The proper response is not to pit scripture with scripture. That tactic shows a weakness of your position. Contextually, my point will stand as it will stand also contextually in the texts that you choose to pit against it. In the context of John 12 there are gentiles seeking the Lord and the term "all men" is anarthous construct" (no term for "man" in the Greek text) thus meaning "all classes/kinds." In addition, John 6:44-45 demands that every single one the Father draws does come to Christ in faith. This is proven by the last phrase in verse 44 and in verse 45 "every man" taught "cometh unto me."
Therefore, either the drawing in John 6 is effectual in regard to every solitary single person drawn. That fact alone sinks your interpertation completely.
In most of your debates on Calvinism, I notice you go write to John 6 and stay there. You neglect the vast portions of Scripture that say the opposite of what you try to teach from that one passage, rendering that one passage void, or meaning something different than the meaning you have assigned it.
What is the will of God?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
--It is not his will that any should perish.
--He provided salvation for all; not just the elect.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
--God's will is that all men be saved. He provided a way that all men could be saved. He died for the sins of all men, not just the elect.
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only,
but also for the sins of the whole world.
--He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, not just for the elect, but for the whole world.
These are just a very few of the verses in the Bible that tell us that God's will is that all be saved. His will is thwarted by the depravity of man's heart. It will not be accomplished. But that doesn't mean he didn't provide salvation for all men, or make it available for all men. Even Calvin himself believed that the death of Christ was sufficient to meet the needs of all on this world and in the ages to come. He believed that all who called on his name would be saved. Read his commentary on John 3:16.
Paul chooses the term "rhema" not "logos" here. Rhema has the idea of a command or word of command. This is consistent with Paul's analogy with creation of light in 2 Corinthians 4:6. This is consistent with Paul's explanation of how one can know they are one of God's elect in 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 in that the gospel does not come merely in "word only" but in "power" the command of God that creates light. This is consistent with the fact that regeneration is described as a creative act by God (Eph. 2:10a; 4:24; Col. 3:10). When all these texts are considered together it paints a vivid picture that the gospel comes to the elect as a creative command by God ("rhema" "created in Christ Jesus" "For God who commanded the light" "came not in word only but in power") and thus an effectual call out of darkness into light.
This is not what the Word of God says. It sounds like a philosophy not an exegesis of God's word. The word of God is very simple. It simply states:
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
The one who hears God's Word will gain confidence that it is true, and in time believe its message--some sooner than others. Abraham is a good example:
Romans 4:20-21 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And
being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
--Abraham trusted in the promises of God (God's Word).
He was fully persuaded that what God had promised, God would do.
That is a definition of faith. It is confidence, trust in God's Word, or His promises. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The more you hear it, the more confident you will be in putting your trust in it.
Sorry my friend, but on the contrary, it is taught in the Bible and it is taught most clearly by the words "no man can" while you are directly contradicting that statement by saying all man can. How do you explain the fact that Jesus clearly and explicitly says "no man can"?
I don't know what you are referring to here. You must be stuck on your favorite passage which I never referred to.
It is an unbiblical concept to believe that God would give a spiritual gift or a fruit of the Spirit (faith) to an unsaved individual. And yet that is what you believe. God does not give faith to anyone in order that they may be saved. You cannot demonstrate that from Scripture. A person comes to Christ by their own faith. The Bible is clear on that. From Abel, who by (his own) faith, brought his own sacrifice to God, to Abraham, who believed (by his own faith) through to the Philippian jailer who believed (with his own faith) on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus obtained salvation--we see that salvation is by faith and faith alone. sola fide.
There is no point of contention here. The question is what brings a person to the decision to do this. Jesus and Paul make it clear that what brings a person to this decision is the elective choice and power of God (Jn. 6:44-45;64-65; 1 Thes. 1:4-5; 2 Thes. 2:13-14).
No, it is simply the omniscience of God. He knows ahead of time the decision we are going to make. Election applies only to the believer. Look at Eph.1:12. "Elect to the praise of his glory." That is believers are chosen for one purpose--to bring glory to God. Election always points to the purpose that God has for believers.
You know you are mistating my position here. I believe that regeneration and conversion are simletaneous and inseparable acts but they have a proper logical cause and effect relationship where the cause is God and the effect is conversion or as the Old Testament prophet put it "Turn us and we shall be turned."
I am glad that your position is different. There are many Calvinists who believe that regeneration is before salvation, and can be even days before salvation. They sometimes use Cornelius as an example, and say that he may have been regenerated before his servants even reached Peter's house. That position is absurd.
No! We knock on the door and if given the opportunity we share the gospel while praying that the Holy Spirit will make it effectually by granting that person repentance and faith in the gospel. If they repent and believe we praise the Lord and give him all the credit. If not, then we will seek every opportunity in the future to share the gospel again praying the Lord will open their heart and minds.
First, the person believes with his own faith, not with God's faith. God does not grant him faith to believe, otherwise he is just a robot in the hand of God.
Second, It is the power of the gospel unto salvation. It is the Word of God that has the power and is sharper than a two-edged sword. That is where the power is and where the message is. The Holy Spirit uses that word, and his ministry is to convict of sin. The sinner must, of his own faith, decide to come to Christ. He has that ability, under the sovereign will of God, to choose to reject or receive Christ.
