Volition

I don't believe heresy and I am not a Heretic, wondered when the name calling would come. Neither am I prouder or smarter than my neighbor. So you believe all are saved or dragged for Jesus said "32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw (drag) all (pas each and every) men unto me." John 12:32 Now James 4:8 uses the greek engízō for draw nigh, to which Thayers says it means :

1. to bring near, to join one thing to another
2. to draw or come near to, to approach
   
   

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. The command is to draw near to God, that is to approach God, not to be dragged. Jesus if He was lifted up and He was He would draw (drag)v all men to Him. So all come to Him by the dragging of the Spirit but not all accept His great Salvation, they use their conscious choice to reject or accept. All are dragged but not all accept what was offered, so no one is coerced into salvation, they are drawn by the spirit but they must believe and Call Romans 10:13on Christ. John 3:18 also applies to them believing of their own free will. Thelo

 

Well if you a spiritually you should know the answer to that, because we all are born Spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. But to answer your question Ephesians 2:
8 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.
God's gift of Salvation comes by Faith, 2 Timothy 3:15
And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Scriptures bring wisdom to have Faith. When the scripture is spoken with God's plan of salvation the Holy Spirit brings conviction to all who must make a choice to believe or reject. John 8:9
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
Jesus spoke and wrote in the sand and they were all convicted. What were they under conviction about, their own sinfulness. Acts 2:
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The Holy Spirit Brings conviction, He pricked their hearts, they it doesn't say they all received his word but those who did, some were convicted and walked away unsaved, why because they chose to walk away being under conviction. Then we see Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

When the word is spoken it divides asunder the soul and spirit of man to draw them to God. Do all receive Christ in Faith no not at all. There is the volition the thelo in action.

 

Romans 4:
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Abraham was justified by Faith not works, this states unequivocally that faith is not works. Verse 8 makes it clear that who worketh not but believe on Him their faith is counted for righteousness. Really clear a person who believes on Christ does so by Faith and Faith is not works.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
When the unbelievers sees the Law and let's just say the ten commandments it brings them to know they are sinners, what do many do when they are convicted, go to court to have the ten commandments removed. Others see and believe when conviction comes, some believe by that Conviction brought by the Holy Spirit others reject. But all that come do so by Faith which is counted for Righteousness.

 

The gift of Ephesians 2:8 & 9 is salvation because of Faith. It is not faith to gain salvation otherwise Abraham would never have been justified for He was justified by Faith. Regenerated upon believing in the Son of God. You see Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, the Spirit is regenerated upon FAITH not to gain faith. Ephesians 1:In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Sealing by the Holy Spirit occurs after faith, But regeneration or new life being born again comes through believing not before John 20:31. Regeneration new Spiritual life comes after believing it is not the cause of believing.
The Philippian jailer once asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). Paul he might have said, "You can do nothing to be saved, absolutely nothing. You are dead in sin and a dead man can do nothing. If God doesn't regenerate you, then you are doomed" this is what you seem to be saying. How different was the answer Paul gave: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). HE didn't say God has to give you Spiritual life in order for you to have Spiritual life, no he said Believe and thou shalt be saved.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47). Belieivng brings life not life bringing faith that brings life. The moment belief takes place regeneration, justification, imputation of Righteousness and many other things occur for the one who believes, but belief by a nano-second preceedes regeneration. Scriputre upon scripture prooves this to be true.

Answer this:If regeneration precedes faith, then what must a sinner do to be regenerated? That is to have new life or everlasting life or be Spiritually reborn.