The Bible Teaches that Repentance and Faith are Gifts from God.

[Alan Dale Gross]

"The unbeliever cannot understand or accept the gospel, for it is foolishness to him;
How then can he respond to it and believe in Christ as his Savior?

"Every intent of his heart is evil, and he seeks not after God;
How then can he turn to Christ for salvation and embrace Him as his righteousness?

"He is enslaved to sin;
How then can he turn from his wickedness to Christ and bow before Him as Lord?

"The unbeliever is not able to please God, obey God, or do anything at all that is good;
How then can he respond to God’s command to believe?

"There is no fear of God before his eyes;
How then can he humble himself before God and trust in Him for salvation?

"He hates God, loves sin, and is unwilling and undesirous of coming to Christ;
How then can he repent and do so?

"He is spiritually blind; how then can he make himself see? He is spiritually dead;
How then can he make himself live?..."

"When a person repents and believes in Christ, it is because God has Opened his or her heart to respond to the gospel. What is impossible with man is possible with God. This same pattern can be seen clearly in Jesus’ teaching: "No one can come to Me [impossible with man], unless the Father Who sent Me draws him [possible with God]; and I Will Raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44). In this verse Jesus teaches that although no man is able to come to Christ, God the Father is Able to Draw men to Christ and does so when He Calls them unto salvation. This is commonly known as Effectual Calling.

Any attempt to deny that God's Call unto salvation is Effectual must be rejected on the basis of Romans 8:30; "Moreover whom He did Predestinate, them He also Called: and whom He Called, them He also Justified: and whom He Justified, them He also Glorified."

This verse implies at least two things:
1.) Not all men are Called (because not all are Justified,
and 2.) those who are Called are Called Effectually (because they are Justified).

"For this reason Scripture teaches that repentence and faith are gifts from God. When an unbeliever repents of his sins and believes in Christ, it is not the fruit of his inherent ability to repent and believe but rather the result of God Opening his heart and Granting him repentance;

Acts 5:31; "Him hath God exalted with His Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

11:18; "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles Granted repentance unto life.

2 Tim. 2:25; "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"

and for God to Grant him faith;

"This is proved by the passages already quoted that designate repentance as a gift of God; because repentance and faith are inseparable graces. Each one, when appearing alone in the Scriptures, embraces the other; for, if this were not true, the passages which mention only the one or the other would teach that one may be saved without both repentance and faith or that the soul might have faith and then afterward be given repentance, causing them to repent of having faith.

Faith is a gift of God, is proved by passages which teach that our coming to Christ and believing on Him are the result of the working of God's Power.

John 6:37, 65; "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I Will in no wise cast out,"

"And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father."

Eph. 1:19, 20; "And what is the Exceeding Greatness of His Power to us-ward who believe, according to the Working of His Mighty Power, 20; "Which He Wrought in Christ, when He Raised Him from the dead, and Set Him at His Own Right Hand in the Heavenly Places,

From SIMMONS- REPENTANCE AND FAITH

The NEW TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

Acts 13:48; "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were Ordained to Eternal Life believed."

18:27; "And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:"

Eph. 2:8-9; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9; "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Phil. 1:29; "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

2 Pet. 1:1; "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:"

Faith is a gift of God is further proven by the fact that faith is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 5:22; "But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"

"Therefore, repentance and faith are not works that man performs in order to earn his salvation—they are the change of heart brought about by God Himself. Salvation is by grace from start to finish.

The OLD TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

"This work of God in changing men’s hearts is reflected in the imagery used in several Old Testament prophecies. For example, God says in

Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26,27.

Jeremiah 24:7, "And I Will give them a heart to know Me, for I Am the Lord;... and they Will Return to Me with their whole heart."

The sinner must turn to God with his whole heart in order to be saved, but it is God who Opens his heart and Enables him to do so. Prior to this, the unbeliever is hardened and unresponsive toward God—his heart is made of stone. Only when God Works in his heart and Effectually Draws him to Christ does he respond to the gospel.

"Left to himself, the unbeliever’s heart will remain evil and enslaved to sin, neither able nor willing to repent of sin and believe in Christ. For him salvation is impossible. But the things impossible with men are possible with God, for He is the One Who takes the initiative in salvation by giving His chosen ones eyes to see, ears to hear, and the heart and ability to respond to the gospel in faith and repentance. Our heart-opening God is truly the God of all grace."

