How can the grace of God be resisted by some yet received by others?

[bottomofsandal]

Scripturally Christ chooses us first, then we in our limited human understanding respond back by choosing Christ.
So those that would respond to an alter call have already had the Holy Spirit at work inside of them, changing their hearts and minds.
Consider no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Having Christ shining out from us, means God has chosen to reveal His Son in us. He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
We only love God or others because God loved us first.

It is as you say.

God's enemy (man) is unwilling and unable to initiate belief in Christ on his own, by his own power.

Romans 3:10-18New King James Version (NKJV)
10 As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”a]">[a]
13 “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; b]">[b]
“The poison of asps is under their lips”; c]">[c]
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”d]">[d]
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”e]">[e]
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”f]">[f]

 

[sdowney717]

It is as you say.

God's enemy (man) is unwilling and unable to initiate belief in Christ on his own, by his own power.

Romans 3:10-18New King James Version (NKJV)
10 As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”a]">[a]
13 “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; b]">[b]
“The poison of asps is under their lips”; c]">[c]
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”d]">[d]
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”e]">[e]
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”f]">[f]

Exactly why scripture says we are justified by His blood
Even while being His enemies, we were reconciled by the death of His Son.
Such is the love God has for those He has foreknown as His people.
We were made alive even while following after Satan.
You can know these scriptures do NOT include all persons since they only are for those who are saved from God's wrath.

Romans 5:9-11New King James Version (NKJV)
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Ephesians 2New King James Version (NKJV)
By Grace Through Faith
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

God simply made us born of God by His Spirit according to His will.
Anyone who believes Jesus is Lord has been born of God, and they will confess Him as Lord before men.
Those not born of God will refuse to believe He is the Christ of God and naturally will not confess Him.

1 John 5New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

1 John 5English Standard Version (ESV)
Overcoming the World

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

In essence you believe because you were born of God first.

 

[sdowney717]

You must be born again first to enter the kingdom of God second.
You must be born again from above to see the kingdom of God, to see means to know and experience and understand Jesus as the Christ of God the Messiah.
Christ tells us 'see' and 'enter' and these words mean different things.
And this Christ describes as the wind blowing wherever that wind willith to go.
So then being born again is according to His choice, not the will of man.
All those so born of God from above will confess Christ as Lord and enter into His kingdom.

John 3English Standard Version (ESV)
You Must Be Born Again
John 3 English Standard Version (ESV)

You Must Be Born Again
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind[e] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

enter, should also be easily understood by all.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1525&t=NKJV

If your not born again you will not experience Christ as God and you are not a part of God's family.
You are not a child of God whom He has given to Christ as believers in Him unless He makes you born again.

see is that word here in greek and includes the idea of experiencing.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1492&t=KJV

If your not born again then you will not have any of this, none of these are for you, infact they are impossible for you in regards to the kingdom of God.

1. 
   
   
   • to see
     1. to perceive with the eyes
        
        
     2. to perceive by any of the senses
        
        
     3. to perceive, notice, discern, discover
        
        
     4. to see
        1. i.e. to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything
           
           
        2. to pay attention, observe
           
           
        3. to see about something
           1. i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it
        4. to inspect, examine
           
           
        5. to look at, behold
     5. to experience any state or condition
        
        
     6. to see i.e. have an interview with, to visit
   • to know
     1. to know of anything
        
        
     2. to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive
        1. of any fact
           
           
        2. the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning
           
           
        3. to know how, to be skilled in
     3. to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1Th. 5:12)

Click for Synonyms

 

[bottomofsandal]

You must be born again first to enter the kingdom of God second.
You must be born again from above to see the kingdom of God, to see means to know and experience and understand Jesus as the Christ of God the Messiah.
Christ tells us 'see' and 'enter' and these words mean different things.
And this Christ describes as the wind blowing wherever that wind willith to go.
So then being born again is according to His choice, not the will of man.
All those so born of God from above will confess Christ as Lord and enter into His kingdom.

John 3English Standard Version (ESV)
You Must Be Born Again
John 3 English Standard Version (ESV)

You Must Be Born Again
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind[e] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

enter, should also be easily understood by all.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1525&t=NKJV

If your not born again you will not experience Christ as God and you are not a part of God's family.
You are not a child of God whom He has given to Christ as believers in Him unless He makes you born again.

see is that word here in greek and includes the idea of experiencing.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1492&t=KJV

If your not born again then you will not have any of this, none of these are for you, infact they are impossible for you in regards to the kingdom of God.

