Featured Four questions for Calvinists.

I think you focus too much focus on reasons and limits for people not to have the spirit.

Luke 1
41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43“And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44“For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.


All Mary had to do is say "HI".

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.


We see with Jesus and Stephen mercy directed to people who are direct enemies, for anyone to receive any desire of mercy is itself a grace. There is no qualification for it.

Paul was hunting down Christians, he's already far along to rejecting he says he was in blasphemy.

But Jesus intervenes.



In his own testimony he not only is disqualified he considered part of the reason he was saved so undeserving was to express just how great the patience and mercy of God was.

1 timothy 1

13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.


Its his actually being evil and ignorant which motivates grace to show up.

Romans 5

20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.


Of course that doesn't mean go be evil and ignorant so grace of God shows up.

Romans 6
1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Doctor is for the sick.

Same time its not just a Chain-Letter gospel, Its not something preached only on the sake of being preached.

Romans 2
13for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.


James 2
22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.


The only way to preach the whole gospel is to do it. Saying it is just half the gospel.

 

If they aren't relevant then they bad points. They are very relevant however. Because we are not limited to the "hearing of faith".

GOOD SEMARITIN would be another good example.

The Pharisees rather call him the Damned Samaritan.




Instantaneous regeneration is a joke.

A good faith can move mountains folks yet "fully regenerated" faith can barely move mouse pointers.

 

God can do anything He wants (Psalm 135:6), but His usual way of salvation is by the hearing of the word of God (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23).

No.

It is God Himself who gives the Spirit (Matthew 16:7; Acts 16:14).

No.

Because both faith and the Holy Spirit are gifts of God.

No so. Regeneration is necessary for the hearing of faith. (Matthew 13:9; 1 Corinthians 2:14).

I think you'll find it is, in the way you are presenting it.

I think that those who believe that regeneration is a one-off instantaneous affair will always have a problem sorting out these matters. It is much better IMHO to see the New Birth, like a natural birth, as being a process which begins with effectual calling and ends with repentance and faith.

I have tried to work this out in a blog post which may be read here:
https://marprelate.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/new-birth-7-the-order-of-the-new-birth/

 

We might encounter someone thrashing about attacking people.

Turns out his blood sugar is low, he is a diabetic, Between us He is innocent. JUSTIFIED.

He is innocent in every way JUSTIFIED.

Just cause we know he is innocent is he alright?

Is he ok though? no he screaming, worst then a drunk.

We get him a coke and some candy, he needs sugar. After a while he's ok.......REGENERATED.



You were JUSTIFIED at the cross. The mercy and innocence was all decided at the cross.

Romans 5

8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

It doesn't say you were regenerated "while we were yet sinners".

Carefully read verse 9. NOW been justified, "we shall be saved" Instead of "we HAVE BEEN saved"



Now the GOOD SAMARITIN is Jesus' example of AGAPE of NEIGHBOR.

We don't know the religion of victim, and obviously the Samaritan is not a Christian(at least to the standard of some folks)

You said the point is who are "WE" to love. Who is "WE"?.....this teaching was directed to a PHARISEE lawyer.

The point of this message is capability to do God's will outside of religion. The first 2 were of same religion and did nothing.




"As to the first statement, are you saying a person can be converted without hearing the gospel and without faith. I would strongly disagree."

Paul is perfect example. Show me where he heard the gospel, had Faith, THEN received the merciful intervention from God.

No. He got saved, WHILE hunting down Christians.

Acts 9

1Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

Look real close. NO faith, NO gospel. and he's already calling JESUS LORD!

BEFORE he even knows who he is!


This is perfect proof. No faith, No gospel, No works. Completely disqualified, Plenty of folks would say Paul does not deserve any of this.

We can definitely find someone JUST LIKE PAUL TODAY. Imagine a terrorist. You think he deserves to be saved?

 

!1 also a "trick question:, as those whom God intended the Cross to save will end up getting saved, and they still need to hear the Gospel and believe on HIm...

 

Gal. 3:2. 'This only I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith.' What this text cannot mean is that unregenerate Galatians heard, responded savingly to the Gospel, and then received the Spirit. That would contradict 1 Corinthians 2:14 and Ephesians 2:4-10. Some commentators are of the opinion that Gal. 3:2 is referring to the 'Sign Gifts' which were about in those early days. God must give us eyes to see and ears to hear before we can come to faith in Christ (cf. Deuteronomy 29:4; Matthew 11:15 etc.).

My friend, I've tried several times to explain this to you. Yes, it is God alone who regenerates. But under your system, and that of Wesley, Man, as it were, holds an armlock on God and He cannot regenerate unless Man cooperates by not resisting His grace. That is Synergism. I am well acquainted with your Wesley quote, but it does not actually mention Monergism or Synergism. A very helpful book on this subject is John Wesley: in the Reformation Tradition by Roland Burrows (Tentmaker Productions. ISBN 978-1-901670-88-2). It explains his views in great depth. I have much admiration for Wesley; he did an amazing work in Britain and was used by God in the salvation of thousands, but alas, it was flawed in various ways, and the baneful results may be seen to this day.

'No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him' (John 6:44). God must give life to the dead before they can hear the Gospel.

 

A man is never said to be saved.....because of faith....
He is saved..... by, or though faith....never....because of faith.
It happens at one point in time....a person can be convicted and drawn for awhile....but when the Spirit quickens him, it is game over.

A lost sheep lives as a lost person, until Jesus seeks and saves him.
EZK34..... For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.