Any responses? I'm attempting to find out the mind set which leads some to conclude that the gospel, a gracious work of the Spirit, could be proclaimed and rejected and then deemed as NOT being a gracious work of the Spirit on the basis that it was rejected.
The gospel...[good news} is only good news to the sheep.
Not knowing who the sheep are before they confess Christ.God uses us to proclaim to all men everywhere that Jesus has died to save sinners.
The message is good news is a great promise to the sheep of the joy and certainty of eternal life......but a goat is promised only this if they remain in their rejection...
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
The same promise has two different outcomes...like here -
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 And it came between the camp of
the Egyptians and
the camp of Israel;
and it was a cloud and darkness to them,
but it gave light by night to these:
so that the one came not near the other all the night.
That is why Jesus taught about the necessity of regeneration to have saving faith,and repentance at conversion....
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 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.
here is another example;
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said,
Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Unless and until God opened his eyes to the spiritual realm....who could look all day ...but never see ....not because he did not have physical eyesight....but SPIRITUAL GOD GIVEN SIGHT>>>>
Hope this was helpful to you in your quest for knowledge of these things:wavey:
