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

[MennoSota]

No I didn't. I said Paul did. Is Paul God to you?

God used the various authors to speak. All scripture, the Old and New Testament books is given directly by God through the authors.
When you claim that Paul took Jeremiah out of context you are claiming that God took Himself out of context since God gave both authors His word for mankind.
You have essentially said that God made a mistake.
That is shameful of you to speak in such a demeaning way about God and His word.
You make these statements as your excuse for rejecting predestination and God's choosing, but your statements declare your low regard for God and his holy word. That is quite disappointing from someone who claims to be a Christian.

 

[Marvin Knox]

Then where do you get your doctrine that God predestines some to eternal life and foreordains others to eternal damnation? Strike one. Not a good start for you.

How could it be strike one if you didn't even give me a chance to take a swing at the question?
I hope this isn't a sign of games to come.

Again, the doctrine I presented above is not in the Bible, but extrapolated from the WCF.

The WCF is doctrine extrapolated from the Bible.

The things you represent as what the Calvinists believe are often not what the WCF teaches, IN fact it is often quite different from what it says.

But please give examples so I can comment on it in particular. We can't be combing back several pages to see what you presented.

Is stating that God predestines some to eternal life and foreordains others to eternal damnation a misrepresentation of what you believe?
Since you think I misstated your beliefs, I will present your beliefs from your own WCF.

No.
That is accurate concerning what I believe. God also based His damnation on the free choices made by those individuals and eternal life on His grace.

Great - bearing in mind of course that I do not base my personal beliefs on the teachings of the WCF.

If you are saying that you will present what Calvinists in general belief from their own WCF - that would be fine.

By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.
Do you deny these ungodly words? Or, do you uphold them in utmost care?

Not sure what that last sentence means.

But yes I do agree with what those words teach. Provided of course that we include what the WCF clearly teaches concerning the fact that those foreordained to everlasting death were so ordained for that fate based ultimately on the choices they would make against God's laws. And provided that those predestined unto everlasting life would inherit that life based solely on the choices they would make out of their own will combined with the grace of God.

Again, these words from you WCF are offensive to many.
By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.
Can the ones foreordained to everlasting death do anything which will affect the outcome? Even if they make the decision to believe Jesus, will this change God's foreordination of their everlasting death?

No they can do nothing that can change the outcome for the simple reason that God is the one who decides what choices He will allow and which He will not allow.

The sinner will not make the decision to believe Jesus because He has been allowed to make decisions out of his will previously for which God's righteous judgment has rendered him incapable of doing so without an extra measure of grace.

Why do you think He owes you anything? Have you not used your will to sin against Him? If He chooses you and not another, you make God a respecter of persons, showing partiality. This is a huge shortcoming of predestination.

The concept of grace on which Calvinism is based says that He owes us nothing. I have no idea where you go that from.

God is not a respecter of persons because they deserve no respect. God does not show partiality based on that men deserve but based only on His grace.

You need to study those verse in context and not use them as proof texts which they were not intended to be used for.

This use of this verse is a huge shortcoming for those trying to refute predestination rightly understood.

Since you deny and reject Deuteronomy 10:17, Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, and Colossians 3:25, you now have two strikes against you.

Again - I didn't take a swing at them so I did not strike.

So predestination does change. Can God make up His mind for you? Maybe He changes His mind again and predestines you to be lost again.

Again - that's one of the most ignorant concepts you have ever put forth.

And for the record you are the one who believes that a person can be lost again after passing from death to life and not me.

Dual status, huh? Is that what you call it when God changes His mind?

It seemed a good term to use the two distinct phases of my life. Those dual phases being when I was dead in my trespasses and sins and an enemy of God and when I was and am alive unto God and His son and friend.

God changes His mind - for want of a better term - when He sees us in Christ through faith and we are justified as opposed to being thought of as enemies.

Part of you problem in this respect is that you do not see these two distinct portions of a believers life. But rather you see them as a rather nebulous and constantly overlapping and changing paradigm.

Good. Now we can finally do away with Calvinism since it's not required for salvation. I bet you don't like that statement, do you?

What a silly statement. What's next? Now we can finally do away with the doctrine of the Trinity or of the Millennium because they are not part of the saving gospel?