Adapted from https://biblesnet.com/matt-waymeyer-evangelism-101-laying-the-foundation.pdf

 

[Charlie24]

"The unbeliever cannot understand or accept the gospel, for it is foolishness to him;
How then can he respond to it and believe in Christ as his Savior?

"Every intent of his heart is evil, and he seeks not after God;
How then can he turn to Christ for salvation and embrace Him as his righteousness?

"He is enslaved to sin;
How then can he turn from his wickedness to Christ and bow before Him as Lord?

"The unbeliever is not able to please God, obey God, or do anything at all that is good;
How then can he respond to God’s command to believe?

"There is no fear of God before his eyes;
How then can he humble himself before God and trust in Him for salvation?

"He hates God, loves sin, and is unwilling and undesirous of coming to Christ;
How then can he repent and do so?

"He is spiritually blind; how then can he make himself see? He is spiritually dead;
How then can he make himself live?..."

"When a person repents and believes in Christ, it is because God has Opened his or her heart to respond to the gospel. What is impossible with man is possible with God. This same pattern can be seen clearly in Jesus’ teaching: "No one can come to Me [impossible with man], unless the Father Who sent Me draws him [possible with God]; and I Will Raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44). In this verse Jesus teaches that although no man is able to come to Christ, God the Father is Able to Draw men to Christ and does so when He Calls them unto salvation. This is commonly known as Effectual Calling.

Any attempt to deny that God's Call unto salvation is Effectual must be rejected on the basis of Romans 8:30; "Moreover whom He did Predestinate, them He also Called: and whom He Called, them He also Justified: and whom He Justified, them He also Glorified." This verse implies at least two things: 1.) Not all men are Called (because not all are Justified, and 2.) those who are Called are Called Effectually (because they are Justified).

"For this reason Scripture teaches that repentence and faith are gifts from God. When an unbeliever repents of his sins and believes in Christ, it is not the fruit of his inherent ability to repent and believe but rather the result of God Opening his heart and Granting him repentance;

Acts 5:31; "Him hath God exalted with His Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

11:18; "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles Granted repentance unto life.

2 Tim. 2:25; "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"

and for God to Grant him faith;

"This is proved by the passages already quoted that designate repentance as a gift of God; because repentance and faith are inseparable graces. Each one, when appearing alone in the Scriptures, embraces the other; for, if this were not true, the passages which mention only the one or the other would teach that one may be saved without both repentance and faith or that the soul might have faith and then afterward be given repentance, causing them to repent of having faith.

Faith is a gift of God, is proved by passages which teach that our coming to Christ and believing on Him are the result of the working of God's Power.

John 6:37, 65; "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I Will in no wise cast out,"

"And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father."

Eph. 1:19, 20; "And what is the Exceeding Greatness of His Power to us-ward who believe, according to the Working of His Mighty Power, 20; "Which He Wrought in Christ, when He Raised Him from the dead, and Set Him at His Own Right Hand in the Heavenly Places,

From SIMMONS- REPENTANCE AND FAITH

The NEW TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

Acts 13:48; "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were Ordained to Eternal Life believed."

18:27; "And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:"

Eph. 2:8-9; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9; "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Phil. 1:29; "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

2 Pet. 1:1; "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:"

Faith is a gift of God is further proven by the fact that faith is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 5:22; "But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"

"Therefore, repentance and faith are not works that man performs in order to earn his salvation—they are the change of heart brought about by God Himself. Salvation is by grace from start to finish.

The OLD TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

"This work of God in changing men’s hearts is reflected in the imagery used in several Old Testament prophecies. For example, God says in

Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26,27.

Jeremiah 24:7, "And I Will give them a heart to know Me, for I Am the Lord;... and they Will Return to Me with their whole heart."

The sinner must turn to God with his whole heart in order to be saved, but it is God who Opens his heart and Enables him to do so. Prior to this, the unbeliever is hardened and unresponsive toward God—his heart is made of stone. Only when God Works in his heart and Effectually Draws him to Christ does he respond to the gospel.

