The Invitation To Heaven

[SavedByGrace]

It is true Cornelius bore the fruit of the Spirit, as I did, before hearing the gospel. But the gospel saves our lives through repentance and Holiness. We would not experience at any major level without it.

you have still not addressed the fact, that both Jesus and Paul desired the Jews who openly opposed Jesus and the Gospel, to be saved. How could they have done this if only the "elect" are to be saved?

 

[1689Dave]

you have still not addressed the fact, that both Jesus and Paul desired the Jews who openly opposed Jesus and the Gospel, to be saved. How could they have done this if only the "elect" are to be saved?

This is not true. Jesus spoke in parables so they could not understand and be converted. Paul proved they were reprobate by exposing them to Christ before going off to the Gentiles.

 

[Van]

First off..when you try and derive doctrine from parables by twisting and wresting the passage into an eisegetical wonderland...you will only wind up with Van as your companion....did you ever get to see the Lone Ranger and Tonto?...it is like that

Yet another subject change attacking Van and not addressing the topic. Calvinists on this forum appear to be one trick ponies.

1) Of course parables are used to teach doctrine, so those that say otherwise are simply trying to nullify the truths taught in parables AND their straight-forward explanations.

2) Calvinism twists and wrests passage after passage to create a biblical wasteland.

3) I liked the Lone Ranger shows as a kid, he was for truth, justice, and compassion.

 

[Van]

Calvinism claims God wants us to hand tracks to blind people to glorify God.
Or preach to deaf people, or witness in a cemetery. Calvinism is as bogus as a three dollar bill.

God desires all people to be saved and has given the task of evangelism to born anew believers.

So simple a child could understand...

 

[AustinC]

Calvinism claims God wants us to hand tracks to blind people to glorify God.
Or preach to deaf people, or witness in a cemetery. Calvinism is as bogus as a three dollar bill.

God desires all people to be saved and has given the task of evangelism to born anew believers.

So simple a child could understand...

Interesting how you place all the burden for winning souls on the human who uses great marketing techniques.

Yet Jesus says this:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Notice it's all Jesus who has the authority. It's not the great oratory of the preacher that convinces sinners to cooperate with God.

There is nothing incompatible with a universal message to all humans to be reconciled with God and the fact that only those who the Father has given to Jesus will hear his voice and be reconciled.

It strikes me odd that you would be offended by this biblical truth.

 

[Alan Gross]

Matthew 22: And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Luke 14: 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

These two accounts are a clear presentation of the Gospel to the entire human race, without exception. It is also clear from this, that the Reformed/Calvinistic teaching of “election to salvation”, is unbiblical.

Firstly, we see that that sinners are INVITED to ACCEPT the Gospel OFFER, which clearly is UNIVERSAL.

Secondly, those who are INVITED are able to ACCEPT or REJECT this OFFER, showing that ALL sinners must possess the God-given ABILITY to CHOOSE.

Thirdly, those who are originally INVITED and made EXCUSES not to ACCEPT the OFFER, were REJECTED by the Lord, which shows that the Reformed/Calvinistic teaching of “Irresistible Grace”, cannot be correct.

Fourthly, we can see from Matthew’s account, that the Gospel OFFER is NOT for only the ELECT, as it very clearly says, that both the GOOD and BAD are to be INVITED to Heaven. This cannot mean only the ELECT, and must also include what is known as the NON ELECT, that is, the ENTIRE HUMAN RACE.

Fifthly, in Luke’s account, we read that ALL sinners are COMPELLED, the Greek is ἀναγκάζω, which means, “to necessitate, compel, by persuasion, entreaties”. Again, against the Reformed/Calvinistic teaching of “Irresistible Grace” and of “election to salvation”. As no “elect” person would ever have to be “persuaded or entreated” to ACCEPT the Gospel for their salvation!

Sixthly, Jesus Christ is The ONLY Way to get to Heaven, as seen from the UNINVITED person, who thought there was another “way”.

Seventh, much of the so called Five Points of Calvinism, are destroyed by these two passages, and they are clerarly shown to be UNBIBLICAL.

The Command to Repent.

 

[Wesley Briggman]

Matthew 22: And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Luke 14: 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

These two accounts are a clear presentation of the Gospel to the entire human race, without exception. It is also clear from this, that the Reformed/Calvinistic teaching of “election to salvation”, is unbiblical.

Firstly, we see that that sinners are INVITED to ACCEPT the Gospel OFFER, which clearly is UNIVERSAL.

