Featured Can You Come to Christ on Your Own

"Duty-Faith is a doctrine which asserts that it is the duty of unregenerate sinners to savingly believe on Christ. There are two branches of Duty-Faith: (1) The Arminians (Free-Willers), who hold that it is the ‘spiritual duty’ of the unregenerate to exercise saving faith in order to be born again—they believe faith precedes regeneration; (2) The Moderate-Calvinists (Fullerites), who hold that it is the ‘moral duty’ of the unregenerate to exercise saving faith unto salvation—they believe the unregenerate are unable to exercise saving faith before regeneration, but that it remains their duty to do so.

Whereas the High-Calvinists and Moderate-Calvinists agree the first branch of Duty-Faith is a false doctrine, yet they do not agree on the second branch, as Piper’s comments affirm. High-Calvinists reject both branches of Duty-Faith, believing that saving faith is a spiritual/moral duty binding only upon those who have been regenerated."
The Association of Historic Baptists » 6. It Is The Moral Duty Of All Sinners To Savingly Believe On Christ?

 

For what? To go to heaven?

If something is required then it is not a "free gift".

Those believing are already in possession of eternal life.

 

....I think I'll leave you to it, Dave...

 

The all men commanded in Acts 17 are the regenerated elect, the Spiritual seed of Abraham, throughout the world. God doesnt command the unregenerate to repent, for they are obligated to the law which is no repentance.

 

The Law is the Law from creation. Thats like asking why did God command Adam[man in him] a law He knew Adam couldn't keep. And there isnt any repentance under the Law, you either obey or die. Repentance comes through the Covenant of Grace, which comes by Christ. Jn 1:17
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Now, them Christ died for, and divorced from the Law Rom 7:4

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Now these will be given repentance Acts 5:31

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Thats who is commanded to repent, but if Christ didnt die for you, your obligation is to the Law, you havent been made free from it by Christs death.

So repentance is only commanded to the regenerated elect, who have no ties to the Law Covenant as the non elect do.

 

"...Moderate-Calvinists believe the High-Calvinists are in error because they have negated the sinner’s responsibility (moral duty) to believe, based on the sinner’s inability (spiritual ability) to believe. They argue, ’The sinner’s inability (spiritual ability) does not nullify the sinner’s responsibility (moral duty) to believe on Christ to the saving of the soul’. On the basis of this argument, Moderate-Calvinists tend to be quite certain they have won the high ground on the issue...."
The Association of Historic Baptists » 6. It Is The Moral Duty Of All Sinners To Savingly Believe On Christ?

 

I believe what I just posted and you read ? Do you need clarification ?

 

For heaven’s sake, How can the blind see, 2Cor. 4:1-6? How can the ignorant Hear, Rev. 3:20? How can the dead/inert respond to the message and be free from Satan’s slavery, 2Tim. 2:19-26? We need a Savior; not a choice! But remember that only the elect will not be deceived, 2 Tim. 3:12-13, Mark 13:21-22.)

 

Mark 1:14-15. 'Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel."'

So to whom was our Lord speaking? To everyone within earshot; it was a 'general call.' There is no suggestion in the text that He was limiting His preaching to just certain people. He is Lord of Lords and King of kings, therefore it is the duty of everyone who hears to obey His command, repent and believe the gospel. Did everyone who heard repent and believe? It appears not. 'And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world and men preferred darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil' (John 3:19). Men are not willing to forsake their sins; they prefer to carry on with them as I did for many years. Our Lord declares, "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people' (Romans 10:21, quoting Isaiah 65:2).
But,
'After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.' Now who found whom? Jesus found Levi. We may say, "I found Jesus," but the fact is that He first finds us (c.f. 1 John 4:19). Here is the 'particular call,' and Levi obeys it. 'Your people shall be volunteers in the day of your power.'

 

There is no such thing as a "moderate calvinist." There are people who pick which of the 5 major tenets of Calvinist soteriology they accept or reject. In rejecting some of the tenets they immediately declare themselves to be comfortable in living with contradiction and no resolution. They are, at any point of rejecting a tenet, no longer calvinists.

 

What would you call them then? Perhaps Arminians!

oh I have it, Cal-Minian, a coined term that attempts to depict a theological ground half-way between Calvinism and Arminianism! Personally, It’s a very shrewd posture to take if you want to capture more people for your new religious agenda. Good work Andy… get close enough to Gill to mimic many of his doctrines, namely DOG, but continue slipping in questions & innuendo, just enough to create controversy. Then add side comments that you’re the instrument (of God) that will eradicate High Calvinism … hint, call it Hyper Calvinism at party’s and get togethers for added effect. Shrewd… you must have worked way into the night to come up with that game plan.

 

Exactly!