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Invitation or Summons

Gospel call and invitation or a summons?

  • Invitation

    Votes: 12 50.0%
  • Summons

    Votes: 12 50.0%

  • Total voters
    24
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webdog

Active Member
Site Supporter
Disagree; the context of 2:14 (or rather, chapter 2) is a prelude to chapter 3. Taken together, and within context of the entire book, it is a reproof to them that although Paul identifies them as Christians, they are still behaving and acting like the natural man.
Exactly what I said. Like you said, in CONTEXT this is the point Paul was making. They were making spiritual decisions using the "natural man" approach.

Be prepared to be blackballed with me now.
 

Dr. Bob

Administrator
Administrator
Wonderful book helps you grapple with the horrific fact of the complete inability of man's fallen nature to repent/believe. "Bondage of the Will" by Martin Luther (not Calvin :) )
 

Luke2427

Active Member
Exactly what I said. Like you said, in CONTEXT this is the point Paul was making. They were making spiritual decisions using the "natural man" approach.

Be prepared to be blackballed with me now.

black·ball
   /ˈblækˌbɔl/ Show Spelled[blak-bawl] Show IPA
–verb (used with object)
1.
to vote against (a candidate, applicant, etc.).
2.
to exclude socially; ostracize: The whole town blackballed them.
3.
to reject (a candidate) by placing a blackball in the ballot box.
–noun
4.
a negative vote, esp. in deciding on an applicant or candidate.
5.
a black ball placed in a ballot box signifying a negative vote.

You guys do this to yourself when you take a position which no reputable commentator agrees with.

Even Clarke disagrees.
 

Luke2427

Active Member
...kind of like the definition of "dead", right? ;)

Yea- there's this neat thing in all languages- it is called definitions. What it means is that words have meanings.

It is really a fantastic concept! :thumbs:

JK!! Kind of... :smilewinkgrin:
 

Luke2427

Active Member
What's the position that no reputable commentator agrees with?

That the natural man in I Corinthians 2:14 refers to a saved man struggling with carnality.

There may be one who believes this but I have never found one and webdog, try as he may, could not produce a single one.
 

Don

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
In an attempt to keep this in context of the original post: whether it's an invitation or a summons, how does 1 Cor 2:14 apply? It would seem to imply neither. If the unregenerate man is totally without capability of regeneration, then neither invitation nor summons is of any value; and leads one to question (as has been done here): Why did God issue the invitation or summons, knowing that it would be ignored?

(BTW: you didn't clarify your comment about 1 Cor 2:1, or whether you actually meant 1 Cor 3:1 (see top of page 6 of this thread).)
 

luke1616

New Member
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

If a man is saved, he had to have faith to believe.
Faith is a spiritual thing, the natural man cannot understand it, it's foolish to him to believe in an invisible God.
A saved man struggling with flesh, would be spiritual comparing natural.
It does not say that in this scripture.:jesus:
 

Luke2427

Active Member
In an attempt to keep this in context of the original post: whether it's an invitation or a summons, how does 1 Cor 2:14 apply? It would seem to imply neither. If the unregenerate man is totally without capability of regeneration, then neither invitation nor summons is of any value; and leads one to question (as has been done here): Why did God issue the invitation or summons, knowing that it would be ignored?

(BTW: you didn't clarify your comment about 1 Cor 2:1, or whether you actually meant 1 Cor 3:1 (see top of page 6 of this thread).)

I meant 2:1- He came to them while they were lost.

There is not only an option to refuse- it is expected that ALL unregenerate DO refuse. It is all that they CAN do.

A summons to come to Christ comes from the Spirit of God. Paul is clear that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God NEITHER CAN HE..." (I Corinthians 2:14)

This is how this entered into this thread and how it relates to the op.
 

luke1616

New Member
Wow, some things just get all twisted up when there is envy and strife. Not just this board but in churches and the world in general. Let's just pray the Holy Spirit to breath on these scriptures and enlighten us all.:thumbs::jesus::love2:
 

Don

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I meant 2:1- He came to them while they were lost.

There is not only an option to refuse- it is expected that ALL unregenerate DO refuse. It is all that they CAN do.

A summons to come to Christ comes from the Spirit of God. Paul is clear that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God NEITHER CAN HE..." (I Corinthians 2:14)

This is how this entered into this thread and how it relates to the op.
Where I lose you on the reference to 1 Cor 2:1 is this: You state that this verse speaks of their condition when Paul found them; it does not. I do not question that Paul is most likely referencing when he first preached to them, and they heard the Word and were saved; however, I disagree with your stating that the verse speaks of their condition. That particular statement (speaking of their condition) was not Paul's intention in the opening verses of this chapter; nor does any commentary I have access to regard them in this way.

You did not address my question regarding 1 Cor 2:14; specifically: If the unregenerate man is totally without capability of regeneration, then neither invitation nor summons is of any value; and leads one to question (as has been done here): Why did God issue the invitation or summons, knowing that it would be ignored?
 

Luke2427

Active Member
Where I lose you on the reference to 1 Cor 2:1 is this: You state that this verse speaks of their condition when Paul found them; it does not. I do not question that Paul is most likely referencing when he first preached to them, and they heard the Word and were saved; however, I disagree with your stating that the verse speaks of their condition. That particular statement (speaking of their condition) was not Paul's intention in the opening verses of this chapter; nor does any commentary I have access to regard them in this way.

You did not address my question regarding 1 Cor 2:14; specifically: If the unregenerate man is totally without capability of regeneration, then neither invitation nor summons is of any value; and leads one to question (as has been done here): Why did God issue the invitation or summons, knowing that it would be ignored?

To make a point- the same reason he issues commandments that people cannot keep- to show folks what they really are- "that sin might appear exceeding sinful"

God commandeth all men everywhere to repent.

I am not familiar with any passages that indicate God INVITES people to repent- he commands all men everywhere to repent.
 

Don

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
To make a point- the same reason he issues commandments that people cannot keep- to show folks what they really are- "that sin might appear exceeding sinful"

God commandeth all men everywhere to repent.

I am not familiar with any passages that indicate God INVITES people to repent- he commands all men everywhere to repent.
You didn't address the clarification on 1 Cor 2:1.

I will have to give the rest of your post some thought before responding.
 
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