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Can one be saved through general revelation? Why or why not?

In part. There were a remnant reserved from the hardening. Paul would have been one of those 'individuals' chosen for the 'noble purpose' of being an apostle, while most of the rest of Israel was being hardened. But that doesn't mean they can't be saved. In fact, in Romans 11:14, Paul...

Percho, I'm not sure what point you are attempting to make. Sorry. Maybe you can clarify?

But how, if he is truly dead and gone, will he actually receive the call, much lest reject it? For a corpse can no more reject a calling than he can receive it. :laugh:

Oh, I agree. And the hardened Israelites of the first century couldn't receive it, but that is not a natural condition of all mankind from birth as Calvinism's "Total Inability" suggests. Consider as proof Acts 28: 26 " 'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never...

I didn't mean to suggest that all the nations hear it, I meant to suggest that all the different nations being represented by all the different Gentile individuals were proving that they were appointed to eternal life by God through their faith in the message. I've actually always argued that...

If your comparing the severity of that condition with the power of its potential cure, it most certainly does. I address this in the post you quoted, but you didn't address those arguments, so I'll just refer you back to them... Yes, but by what means? What means are said to be powerful and...

Yes, and the Holy Spirit's work in first bringing the gospel to mankind through divine inspiration. The dispersion of the gospel appeal to all the world, through the means of the church, is a WORK of God! It is God in Christ reconciling the world to himself and we have been given the ministry...

Israel is a nation, right? Is Gentiles a nation? Obviously not. It just means, "non-Jew." Right? The Gentiles are made up of MANY nations...Samaritans, Philistines, Egyptians etc etc etc. Which of these nations did God appoint to eternal life? Which of these nations did God grant...

All three of these passage are communicating basically the same message, which is... Natural man, if left to himself, (1) cannot please God, (2) cannot understand things of the Spirit of God, and (3) cannot make themselves alive UNLESS enabled by an act of Grace. But praise be to God, man is...

What becomes confusing in this discussion (among other things) is that Calvinists readily refer to the work of Regeneration as being a 'work of the Holy Spirit,' as you did above, while at the same time seeming to forget that the spread of the outward Gospel appeal is likewise a gracious work of...

You seem to contradict yourself. You say first that the gospel is "not offering," but then say the elect can receive the offer? How do they receive it as an offer if its only an announcement? Plus, can you explain why Paul calls the gospel an 'appeal to be reconciled?' As my last post...

Will you define what you mean by 'good' in this post? Do you mean 'in accordance with God's command or desire?' Because many unbelievers follow the rules are do 'good things', as scriptures testify. Some even pay tithes and care for their family, etc. OR Do you mean 'meritorious' or...

I understand as I used to argue for this position years ago, but allow me to restate what you believe for clarity: You believe the natural (unregenerate) man is totally unable to respond to God's appeal for reconciliation unless God acts effectually to regenerate (give a new nature) to that...

First, I want to commend you all on a great discussion. I've been encouraged by this thread. Thank you for that! It is amazing how a brotherly discussion over differences can be edifying and informative. I especially appreciate Allan's attention to details and definitions (I've missed his...

Why would you call an inward work of regeneration by which our nature is transformed and we are reborn a "CALLING" in the first place? Don't Calvinists believe that regeneration simply awakens the elect to the gospel's call? If so, why would regeneration be referred to as a "call" in some...

Again, I challenge you to apply your individualized approach in Romans 11 and see where that leads. At least in our perspective we apply the SAME hermenutic through the entire book, whereas you are forced to go from individualized interpretation to a corporate one. Plus, our perspective...

Zrs, it is simply a perspective shift regarding how we understand the intent of the author when speaking about predestination and election. Leo Garrett, in his well known Systematic Theology, wrote this on the subject: "From Augustine of Hippo to the twentieth century, Western Christianity has...

As my previous response indicated, and Allan eloquently explained, there are certainly two ways to interpret the scriptures reference to believers as being 'called ones.' 1. That there are two different callings (one universal/one effectual) and only a particular number are called by both...