What happens first?

Sad to say His compassion don't include the non-Calvinist. Sorry everyone else but that is how it is according to those who have the authority of God to speak for Him (according to them).
The Lord said "preach to the whole world" but the Calvinist say no, "waste of time".

 

Your first post was a quote from Jonathan Edwards.
Your second post was an opinion not backed up with Scripture, but refuted by Brother Bob in a previous post.
Faith, in respect to salvation, is not a gift from God. You have yet to demonstrate that from the Bible. Where is your evidence? It is a straightforward question. What is there not to follow or understand?
DHK

 

Yep, he believed. but you say we can't!!

 

Abraham beleived God.
There is no evidence to say that the belief or faith came from God. Where are you gettng this idea. If a city bus driver tells me that his bus will take me to the city center, and I put my faith, my trust in his word that it is so, does the faith come from God?
DHK

 

I always understood it to be SALVATION that is the gift, not faith, and that the salvation is not of works, which would indicate that man somehow earned salvation, which we know is not true.

 

Where in the world do you get the whole world chose evil in the following scripture. It is insane to try and reason with you for when you are wrong you will never admit it but leave for a day and then come back and then leave and then come back.

Romans, chapter 1

18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

So they did have a chance to choose good according to the Scripture. Man do you err!

 

Your understanding is correct. It takes a shoe horn to squeeze "faith" as the gift being mentioned.

 

Yes and the works its talking about in that Scripture is the works of the Law such as circumcism it says so. Also it is the deliverance of the Gentiles it is speaking of.

One thing I thank them for is they have made me really look in depth at that Scripture Eph 2

 

:laugh: This verse is dealing with the privilege to not only suffer for Christ, but to believe on Him, not the mystical nebulous gift of "saving faith". At any rate, is the privilege of suffering for Christ a forced issue, or can man CHOOSE not to suffer for Christ? Can man CHOOSE to not accept this "saving faith" too?

 

It is still dealing with the privilege of believing in Christ, the fact that God's grace has even given man a chance to do so instead of getting what we all deserve.

 

All right Bbob, you have attributing to me something that I have never said; that is that a non-calvinist cannot be saved. I expect an apology, sir.

peace to youraise:

 

Sorry I should of said not a pre elect.

You see I am man enough to say I am sorry.

 

I accept your apology. Thank you.

peace to youraise:

 

That is not what the verse is saying:

Philippians 1:29 Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf, (WEB)

It means that you have the privilege to believe in Christ, as well as to suffer on his behalf. Rejoice in this.
Faith or belief is not given by God, and this verse does not teach it. You quoted a definition from a reformed dictionary. I can quote just as many definitions from other sources that say otherwise.
Faith is confidence in the word of another. Specifically faith is confidence in the Word of God, that what He has said is true. It is trust, confidence. Either you accept what he says by faith that it is true and he will keep his word, or you don't. This is not a grace or supernatural gift that is given by God. You choose to reject Christ or to receive him. The choice is yours and someday you will give an account for that choice that you made. The same is true for every choice that you make in life.
DHK

 

This is one of the points of Calvinism I disagree with the most!

 

This sounds so noble, but almost all churches and denominations state this premise, yet they come up with a myriad of interpretations.

Are you saying that, outside of any influences such as your pastor or other Christians you associate with, you simply read the Bible and came up with the same beliefs that Calvinism teaches? I seriously doubt it.