"Left to himself, the unbeliever’s heart will remain evil and enslaved to sin, neither able nor willing to repent of sin and believe in Christ. For him salvation is impossible. But the things impossible with men are possible with God, for He is the One Who takes the initiative in salvation by giving His chosen ones eyes to see, ears to hear, and the heart and ability to respond to the gospel in faith and repentance. Our heart-opening God is truly the God of all grace."

Adapted from https://biblesnet.com/matt-waymeyer-evangelism-101-laying-the-foundation.pdf

I agree that man is totally depraved, as the apostle Paul demonstrated, and Calvin coined. But the apostle Paul also said that faith comes by the hearing of the Word of God.

The Gospel message given by you and me to the lost contains the faith to believe, The Holy Spirit produces that faith to believe in that message given.

Where I disagree is that man who loves the things of this world can and will reject that Gospel message and the faith to believe goes out the window with the message.

The choice is given to man by God, not God making the choice for him.

 

[Silverhair]

"The unbeliever cannot understand or accept the gospel, for it is foolishness to him;
How then can he respond to it and believe in Christ as his Savior?

"Every intent of his heart is evil, and he seeks not after God;
How then can he turn to Christ for salvation and embrace Him as his righteousness?

"He is enslaved to sin;
How then can he turn from his wickedness to Christ and bow before Him as Lord?

"The unbeliever is not able to please God, obey God, or do anything at all that is good;
How then can he respond to God’s command to believe?

"There is no fear of God before his eyes;
How then can he humble himself before God and trust in Him for salvation?

"He hates God, loves sin, and is unwilling and undesirous of coming to Christ;
How then can he repent and do so?

"He is spiritually blind; how then can he make himself see? He is spiritually dead;
How then can he make himself live?..."

"When a person repents and believes in Christ, it is because God has Opened his or her heart to respond to the gospel. What is impossible with man is possible with God. This same pattern can be seen clearly in Jesus’ teaching: "No one can come to Me [impossible with man], unless the Father Who sent Me draws him [possible with God]; and I Will Raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44). In this verse Jesus teaches that although no man is able to come to Christ, God the Father is Able to Draw men to Christ and does so when He Calls them unto salvation. This is commonly known as Effectual Calling.

Any attempt to deny that God's Call unto salvation is Effectual must be rejected on the basis of Romans 8:30; "Moreover whom He did Predestinate, them He also Called: and whom He Called, them He also Justified: and whom He Justified, them He also Glorified."

This verse implies at least two things:
1.) Not all men are Called (because not all are Justified,
and 2.) those who are Called are Called Effectually (because they are Justified).

"For this reason Scripture teaches that repentence and faith are gifts from God. When an unbeliever repents of his sins and believes in Christ, it is not the fruit of his inherent ability to repent and believe but rather the result of God Opening his heart and Granting him repentance;

Acts 5:31; "Him hath God exalted with His Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

11:18; "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles Granted repentance unto life.

2 Tim. 2:25; "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"

and for God to Grant him faith;

"This is proved by the passages already quoted that designate repentance as a gift of God; because repentance and faith are inseparable graces. Each one, when appearing alone in the Scriptures, embraces the other; for, if this were not true, the passages which mention only the one or the other would teach that one may be saved without both repentance and faith or that the soul might have faith and then afterward be given repentance, causing them to repent of having faith.

Faith is a gift of God, is proved by passages which teach that our coming to Christ and believing on Him are the result of the working of God's Power.

John 6:37, 65; "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I Will in no wise cast out,"

"And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father."

Eph. 1:19, 20; "And what is the Exceeding Greatness of His Power to us-ward who believe, according to the Working of His Mighty Power, 20; "Which He Wrought in Christ, when He Raised Him from the dead, and Set Him at His Own Right Hand in the Heavenly Places,

From SIMMONS- REPENTANCE AND FAITH

The NEW TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

Acts 13:48; "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were Ordained to Eternal Life believed."

18:27; "And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:"

Eph. 2:8-9; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9; "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Phil. 1:29; "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

2 Pet. 1:1; "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:"

Faith is a gift of God is further proven by the fact that faith is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 5:22; "But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"

"Therefore, repentance and faith are not works that man performs in order to earn his salvation—they are the change of heart brought about by God Himself. Salvation is by grace from start to finish.

The OLD TESTAMENT Scriptures Teach that Faith is a Gift from God.

