..Calvinism goes too far and makes the claim that God is the cause of man's faith. Without any support from Scripture... ................God does not choose who will believe, nor is He the cause of said belief. If He were, there would be clear Scripture on that............... .........In fact, Scriptures the exact opposite idea; that man is urged to believe...............Is there any clear verse that actually states that God changes heart so man can believe the gospel? I haven't found any.
You know two people could go round and round with scriptures matched tit for tat on the issue of the Trinity as well. It probably could not be "proved clearly from any one scripture. But there's no doubt to any born again Christian which person is in the right. It's call systematic theology and it's because often there is more of an overall package of truth than just one particular text.
Really any number of other areas of disagreement could be cited - like salvation by baptism for instance.
Jesus chided folks for not understanding the signs of the times - even though any open minded believer must admit that the Lord did not make absolutely as clear as He could have over the years.
He chided Nicodemus for not understanding the concept of spiritual deadness and the need to be born again. But that is doctrine arrived at through comparing concept with concept and various scriptures with scriptures rather than one very clear statement concerning it.
(Heck - even now - with the help of the Holy Spirit - many don't seem to get spiritual deadness and the need for regeneration in order to understand the things of God.)
Here are a few scriptures and concepts leading to the need for God's grace to be extended in a special way to those whom the Father promised the Son before time began.
These are just a few scriptures pounded out "off the cuff". I'm sure I could do a better job with a paper on the subject. But then I'm betting that you know all of the different scriptures already and just don't want to align yourself with what a great many Christians consider truth in these things.
[FONT="]1 Corinthians 2:14 "But a
natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he
cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.[/FONT]"
[FONT="]
John 6:44 and 65 ……”
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”…………. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that
no one can come to Me unless it has been
granted him from
the Father.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Matthew 16:17......."And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because
flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."[/FONT]
[FONT="]Philippians 1:29......"For
to you it has been
granted for Christ’s sake,
not only to believe in Him, but also
to suffer for His sake".[/FONT]
[FONT="]Acts 11:18 ............ "When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has
granted to the Gentiles also the repentanc
e that leads to life.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Acts 16:14 ......" A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and
the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.[/FONT]"
[FONT="]2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has
chosen you from the beginning FOR salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
[/FONT] Acts 13:48 “When the Gentiles heard this, they
began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and
as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
Romans 8:30 ……” and these whom He predestined, He also called; and
these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” (They are justified by faith which comes
after special calling - this can't be the universal call since all who receive that call are not justified through faith.)
I wouldn't want to say for sure why you won't believe what the scriptures clearly teach unless you care to tell me. Is it because you somehow feel that God's special act of grace would violate your freedom? Is it because you feel that it would be unfair of God to do this for some and not for others?
Discuss passionately afterward individual points of theology. Doing that I understand and commend. But do that only after subscribing to the general truth of the concepts for Heaven's sake or you may find at the seat of judgment for teachers that you have been fighting God in these matters.
I assure you brother that this isn't meant in any way as a "flame". I really do want to know why you won't align yourself with the Holy Spirit on these overall concepts.
AFTER A LITTLE CONSIDERATION - I'M GOING TO EDIT THIS POST TO SAY THAT IT IS UNFAIR TO SINGLE ANY ONE PERSON OUT FOR THIS CRITICISM. FreeGrace2 - IT JUST ENDED UP BEING YOU BECAUSE USUALLY WE RESPOND TO ANOTHER POST AND YOURS WAS HANDY I SUPPOSE.
BUT THESE IDEAS I SHARED WOULD BE APPROPRIATELY RESPONDED TO BY ANYONE OF THE (for want of a better word)
ARMINIAN PERSUASION. MY APOLOGIES AGAIN FOR SEEMING TO SINGLE YOU OUT.