John 3:16

[TCassidy]

It's what we mistakenly understand as truth.

So who makes the mistake? You or the Holy Spirit?

Anybody can be deceived by being careless and not reading scripture in context.

So why would you do that?

Humans make mistakes God never does.

Yes we know.

He claimed that the Bible says "spare the rod and spoil the child" When it does not.

Well, it does say "He who spares the rod hates his own son."

I never said that is a terrible sin. that is your claim, a false claim.

So you claim you never said "There is no reason to consider the mistakes of others such as your self."

What is wrong is just taking the word of men as absolute truth.

Who has suggested doing so?

This includes your own preconceived notions of the truth with out ever checking with scripture.

So you are claiming I lied when I said the book was in my lap and my bible was open on the arm of the chair and I checked every scripture in context?

 

[MB]

What if they never heard the gospel?
I once heard a preacher say "Second chance? what if they never even had a first chance?".

My own personal belief for those who never heard - I don't know.

But

Genesis 18:25 ...Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

HankD

Of course God always does right. I believe every man has some light from the true light as below.

Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

If every man has had the light shown on them then I would think they are sadly with out excuse.
MB

 

[Saved-By-Grace]

I think we can agree that repentance and faith in Christ are pre-conditions for salvation. I don't know whether you believe that Calvinists think otherwise? The problem is that men and women will do neither unless God opens their hearts to respond. 'This is the condemnation; the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil' (John 3:19). Both repentance and faith are actually gifts of God (Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8), of necessity because 'No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him' (John 6:44). We see this in pratice in the case of Lydia in Acts 16:14. 'The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken to het by Paul.' She didn't open her own heart; Paul didn't do it by his preaching; God did it. 'salvation is of the Lord' (Jonah 2:9; Revelation 7:10).

Please read Revelation 7:9 and then tell me how that crowd gets any bigger or smaller depending on whether Arminianism or Calvinism is true.

It cannot be considered elitism if 'not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.....etc. ' (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).

You seem to be confusing Calvin with his evil younger brother HyperCalvin. The gates of heaven are wide open to all who will enter, but they do not, not because God somehow stops them, but because they have wicked unrepentant hearts. That is why 'Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'

"Would have died for them"? Did He or didn't He?

Firstly, the salvation of the sinner, is the work of God from start to finish. God, calls/convicts, sustains and preserves, and take the saved to His Glory. You speak of "wicked unrepentant hearts", surely before you and I were saved, this described us? the Holy Spirit "convicts the whole world of sin" , that the sinner is hell-bound and needs Jesus as their personal Saviour. On the use of "would", I refer you to would | Definition of would in English by Oxford Dictionaries

 

[HankD]

Of course God always does right. I believe every man has some light from the true light as below.

Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

If every man has had the light shown on them then I would think they are sadly with out excuse.
MB

But what if (I know its a big what if) they were moving towards the light?
This is why I wonder sometimes if the "elect" are predisposed to being drawn to the truth.

obviously God is going to have His way at the end of the day (to quote a cliche).

HankD

 

[Saved-By-Grace]

Why do threads keep closing when much is still to be said? We are supposed to be here to learn and exchange ideas!

 

[TCassidy]

The rule of thumb is to close a thread after around 150 posts. By that time most threads have drifted from the original topic anyway.

 

[HankD]

Why do threads keep closing when much is still to be said? We are supposed to be here to learn and exchange ideas!

Agreed.

I believe we do an injustice to the glorification of God when we try to slice and dice every jot and tittle of every doctrine of the theology of God.

By so doing we artificially remove "mystery" from our worship and adoration.

"artificially remove" because the mystery still remains, we are just in denial.

HankD

 

[Saved-By-Grace]

The rule of thumb is to close a thread after around 150 posts. By that time most threads have drifted from the original topic anyway.

 

[TCassidy]

Feel free to start a new thread on the topic under discussion.

 

[Saved-By-Grace]

Feel free to start a new thread on the topic under discussion.

Na, you could be right, as it has probably run its course! I have a good one in mind, tho!

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Firstly, the salvation of the sinner, is the work of God from start to finish. God, calls/convicts, sustains and preserves, and take the saved to His Glory.

Except for the ones who won't let Him?

You speak of "wicked unrepentant hearts", surely before you and I were saved, this described us?

It certainly described me. Not a day goes by but I praise the Lord for irresistible grace. No hope without it!

the Holy Spirit "convicts the whole world of sin" , that the sinner is hell-bound and needs Jesus as their personal Saviour.

That sounds great! The only problem is that I know loads of people who are not the least bit convicted of their sin and have no interest in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, personal or otherwise. What the text means is that the Holy Spirit convicts Jews and Gentiles, men and women, rich and poor etc.

On the use of "would", I refer you to would | Definition of would in English by Oxford Dictionaries

Your statement was unclear. I still am not sure what you meant, but never mind.

 

[agedman]

How about a thread on John 3:18-21?

 

[Squire Robertsson]

This thread is closed.

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