I hope this post isn't the start of your silliness again or we'll have to end it right now.

Why did Jesus frequently speak of the scribes and Pharisees and their beliefs?

He chided them openly so that perchance they would repent.

He also chided them openly so that others might know that their teaching was not correct and not be taken in.

These are the same reasons that both you and I do these things I suppose.

What on earth did you mean by that question?

One last time -- please state one thing that Calvinists believe and why you disagree with that belief.

Then I will tell you where you are wrong in your refutation of that doctrine or where you are correct IMO OR - if you misstate the Calvinist belief as you often do - I will instead correct you where you have misrepresented that doctrine.

Since we're on a roll here - you could probably find a little meat right here in section 3-5 of this answer to you for starters since they seem to me to be questions formulated to bring out beliefs with which you have big problems. Perhaps you need a little clarification concerning those doctrines????

 

[EmSw]

But yes I do agree with what those words teach. Provided of course that we include what the WCF clearly teaches concerning the fact that those foreordained to everlasting death were so ordained for that fate based ultimately on the choices they would make against God's laws. And provided that those predestined unto everlasting life would inherit that life based solely on the choices they would make out of their own will combined with the grace of God.

But Marvin, there were no free choices yet made when God predestined men to eternal life and foreordained them to eternal damnation. God doesn't pre-determine how He deals with man.

We have these words in Zechariah 1 -

2 “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers.
3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.
4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.”’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord.
5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? “So they returned and said: ‘Just as the Lord of hosts determined to do to us, according to our ways and according to our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’

God determines how He deals with man as each man does things, that is, according to man's ways and deeds. That's why God dealt with us as sons of darkness, based upon our ways and deeds. When we change our ways and deeds, He deals with us as sons of Light.

We also see that God will return to those who return to Him. How did they leave God? It was by their evil ways and evil deeds, and they did not hear nor heed God. No eternal security here. God even said, 'do they live forever?' No, they do not, for God's word and statutes overtook them.

Now, if you would provide clear teachings that God pre-determined men to heaven and hell would be appreciated.

 

[bottomofsandal]

But Marvin, there were no free choices yet made when God predestined men to eternal life and foreordained them to eternal damnation. God doesn't pre-determine how He deals with man.

We have these words in Zechariah 1 -

2 “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers.
3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.
4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.”’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord.
5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? “So they returned and said: ‘Just as the Lord of hosts determined to do to us, according to our ways and according to our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’

God determines how He deals with man as each man does things, that is, according to man's ways and deeds. That's why God dealt with us as sons of darkness, based upon our ways and deeds. When we change our ways and deeds, He deals with us as sons of Light.

We also see that God will return to those who return to Him. How did they leave God? It was by their evil ways and evil deeds, and they did not hear nor heed God. No eternal security here. God even said, 'do they live forever?' No, they do not, for God's word and statutes overtook them.

Now, if you would provide clear teachings that God pre-determined men to heaven and hell would be appreciated.

Actually, a choice has been made...God's choice


Where's grace, The Holy Spirit, God's righteousness, or being made new in Christ?

Surely, you are not stating law-keeping is what is necessary to obtain eternal life ?


Galatians 2:21 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

 

[ToBeLoved]

Actually, a choice has been made...God's choice


Where's grace, The Holy Spirit, God's righteousness, or being made new in Christ?

Surely, you are not stating law-keeping is what is necessary to obtain eternal life ?


Galatians 2:21 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

That does not show her verses on free-will to be wrong.

 

[bling]

But, salvation IS conditional.

To question the outcome, is to question all God's motives and attributes.

When a man chooses hell, that's on the man, not God.


No one here is depicting an unfair, unjust, and unloving God.

God's actions are simply being put forth as proof of His Divine Providential will.

Either what is happening is what God ultimately willed and knew about, or something is more powerful than God.


We can't have it both ways. Either God foreknew, willed, and controlled the outcome-

Or someone/something/some power is interfering with God's work on the earth.


Was it God's work to save all men on the earth?
If so, what prevented His will from completion?
Could God have save 100% of humanity? Yes!
Then why did God not insure this outcome?