Secondly, those who are INVITED are able to ACCEPT or REJECT this OFFER, showing that ALL sinners must possess the God-given ABILITY to CHOOSE.

Thirdly, those who are originally INVITED and made EXCUSES not to ACCEPT the OFFER, were REJECTED by the Lord, which shows that the Reformed/Calvinistic teaching of “Irresistible Grace”, cannot be correct.

Fourthly, we can see from Matthew’s account, that the Gospel OFFER is NOT for only the ELECT, as it very clearly says, that both the GOOD and BAD are to be INVITED to Heaven. This cannot mean only the ELECT, and must also include what is known as the NON ELECT, that is, the ENTIRE HUMAN RACE.

Fifthly, in Luke’s account, we read that ALL sinners are COMPELLED, the Greek is ἀναγκάζω, which means, “to necessitate, compel, by persuasion, entreaties”. Again, against the Reformed/Calvinistic teaching of “Irresistible Grace” and of “election to salvation”. As no “elect” person would ever have to be “persuaded or entreated” to ACCEPT the Gospel for their salvation!

Sixthly, Jesus Christ is The ONLY Way to get to Heaven, as seen from the UNINVITED person, who thought there was another “way”.

Seventh, much of the so called Five Points of Calvinism, are destroyed by these two passages, and they are clerarly shown to be UNBIBLICAL.

[Mar 6:10-11 KJV] 10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

 

[Alan Gross]

Yes, Total Spiritual Inability is refuted by these two passages and several others. Unless a sinner has a hardened heart (either caused by God or the practice of sin) the lost have the limited ability to hear and learn from the gospel, the spiritual milk the Father uses to draw people to Christ.

One small insignificant nitpick, Luke 14:23 should read "persuade people to come in." Here is the NET footnote:
"Traditionally “force” or “compel,” but according to BDAG 60 s.v. ἀναγκάζω 2 this is a weakened nuance: “strongly urge/invite.” The meaning in this context is more like “persuade.”"

There is a God. God Calls many and few are Chosen.

Matthew 20:16 - Meaning and Commentary on Bible Verse

many be called;
externally, under the ministration of the Gospel, as the Jews in general were, by Christ and his apostles; but

few chosen;
in Christ from all eternity, both to grace and glory;

and in consequence, and as an evidence of it, but few among the Jews;

as also in the Gentile world, comparatively speaking: and even but a few of those that are outwardly called, are inwardly and effectually called by the powerful grace of God, out of darkness into marvelous light, into the grace and liberty of the Gospel, into communion with Christ, and to the obtaining his kingdom and glory, according to the eternal purpose of God

 

[Dave G]

again, you fail to respond to the 2 passages in the OP, nor say what they do refer to, if not what I have said?

I did indeed respond to the two passages that you've referred to.
In my opinion, you're looking at them by themselves instead of bringing in information from other passages that tell us:

1) A man's heart condition before God does any work.
2) The Jews and their responsibility to keep a covenant that the Lord had made with them.
3) The parable of the wedding is about the Lord compelling people to come in...
Did He do that for those who were bidden?

No ( at least not for most of them ).
He invited them, and they turned Him down.

Don't keep on going to other places in the Bible, to suppose that you can somehow get rid of what these passages very clearly DO teach.

Not to be rude, but by my estimation, you keep rejecting the plain words of many passages that show the Lord's choosing of people to salvation, why people believe and why they do not, and the fact that God over-rules our decisions as men.

For example, Romans 9, John 6, Romans 11, Ephesians 1 and several others give me the details that I need to come back to the passages in question and determine why the Jews then rejected Christ's invitations.

Jesus Christ is the Speaker, and He knows Best of what He is saying

I agree.

 

[Dave G]

according to your theology, the preaching of the Gospel Message to the entire human race, is no more than a sham! The "call" to salvation is universal, which is part of the Gospel, and then God says, sorry, not everyone can be saved, as I did not wish that everyone should be saved! The universal preaching of the Gospel becomes very insincere.

It's not a sham...
It has a purpose.

To me, you misunderstand who the Gospel is intended for...
Acts of the Apostles 2:39.
The call to salvation is to the "whosoever believeth"...
It loses none of its truth just because men are naturally unwilling to believe it.

Just as Israel failed to keep the Law of Moses time and again, and the Lord eventually sent His Son to keep it...
We as men are completely unable and unwilling to approach God on His terms.
That is how bad off we are as a race.

