Humans Do Not Generate Their Own Faith

[Barry Johnson]

But, that isn't what the text says.

[48] And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48 ESV)
​

The reason for the belief of the Gentiles is given--they were appointed to eternal life.

The Archangel

context
Acts 18.6
6And when they opposed themselves ( Anti tasso) , and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
context .

Acts 13.46
46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Here the Jews OPPOSED THEMSELVES ( Anti tasso ), and JUDGE THEMSELVES UNWORTHY.
BUT the Gentiles DID THE OPPOSITE AND ORDAINED( inclined/ disposed ) ( Tasso ) THEMSELVES TO TAKE HEED TO THE MESSAGE . look at verse 42¶And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
As opposed to the Jews hearing and opposing themselves to reject the message that was brought , the Gentiles however in this incidence choose to believe the message. Thats it .
Cavinists have triggers, which once activated spill forth the preprogrammed doctrines ,ready to be imposed onto the text . ' Ordained ' being the buzz word here ,that sets the Cavinst into a
knee jerk reaction and ignores the whole context of the chapter.
Strong's Definitions: G473 and the middle voice of G5021; to range oneself against, i.e. oppose:—oppose themselves, resist. ( ')

tasso is of course the opposite . Which the Gentiles did not 'antitasso' themselves

 

[1689Dave]

God does not look upon man and consider man to have had his own faith so that God can consider a man righteous.
If God did, God would be a liar.

Job 41:11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Faith tells a person God saved them.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NCPB)

 

[Barry Johnson]

Faith tells a person God saved them.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NCPB)

5¶By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
how on earth do you reconcile these verses to your view ,??

 

[utilyan]

True, which is why no man can be saved, except God makes them alive and gifts them faith to believe. (Ephesians 2:5-9)

Neither can they be saved let alone exist for one second unless God GIFTS them existence, breathing and a heartbeat.

 

[utilyan]

James 2

19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Demons believe and have faith in God.


1 Corinthians 13

2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Good ole mountain moving faith right here.......USELESS.

James 2

22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;


2 Peter 1

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

Because it doesn't HAVE goodness, you have to add it, because it doesn't have knowledge, you add it, because it doesn't have self control you must add it, because it doesn't have perseverance you add it, because faith has no godliness or affection you add it, because FAITH does not come with Love, you add it.

 

[percho]

Acts 13 is just one great example . They refuse to believe the truth so as to be saved . In one instance the Jews choose to put it from themselves . The Gentiles in Acts 13 choose themselves to accept the message .

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. Acts 9:7
And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. Acts 22:9

What was going on here? What was the Lord doing? Who was he interested in?

Who was going to be, of the faith of Abraham and who wasn't going to be of the faith of Abraham?

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Acts 9:15,16

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 1 Tim 1:12,13

One who had been, of unbelief, became, of belief.

 

[JD731]

Some of the comments on this subject is the reason I believe Reformed "faith" must be classified with Mormons, Russelites, Catholics, and others like them.There is no salvation for those who will not believe God. These other religions have a salvation plan that generally just involves themselves, as do the Reformed. They have a "Jesus" but he differs from the testimony that God gives of him in his magnificent word. See 2 Cor 11 here.Because of this, none of these religions have a gospel message that involves the whole world. All of them have restrictions. This is their common denominator.

Faith is the principle that God has established from the beginning of his creation to the end. It is the condition for a relationship with God.It is God who gives the condition. One must believe what God says to them. For instance,God said to Cain that he would accept him if he brought a blood sacrifice God did not say the same thing to Cain as he said to the Jews in John 6. God was not drawing Cain to Jesus. God had not yet come in human flesh. God had not written anything at this time. He told Noah that he was going to send a flood and said to build an ark and he would save him and his household. Noah believed him and built the ark and was saved. God did not build the ark. God did not lift Noah up and put him on the ark. Noah walked onto the ark before a single drop of water fell from the sky.

