Cain was totally depraved
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Agreed, as I said before, Cain is an enigma and yes he is probably a special early on case to show that God indeed has a relationship with every individual which must of necessity begin with reproval of sin but can go no further than confrontational until there is a born again experience (which IMO is called the circumcision of the heart in the OT). No doubt Abel went through this as well, however he came to the light.Touche'. Good post.
Now, what I was driving at is that in regards to the unregenerate praying to Him and He honoring their prayers. On FB, many will post prayer requests and their friends will say they will be praying for them, and they life anything but God-honoring lives. I just don't believe He answers them. Yes, He did answer Cain's.
But notice Cain never sought reconciliation with God. Never showed any remorse/repentance, either.
All I am saying is that all faiths are not the same. The faith one exercises towards their spouse, chair, car, family, friends, &c, is innate. But that faith is not the same faith one exercises in their walk with God. One is innate, the other a divine gift.No, and you of all people should be more agreeable to my position, or at least understand it.
You admit that there is faith outside of what you term as "saving faith." So it is true that all men have faith. It is just not the "saving faith" as you describe it, true enough?
Thus we all have faith. Cain had faith, but we cannot with absolute authority exegete that passage because we don't know the mind of Cain. We can only go as far as the Scripture tells us.
Was he offering in faith that God would accept his sacrifice of works. Many people do today, and I think you know that to be true. They are sincere, but sincerely wrong. But with Cain, it is doubtful whether or not he was even sincere when we look at 1John 3:12
1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
--It seems to indicate that he was not sincere at all but was in outright rebellion against God. If so, he was not offering anything in faith.
I agree with all that you say except for one small point. I simply don't believe that God has to give you the faith to believe in Him. That is the only point in which we disagree.All I am saying is that all faiths are not the same. The faith one exercises towards their spouse, chair, car, family, friends, &c, is innate. But that faith is not the same faith one exercises in their walk with God. One is innate, the other a divine gift.
Just like love. The love one has towards family, friends, spouse, coworkers, &c, resonnates from within man. It is an innate love. The ones who love God have been born of God, born of love.
Just the same as with faith. One who truly exercises faith towards God has been of of that faith.
Cain was devoid of the faith necessary to trust God. Those who place their faith in Him, have been born of that faith.
Cain was totally depraved
Agreed, as I said before, Cain is an enigma and yes he is probably a special early on case to show that God indeed has a relationship with every individual which must of necessity begin with reproval of sin but can go no further than confrontational until there is a born again experience (which IMO is called the circumcision of the heart in the OT). No doubt Abel went through this as well, however he came to the light.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
And yes we also agree that Cain departed from the Lord -
Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Good discussion SG.
HankD
Yes.Was he born that way?
that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
What does it mean that his works are wrought in God? Were Abel's works, caused to exist, in God, therefore they were manifested?
Was Abel, of faith, see Hebrews 11, because he was born that way, ie, predestined, conformed to the image of the Son of God? Consider.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Gen 3:15 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Gen 4:1,2 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Gen 4:25
Yes....from his conception.Was he born that way?
Is God interested in salvation of ALL men?Yes....from his conception.
Belief come from within us according to the term used in verse 6
Hand me down from whom? Just reading and finding the Greek definitions. Where does your theology come from? Was it handed down to you too? My Pastor I grew up under taught one very important thing. Never believe anything your taught until you have proven it. That is why I always look at both views with an open mind and have ask the Holy Spirit to guide me to the truth. 1 Thes. 5:21, 1 John 4:1,1, Heb. 5:21.Um. No. Simply more Finneyist Pelagianism on your part. You cannot see past your hand me down theological presuppositions.
The "few" are those who want God the rest do not want God and He accommodates them with eternal separation.Is God interested in salvation of ALL men?
BecauSe if He does, but then proceeds to dish out life jackets(faith) to a few, the rest will simply perish, which contradicts His will/intention to save all. Else how can He intend to save ALL yet He affords salvation tools (faith) to a few?
God has never intended to save all men without exception.Is God interested in salvation of ALL men?
BecauSe if He does, but then proceeds to dish out life jackets(faith) to a few, the rest will simply perish, which contradicts His will/intention to save all. Else how can He intend to save ALL yet He affords salvation tools (faith) to a few?
The flood in Noah's day was not intended to save all men. It was only a means to deliver those 8 souls from the world of the ungodly. God preserved the Godly line by that flood.God has never intended to save all men without exception.
If God did not elect a multitude of sinners in Himself, no one would ever be saved.
God being perfect in all ways is saving all His Sheep.
Theses are the people (verse 13) whose works are "wrought in God".
John 1
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Why try to go any deeper percho -why try to figure out all the mysteries of God's love?
"but rather rejoice, because your name is written in heaven".
All that matters is that you are born again brother.
HankD
Never....not one time are we said to be saved...BECAUSE of faith.Hebrews 11:5-7
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
He rewards those who diligently seek Him. The Greek uses ekzeteo = Thayer’s Strong’s places these as the use of that word by the Author of Hebrews.
1. To seek out, search
2. To seek out i.e. investigate, scrutinize
3. To seek for one’s self, beg, crave
4. To demand back, require.
God rewards those who seek out diligently seek Him out. Enoch sought Him out and walked with Him and God Translated Him, that is snatched Him out. Noah found grace because of Faith and believed in things not yet seen all by Faith.
The word for faith in verses 5- 7 is pistis= Thayer/Strong’s=
1. Conviction of the truth of anything, belief, in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it
1. Relating to God
a. The conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
2. Relating to Christ
1. A strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
3. The religious beliefs of Christians.
4. Belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, Springing from faith in the same.
2. Fidelity, faithfulness
1. The character of one who can be relied on
The same Faith required for Noah and Enoch is the same Faith we have innately in us, without it we cannot please God. We come to God and when we come to Him we must believe, pisteuo
Thayer/ Strong’s
1. To think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
a. Of the thing believed,
1. To credit, have confidence
2. In a moral or religious reference.
1. Used in NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law od soul.
2. To Trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or doing something: saving faith
1bc) mere acknowledgement of some fact ot event: intellectual faith
2. To entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity
1. To be entrusted with a thing
Belief come from within us according to the term used in verse 6 He rewards those who diligently seek Him with salvation by Believing that He is the rewarded of those who diligently seek Him.
Cain failed to follow what God required, simple faith. Faith that a Savior was coming and salvation was not by His works, he needed on to believe and he chose to follow his own way, the Way of Cain.
The flood in Noah's day was not intended to save all men. It was only a means to deliver those 8 souls from the world of the ungodly. God preserved the Godly line by that flood.
Fire and Brimstone was meant to destroy the wicked sodomites, not save them. God preserved just Lot preserving the Godly line.
In the Exodus God delivered Those identified with Moses......the water they passed through was death to the Egyptian soldiers.....it was not meant to save them.God preserved the Godly line.
God we are told is long suffering in our day......not willing that any perish.....
Any of His elect sheep that is....He is seeking and saving everyone of them as He preserves the Godly line.
We all belong to the Lord.God has never intended to save all men without exception.
If God did not elect a multitude of sinners in Himself, no one would ever be saved.
God being perfect in all ways is saving all His Sheep.