But it doesn't stop there;
God has always had a remnant according to the election of grace.
As I see it, that is the one detail that you keep overlooking...
The contents of Romans 8, Romans 9, Romans 10 and Romans 11.
Ephesians 1, Ephesians 2, Colossians 2, 2 Thessalonians 2 and several others.

Again, the universal proclamation of the Gospel is for all men.
The problem is, God not only has to open the heart in order for us as rebellious men to receive His words ( Acts of the Apostles 16:14 ), He does so for only those that were given to His Son...
A multitude that no man can number out of every tongue, tribe and nation.

That is His purpose...
To show His wrath and to make His power known, and to show His grace and to make His kindness known.
He does that by making some for His wrath and making others for His mercy.

That is what Romans 9 details.



Again, given the hardness of our hearts and the unwillingness to come to Him for reconciliation,
if it were up to us, no man would come to Him.
In addition, that would not be grace...
Salvation would then be conditioned upon what we do ( man's efforts ), and right there is an opportunity for boasting in something other than His mercy and grace and for giving us somethnig we never could earn...

Eternal life, which is to know God and His Son ( John 17:3 ).

 

[Dave G]

why preach it in the first place?

" For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." (1 Corinthians 1:21).

Because that is His chosen method, and He is pleased to use it.
Is that not enough?.

If God can save Paul and Cornelius, by actually getting someone to take the Gospel for their salvation directly to them. Then why can't our Great God do just this for all the "elect"?

He does.
See Romans 10:13-15.

He sends men to do His bidding, and they preach Christ crucified for sinners.
Just as He did Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and many others.

 

[Dave G]

WHAT does Jesus mean by INVITE? An "Invitaion" by defination means that it can be either accepted or rejected.

According to our corrupt way of thinking ( our "definition" ), an offer must logically be followed by either the ability to accept it or the ability to reject it.
But God's word says no such thing.

In fact, His word tells us that the Jews ( and by extension, us ) would not come to Him that they might have life ( John 5:40 ).
The wicked ( that's us outside of His grace ) will not come to Christ, lest our deeds should be reproved ( John 3:19-20 ).
You don't find this significant?
I do.

It tells me exactly what Matthew 15:15-20 does...
Out of the heart of men proceed many things that defile us.
Our hearts are dead and sinful to the Lord, even though we think that nothing's wrong;
That is, until He awakens us.
When He shows us our sinful condition by His power and grace, we then realize how we would have never sought Him but for Him revealing Himself to us.


Again, it seems that you're completely ignoring Romans 1:18-32, Romans 3:10-18, John 3:19-20 and many other passages ( especially in the Psalms ) that tell us that we are dead in trespasses and sins.
"Dead" means "talk to the hand, God".
"Dead" means, "death is better than bondage" to God and His will.
"Dead" means, "better to be on my feet in Hell than on my knees in Heaven".
That is what "dead" means.

You don't see that when you read those passages?

I do, and that is what makes me realize that it takes a miracle of God's grace to get a prideful and unrepentant man like me to even listen to His words,
much less to seek Him for deliverance or to worship Him for His majesty, grace and mercy.
I know full well what I am in the flesh, ( and what I was outside of His grace and mercy ) because of what He has shown me in His word, my friend.
Without Him I'd be very much in trouble, and it would be my own fault.

If salvation were an offer or an invitation in the sense that it relied on us as men being willing to accept it...
we'd all do what the Jews did, as a nation, and turn Him down flat.

This is my last reply in this thread.


Good evening to you, SBG,
and may He be pleased to show you many things in His word by His grace, as you, by faith, follow His commands in 1 Peter 2:2 and 2 Timothy 2:15.

 

[Van]

Interesting how you place all the burden for winning souls on the human who uses great marketing techniques.

Calvinism requires its defenders to misrepresent the views of others to change the subject from their bogus doctrine.
Do one comes to Christ unless drawn by the Father. Thus the "all the burden for winning souls" does not rest with God's witnesses, or with the work of the Holy Spirit, because God requires the lost to put their faith in the One He sent.

 

[AustinC]

Calvinism requires its defenders to misrepresent the views of others to change the subject from their bogus doctrine.
Do one comes to Christ unless drawn by the Father. Thus the "all the burden for winning souls" does not rest with God's witnesses, or with the work of the Holy Spirit, because God requires the lost to put their faith in the One He sent.

