is unable to decide.

18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19; "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20; "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21; "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

Vs 21; "God says the ones who come to Jesus in salvation were wrought in God.

1 Tim. 2:3-6

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

 

[Charlie24]

1 Tim. 2:3-6

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

2 Peter 3:9

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Ezekiel 33:11

"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

 

[Charlie24]

2 Peter 3:9

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Ezekiel 33:11

"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

Isaiah 1:18-20

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

 

[Charlie24]

Isaiah 1:18-20

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

Matt. 23:37

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

 

[Charlie24]

Matt. 23:37

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

Joshua 24:15

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

 

[Charlie24]

Joshua 24:15

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Rev. 22:17

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

 

[Charlie24]

Rev. 22:17

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Rom. 10:12-13

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

 

[Charlie24]

Rom. 10:12-13

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Acts 10:34-35

"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

 

[Van]

Good Grief, yet another thread making one false claim after another.
1) Does scripture say a lost person cannot understand the gospel. No, some receive it with joy. See soils 2,3 and 4 of Matthew 13. A lost person cannot understand spiritual solid food (meat) which are "the things" in view in 1 Corinthians 2:14.

2) Note the reference to Genesis 6:5 where traditional translations say the wickedness of man (inclusive of every fallen human) was great, and the pattern of the thoughts of his heart were continuously evil. But given Genesis 6:8, that translation misrepresents the message! If it read, wickedness of men, then not all people would be necessarily implied, and if "his heart" had been translated "their heart" then a subset of humanity would be in view. For example,

​

DRA​

And God seeing that the wickedness of men was great on the earth, and that all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all times,​

3) To be enslaved to sin, unable to break free of its outcome of death, does not suggest people do not want to be free, just as Paul did in Romans 7.

4) Yes, an unbeliever is unable to please God, but a person who believes in God can please God, again see Genesis 6:8. Noah was not "made favorable, but was found to already be favorable! Recall God's attributes have been made known by what He has made.

5) Yes, there is no fear within the heart of the ungodly, but others do fear God and seek His refuge.

6) Yes if a professing believers do not love their earthly siblings, they cannot love God. Again and again, the false teacher takes the action of unbelievers and attributes that action to all people. Demonic in its misrepresentation of God's word.

7) Final falsehood, no one claims lost persons make themselves spiritually alive, but that is the false allegation of the opening post. Spiritually dead people seek God, such as the many who seek the narrow door that leads to life. Pay no attention to the deceitful stories, that mislead the unstudied believer, study His word and do not seek to rewrite it according to the traditions of people.

 

[Brightfame52]

@Van

Good Grief, yet another thread making one false claim after another.
1) Does scripture say a lost person cannot understand the gospel. No, some receive it with joy

Yeah however they didnt receive it with understanding as did the good soil Matt 13:23

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

That didnt happen with the joy reception Matt 13:20-21

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

So that invalidates your point

 

[Brightfame52]

1 Tim. 2:3-6

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

Thats all His Covenant People, see Jesus is Mediator of the New Covenant Heb 8:6-11

6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

So the All men in 1 Tim 2 where Jesus is the Mediator has to correspond to the All in Heb 8:11 where Jesus is the Mediator. So its all of the House of Israel for the New Covenant is for them.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

It is amazing that for someone who quotes so much scripture you can totally miss what the text actually says.

You are reading all those verses through the lens of your calvinism, which is your first error. When you attempt to make the word of God fit into your religion then you are on the wrong path.

So he is a calvinist who thinks water baptism saves??

 

[Eternally Grateful]

John 3:5; "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7; "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8; "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

"The Master’s Instruments: Since salvation is solely the work of our heart-opening God, where does that leave man? Does the believer assume any role whatsoever in the salvation of the lost?

"In response to this question, some have insisted that the Christian must passively surrender to the sovereignty of God and simply sit back and wait for God to zap whomever He pleases. What such individuals fail to realize, however, is that just as a surgeon uses special instruments to perform a delicate surgery, so also does God use instruments of His choice to grant new life to a sinner.

