Get Yourselves A New Heart

[InTheLight]

Calvinists contend that man cannot believe until he is regenerated, or given a new heart. They cite Ezekiel 36:26. But what about this passage?

Ezekiel 18

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord GOD. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”

 

[InTheLight]

Thirty views of this thread and not one comment? Here we have God telling humans to do something to save their souls. Is there no one from the Reformed camp that wants to take on these verses?

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Thirty views of this thread and not one comment? Here we have God telling humans to do something to save their souls. Is there no one from the Reformed camp that wants to take on these verses?

Some of us are busy debating Arminians in three or four other threads. :laugh:

 

[revmwc]

Some of us are busy debating Arminians in three or four other threads. :laugh:

Other non-Calvanist and Non-Armenian are debating both in other threads. Let me look into the question this evening but it appears the question is really asked to Calvanist to explain a verse versed on their view of another.

 

[webdog]

I won't expect much interaction. If you cannot plug in the handful of "proof texts" that supposedly support calvinism, it goes ignored. Kind of like when I started the Ecc. 3:11 thread asking what eternity God set into the hearts of the reprobate, and how all creation groans in anticipation of being redeemed from the curse if Christ only died for the elect and not the very sin that caused the curse on creation.

 

[InTheLight]

If they don't ignore it, they will attack the person who started the thread or try to divert the attention away from the op. ^

Yes, I've seen Van attacked and ridiculed and ignoring some powerful points he was making.

 

[InTheLight]

I won't expect much interaction. If you cannot plug in the handful of "proof texts" that supposedly support calvinism, it goes ignored. Kind of like when I started the Ecc. 3:11 thread asking what eternity God set into the hearts of the reprobate, and how all creation groans in anticipation of being redeemed from the curse if Christ only died for the elect and not the very sin that caused the curse on creation.

So I suppose if I were to bring up 2 Peter 2:1:

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Which says that the Lord died for everyone's sins they would ignore it?

 

[Tom Butler]

Let me insert a note here.

How does one go about getting a new heart?

The same Ezekiel who said "get a new heart" also said in
36:26

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh

So maybe In the Light can resolve those two verses, since he brought them up. Is Ezekiel speaking out of both sides of his mouth?

 

[InTheLight]

Let me insert a note here.

How does one go about getting a new heart?

The same Ezekiel who said "get a new heart" also said in
36:26


So maybe In the Light can resolve those two verses, since he brought them up. Is Ezekiel speaking out of both sides of his mouth?

Yes, I can resolve these two verses. Since I brought them up, and since I asked for comments, I'm not playing the answer my question by asking me a question game so prevalent with Calvinists. I asked the question. Have at it.

 

[Tom Butler]

Yes, I can resolve these two verses. Since I brought them up, and since I asked for comments, I'm not playing the answer my question by asking me a question game so prevalent with Calvinists. I asked the question. Have at it.

My answer is that one gets a new heart because God gives him one.

In 36:26, Ezekiel also said God would replace the heart of stone with a heart of flesh.

David, in Psalm 51:10:

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

God, speaking through Jeremiah (24:7)

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD.

God's activity appears to be unilateral and unconditional. In the New Testament, we'd call this regeneration.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

So I suppose if I were to bring up 2 Peter 2:1:

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Which says that the Lord died for everyone's sins they would ignore it?

I would love to be introduced to that Calvinist who says, "I see that verse, but I am just gonna ignore it." lol

How you interpret that passage for us employing the sound principles of grammico-historical hermeneutics.

 

[InTheLight]

My answer is that one gets a new heart because God gives him one.

In 36:26, Ezekiel also said God would replace the heart of stone with a heart of flesh.


God's activity appears to be unilateral and unconditional. In the New Testament, we'd call this regeneration.

When the LORD God says, "Get yourself a new heart" and "repent" that is not unilateral activity. That is a call to action. I see no other way to interpret that as man having at least a wee bit of responsibility in the matter.

God commanded "Get yourself a new heart". How? He will give it to you (Ez. 36:26).

Jesus commands, "you must be born again." How? "He who believes in Him is not condemned"

The Bible says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name"
But also,
"who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

This requirement of man to take some sort of action and God providing the method or result is found throughout scripture.

John 14:14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

Acts 2:38 “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Act 22:10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’

That's just off the top of my head. There must be hundreds of examples.

 

[asterisktom]

So I suppose if I were to bring up 2 Peter 2:1:

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Which says that the Lord died for everyone's sins they would ignore it?

Sometimes these posts seem to be ignored, not because we Calvinists are cowering from the light, but because this has all been gone over again and again. I covered this very verse you just mentioned here:
http://asterisktom.xanga.com/630210210/2nd-peter-21-who-is-denying-whom/

It is also somewhere here on BB but it is kind of hard to find it.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Sometimes these posts seem to be ignored, not because we Calvinists are cowering from the light, but because this has all been gone over again and again. I covered this very verse you just mentioned here:
http://asterisktom.xanga.com/630210210/2nd-peter-21-who-is-denying-whom/

It is also somewhere here on BB but it is kind of hard to find it.

Tom....It does appear to be a never ending merry-go-round doesn't it?

 

[asterisktom]

Tom....It does appear to be a never ending merry-go-round doesn't it?

Yes, indeed. The "Aha! What about THIS verse" Merry-go-round. The bottom line is that no position can be battened down by any isolated verses.

 

[InTheLight]

Bumping this thread.

 

[InTheLight]

Almost 200 views.

<The teacher from Ferris Bueller, (Ben Stein voice)>:

"Anyone, anyone?"

 

[webdog]

See what I mean?

 

[InTheLight]

See what I mean?

Indeed I do.

 

[Tom Butler]

asterisktom and I both replied to the questions posed in the OP.

The reason there are not many other posts is that once askerisktom and I have spoken, there is nothing left to add.

As you can see, one of my greatest virtues is my humility.