...please don't say man's will and say-so is the impediment

First off: What is your understanding of God being outside of time?

Secondly: Is you concept of God’s Love and power great enough to somehow allow humans to be given very limited free will, if the limited free will ability would allow at least some humans to become like Himself in that they also would have a Love that requires a free will choice?

If God is truly “outside of time” would there be a before or after for God in His time frame. Man’s time is linier and God can exist and express Himself to man within man’s time frame, but also exist everywhere and at all times?

You say: We can't have it both ways. Either God foreknew, willed, and controlled the outcome-

Or someone/something/some power is interfering with God's work on the earth.

No, God can know from the beginning of time all man’s autonomous free will choices, without having to personally control the outcome of each choice. God still knows everything that is knowable and He can certainly predestine everything He “will do” and yet talk about everything man freely did do in man’s future.

The question: “Then why did God not insure this outcome?” Is really your problem with your belief?

God is doing all He can to help willing individuals fulfill their earthly objective (obtaining and growing Godly type Love), but few are willing (free will) to humble themselves to the point of accepting pure sacrificial charity.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

God is doing all He can to help willing individuals fulfill their earthly objective (obtaining and growing Godly type Love)

I didn't know how to reply in line with the OP, then I looked at the title of the thread - and
it was revealed at once....
"how-can-the-grace-of-god-be-resisted... .. ... "
One way is to replace the TRUTH with something else.
To make "grace" OR "love" something else ,
instead of what YHWH says in HIS WORD,
instead of what Y'SHUA says to HIS disciples.

In the perspective many groups hold TODAY, and teach, and promote as 'good'
is a lot of false grace, false teaching of what 'love' is, and false teachings and false lives(not just teachings) about what Godly type Love is ; including "how to" pursue it and much etc etc etc.

I don't know you're specific perspective about this, and it may or may not be a good thread to discuss, or if it needs a new thread.

Or someone/something/some power is interfering with God's work on the earth.

Yes, whoever intimated or suggested this is right, as it is written all through Scripture.

 

[bling]

God is perfectly just in sending all rebels to hell, away from his holiness.

God would be unjust to allow rebels into his presence without the debt of their rebellion being atoned for.

God shows great love by choosing to reconcile even one rebel.

God has zero obligation to reconcile with rebels. He is just and right if he casts all rebels into hell. He is gracious and merciful to rebels by his selection and his selection alone. No rebel can do enough individual good to make up for rebellion because a person will always rebel apart from God's grace.

The Bible defines just and unjust which includes how Jesus treated everyone.

God obligates Himself to save those He said he would save, by saying: He will not lie (intentionally mislead us).

It would not be “just” for a rescuer to just save a few people from a burning building if the rescuer knew and could just as easily and safely saved everyone in the building. He could be justly prosecuted for knowingly not saving them.

The God of the Bible is not that callous or unconcerned with man that He would arbitrarily choose to just save a few, so what condition of man makes God’s choice of a man not arbitrary?

God does not take pleaser in allowing or sending people to hell, so why do some go and others not go?

 

[MennoSota]

The Bible defines just and unjust which includes how Jesus treated everyone.

God obligates Himself to save those He said he would save, by saying: He will not lie (intentionally mislead us).

It would not be “just” for a rescuer to just save a few people from a burning building if the rescuer knew and could just as easily and safely saved everyone in the building. He could be justly prosecuted for knowingly not saving them.

The God of the Bible is not that callous or unconcerned with man that He would arbitrarily choose to just save a few, so what condition of man makes God’s choice of a man not arbitrary?

God does not take pleaser in allowing or sending people to hell, so why do some go and others not go?

The King is under no obligation to save rebels who are actively fighting against his Kingdom.

Make no mistake, we all are rebels against God and actively rebel. It is only by God's grace and mercy that he captures us and pardons us by Yeshua's atonement.

We are not innocents in a fire. Your analogy is wrong. A better analogy is to say we are ISIS. What would be the just thing to do?

 

[bottomofsandal]

That does not show her verses on free-will to be wrong.

I don't believe anyone has a problem with freewill.
Many would prefer to call it limited freewill or ability.

Lawkeeping as a means and keeper of salvation is what is questioned.
...where is God's grace in the passage that was posted?