"This work of God in changing men’s hearts is reflected in the imagery used in several Old Testament prophecies. For example, God says in

Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26,27.

Jeremiah 24:7, "And I Will give them a heart to know Me, for I Am the Lord;... and they Will Return to Me with their whole heart."

The sinner must turn to God with his whole heart in order to be saved, but it is God who Opens his heart and Enables him to do so. Prior to this, the unbeliever is hardened and unresponsive toward God—his heart is made of stone. Only when God Works in his heart and Effectually Draws him to Christ does he respond to the gospel.

"Left to himself, the unbeliever’s heart will remain evil and enslaved to sin, neither able nor willing to repent of sin and believe in Christ. For him salvation is impossible. But the things impossible with men are possible with God, for He is the One Who takes the initiative in salvation by giving His chosen ones eyes to see, ears to hear, and the heart and ability to respond to the gospel in faith and repentance. Our heart-opening God is truly the God of all grace."

Adapted from https://biblesnet.com/matt-waymeyer-evangelism-101-laying-the-foundation.pdf

It is amazing that for someone who quotes so much scripture you can totally miss what the text actually says.

You are reading all those verses through the lens of your calvinism, which is your first error. When you attempt to make the word of God fit into your religion then you are on the wrong path.

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

Where I disagree is that man who loves the things of this world can and will reject that Gospel message

John 3:5; "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7; "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8; "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

"The Master’s Instruments: Since salvation is solely the work of our heart-opening God, where does that leave man? Does the believer assume any role whatsoever in the salvation of the lost?

"In response to this question, some have insisted that the Christian must passively surrender to the sovereignty of God and simply sit back and wait for God to zap whomever He pleases. What such individuals fail to realize, however, is that just as a surgeon uses special instruments to perform a delicate surgery, so also does God use instruments of His choice to grant new life to a sinner.

"The first instrument employed by the Master Surgeon is a divine instrument, namely the Word of God. James writes, "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth" (James 1:18). Notice that James first states that his readers were "brought forth"—or born again—in the exercise of God’s will. In other words, it was the sovereign purpose of the Lord that they be made alive in Christ. And how was it that He brought them forth in keeping with His sovereign will? They were brought forth, James writes, "by the word of truth." James says the instrument or the means by which God granted them new life was the message of the gospel.

"The Apostle Peter reminds his readers of this truth in similar fashion, writing, "you have been born again…through the living and abiding word of God…which was preached to you" (1 Pet 1:23, 25). Again, Scripture states clearly that God has caused His children to be born again through—or by means of—His word.

"This same teaching is found in Paul’s epistles as well: The apostle reminds Timothy that Scripture is "able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15); he writes to the church at Rome that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17); he tells the Ephesian believers that Jesus has cleansed the church "by the washing of water with the word" (Eph. 5:26); and he assures the Romans that the gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18).

"At this point some may object and say that the gospel is offensive to unbelievers, and that another means must be used in seeking their salvation. After all, it’s so exclusive and intolerant, and not at all what people today are looking for. Preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel simply will not be effective.

"The example of the Apostle Paul, however, points in the opposite direction: "For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom," the apostle writes, "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness…" (1 Cor. 1:22-23). In other words, Paul remained committed to the divine message regardless of its offense, for he knew that it was "to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (v. 24).

"The bottom line is that any doubts regarding the gospel as the God-ordained means through which He saves sinners may be sufficiently put to rest with the simple and wonderful truth that "God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).

"The second of the Master’s instruments is not a divine instrument, but rather a human one, for the gospel message needs a messenger. This simple truth can be seen clearly in Paul’s epistle to Rome, where he writes, "How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14)

"Paul’s point here is not difficult to grasp—sinners cannot believe in the One of whom they have not heard, and they cannot hear of Him without someone preaching to them. In other words, the preaching of the gospel is indispensable to the salvation of the lost.

"God, in His infinite wisdom, was pleased to determine that sinners be saved through a message brought to them by human messengers (i.e. "the message preached" in 1 Cor. 1:21). It is for this reason that the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). Therefore, while the evangelist is not a divine instrument per se, he is a divinely ordained instrument, and one that plays a vital role in God’s plan to save His people.