Like things happened to all the OT people who are mentioned as having faith in Heb 11. One should read it and be instructed

Next, I would like to appeal to some intelligence, reason, and experience for my next point. Faith does not operate alone.Faith operates with another principle, hope. I could prove this in many NT passages but i will just mention a couple in passing. Noah, was on the ark before the rain, believing the flood would come like God said, and he was hoping to be delivered by the ark he was on. The ark was critical to his survival but at this point he only had God saying it would.This is trust in what God said.He got on the ark before the flood ever came. He believed what God said about the flood coming and he believed what God said about being saved from it. Now, he is hoping to be delivered to the other side safely. He has not experienced the deliverance yet, he is only hoping for it and he is on the ark because he believed God.

Noah did not know anything about floods. There was no rain before the flood.There was water but no rain.He only knew what God told him about the flood. He had partial knowledge. One must employ faith when he has only partial knowledge.When Noah had experienced deliverance on the other side of the flood, he had full knowledge and experience and he no longer had faith in the flood. His hope of deliverance had also been met. He no longer hoped to be delivered. He was delivered. His deliverance had been realized.

There is a judgement coming for us. God tells us about it. It is sure to come. He sent his son to deliver us. One must get "in" his son to be safe. We only have partial knowledge about it. We have what God says about it. When we get in we will have hope of deliverance to the other side. We will not be there when we get in but we will have hope of arriving safely. When we get there we will no longer have partial knowledge that requires faith but we will have full knowledge then. No longer will we have hope of being there because we will be there. Following is these biblical principles clearly stated in scriptures.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The perfect thing in this context is the eternal state when we will be in the presence of God. Faith and hope are principles for now, but not for then. Charity is a principle for now and then and is the greatest because it is the eternal principle.

See the hope principle at works here;

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Of course God does not have partial knowledge and he does not have faith. He transcends time so he does not have hope. That is our realm. Look at this as an example of faith and hope working in tandum.

.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Sinners who are in Christ by faith hope for the glory of God, which is what we have been predestined to. Glorification is on the other side. Faith is getting on the ark.



The differences in the teachings of the reformed faith and true Christianity will affect eternity. The gulf between us is greater than is supposed.

 

[George Antonios]

God does not look upon man and consider man to have had his own faith so that God can consider a man righteous.
If God did, God would be a liar.

Job 41:11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

What a conflation of things. When I believed, I didn't "give" God anything.

Such context-wresting conflations are tell tales of desperation, it's mining the Bible to find language whose generic form sounds correlative to the Calvinistic paradigm.

There are some good Calvinist arguments, but such conflations weaken the position, they do not strengthen it.

 

[AustinC]

Sinner is saved by regeneration, not atonement. (Tit. 3:5)

Glorification is what’s limited, not atonement. (Rom. 3:23; 8:17-30). When Christ said, “It is finished,” on the cross, everyone was still in their sins as per 1 Cor. 15:17.

. Atonement is one component of many components in salvation. It alone is not what saves. (Tit. 3:5; Rom. 5:10)

. Atonement is a prerequisite for salvation, not the execution of it. (Rom. 5, 8; 2 Cor. 5; Tit. 3:5).

The Atonement must be received. (Rom. 5:11, 17; Jn. 1:12; 1 Cor. 15:1-4)

The Atonement does not glorify anyone. (Rom. 8)
. What Calvinists call “the golden chain of redemption” contains no direct reference to the atonement. (Rom. 8:29-30)

Belief that salvation for anyone was secured on the cross constitutes a denial of the necessity of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:17)

Salvation is eternally secured by the sealing of the spirit, not “election.” (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:22)

There is no sealing of the spirit before Pentecost or after the harpazo of the church. (Eph. 4:30; John 14:17; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-29)
. There are two aspects to salvation: presence/effects of sin and lack of glorification. Nothing that eradicates sin glorifies the sinner. Both aspects must be resolved for salvation to occur. (Rom. 3:23; 5:8; 8:17-30)
. Conviction of the Holy Spirit is necessary for salvation, but occurs to sinners alike, regardless of consequent faith or unbelief. It is not irresistible or unconditionally selective. (Jn. 16:7-11)
. Grace is a ubiquitous reality, not a selective force. (Tit. 2:11-13)

Grace is just fine on it’s own as it’s found in scripture. Any modifier other than “free,” such as “sovereign,” “irresistible,” or “prevenient” indicate someone is either confused or attempting to confuse. (Rom. 3:24; 5:15; Jn. 1:16; Tit. 2:11-13)

. ”Die(d) to save” is not a Bible phrase or concept. It is therefore senseless to pit it against “died to make men savable” since the premise is false to start with. This false dichotomy indicates confusion about what saves.