 

[bling]

I didn't know how to reply in line with the OP, then I looked at the title of the thread - and
it was revealed at once....
"how-can-the-grace-of-god-be-resisted... .. ... "
One way is to replace the TRUTH with something else.
To make "grace" OR "love" something else ,
instead of what YHWH says in HIS WORD,
instead of what Y'SHUA says to HIS disciples.

In the perspective many groups hold TODAY, and teach, and promote as 'good'
is a lot of false grace, false teaching of what 'love' is, and false teachings and false lives(not just teachings) about what Godly type Love is ; including "how to" pursue it and much etc etc etc.

I don't know you're specific perspective about this, and it may or may not be a good thread to discuss, or if it needs a new thread.


Yes, whoever intimated or suggested this is right, as it is written all through Scripture.

Christ comes along and gives meaning to the meaningless word (agape), but does not use it exclusively for Godly type Love.

Here is something I have written on the subject:

Agape (Love) is really defined by Christ’s words and actions (you can also use 1 Cor. 13 and 1 John 4). It is much more than Parent to Child love, spousal love, love of nation and love for a friend, although Agape can be added to these loves and these loves alone can be extremely strong to the point of sacrificing your life. Books have been written on Agape Love and you might read some like CS Lewis “Four Loves”. I developed the following definition: Godly type Love is: selfless, sacrificial, pure charity, originates from God, thought out, the result of a moral decision to humbly accept His Charity, chosen over likely perceived alternatives, unconditional, undeserved, required for Christians to do anything righteous, all consuming, initially requires trust, is the major or only motivation for Christians and is a transaction.



Adam and Eve are described as being “very good” but that does not mean “perfect” like Christ was and is. If Adam and Eve had Godly type Love instinctively it would not be Godly type Love, so they had to obtain this Love.

Obtaining Godly type Love so we can love like God (the greatest possible gift He could give us) is our objective so we can Love God and others with all our heart soul, mind, and energy.

The big difference between Godly type Love and other loves is it is totally unselfish, we Love not in any way or portion of the Love for something we might or will get out of it or to pay something back, but totally because that is the way we are. It has nothing to do with whom we are Loving (not because they are fellow citizens of earth, even). We expect nothing in return, but sometimes do get something back but that was not the intension. We do not “have” to Love the person to fulfill some task or achieve something, but get to Love the person because we are lovers. That does not mean everyone we try to Love accepts our Love as it was given and thus completes the transaction of Love (Actual Love for a person will not take place if the receiver of the Love does not accept the Love as it was given unconditionally).

Our free will on earth is only need to enable us to make Godly type Love our choice, because an instinctive Love would be a robotic type of love and not Godly type Love. We have free will to choose to accept God’s free undeserving gift of Love in the form of forgiveness or we can choose to continue sinning for the perceived pleasures of sin for a season.

One of the unique things about “Godly type Love” is that if a being extends that Love to another being and the second being accepts that Love as it was given (unconditionally and undeserving) that the second being will Love the first being back with even greater love than was expressed initially. Now, God is not trying to Love us to get us to Love Him back (that would be selfish on His part), but that is part of the definition to Godly type Love and it happens automatically. The problem is always getting people to accept God’s Love.

Adam and Eve did not “obey” God because they did not Love God with a Godly type Love, but they would certainly love God with a wonderful child to a wonderful parent type of love. Parental love is not strong enough and to make the leap to Godly type Love is not possible for humans by themselves, but God can give them that power if they want it. Wanting Godly type Love is like wanting to be selfless instead of selfish.

It appears that God is doing everything He can and allowing things He does not like in order to help those “will” humans to initially accept His Love and grow the Love they have obtained. The only initial way for humans to possible obtain Godly type Love seems to be through finally accepting God’s Love in the form of forgiveness of our sins (this takes faith and humility) and then “…he that is forgiven much will Love much…” Once we have the gift of Godly type Love then we can grow that Love through use and His help. Trusting (faith) God can be the result of realize nothing else (including ourselves) can be trusted. Humility to some degree happens to all of us at some times in our lives. The lack of faith and humility seems to be the problem (pride).