"The first instrument employed by the Master Surgeon is a divine instrument, namely the Word of God. James writes, "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth" (James 1:18). Notice that James first states that his readers were "brought forth"—or born again—in the exercise of God’s will. In other words, it was the sovereign purpose of the Lord that they be made alive in Christ. And how was it that He brought them forth in keeping with His sovereign will? They were brought forth, James writes, "by the word of truth." James says the instrument or the means by which God granted them new life was the message of the gospel.

"The Apostle Peter reminds his readers of this truth in similar fashion, writing, "you have been born again…through the living and abiding word of God…which was preached to you" (1 Pet 1:23, 25). Again, Scripture states clearly that God has caused His children to be born again through—or by means of—His word.

"This same teaching is found in Paul’s epistles as well: The apostle reminds Timothy that Scripture is "able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15); he writes to the church at Rome that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17); he tells the Ephesian believers that Jesus has cleansed the church "by the washing of water with the word" (Eph. 5:26); and he assures the Romans that the gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18).

"At this point some may object and say that the gospel is offensive to unbelievers, and that another means must be used in seeking their salvation. After all, it’s so exclusive and intolerant, and not at all what people today are looking for. Preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel simply will not be effective.

"The example of the Apostle Paul, however, points in the opposite direction: "For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom," the apostle writes, "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness…" (1 Cor. 1:22-23). In other words, Paul remained committed to the divine message regardless of its offense, for he knew that it was "to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (v. 24).

"The bottom line is that any doubts regarding the gospel as the God-ordained means through which He saves sinners may be sufficiently put to rest with the simple and wonderful truth that "God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).

"The second of the Master’s instruments is not a divine instrument, but rather a human one, for the gospel message needs a messenger. This simple truth can be seen clearly in Paul’s epistle to Rome, where he writes, "How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14)

"Paul’s point here is not difficult to grasp—sinners cannot believe in the One of whom they have not heard, and they cannot hear of Him without someone preaching to them. In other words, the preaching of the gospel is indispensable to the salvation of the lost.

"God, in His infinite wisdom, was pleased to determine that sinners be saved through a message brought to them by human messengers (i.e. "the message preached" in 1 Cor. 1:21). It is for this reason that the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). Therefore, while the evangelist is not a divine instrument per se, he is a divinely ordained instrument, and one that plays a vital role in God’s plan to save His people.

"Most simply stated, then, evangelism consists of the human messenger proclaiming the divine message to depraved sinners. God is indeed the One who saves, but the Master utilizes instruments of His choice to carry out His work. And these instruments—both the message and the messenger—play an indispensable role in the work whereby our life-giving God does what no human surgeon could ever hope to accomplish."

Doesn't it make you wonder why God never said He did this to a lost soul?

you missed the most important message Jesus gave in this passage.

After Nicodemus asked. :how can these things be" ie. how does this happen..

As Moses lifted the serpent.

here is the key words.. Go to the story. God had moses lift the serpent. whoever in faith looked lived. whoever did nto look in unbelief died.. They had to make a choice. God did not force one group to look and keep another group from looking. They did it on their own.

In the same token, the son of man must also be lifted. that whoever believes will never perish but live forever. He who believes is not condemned, He who does not believe is condemned already.. why? Because he is depraved? Because God kept the truth from him? No. Because he did not believe

 

[Van]

@Van



Yeah however they didnt receive it with understanding as did the good soil Matt 13:23

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

That didnt happen with the joy reception Matt 13:20-21

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

So that invalidates your point

Yet another non sequitur! The passage has no mention of "receiving understanding supernaturally via "irresistible grace." That view is simply read into the passage by those who must rewrite scripture to conform with false doctrine.

First they claim the lost cannot understand, based on rewriting 1 Cor. 2:14 as if it said "all the things," then we some of the things are understood, they did not receive it with the necessary understanding. The good ground receives the gospel as stated, rather than rewriting it to conform to the traditions of men.