Dead in Sin

[Ben1445]

You seem for some reason to believe that my two comments which you quoted are contradictory. I wonder why you would believe that. They are actually complimentary.

I referenced Acts 13:48. 'Now when the Gentiles heard this [that salvation through Christ is for all peoples], they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.' Not everybody who was glad to hear the words of Paul and Barnabas, and gorified the word of God actually came to saving faith. The reason for that was their own sinful unbelieving hearts. 'Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil' (John 3:19). They liked the idea of being saved, but they weren't prepared to give up their sinful lives and trust in Christ. But those who were ordained or appointed to eternal life placed their hope in Christ and turned away from sin.

So why did these people do that? We are helped by Acts 16:14, which I also referenced above. 'Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.' Lydia was a 'God-fearer' (c.f. Acts10:2; 13:16) or 'God-worshipper,' meaning that she attended a local synagogue and heard the sermons of the Rabbis, but was not a convert to Judaism. She had probably never heard of Jesus Christ before. She, like Cornelius (Acts 11:13-14) needed to be saved, and the Lord, in His mercy, opened her heart that she might believe and come to salvation. Withour a new birth, she could neither have seen (comprehended) nor entered the kingdom of God. She did not open her own heart, nor did Paul's excellent preaching open it; but God opened her heart to receive Paul's words, not just into her ears, but into her heart. What He did for Lydia, He also did for the Gentile believers in Pisidian Antioch.

So yes, I preach that everyone who repents and trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. In that I am doing no more than following a great crowd of faithful Calvinist preachers, some of whom I have mentioned above. But when they reach heaven, if not before, they will, like you discover that God has loved them from eternity with an everlasting love and in time has graciously given them new birth and opened their hearts to trust in Chrsit for salvation. Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9; Rev. 7:10).

Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. It is not Paul’s word that Paul preached. It is God’s Word that changes people. Every time God’s Word goes out, it is God reaching out to people. It is God seeking people. And the wicked people refuse.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

It is not because Jesus Christ did not have the power or authority to make them, John Calvin regenerate. It is because God does not do that and He calls, even when people refuse to believe Him.

Psalms 78:41
Yea, they turned back and tempted God,
and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Can God be held back? Scripture says that He allows Himself to be limited by men.

And once again, Lydia is already serving the Lord where she is. She has just not been given knowledge of the Saviour. Jesus has just recently been given as the Name to call upon.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. It is not Paul’s word that Paul preached. It is God’s Word that changes people. Every time God’s Word goes out, it is God reaching out to people. It is God seeking people. And the wicked people refuse.

The Bible doesn't say that God reached out to Lydia in the sense that she could take it or leave it. The Bible says that He opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul, which were , no doubt, the word of God. 'The preaching of the word of God is the word of God' (H. Bullinger).

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

It is not because Jesus Christ did not have the power or authority to make them, John Calvin regenerate. It is because God does not do that and He calls, even when people refuse to believe Him.

God's word goes out to all; on that we are agreed. 'But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God....' 'There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.' 'So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.' Unless God someone's heart to believe, he will not do so - not because God prevents Him, but because he has a sinfull, unbelieving heart

...'
Psalms 78:41
Yea, they turned back and tempted God,
and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Spurgeon on Psalm 78:41. 'Doubted His power and so limited Him, dictated to His wisdom and so did the same. To chalk out a path for God is arrogant impiety. The Holy One must do right, the covenant God of Israel must be true [and] it is profanity itself to say unto Him, thou shalt do this or that, or otherwise I will not worship Theee.' Not thus is the Eternal God to be led by a string by His impotent creatures. He is the Lord and will do as seemeth Him good (1 Sam. 3:18. M.M.). [C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Vol.2]

Can God be held back? Scripture says that He allows Himself to be limited by men.

God is not mocked (Gal. 6:7; c.f. also Psalm 115:3).

And once again, Lydia is already serving the Lord where she is. She has just not been given knowledge of the Saviour. Jesus has just recently been given as the Name to call upon.

Lydia was not serving the Lord until she knew Him (John 14:6). She may have been seeking Him, but if so, that is also of the Lord (John 6:44 etc.).

That is all I shall be able to write here until after the Lord's Day.

 

[Silverhair]

You seem for some reason to believe that my two comments which you quoted are contradictory. I wonder why you would believe that. They are actually complimentary.

I do wonder why you would think being born again before you believe and being born again when you believe are complimentary. It does seem that you do believe what Boettner said,"A man is not saved because he believes in Christ, he believes in Christ because he is saved." as you, in this post, have supported that view once again

I referenced Acts 13:48. 'Now when the Gentiles heard this [that salvation through Christ is for all peoples], they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.'

I agree that not everyone that hears the gospel message will turn to Christ in faith which just shows them exercising their free will. What we do know from the text is that some of them "heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord" In other words they believed the gospel message and were saved, not because God had pre chosen them but because they had responded in faith.

We see this stated clearly in Paul's words
Act 16:30 ... "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Act 16:31 ... "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,...

You have the order backwards Martin.

Note that Luke says “[The Gentiles] were appointed to eternal life.” He does not say that they were appointed to believe. “What concerns him is that eternal life is not only received by faith, but is essentially the plan of God.” Baker's New Testament Commentary

In the NT we find “to determine” in Act_15:2, “to appoint” in Act_28:23, and “to order” in Mat_28:16. God orders or appoints (passive voice) in Act_22:10. Christians are ordained to eternal life in Act_13:48; conferring of status rather than foreordination is the point. TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

There is no evidence that Luke had in mind an absolutum decretum of personal salvation. Paul had shown that God’s plan extended to and included Gentiles. Certainly the Spirit of God does move upon the human heart to which some respond, as here, while others push him away. RWP Word Pictures in the New Testament

So why did these people do that? We are helped by Acts 16:14, which I also referenced above. 'Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.'

And again in the case of both Lydia and Cornelius they responded to the gospel message in faith and were saved. That is the power of the gospel. Rom 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,..."
Even though both knew of and trusted in the God of the Jews both upon hearing the gospel message exercised their free will and trusted in Christ Jesus and were saved.

So yes, I preach that everyone who repents and trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. In that I am doing no more than following a great crowd of faithful Calvinist preachers,

God has not just loved those that have or will beleve He loves the whole world {Joh 3:16} and desires all to repent and be saved {1Ti 2:3-4}. That is why He sent Christ Jesus {Joh 3:17}

So while you may follow the great crowd of faithful Calvinist preachers it seems you have moved away from the truth of scripture. You have people saved before they believe in Christ Jesus.

This is what you said in post # 48
First, someone must be born again; then he will repent and trust in Christ.

Then you said this in your post
She, like Cornelius (Acts 11:13-14) needed to be saved, and the Lord, in His mercy, opened her heart that she might believe and come to salvation.

Thus you can see the confusion, is it
saved to believe
or
believe to be saved