in regard to Calvibaptists last post....
I do not agree
Erasmus said "The mercy of God offers everyone favorable opportunities for repentance."
This is simply, factually, not true, for millions upon millions of people have lived and died without ever having had a "favorable opportunity for repentance."
"One needs only to attach the rest of one’s own will to God’s help, which merely invites to, but does not compel to betterment."
Jesus did not "invite" Lazarus out of the tomb, He compelled him to do so, and surely, moving from death to life was a "betterment". At any rate, this seems to be the popular adage, "God helps those who help themselves", which is, of course true in one sense and false in another. The main point is given by Paul, that while we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, it is also the case that it is God who is at work in us to do and to will according to His good purposes.
Phi 2:12-13 esv Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
(13) for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
"Furthermore, one finds the opinion, that it is within our power to turn our will toward or away from grace – just as it is our pleasure to open or close our eyes against light."
True, the "opinion" is there, among many. This statement can either be agreed to or denied, depending on the meaning. In sanctification man "closes his eyes" to the light for it is true only of regenerated man that the sun shines at all, but in regeneration the blind eyes are made to see. People do not heal themselves from blindness, people do not just decide to not be blind any longer.
The Calvinist John Newton siad it well:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
"It is incompatible with the infinite love of God for man that a man’s striving with all his might for grace should be frustrated."
We have to keep these two ideas in tension:
Jer 29:11-14 esv For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
(12) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
(13) You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart,
(14) I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
with
Heb 12:16-17 NKJV (16) lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. (17) For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears."
That someone will not seek the Lord with their whole heart in and of themselves is evident by 1) when this occurs, it is said to be the result of the plans of the Lord eg Jer. 29:11, verse 12 says "then" .... then, as a result of God's plan... they may seek the Lord etc and 2) it (seeking the Lord with the whole heart) may also come as the result of answered prayer as per David's prayer for Solomon; 1Ch 29:19 esv Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision."
If a person does seek with their whole heart, this itself is a gift from God, lest anyone should boast. Eph 2:8-9
"Through that grace, which they call sanctifying, if he inspires to it with all his power, it results that no sinner should be overconfident, none again should despair. No one perishes except through his own fault."
I can agree with this statement, though for different reasons. No sinner should be over confident because of their salvation, for salvation is all of the Lord, they should instead, be grateful. And none of His should despair, for the Lord loses none of those who have been given to Him by the Father.
blessings,
Ken