Sinners are born of God by the will of God after they receive Christ. (Jn. 1:12-13)

Monergism/Synergism is a false dichotomy invented in the 1890s. Calvinists are synergists based on their own definitions of these terms.
. God is pleased to save those that believe, not cause belief in those he saves. (1 Cor. 1:21; Rom. 10:9-10)

Free gift unto justification of life to all men must be received. It’s not “universalism” unless irresistible grace supplants the biblical requirement to receive. (Rom. 5:11-18; Jn. 1:12; 1 Cor. 15:1-4)

Wow, you are wrong on all accounts. Congratulations.
You have established that human effort is the means by which a person is saved. I disagree entirely with your assertion. However, thank you for being so clear in expressing your assertions. It made it easy to see how wrong you are in all areas of your assertion.

 

[Yeshua1]

God does not look upon man and consider man to have had his own faith so that God can consider a man righteous.
If God did, God would be a liar.

Job 41:11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Fallen mankind has faith, in ourselves!

 

[AustinC]

James 2

19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Demons believe and have faith in God.


1 Corinthians 13

2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Good ole mountain moving faith right here.......USELESS.

James 2

22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;


2 Peter 1

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

Because it doesn't HAVE goodness, you have to add it, because it doesn't have knowledge, you add it, because it doesn't have self control you must add it, because it doesn't have perseverance you add it, because faith has no godliness or affection you add it, because FAITH does not come with Love, you add it.

You project demons believing in God's authority to also be faith. That is a false connection on your part. Nowhere do we read of fallen angels having faith.
God has not shown them grace in redeeming them, therefore they have no faith to believe God has graciously atoned for their sins and justified them through Christ Jesus.

 

[percho]

Some of the comments on this subject is the reason I believe Reformed "faith" must be classified with Mormons, Russelites, Catholics, and others like them.There is no salvation for those who will not believe God. These other religions have a salvation plan that generally just involves themselves, as do the Reformed. They have a "Jesus" but he differs from the testimony that God gives of him in his magnificent word. See 2 Cor 11 here.Because of this, none of these religions have a gospel message that involves the whole world. All of them have restrictions. This is their common denominator.

Faith is the principle that God has established from the beginning of his creation to the end. It is the condition for a relationship with God.It is God who gives the condition. One must believe what God says to them. For instance,God said to Cain that he would accept him if he brought a blood sacrifice God did not say the same thing to Cain as he said to the Jews in John 6. God was not drawing Cain to Jesus. God had not yet come in human flesh. God had not written anything at this time. He told Noah that he was going to send a flood and said to build an ark and he would save him and his household. Noah believed him and built the ark and was saved. God did not build the ark. God did not lift Noah up and put him on the ark. Noah walked onto the ark before a single drop of water fell from the sky.

Like things happened to all the OT people who are mentioned as having faith in Heb 11. One should read it and be instructed

Next, I would like to appeal to some intelligence, reason, and experience for my next point. Faith does not operate alone.Faith operates with another principle, hope. I could prove this in many NT passages but i will just mention a couple in passing. Noah, was on the ark before the rain, believing the flood would come like God said, and he was hoping to be delivered by the ark he was on. The ark was critical to his survival but at this point he only had God saying it would.This is trust in what God said.He got on the ark before the flood ever came. He believed what God said about the flood coming and he believed what God said about being saved from it. Now, he is hoping to be delivered to the other side safely. He has not experienced the deliverance yet, he is only hoping for it and he is on the ark because he believed God.

