These previous verses are sort of disjointed and taken out of context.
Some refer to the believer; some to the unbeliever; some to the Christian walk; some to the new birth.
Another verse taken out of context.
In Ephesians 2:8-10, verses 8,9 speak of salvation, while verse 10 speaks of the reason for our salvation. The reason for our salvation is to do good works. Predestination is only used in context of believers and never unbelievers, so it really doesn't apply in this verse any way. That is not a primary teaching here. Paul is simply teaching that the believer, as a new creation in Christ, is created to do good works. That is the will of God for every believer.
Let's just use common sense and say that at the point of salvation God gives the believer spiritual gifts, and even then I am not sure what you are speaking about. What spiritual gifts specifically? Many spiritual gifts listed in 1Cor.12 have ceased. However if you are speaking of the fruit of the Spirit, then, that is another subject.
You keep talking of spiritual gifts? Where are you getting this from. Do you still speak in tongues as well??
The gift of faith was a spiritual gift as was the gift of healing, and the gift of tongues. They have all ceased. What other "spiritual gifts" are you referring to?
Dead means separated not a corpse; not lifeless, but only separated--separated from God.
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
When the spirit separates from the body, that is death. Death is separation.
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
When they were separated from God they were dead, not physically, but spiritually. Their spirit was inoperable, not non-existent or lifeless.
Your scripture is taken out of context. Actually the context isn't given and neither is the reference.
I believe in depravity but not the Total Inability that Calvin teaches.
The Lord has used that comparison in different contexts. No, not unless I see the context.
Do you believe it is possible for an unsaved man to "repent" as God, through Paul, commanded the idolatrous Athenians? Or is "repenting" a bad thing to do?
I have no idea what you are talking about?
First, is this in context of a believer or unbeliever.
If an unbeliever:
What is faith?
What is saving faith?
What is spiritual faith?
What is spiritual saving faith?
How does an unbeliever acquire this special spiritual saving faith?
Faith is faith. The word "saving" is the same as "genuine" or "sincere," in opposition to "give assent," "acknowledge," etc. Faith is trust, confidence.
You are making things up. Faith is faith. Faith is never re-defined as you have just done. This is a problem inherent among Calvinists--redefining Biblical terminology.
The world doesn't mean the world any longer; it means the elect.
All doesn't mean all; it means the elect.
Whosoever doesn't mean whoever; it means the elect.
Sheep--the elect.
"save the 'lost'" --the elect
etc. etc. And the list goes on and on. This problem of redefining words is inherent in Calvinism.
The word carnal is changed by the Calvinist. It doesn't define only the unsaved, but also defines the Christian. There are carnal Christians, and those carnal Christians cannot please God in their carnality. In the flesh the Christian will not please God. Remember the Bible was written for believers.
No man "brings forth faith." Faith is faith. Jesus said unless you be as little children you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. He was speaking of "faith." Little children (who have not been regenerated) have faith. Jesus said you need to be like them.
You don't know what that verse means do you?
When Jesus used it in Mark 7, he was referring to works.
When Jesus used it in Matthew 7, he was referring to doctrine.
Here is a better verse:
(ESV) the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
Then when you sin, what do you do? Your heart is also wicked, as every man's heart is. One never rids himself from the old nature. He still sins. What is the solution?
David, a man after God's own heart, said:
"If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me" (Psa.66:18).
But to those in rebellion against God, the Lord said through his prophet Isaiah:
"Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord..."
--God appeals to the human heart no matter how much Calvin rolls over in his grave and complains.
To Adam God said:
"In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Adam ate; Adam died (spiritually). And yet this "dead Adam" continued to talk to God and carry on an audible conversation with God even though he was dead. Physically he didn't die for another 930 years. Spiritually he wasn't made alive until he was clothed with animal skins. Yet you say that a dead man can't bear fruit, can't speak to God.
Cain was a murderer.
1Jn 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
--Yet, even after Cain murdered his brother, God spoke to him and carried on a conversation with him. Cain was able to respond to God even though he was unrepentant and a murderer. How is that?
And then Cornelius, a Roman centurion who is described as a devout man, and one who prayed. Unsaved, God heard his prayers, and answered them. Not only did he answer them, but in his unsaved state God also appeared to Cornelius in a dream to tell him personally that his prayers were answered. And yet he still had not heard the Gospel. Peter still had not come and would not come for quite a few days yet.
Calvinism is just wrong. It is based on wrong assumptions.
