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The Millions Who Never Had a Choice

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percho

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Brother, I don't think there is a difference. This is what Elder Gilbert Beebe wrote on this verse, "Here we have, in this last passage, an illustration of the manner in which the Son of God quickeneth whom he will. How does the Father raise the dead? Does he wait until the dead are willing to come to him for life? Does he promise to the slumbering tenants of the graves, that if they are willing he will raise them and quicken, or give them life? Certainly not. “The Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, [not with a proposition, a proffer, or an invitation, but] with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” - 1 Thess. iv. 16. “We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised.” - 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52. “Even so,” or exactly so, precisely so, “the Son quickeneth whom he will.” Will-worshipers, free-agents, and all Arminians, in whom the word of life does not abide, may, with the Jews, rage and blaspheme, but helpless sinners saved by grace, will exclaim in the fullness of their enraptured spirit, “Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are all thy ways, thou King of saints.” “We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty; which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.” - Rev. xv. 3, & xi. 17."

I think the key as Elder Beebe pointed out are the words in the verse that say "even so" or exactly so, precisely so, etc, in other words they do quicken in the same manner.

Was it the Father or the Son who raised, from the dead, Lazarus the brother of Mary and Martha?

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened ( ζῳοποιέω zōopoieō) by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37 NKJV

Was Lazarus, "quickened," (συζωοποιέω syzōopoieō) either before or after being raised from the dead? Was Lazarus, ( ζῳοποιέω zōopoieō ) before and or after?

Are both or one, "quickened," relative to regeneration?

Is not even resurrection from the dead not some form of regeneration?

If not relative to OP, Please PM.

 

SovereignGrace

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That is true...the Calvinist position doesn't deny that those who seek God will find Him. Calvinists believe that is has to be given to one to seek God because no one seeks him without the help of regeneration.

Exactly. I love the last line in the old hymn 'Afflictions, tho' they seem severe' that states thusly...'And welcomes all who come.'

God is not some tyrant who keeps His palms pressed against peoples' heads, holding them back from coming to Him. Nay! Yet, at the same time, He is not seeking any and all, but rather His sheep, those having gone astray in Adam. He seeks AND saves...actually draws and saves...not tries to save and fails...those He seeks AND finds.
 
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