Noah did not know anything about floods. There was no rain before the flood.There was water but no rain.He only knew what God told him about the flood. He had partial knowledge. One must employ faith when he has only partial knowledge.When Noah had experienced deliverance on the other side of the flood, he had full knowledge and experience and he no longer had faith in the flood. His hope of deliverance had also been met. He no longer hoped to be delivered. He was delivered. His deliverance had been realized.

There is a judgement coming for us. God tells us about it. It is sure to come. He sent his son to deliver us. One must get "in" his son to be safe. We only have partial knowledge about it. We have what God says about it. When we get in we will have hope of deliverance to the other side. We will not be there when we get in but we will have hope of arriving safely. When we get there we will no longer have partial knowledge that requires faith but we will have full knowledge then. No longer will we have hope of being there because we will be there. Following is these biblical principles clearly stated in scriptures.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The perfect thing in this context is the eternal state when we will be in the presence of God. Faith and hope are principles for now, but not for then. Charity is a principle for now and then and is the greatest because it is the eternal principle.

See the hope principle at works here;

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Of course God does not have partial knowledge and he does not have faith. He transcends time so he does not have hope. That is our realm. Look at this as an example of faith and hope working in tandum.

.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Sinners who are in Christ by faith hope for the glory of God, which is what we have been predestined to. Glorification is on the other side. Faith is getting on the ark.



The differences in the teachings of the reformed faith and true Christianity will affect eternity. The gulf between us is greater than is supposed.

Faith is substance of hope, evidence of unseen. Heb 11:1

And before the coming of the faith, Gal 3:23
and the faith having come, Gal 3:25

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Titus 1:2

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Rom 6:9
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Acts 13:34
but has been made manifest now by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has annulled death, and brought to light life and incorruptibility by the glad tidings (Gospel); 2 Tim 1:10

 

[George Antonios]

James 2

19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Demons believe and have faith in God.


1 Corinthians 13

2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Good ole mountain moving faith right here.......USELESS.

James 2

22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;


2 Peter 1

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

Because it doesn't HAVE goodness, you have to add it, because it doesn't have knowledge, you add it, because it doesn't have self control you must add it, because it doesn't have perseverance you add it, because faith has no godliness or affection you add it, because FAITH does not come with Love, you add it.

Wow, excellent points that I had never heard before. Love learning something new, thanks.

 

[The Archangel]

You really shouldn't try to handle the Greek when you have no basis to use it. Strongs can be a helpful tool, but it isn't what you think it is. It's little more than a dictionary. What it doesn't give you is grammar and syntax--which you have to work with the text to understand.

context
Acts 18.6
6And when they opposed themselves ( Anti tasso) , and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
context .

Acts 18 is in no way "context" for Acts 13. What you're referencing is not context but word usage. The word ἀντιτάσσω is a different word from τάσσω. ἀντιτάσσω may contain the word τάσσω and the meaning may be derived from τάσσω, but it does not mean what you're claiming it means. ἀντιτάσσω is used in the NT to show opposition. τάσσω, on the other hand, means to arrange or appoint.

What you're attempting to do here is like saying "infinitesimal," containing the word "infinite" must mean without end. Of course, infinitesimal doesn't mean that because "infinitesimal" and "infinite" are two different words.

Acts 13.46
46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Here the Jews OPPOSED THEMSELVES ( Anti tasso ), and JUDGE THEMSELVES UNWORTHY.
BUT the Gentiles DID THE OPPOSITE AND ORDAINED( inclined/ disposed ) ( Tasso ) THEMSELVES TO TAKE HEED TO THE MESSAGE . look at verse 42¶And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
As opposed to the Jews hearing and opposing themselves to reject the message that was brought , the Gentiles however in this incidence choose to believe the message. Thats it .
Cavinists have triggers, which once activated spill forth the preprogrammed doctrines ,ready to be imposed onto the text . ' Ordained ' being the buzz word here ,that sets the Cavinst into a
knee jerk reaction and ignores the whole context of the chapter.
Strong's Definitions: G473 and the middle voice of G5021; to range oneself against, i.e. oppose:—oppose themselves, resist. ( ')

tasso is of course the opposite . Which the Gentiles did not 'antitasso' themselves

This explanation is quite silly. First, τάσσω does not appear in a vacuum; the sentence construction indicates meaning. The word τάσσω is a participle in the passive voice. In Greek whether something is passive or not is a feature of the construction of the word (not its place in the sentence, like English). This word, being passive, means that the subject cannot act upon himself or herself. Since this participle is plural and refers to the gentiles who believed, it cannot be read as "appointing themselves" without ignoring the grammar and doing great violence to the text. The text clearly states they were appointed, and they did not do this to themselves.

