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

[EmSw]

Spiritually dead men can not see the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are blinded in their minds by the god of this world.
You must be able to see Christ as the Son of God, and this is only by way of revelation from the Father.

Truth is you must be born again first to see the Kingdom of God.
So then, regeneration comes before faith.
Which also means God regenerates (makes alive) us who were dead so the we can see and experience and know Christ as Lord, and not just as some crazy man or prophet. Otherwise how will a mind blinded by Satan ever be saved.

John 3:2-6New King James Version (NKJV)
2 This man came to Jesus 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 and said to him, “Most assuredly, 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, “Most assuredly, 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.

3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

sdowney, has the Gospel been veiled to you, or will you 'come' to Jesus that you may have life?

 

[EmSw]

I am wanting to find out something from the non-Calvinists on this forum.

Who has been drawn by His word, and willingly came to Jesus in order to have life?

Some on this forum say this is impossible. The reason I ask is that Jesus said the following in John 5:40 -

But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

It is my belief from this passage that those who desire life, must willingly 'come' to Jesus so that they may have life. I just wanted to see how many believe this verse, and freely and willingly 'came' to Jesus for life.

 

[bottomofsandal]

I am wanting to find out something from the non-Calvinists on this forum.

Who has been drawn by His word, and willingly came to Jesus in order to have life?

Some on this forum say this is impossible. The reason I ask is that Jesus said the following in John 5:40 -

But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

It is my belief from this passage that those who desire life, must willingly 'come' to Jesus so that they may have life. I just wanted to see how many believe this verse, and freely and willingly 'came' to Jesus for life.

Freely, but certainly influenced and persuaded to come.

OTOH, could I not have come to Him when called?...No

 

[ToBeLoved]

I am wanting to find out something from the non-Calvinists on this forum.

Who has been drawn by His word, and willingly came to Jesus in order to have life?

Some on this forum say this is impossible. The reason I ask is that Jesus said the following in John 5:40 -

But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

It is my belief from this passage that those who desire life, must willingly 'come' to Jesus so that they may have life. I just wanted to see how many believe this verse, and freely and willingly 'came' to Jesus for life.

Good point.

I'm sure they will say that 'not willing' is because someone has not been regenerated. It's a theology full of excuses for why scripture doesn't mesh.

 

[ToBeLoved]

Freely, but certainly influenced and persuaded to come.

OTOH, could I not have come to Him when called?...No

But God's Word says that faith comes by hearing the gospel or the Word of God, so if this is true and it is, then regeneration is not part of the equation before coming to Christ for salvation. We must come.

See also post 1262.

Do you not believe what God's Word says, that faith comes by hearing?

 

[bottomofsandal]

But God's Word says that faith comes by hearing the gospel or the Word of God, so if this is true and it is, then regeneration is not part of the equation before coming to Christ for salvation. We must come.

See also post 1262.

Do you not believe what God's Word says, that faith comes by hearing?

Of course. Romans 10:17

Man is drawn, made able to believe by the gift of faith, and then comes to Christ.

Are you trying to tell me I have a poor recollection of my salvation?
I am agreeing with kitty kat about coming to Christ. I came to Christ.


Don't ignore how God persuades a man, like Paul almost persuaded Agrippa.
In Isaiah we are told by God to reason together with Him. God convinces us.
Apart from a spiritual transformation (born of Spirit), no one can or will come to Christ.


What is the point with this line of questioning?
Has anyone really said they were UNwilling to come, but God dragged them to the cross?

 

[ToBeLoved]

Of course. Romans 10:17

Man is drawn, made able to believe by the gift of faith, and then comes to Christ.

Well your verse, contradict your next statement. Your verse supports what I said. Faith comes by hearing.

The measure of faith is given after we come to salvation, not before. Faith comes by hearing.

Show me the verses that a man is given the gift of faith when they are drawn? Shouldn't be so hard if it is true.

Also, please always give the verses that support your statements. I will ask for them anyway. Always.

 

[EmSw]

Freely, but certainly influenced and persuaded to come.

OTOH, could I not have come to Him when called?...No

Why couldn't you 'come' to Him when called? What's holding you back?

So, if He is calling you now, you couldn't freely 'come' to Him?

 

[EmSw]

Good point.

I'm sure they will say that 'not willing' is because someone has not been regenerated. It's a theology full of excuses for why scripture doesn't mesh.

The problem with that reasoning is that they are also unwilling to 'come' to Jesus to have life. Go figure.

 

[ToBeLoved]

The problem with that reasoning is that they are also unwilling to 'come' to Jesus to have life. Go figure.

That's so they can justify doing little for Christ after they are saved. God is doing His will in their life, even if it is nothing. It's theology that tickles the ears. I think the Bible warns about that.

Odd thing is, God did a lot in the apostles lives AFTER their salvation. But they are the 'elect' so they justify just that the Father drew them is all God wants.

Christ tells us to become as He is. But heh, it's all man driven. Not in agreement with God's Word.

 

[ToBeLoved]

Even the prayer that Jesus instructed us how to pray like says "Thy will be done" and we are to pray that it is.

Doesn't say "His will IS done"

I'm sure they have an answer for that too. Let's see what they say.

 

[EmSw]

Of course. Romans 10:17

Man is drawn, made able to believe by the gift of faith, and then comes to Christ.

Are you trying to tell me I have a poor recollection of my salvation?
I am agreeing with kitty kat about coming to Christ. I came to Christ.


Don't ignore how God persuades a man, like Paul almost persuaded Agrippa.
In Isaiah we are told by God to reason together with Him. God convinces us.
Apart from a spiritual transformation (born of Spirit), no one can or will come to Christ.


What is the point with this line of questioning?
Has anyone really said they were UNwilling to come, but God dragged them to the cross?

bottom, how does God draw man?

Calvinists will tell you they are unwilling to 'come' to Jesus in order to have life.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

..moved..

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

..moved..

 

[bottomofsandal]

Why couldn't you 'come' to Him when called? What's holding you back?

So, if He is calling you now, you couldn't freely 'come' to Him?

You have it backwards.
I could not resist when God called.

Saving grace, grace unto salvation cannot fail.
The effectual, irrevocable call is always successful.

 

[EmSw]

You have repeated this same false allegation for weeks, maybe for months.

Maybe one will tell you that, but you have not quoted anyone doing so as far as I can tell, ever.

Have you been following this post? There was one Calvinist who completely denied this, to the point of calling me Satan.

Maybe you should learn more about Reformed theology.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

..moved..

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

..moved..

 

[EmSw]

You have it backwards.
I could not resist when God called.

Saving grace, grace unto salvation cannot fail.
The effectual, irrevocable call is always successful.

Didn't you just give us an example of Agrippa? Wasn't he almost persuaded? Did he not resist?

You guys are all over the place.

 

[bottomofsandal]

Well your verse, contradict your next statement. Your verse supports what I said. Faith comes by hearing.

The measure of faith is given after we come to salvation, not before. Faith comes by hearing.

Show me the verses that a man is given the gift of faith when they are drawn? Shouldn't be so hard if it is true.

Also, please always give the verses that support your statements. I will ask for them anyway. Always.

Seems like the white dog and the black cat are chasing their tails again...