1. 
   
   
   • to see
     1. to perceive with the eyes
        
        
     2. to perceive by any of the senses
        
        
     3. to perceive, notice, discern, discover
        
        
     4. to see
        1. i.e. to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything
           
           
        2. to pay attention, observe
           
           
        3. to see about something
           1. i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it
        4. to inspect, examine
           
           
        5. to look at, behold
     5. to experience any state or condition
        
        
     6. to see i.e. have an interview with, to visit
   • to know
     1. to know of anything
        
        
     2. to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive
        1. of any fact
           
           
        2. the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning
           
           
        3. to know how, to be skilled in
     3. to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1Th. 5:12)

Click for Synonyms

Nice posts!
Not self-born or self-created.

Why is the first word out of Nicodemus' mouth "HOW" if man knows how to instigate?
Why is the teacher of Israel asking Jesus about eternal salvation? Does he not know?
Could we say we had as big a part/role in our second birth as we did in our first birth?

 

[DingDing]

Is the grace of God irresistible as the "I" in TULIP proclaims?

What enables some men to receive the grace of God unto salvation?

OTOH, what prevents some men from receiving God's grace?

Are you open to considering human choice as the deciding factor?

 

[OzSpen]

Are you open to considering human choice as the deciding factor?

Surely you understand that no TULIP Calvinist would allow for human responsibility in allowing for human choice in receiving or rejecting salvation.

However, Titus 2:11 (ESV) states, 'For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people'.

Oz

 

[bottomofsandal]

Are you open to considering human choice as the deciding factor?

Certainly the final factor in the process.
The deciding factor is God.

Shouldn't all men respond to God with an emphatic NO?
Whey then are some men better choosers and able to choose God?
It is a wise choice that is not made under the power of carnal man.

How does a man get to the point he wants to decide?
What makes the man willing in the day of His power?
As Adrian Rogers (and others) have said, "God changes our wanter"

Don't for a minute believe Calvinists or non-Arminians do not make a salvation choice.
The robot view is not credible. Man must believe, being persuaded by God, not "SELF" persuaded.
IMHO, what many men believe is a self-made man choice is really the gentle guiding of The Holy Spirit.

 

[EmSw]

Certainly the final factor in the process.
The deciding factor is God.

Shouldn't all men respond to God with an emphatic NO?
Whey then are some men better choosers and able to choose God?
It is a wise choice that is not made under the power of carnal man.

How does a man get to the point he wants to decide?
What makes the man willing in the day of His power?
As Adrian Rogers (and others) have said, "God changes our wanter"

Don't for a minute believe Calvinists or non-Arminians do not make a salvation choice.
The robot view is not credible. Man must believe, being persuaded by God, not "SELF" persuaded.
IMHO, what many men believe is a self-made man choice is really the gentle guiding of The Holy Spirit.

No one has ever said the HS was never involved in man's decision.
The deciding factor is man's choice to hear, soften his heart, and humble himself before God to receive grace.

Hebrews 3
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, to day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Who of the Reformed faith takes heed, lest there be in them an evil heart of unbelief, by which they depart from God?

 

[DingDing]

Surely you understand that no TULIP Calvinist would allow for human responsibility in allowing for human choice in receiving or rejecting salvation.

However, Titus 2:11 (ESV) states, 'For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people'.

Oz

Yep, I know what calvinists believe, but they need to consider that they are totally wrong, and that human choice is the deciding factor.

 

[DingDing]

Are you open to considering human choice as the deciding factor?

Certainly the final factor in the process.
The deciding factor is God.

Shouldn't all men respond to God with an emphatic NO?
...
As Adrian Rogers (and others) have said, "God changes our wanter"

I totally disagree - and these guys, perhaps well-meaning - were/are wrong. God does not make us choose one way or another, but He does ask/force us eventually to choose one way or another. God choose how the process of salvation would work - that is/was His BIG decision which only He could make. But based upon what He has revealed, He has chosen to make individual decisions the deciding factor for each individual. If you want, you can discount this if you chose, but if this is what God has chosen, then you are resisting God's choice.

Don't for a minute believe Calvinists or non-Arminians do not make a salvation choice. The robot view is not credible. Man must believe, being persuaded by God, not "SELF" persuaded. IMHO, what many men believe is a self-made man choice is really the gentle guiding of The Holy Spirit.

