Thanks for the compliment,
It is well earned, my friend, you are very faithful in what you do. I wish there were more like you. At this time I can only name three individuals that I know of who have ministries in Forum Missions that are as dedicated as yours. Every forum I go to...you are usually there.
and much of what you've shared shows discernment.
I believe it is a discernment that the Lord has provided for all of His children, through obedience to the command for us to learn and observe that which Christ has commanded.
Attempting to determine why God would or wouldn't "draw" one to salvation seems to be unanswered in Scripture. I believe one must be drawn by God to be saved (John 6:44), and that everyone He draws "comes" to salvation (6:47).
Without question one must be drawn of God.
And I believe God will give every man opportunity to be saved:
John 12:32
King James Version (KJV)
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Where we would disagree is that all that are drawn are saved.
Consider:
John 12:37-41
King James Version (KJV)
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Those condemned by Isaiah will not stand before God and levy a charge of not knowing His will.
They had received God's will prior to being hardened. It is their rejection that leads to this, it is not God's doing. His will was that they would be obedient and that is why He gave the Word which they rejected.
So too with the world, the Comforter will convict of sin (unbelief being the cause stated), righteousness (not just Christ's righteousness but our lack of it), and judgment (the consequences of unbelief and the sin which is the result, and if you think about it, the fear of Hell is definitely a motivator).
And those who reject the Gospel and the efforts of God through the Ministry of the Comforter will also stand before God without excuse.
My speculation is that since He knows who will accept or reject, He only draws those whom He knows will accept. I believe mankind has been called to salvation, but He knows only few will accept it (Mat 7:13, 14).
That there is a many/few principle taught in Scripture is certainly true, however, making Election exclusively about God's foreknowledge implies something we know is not true: that there was something we could, or would do which justified our being saved.
That is just not the case. God does not save us because He knows we will respond favorably to the Gospel, He saves us because there is nothing we could or can do to merit salvation.
If it was based on a positive response...then that suggests an innate ability which Scripture denies.
The alternative is that of conceiving that man has no choice concerning the reception of salvation, which would imply that God, for His own unrevealed purpose does not choose to save an individual, which would appear to be to that of disregarding the individual's concern.
In his natural condition man has no choice to do anything but sin. God does not "choose" for people to be eternally separated, men make that choice within the framework of what the old school preachers called the "wooing" of the Holy Spirit, or in other words, that Ministry the Comforter is now performing in the world today. The only difference in this ministry is the message itself.
Consider:
2 Timothy 3:7-8
King James Version (KJV)
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Here's one I wonder if you have considered in the context of this discussion:
2 Peter 2:20-21
King James Version (KJV)
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
These false teachers are said to have received the knowledge of the truth, and that it would have been better had they not known the way of righteousness than having known...turned away from it.
The Old Testament example, the parallel (then, false prophets, now, false teachers, c.f. v.1) is seen here:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
I believe there is no reason to consider that man has no choice concerning the reception of salvation, esp. when the generality of Scripture seems to strongly support the "man's choice" concept. This is still mostly speculation to me, and thankfully the issue is nonessential!
I agree, there is a choice involved, which conflicts with a standard Calvinistic view. But we don't go to the other extreme, as the Arminian, and impose an ability within natural man that isn't there.
Like I said, it really is an simple as understanding God enlightens the natural man that he might be in the position to understand, believe, and in faith respond to that which the Holy Spirit impresses on his heart. The Convicting Ministry of the Holy Spirit is the answer.
God's blessings to your Family, and God be blessed!
Much appreciated, my friend, much appreciated.
God bless.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." (Romans 9:11 and 13).