johnp. said:
It is irrelevant to the discussion. RO 5:18 ...Since the 'all men' means Jews and Gentiles.
Actually is it specific TO the discussion, for if all are condemend by the action of one, even so ALL (all mankind) have the hope of life.
I am, I read it in the bible. So you are saying that men do seek after God because God enables them?
Man will not seek after God until God reveals truth to man. He may seek God for the right reasons or wrong reasons but he will not seek God of or by himself unless God first seek out man, thus the premise of Rom 1 regarding those who reject him or turn His truths after their own lust. It is at THAT point God gives them over and not before.
Jesus reached out for His sheep where did you get the impression that He reaches out to all men when the scriptures state that those without the law will perish?
RO 5:18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men...
Rom 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message...
RO 2:12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law...
PS 147:19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. 20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.
Now if you go back and take each one of those in context you will see just how off base you are. I take scriptrue for it says. God grace has been revealed to all men...That Jesus is the propitiation for our sins but not ours only but the sins of the whole world... and many many more like them. Just because God revealed His law to Jacob does not mean that God intended Jacod and his decendants to keep Gods laws a secret. They were to be the example that all may see and know
But then if Christ justified all men no one need do anything as all men are justified are they not? ...so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
Again a false beginning leads you to a empty end. He died for all but all do not receive, for those who come to God must believe... What you fail to realize in your trying to twist the verse is that "one act of righteouness was justification THAT BRINGS LIFE FOR all men. It doesn't establish life for all but brings it FOR. The Greek usage here implies potential for all NOT only to some.
Since we did nothing to be in the first Adam so we do nothig to be in the Second Adam. Just predestined accidents of birth or do you believe that you can change your own Father like you slaves believe you are sovereign and are able to change your own master?
If you would believe what scripture says you wouldn't need to build all these straw figures.
In one act we were made sinners with no hope, in the other act all given the hope of coming back to God. Don't you know much about biblical slavery? Though your a slave but there will come a time where you can be set free yet you can choose to remain a slave.
The Spirit gives birth He does not enable one to choose one's own destiny, God is Sovereign.
And thus you incorrect view of what soveriegnty means.
Therein lays your problem. You live in a contradiction. Our filthy rag of righteousness is not righteousness is it? Unless a man is born again he remains at emnity with his Maker.
I said good IN A NON-SALVIC sense. Jesus even compares mans goodness towards his children to that of Gods goodness. Either Christ is a liar or your view is. I'll take Christ, I think he knew what he was talking about.
Nowhere do I read that God lifts men up to a point so they are able because not all are able, one must be born again, Rom 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message...
It would help you a great deal to take scripture for what it says and then all will fall into place. A person comes to God by then coming into a relationship with Son and they will only know Him through the preaching of the Word. We are command to preach the word to all men everywhere and command them to repent. God reveals to man truths and if he will believe that God will send a person to them that will expound Christ to those who are not in ear shot (so to speak) Much like the Etheopian. As he desired to know more God sent one (even using supernatural means) to him that he would believe and be saved.
Apart from a remnant the world was cut off while Jesus worked with the Israelites. Now He has cut them off, apart from a remnant, while He works His works with us Gentile dogs. For 2000 years the Jew has been hardened and God set His face against 2000 years of generations of Jews who were deaf, blind and reprobated. Jesus promised them that they would not see Him again until He returns.
As a nation (majority) they are cut off, but not in the idividuals sense. They (the majority) are hardened because of unbelief. It is part of the covenant of Duet 29 and 30 in which they are under regarding the first coventant. Their restoration is part of the fulfillment of that covenant in which God says if THEIR heart turn away so they will not hear... they choose to turn a deaf ear and is why scripture speaks to as "harden not YOUR heart as in the days of provocation" But scripture is plain they will be brought back in.
He led them astray don't you know? ISA 63:17.
And this is what is so tiring about dealing with your inaccurate handling of Gods word, you never take things in context. If you will notice PRIOR to this Israel choose to rebel and God judged them. But here God is the one identified as one who is maintaining thier rebellion and not bringing them back. THEY choose to wander first and rebel and scripture is specific to that. KEEP THINGS IN CONTEXT.
A good prayer for the Church I think. Another is, LK 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ' " We are commanded to pray that God does not lead us into temptation not deny He leads us into it.
You REALLY need to study the scripture John, I'm serious.
Go back and look this up in the Greek. You are so off base you are about to border on heresy, but I at least think more of you than that.
If I understand you correctly: Paul is speaking as a Christian because he loves the word of the Lord whereas a man that is not born again cannot understand the law of God but he remains at emnity. Romans 7 says that we are not in control of our fallen nature and it is that fallen nature that sins.
No that is not what I said.
As a Christian but even if you want to believe man is able to see the right way and to have a desire to do good in his fallen state that in itself does not guarantee salvation because It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. Rom 9:16. He turned those five virgins away even though they wanted in.
I agree that man can DO (works) nothing worthy of salvition except believe (Rom 4:3-7) since belief according to this specific scripture ISN'T a work. Deal that verse in context. Yes, He did turn the 5 virgins away because they were not ready for Him because they did not believe He was coming. They did not believe...
Only faith pleases God.
JN 6:29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
Yes, but your understanding of that verse is in direct contention with Rom 4:4-5. So it is not the verse that is incorrect but you understanding of it. Research it alittle more and get back to me.
RO 4:4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
You do not do nothing when you believe, belief is a work. I highlight that because I want to expose the lie that the impossible is nothing much, MT 19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" 26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Let me get this straight, you DENY the scripture that states faith is NOT a work.
"to the man WHO DOES NOT WORK,
but trusts God... his faith is credited to him (verse 4 specifically states this credit is as a gift NOT an obligation or something earned through work)
I stand completely amazed that you will take your theology and over the scriptrue when it blantanly says faith is not a works. There is no other speculation or interpretation. Faith IS NOT a work.
JN 6:29 Jesus answered,
"The work of God is this:
to believe in the one he has sent."
What is faith? Faith is a work. Who says? Jesus says.

It is only considered not to be a work by those who are enslaved by their own righteousness.
Actaully you need to recheck that.
Jesus answered them, when they asked "what must we do that WE MIGHT WORK the WORKs of God." They were speaking of doing something (work - Rom 4) to please God.
Jesus answered and said "This is the Work of God (literally Godly work), that you believe..." Jesus was showing them in accordance to their question there was no physical thing that could be done in a Godly or suffient manner except to believe in the one Jesus sent.
So they answer: what sign will you show us that we may believe. They understood exactly what Jesus said. That they could not do any physical work that is acceptable to God except to beleive so they asked Jesus to show them some greater sign that they might beleive! Then they asked "what do YOU Work" or "what is YOUR Work" that we may beleive it after we see your new and greater sign. Simple context destroy your proof-texting.
You say you are a teacher?
Yes, and a good one to. I have an opening in my Sunday school class if your interested.