The Spirit calls, but men must choose to answer. The fact that many believe that to acknowledge that they have chosen to answer the call would be to rob God of glory, does not mean that they did not choose to answer the call; it just mean that they are confused about the call, and what true robbery is.

 

[sdowney717]

Except that scripturally those God calls, all end up glorified by Him, due to all of them were predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Romans 8
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

I read no failure in the chain of links here, and notice this is written in the past tense, so this is understood to be a completed work of God from the foundation of the earth.

In that scripture says,
'although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. '
speaks to the truth Paul teaches in Ephesians 1 about our being chosen in Him from the foundation of the earth.

Ephesians 1
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.


Hebrews 4English Standard Version (ESV)

1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

 

[bottomofsandal]

No one has ever said the HS was never involved in man's decision.
The deciding factor is man's choice to hear, soften his heart, and humble himself before God to receive grace.

Hebrews 3
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, to day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Who of the Reformed faith takes heed, lest there be in them an evil heart of unbelief, by which they depart from God?

Good post with reference to The Holy Spirit.
Somehow God is able to persuade the sinner to believe.

Remember King Agrippa was almost persuaded by Paul to become a Christian?
Who failed? Was it Paul...the king...or The Holy Spirit? Why no success?
Was the king not given grace to become a Christian? The king had belief.

Acts 26:26-28New King James Version (NKJV)
26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced
that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

 

[bottomofsandal]

No one has ever said the HS was never involved in man's decision.
The deciding factor is man's choice to hear, soften his heart, and humble himself before God to receive grace.

Hebrews 3
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, to day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Who of the Reformed faith takes heed, lest there be in them an evil heart of unbelief, by which they depart from God?

Good post with reference to The Holy Spirit.
Somehow God is able to persuade the sinner to believe.

Remember King Agrippa was almost persuaded by Paul to become a Christian?
Who failed? Was it Paul...the king...or The Holy Spirit? Why no success?
Was the king not given grace to become a Christian? The king had belief.

Acts 26:26-28New King James Version (NKJV)
26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced
that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

 

[bottomofsandal]

I totally disagree - and these guys, perhaps well-meaning - were/are wrong. God does not make us choose one way or another, but He does ask/force us eventually to choose one way or another.

Psalm 65:4New King James Version (NKJV)
4 Blessed is the man You choose,
And cause to approach You,

That he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Of Your holy temple.

 

[DingDing]

Psalm 65:4New King James Version (NKJV)
4 Blessed is the man You choose,
And cause to approach You,

That he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Of Your holy temple.

You really need to consider who (and how) God chooses. calvinists read their own interpretations into such verses. Perhaps God chooses those who choose to call on Him, and He allows such to approach Him? Such verses as these do not prove calvinism, they are simply verses that calvinism can easily misconstrue, while ignoring a great many others.

 

[EmSw]

Good post with reference to The Holy Spirit.
Somehow God is able to persuade the sinner to believe.

Remember King Agrippa was almost persuaded by Paul to become a Christian?
Who failed? Was it Paul...the king...or The Holy Spirit? Why no success?
Was the king not given grace to become a Christian? The king had belief.

Acts 26:26-28New King James Version (NKJV)
26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced
that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

So, Agrippa was a believer. Did the prophets speak of a Savior and salvation?

 

[EmSw]

Except that scripturally those God calls, all end up glorified by Him, due to all of them were predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

[bottomofsandal]

Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.

How does that help you brother?
Who is doing the choosing here?

 

[bottomofsandal]

You really need to consider who (and how) God chooses. calvinists read their own interpretations into such verses. Perhaps God chooses those who choose to call on Him, and He allows such to approach Him? Such verses as these do not prove calvinism, they are simply verses that calvinism can easily misconstrue, while ignoring a great many others.

Perhaps you have no valid rebuttal?

I am not a Calvinist, and not trying to prove anything.
The main thing I see in your reply is you make man the instigator.
Man first chooses to call on God, then God chooses that man.


That is some advanced Biblical contortionism!!!

 

[DingDing]

Perhaps you have no valid rebuttal?

I am not a Calvinist, and not trying to prove anything.
The main thing I see in your reply is you make man the instigator.
Man first chooses to call on God, then God chooses that man.


That is some advanced Biblical contortionism!!!

Have you really been reading, are you just blind? We have been around the block enough; you know where I stand. God calls to all, but men must choose to respond. Don't twist my words.