"Most simply stated, then, evangelism consists of the human messenger proclaiming the divine message to depraved sinners. God is indeed the One who saves, but the Master utilizes instruments of His choice to carry out His work. And these instruments—both the message and the messenger—play an indispensable role in the work whereby our life-giving God does what no human surgeon could ever hope to accomplish."

The choice is given to man by God,

Doesn't it make you wonder why God never said He did this to a lost soul?

 

[Charlie24]

John 3:5; "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7; "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8; "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

"The Master’s Instruments: Since salvation is solely the work of our heart-opening God, where does that leave man? Does the believer assume any role whatsoever in the salvation of the lost?

"In response to this question, some have insisted that the Christian must passively surrender to the sovereignty of God and simply sit back and wait for God to zap whomever He pleases. What such individuals fail to realize, however, is that just as a surgeon uses special instruments to perform a delicate surgery, so also does God use instruments of His choice to grant new life to a sinner.

"The first instrument employed by the Master Surgeon is a divine instrument, namely the Word of God. James writes, "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth" (James 1:18). Notice that James first states that his readers were "brought forth"—or born again—in the exercise of God’s will. In other words, it was the sovereign purpose of the Lord that they be made alive in Christ. And how was it that He brought them forth in keeping with His sovereign will? They were brought forth, James writes, "by the word of truth." James says the instrument or the means by which God granted them new life was the message of the gospel.

"The Apostle Peter reminds his readers of this truth in similar fashion, writing, "you have been born again…through the living and abiding word of God…which was preached to you" (1 Pet 1:23, 25). Again, Scripture states clearly that God has caused His children to be born again through—or by means of—His word.

"This same teaching is found in Paul’s epistles as well: The apostle reminds Timothy that Scripture is "able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15); he writes to the church at Rome that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17); he tells the Ephesian believers that Jesus has cleansed the church "by the washing of water with the word" (Eph. 5:26); and he assures the Romans that the gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18).

"At this point some may object and say that the gospel is offensive to unbelievers, and that another means must be used in seeking their salvation. After all, it’s so exclusive and intolerant, and not at all what people today are looking for. Preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel simply will not be effective.

"The example of the Apostle Paul, however, points in the opposite direction: "For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom," the apostle writes, "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness…" (1 Cor. 1:22-23). In other words, Paul remained committed to the divine message regardless of its offense, for he knew that it was "to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (v. 24).

"The bottom line is that any doubts regarding the gospel as the God-ordained means through which He saves sinners may be sufficiently put to rest with the simple and wonderful truth that "God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).

"The second of the Master’s instruments is not a divine instrument, but rather a human one, for the gospel message needs a messenger. This simple truth can be seen clearly in Paul’s epistle to Rome, where he writes, "How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14)

"Paul’s point here is not difficult to grasp—sinners cannot believe in the One of whom they have not heard, and they cannot hear of Him without someone preaching to them. In other words, the preaching of the gospel is indispensable to the salvation of the lost.

"God, in His infinite wisdom, was pleased to determine that sinners be saved through a message brought to them by human messengers (i.e. "the message preached" in 1 Cor. 1:21). It is for this reason that the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). Therefore, while the evangelist is not a divine instrument per se, he is a divinely ordained instrument, and one that plays a vital role in God’s plan to save His people.

"Most simply stated, then, evangelism consists of the human messenger proclaiming the divine message to depraved sinners. God is indeed the One who saves, but the Master utilizes instruments of His choice to carry out His work. And these instruments—both the message and the messenger—play an indispensable role in the work whereby our life-giving God does what no human surgeon could ever hope to accomplish."

Doesn't it make you wonder why God never said He did this to a lost soul?

I agree with much of what you've said here, and that you give God all the praise and glory for our salvation!

Concerning God giving man the choice to be saved, it's obvious from the very beginning of man that God gives that choice. I don't have to repeat all those verses, you've heard them many times.

It's not so much as to what God said about our salvation, it's what He did. We see it over and over in the Scripture where God stretches out His hand to the salvation of man, but man rejects. That is the history of God's chosen people, Israel.

How can it possibly be that the most popular verse in Scripture has been perverted in assigning an elect group as the world, that Christ died only for an elect group?

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

God wants all of mankind to be saved, there is no excuse for man to get that wrong from Scripture. God help us to understand this.

If man doesn't want God, then God honors that decision and the consequences are no secret to man.