Featured Biblical Human Will Limitations

You don't seem to have understood my question. If Jesus is talking about eternal salvation in Luke 13:24, then "Strive to enter" means struggle to get saved, and "many will seek to enter and not be able" means there will be many who want to be eternally saved who will not be able to do so. That makes no sense, especially in this context and with this audience in Luke 13. Eternal salvation is not under discussion; rather, it is God's coming kingdom, fulfilling His OT covenant promises to Israel. They aren't the same thing.

 

I don't know what game you think is being played. I do know you can't seem to answer my simple question about Jesus' use of the present imperative in Luke 13:24. I'm pretty sure you can't explain it because your interpretation inevitably forces the conclusion of salvation by works. Your contention is that Jesus is saying we must continuously strive to enter into salvation. I disagree.

 

Jesus can't be talking about seeking salvation in Luke 13:24 because salvation does not require a constant struggle. I have clearly and repeatedly made this point, and you have clearly and repeatedly failed to address it.

 

The issue is, did Jesus say many seek salvation in Luke 13:24, the verse you cite as a refutation of "bogus doctrine." The answer is NO, Jesus did NOT say many seek salvation in Luke 13:24. Whatever the merits of your position on the ability of unregenerate people to come to saving faith, this passage is not pertinent. If you truly advocate salvation by grace alone through faith alone you cannot understand Jesus to be talking about eternal salvation in Luke 13:24, because continual struggle is not required for salvation. You need to build your case on other scripture. It is that simple.

 

So you believe in salvation by "continual endeavor"? Changing the translation hardly solves the problem with your view. Endeavor is not faith, and Jesus nowhere offers Himself as an object for salvation faith in this context.

 

If your claim about falsifiers is true, one had better not be guilty of putting the disinformation words "our endeavor seeking does not stop when found" in the mouths of others, no?

Let's say you're right, and entrance into the narrow gate means salvation. Jesus then goes on to say many will seek to enter but not be able to, because In your view they are trying to get saved by works (you referenced "all those seeking salvation by works of the Law" above). So then in your view the next six verses (Luke 13:25-30) are also talking about those who are saved (inside the door) and the unsaved (those outside seeking to enter and pleading their works). Am I correct?

 

Lessons in Calvinism.
MB

 

In your view Jesus is not talking to the saved in Luke 13:24, who would certainly no longer need to strive for what they have already found. In your view Jesus is talking to the unsaved, telling them to "keep on struggling" to enter into eternal life. That, my friend, is salvation by works. Your point about when the struggling would end doesn't change the inescapable conclusion that if struggling/striving/endeavoring is required to enter into salvation it is no longer by faith alone.

Such as struggling/striving/endeavoring; I fully agree. That's how we know Luke 13:24 is not about eternal salvation.

 

Peace to you

 

"Keep on striving/struggling/endeavoring to enter" are JESUS' words. Look up ἀγωνίζομαι in the lexicon; "struggle" is a primary meaning. By the way, it is translated "fight" in 1 Timothy 6:12 where it occurs in the same present middle imperative form as Luke 13:24.

The only person here associating Jesus' words "Strive to enter" with salvation is you, my friend. I know salvation is not what He is talking about, because His subject is the kingdom, not eternal salvation, and we are not commanded to "strive" to be saved.

Scripture should dictate our theological understanding, not the other way around.