What is more, the result of τάσσω is seen in the verb πιστεύω. The result of the appointment (which, again, they cannot do to themselves) is that they believed. So, their belief is enabled by something else--having been appointed.

So, don't try to lecture me about presuppositions and mis-reading scripture to fit my Calvinism. It is you who have done violence to the text in your explanation here--simply because you think it icky that God should choose whom He will bring to repentance and faith.

The Archangel

 

[AustinC]

Fallen mankind has faith, in ourselves!

We believe we are capable on our own. We don't have faith. We have arrogance.

 

[George Antonios]

You really shouldn't try to handle the Greek when you have no basis to use it. Strongs can be a helpful tool, but it isn't what you think it is. It's little more than a dictionary. What it doesn't give you is grammar and syntax--which you have to work with the text to understand.



Acts 18 is in no way "context" for Acts 13. What you're referencing is not context but word usage. The word ἀντιτάσσω is a different word from τάσσω. ἀντιτάσσω may contain the word τάσσω and the meaning may be derived from τάσσω, but it does not mean what you're claiming it means. ἀντιτάσσω is used in the NT to show opposition. τάσσω, on the other hand, means to arrange or appoint.

What you're attempting to do here is like saying "infinitesimal," containing the word "infinite" must mean without end. Of course, infinitesimal doesn't mean that because "infinitesimal" and "infinite" are two different words.



This explanation is quite silly. First, τάσσω does not appear in a vacuum; the sentence construction indicates meaning. The word τάσσω is a participle in the passive voice. In Greek whether something is passive or not is a feature of the construction of the word (not its place in the sentence, like English). This word, being passive, means that the subject cannot act upon himself or herself. Since this participle is plural and refers to the gentiles who believed, it cannot be read as "appointing themselves" without ignoring the grammar and doing great violence to the text. The text clearly states they were appointed, and they did not do this to themselves.

What is more, the result of τάσσω is seen in the verb πιστεύω. The result of the appointment (which, again, they cannot do to themselves) is that they believed. So, their belief is enabled by something else--having been appointed.

So, don't try to lecture me about presuppositions and mis-reading scripture to fit my Calvinism. It is you who have done violence to the text in your explanation here--simply because you think it icky that God should choose whom He will bring to repentance and faith.

The Archangel

There is no Biblical warrant to go back to any "original" language to better understand God's point.
That's a humanistic approach to the Bible, rather than a spiritual/scriptural one.

 

[George Antonios]

We believe we are capable on our own. We don't have faith. We have arrogance.

Calvinists tend to be proud of their humility.

 

[AustinC]

Calvinists tend to be proud of their humility.

In your opinion.
Truthfully, pride is the great sin (as CS Lewis so eloquently stated in Mere Christianity) of all humans, both you and me.
Is it not better to admit we are both wretches that are made holy only by being placed into Christ Jesus by God's gracious choosing?

 

[Yeshua1]

There is no Biblical warrant to go back to any "original" language to better understand God's point.
That's a humanistic approach to the Bible, rather than a spiritual/scriptural one.

The Holy Spirit chose Himself to use those biblical languages, so why not get into what is taught there?

 

[Yeshua1]

You project demons believing in God's authority to also be faith. That is a false connection on your part. Nowhere do we read of fallen angels having faith.
God has not shown them grace in redeeming them, therefore they have no faith to believe God has graciously atoned for their sins and justified them through Christ Jesus.

John definition of real faith would not be simply to know something is true, but to commit to that truth, so demons would have to submit to the lordship of Jesus if they had real faith, but they know who he really is, but still choose to disobey Him!