This is no small subject and I have personally thought about it long and hard. I find few theologians expounding these ideas, but from many adult classes I have taught, discussion on boards like this and especially using these ideas in serving others, I have honed my believes.

 

[bling]

The King is under no obligation to save rebels who are actively fighting against his Kingdom.

Make no mistake, we all are rebels against God and actively rebel. It is only by God's grace and mercy that he captures us and pardons us by Yeshua's atonement.

We are not innocents in a fire. Your analogy is wrong. A better analogy is to say we are ISIS. What would be the just thing to do?

The “King” has spelled out what He will do for those that surrender to Him and in that way God is obligated to do what He said He would do.

I agree all mature adults start out as good soldiers of satan, fighting the enemy “God”. The difference is some wimp out, give up the fight, and surrender to God. That does not mean they “did” anything worthy of anything (there are no monuments built to those that surrendered) and those that surrender in war or to God at the point of their surrendering do not even like their existing enemy (God). They can also feel they should go to hell for their previous war crimes, so they are not happy at that point. The salvation is all God’s doing and He showers those that give up with unbelievable gifts (like the prodigal son got). The point is the soldier of satan or the soldier of ISIS is humbly willing to accept pure charity form their enemy and that is enough for God to shower them with charity.

 

[bottomofsandal]

First off: What is your understanding of God being outside of time?

Secondly: Is you concept of God’s Love and power great enough to somehow allow humans to be given very limited free will, if the limited free will ability would allow at least some humans to become like Himself in that they also would have a Love that requires a free will choice?

If God is truly “outside of time” would there be a before or after for God in His time frame. Man’s time is linier and God can exist and express Himself to man within man’s time frame, but also exist everywhere and at all times?

You say: We can't have it both ways. Either God foreknew, willed, and controlled the outcome-

Or someone/something/some power is interfering with God's work on the earth.

No, God can know from the beginning of time all man’s autonomous free will choices, without having to personally control the outcome of each choice. God still knows everything that is knowable and He can certainly predestine everything He “will do” and yet talk about everything man freely did do in man’s future.

The question: “Then why did God not insure this outcome?” Is really your problem with your belief?

God is doing all He can to help willing individuals fulfill their earthly objective (obtaining and growing Godly type Love), but few are willing (free will) to humble themselves to the point of accepting pure sacrificial charity.

I ask numerous questions to stimulate wholesome thinking...not all are my pov


In my previous post, I am addressing 2 different thoughts:

1) salvation IS conditional because we must believe in Christ as He told us

2) Either God is in control of His universe or someone/something/some power is instead of God


Perhaps you should start a thread on Molinism if you are an advocate of middle knowledge.
Here in a thread about grace, how do you believe choices and contingencies come into play?

 

[MennoSota]

The “King” has spelled out what He will do for those that surrender to Him and in that way God is obligated to do what He said He would do.

I agree all mature adults start out as good soldiers of satan, fighting the enemy “God”. The difference is some wimp out, give up the fight, and surrender to God. That does not mean they “did” anything worthy of anything (there are no monuments built to those that surrendered) and those that surrender in war or to God at the point of their surrendering do not even like their existing enemy (God). They can also feel they should go to hell for their previous war crimes, so they are not happy at that point. The salvation is all God’s doing and He showers those that give up with unbelievable gifts (like the prodigal son got). The point is the soldier of satan or the soldier of ISIS is humbly willing to accept pure charity form their enemy and that is enough for God to shower them with charity.

No one surrenders willingly.

There is none righteous, not even one.

 

[bottomofsandal]

The “King” has spelled out what He will do for those that surrender to Him and in that way God is obligated to do what He said He would do.

I agree all mature adults start out as good soldiers of satan, fighting the enemy “God”. The difference is some wimp out, give up the fight, and surrender to God. That does not mean they “did” anything worthy of anything (there are no monuments built to those that surrendered) and those that surrender in war or to God at the point of their surrendering do not even like their existing enemy (God). They can also feel they should go to hell for their previous war crimes, so they are not happy at that point. The salvation is all God’s doing and He showers those that give up with unbelievable gifts (like the prodigal son got). The point is the soldier of satan or the soldier of ISIS is humbly willing to accept pure charity form their enemy and that is enough for God to shower them with charity.