"No one comes to Christ unless the Father draws him."
This is true. God must choose to draw that person up from the well of his own sin. There is no needed cooperation. He does not demand the person have faith...before God draws that man out of the well.
In truth, God draws a dead person out of the well and then breathes new life into that dead man. This is all by God's grace. God then gives this man the faith to believe.

Yet, you will now contend against this biblical truth.

 

[Alan Gross]

Calvinism requires its defenders to misrepresent the views of others to change the subject from their bogus doctrine.
Do one comes to Christ unless drawn by the Father. Thus the "all the burden for winning souls" does not rest with God's witnesses, or with the work of the Holy Spirit, because God requires the lost to put their faith in the One He sent.

"And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb." REVELATION 6:16

 

[Aaron]

Matthew 22: And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Luke 14: 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

These two accounts are a clear presentation of the Gospel to the entire human race, without exception. It is also clear from this, that the Reformed/Calvinistic teaching of “election to salvation”, is unbiblical.

Firstly, we see that that sinners are INVITED to ACCEPT the Gospel OFFER, which clearly is UNIVERSAL.

Secondly, those who are INVITED are able to ACCEPT or REJECT this OFFER, showing that ALL sinners must possess the God-given ABILITY to CHOOSE.

Thirdly, those who are originally INVITED and made EXCUSES not to ACCEPT the OFFER, were REJECTED by the Lord, which shows that the Reformed/Calvinistic teaching of “Irresistible Grace”, cannot be correct.

Fourthly, we can see from Matthew’s account, that the Gospel OFFER is NOT for only the ELECT, as it very clearly says, that both the GOOD and BAD are to be INVITED to Heaven. This cannot mean only the ELECT, and must also include what is known as the NON ELECT, that is, the ENTIRE HUMAN RACE.

Fifthly, in Luke’s account, we read that ALL sinners are COMPELLED, the Greek is ἀναγκάζω, which means, “to necessitate, compel, by persuasion, entreaties”. Again, against the Reformed/Calvinistic teaching of “Irresistible Grace” and of “election to salvation”. As no “elect” person would ever have to be “persuaded or entreated” to ACCEPT the Gospel for their salvation!

Sixthly, Jesus Christ is The ONLY Way to get to Heaven, as seen from the UNINVITED person, who thought there was another “way”.

Seventh, much of the so called Five Points of Calvinism, are destroyed by these two passages, and they are clerarly shown to be UNBIBLICAL.

Matthew 22. The Jews refused their Messiah and persecuted the prophets. So the kingdom is given to the Gentiles.

Luke 14. The same with the addition of the fact that the tares are allowed to grow up with the wheat, but are separated in the day of harvest.

Also, these are parables, not allegories. There is a point to them, but not every detail contains doctrinal significance. Not every element of a parable is symbolic of something. Otherwise I might conclude that God answers my prayers just to get me off His back. Luke 18

 

[Aaron]

Your response like the others who follow your thinking do not really answer what I have said in the OP. there is no other way to understand these 2 passages. If there is then feel free to present your case here

See above.

 

[SavedByGrace]

The Command to Repent.

INVITATION to ACCEPT the Gospel, as very clear, but of course your theology does not allow for this!

 

[SavedByGrace]

He invited them, and they turned Him down

do you see the utter confusion in your theology, which is that what the reformed teach, whether you call yourself this or not, is evident from what you write!

IF, as you have written, that those in the 2 Scripture passages in the OP, were "invited", and these "turned him down", as you rightly say. Then you have to agree that the Gospel IS and INVITATION, and that all humans have a FREE WILL, to be able to "turn down", or "accept" this Great Invitation. You contradict yourself and confuse yourself in your rambling replies.

 

[SavedByGrace]

Matthew 22. The Jews refused their Messiah and persecuted the prophets. So the kingdom is given to the Gentiles.

Luke 14. The same with the addition of the fact that the tares are allowed to grow up with the wheat, but are separated in the day of harvest.

Also, these are parables, not allegories. There is a point to them, but not every detail contains doctrinal significance. Not every element of a parable is symbolic of something. Otherwise I might conclude that God answers my prayers just to get me off His back. Luke 18

The entire world is made up of Jews and Gentiles. If you are not the one, then most certainly you are the other. There are no aliens in this world, or no nobodies! The fact that the Invitation is made to the "good and the bad", shows that it is NOT limited as you suppose, to the Jews and Gentiles as groups, but to the entire human race. Your reference to Luke 14 has nothing to do with what Jesus is saying in these 2 passages.