DHK said:
I was going to bow out of this discussion because I have already answered all these questions in my previous posts to you where I carefully explained to you what the atonement was, how it was made for all men, etc. But you either did not read what I posted, ignored it, didn't understand it (doubtful), or are just plain obstinate and want to put your ideas across again and again and again, no matter who answers them? Is that the case HP? This does get tiresome. Your questions have been answered. Why should one keep on answering them over and over again? Can you give me a good reason.
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"Why do some have a desire and others not?" The Holy Spirit convicts some of their sin. Others refuse the conviciction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can be resisted. See Acts 7, where it is obvious the Holy Spirit was resisted and Stephen was stoned. But later Paul repented and was saved. I believe a large part of that was because of what happened at the stoning of Stephen.
Scripture clearly teaches two calls. One can be resisted. The call of the Elect cannot be. Notice:
Joh 6:37 All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will in no way cast out.
How many who are given by the father will come?? How many will be cast out?
Joh 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Who can come to Jesus? Why all who are drawn by the father, and no one else, according to this verse. What will happen to those who are drawn on the last day? Why, they will be "raised up" (a euphemism for salvation).
Can one desire for something they have not heard?
I dealt with that question too. Why don't I just say: go back and read my posts. God will provide a way to anyone who earnestly desires to know the truth a way to hear it. In fact he has promised in His Word:
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
--If you don't understand it, just accept it by faith. It is God's Word not mine.
This is why it is important not to use the KJV as your primary translation. Some of the renderings fro Greek are horrible. Look at it from the ESV:
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
This is the correct rendering of that verse. The Grace of God has appeared (not to everyone, necessarily) bringing salvation to "all" (some of all types: i.e. all races not just the Jews) men. Obviously, your argument falls apart, when a proper translation is used. Salvation has obviously not come to all (as in every individual), for this would teach universalism.
All have the capacity of hearing.
Thats not what Paul says.
Rom 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Rom 10:15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
--I suppose he tears it out of his Bible.
Or perhaps he/she is not reading a Bible that has parts made up by a 16th century Catholic Humanist, based on a very late text, which has improper Greek renderings throughout?
If HP were truly concerned about the lost he would be a missionary to those who had never heard so that they could hear and be saved.
We should all be concerned. However, God is responsible for salvation. It is not according to Human will at all.
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God has written his law in the hearts of every man.
Romans 1:20 tells us that they are without excuse for not being saved.
Romans 2:14, 15 tells us that their conscience bears them witness, while accusing or excusing one another.
They have no excuse. God will provide a way if they so desire to hear the message of God. He has promised to do so.
I suggest you go back and read my previous posts and try to find a better understanding of these questions that I already have answered for you.
Nowhere in scripture does God promise to give every man in the world a chance to hear the Gospel. God clearly predestines those who will be saved. I would like to point out though, that this thread is supposed to be debating the "P", and not the "U". (TULIP)