What causes some to surrender and others to not surrender?...God's irresistible grace?

Are some men by their own power able to realize The King is merciful and surrender is wise?

How does a carnally minded, sinful, and proud enemy suddenly humble himself and subjugate to the enemy?

 

[EmSw]

Actually, a choice has been made...God's choice


Where's grace, The Holy Spirit, God's righteousness, or being made new in Christ?

Surely, you are not stating law-keeping is what is necessary to obtain eternal life ?


Galatians 2:21 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Do you not see that God determines how to deal with man as man chooses his ways and deeds?

There was grace in the OT.

No, I am not stating keeping the law is necessary for life; JESUS SAID IT!

Matthew 19:17
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Do you want to enter life? If so, Jesus and His words are the only way. Arguing with me won't changes Jesus' words or His mind.

 

[EmSw]

Actually, a choice has been made...God's choice


Where's grace, The Holy Spirit, God's righteousness, or being made new in Christ?

Surely, you are not stating law-keeping is what is necessary to obtain eternal life ?


Galatians 2:21 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Hey bottom, why don't you take Zechariah 1:1-6, and tell us what you think they mean.

 

[bling]

I ask numerous questions to stimulate wholesome thinking...not all are my pov


In my previous post, I am addressing 2 different thoughts:

1) salvation IS conditional because we must believe in Christ as He told us

All mature adults believe in something and even demons believe in Christ. Saving faith is trusting in a benevolent Creator, which Christ represents for us, to the point you will humbly accept His charity.

2) Either God is in control of His universe or someone/something/some power is instead of God

I asked you in response: “Is you concept of God’s Love and power great enough to somehow allow humans to be given very limited free will, if the limited free will ability would allow at least some humans to become like Himself in that they also would have a Love that requires a free will choice?”

Can an all-powerful being allow another individual to have some limited control over themselves that would allow this other individual to obtain Godly type Love?

Perhaps you should start a thread on Molinism if you are an advocate of middle knowledge.
Here in a thread about grace, how do you believe choices and contingencies come into play?

I do not believe Molinism and do not need to in order to believe man has free will and God know everything.

The choice is between wimping out, giving up, and surrendering by humbly accepting God’s charity in the form of accepting His forgiveness or being macho, being willing to pay the piper, and being willing to take the punishment you fully deserve.

 

[bling]

What causes some to surrender and others to not surrender?...God's irresistible grace?

I said above: "I agree all mature adults start out as good soldiers of satan, fighting the enemy “God”. The difference is some wimp out, give up the fight, and surrender to God. That does not mean they “did” anything worthy of anything (there are no monuments built to those that surrendered) and those that surrender in war or to God at the point of their surrendering do not even like their existing enemy (God). They can also feel they should go to hell for their previous war crimes, so they are not happy at that point. The salvation is all God’s doing and He showers those that give up with unbelievable gifts (like the prodigal son got). The point is the soldier of satan or the soldier of ISIS is humbly willing to accept pure charity form their enemy and that is enough for God to shower them with charity. "

Are some men by their own power able to realize The King is merciful and surrender is wise?

No that is not needed for a soldier to surrender. They might not think they will gain anything, but are willing to accept their enemies charity.

How does a carnally minded, sinful, and proud enemy suddenly humble himself and subjugate to the enemy?

The same way the prodigal son was brought to his senses (on his own) and by his own previously poor choices. Jesus described the prodigal son as being in a dead state, so a person in a dead state (by Christ's definition) can for selfish reasons choose to turn. The prodigal son did nothing "worthy" of praise and was motivated by selfish reasoning (the same reasoning carnal, sinful, and selfish people use). What "pride" could the prodigal son have starving to death, feeding pigs in a pigsty, since that is where sinful man is headed? Hopefully being brought to your senses by your own behavior will also help you realize the "pride" you think you have is only false pride.

 

[bling]

No one surrenders willingly.

There is none righteous, not even one.

The person at the point of surrendering is not righteous, God is still his enemy.
You are right to realize the nonbeliever does not really want to surrender, but like the prodigal son his actions have brought him to the pigsty of life and brought him to his senses so he can see where he is headed and does not want to go there so selfishly choses to surrender.