Please explain if no one is predestined

[Rescued One]

What or who causes one sinner to have faith and another to not have faith?

 

[devin553344]

What or who causes one sinner to have faith and another to not have faith?

I was my understanding that faith was a gift from God as a fruit or gift: Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. Because the faith of a mustard seed could move mountains: Matthew 17:20. Now we can't have a bunch of humans moving mountains with this tiny mustard seed faith. No one would survive on earth.

But that we as humans can have hope and belief.

I personally think the word "faith" from the bible is being incorrectly applied to people and Faith is something only God has. They should have used a different word from the bible translations for moving mountains and such.

 

[HTacianas]

What or who causes one sinner to have faith and another to not have faith?

The answer to your question is no one knows. The notion of predestination in the bible is partly to give all credit to God, and partly due to the ancient Essene belief that "all things are best ascribed to God". Both Jesus and John the Baptist were Essenes.

The strictest idea of predestination is refuted by Exodus 32 when those Jews who were "predestined" to become a mighty nation but then rebelled and fell from God's favor. God even set to destroy them all but then changed His mind at the prayer of Moses.

One of the lessons of Exodus 32 is that no one can know the mind of God and that no one can know who might be "predestined" or not.

 

[StrivingFollower]

God is the leader and we are the follower. He influences all good things in this world in some way. But he gives us the freedom to reject him if our hearts are stubborn enough.

 

[fhansen]

What or who causes one sinner to have faith and another to not have faith?

Either one can reject the gift of faith.

 

[BCsenior]

What or who causes one sinner to have faith and another to not have faith?

There are dozens of NT verses explaining the
various reasons why man is totally incapable of
believing in Jesus and His gospel.
(We're not talking about people believing in a God
who is seen in the heavens and in our conscience.)

Paul talks a lot about people in the churches who
were chosen and called to be sanctified unto holiness.
Logic dictates that everyone is NOT chosen and called.

Therefore, God had to give these people a seed of faith,
which enabled them to believe in that which is seen as
"foolishness" to normal man (1 Corinthians 1:18, etc.),
which is the absolute Truth of Jesus and His gospel.

 

[FreeGrace2]

There are dozens of NT verses explaining the various reasons why man is totally incapable of believing in Jesus and His gospel.

If man is incapable of believing in Jesus, then no one can refuse to believe. Yet, Scripture specifically states that people have refused to believe in Acts 14:2 and 19:9. Further, Revelation speaks of people refusing to repent 3 times; one is in ch 3 and the other 2 are in ch 16.

People can only refuse to do something IF they are capable of doing something.

Example: a person born with out legs cannot refuse to walk or run. They are simply not capable of either. One must have legs in order to refuse to run or walk.

Paul talks a lot about people in the churches who
were chosen and called to be sanctified unto holiness.
Logic dictates that everyone is NOT chosen and called.

A thorough study of the doctrine of election reveals that election is for service, not salvation. In fact, there are no verses that use any of the word group for election is used in relation to salvation.

QUOTE]Therefore, God had to give these people a seed of faith, which enabled them to believe in that which is seen as "foolishness" to normal man (1 Corinthians 1:18, etc.),
which is the absolute Truth of Jesus and His gospel.[/QUOTE]
There is no mention of any such "seed of faith" in Scripture. There is either faith or no faith. But no such "seed".

Of course, all this is just preliminary to the Calvinistic doctrine that regeneration precedes faith, which is also not found in Scripture. What is found is just the opposite.

Eph 2:5 - made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

It should be clear that the first red phrase speaks of regeneration or being born again. the second phrase clarifies what the first red phase means.

So, iow, to be regenerated is to be saved.

Or, to be saved is to be regenerated.

There are NO examples in Scripture of one being regenerated yet not saved, nor one being saved yet not regenerated.

They go together. Always.

Now for the biblical order of which occurs first:

v.8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

So, just as one is saved through faith, meaning the faith precedes the salvation, one is regenerated through that same faith. Faith precedes regeneration.

 

[Rescued One]

...So, just as one is saved through faith, meaning the faith precedes the salvation, one is regenerated through that same faith. Faith precedes regeneration.

Where does faith come from? Some people have it and some don't.

 

[Rescued One]

God is the leader and we are the follower. He influences all good things in this world in some way. But he gives us the freedom to reject him if our hearts are stubborn enough.

What? Where does a person receive a stubborn heart?

 

[Rescued One]

There are dozens of NT verses explaining the
various reasons why man is totally incapable of
believing in Jesus and His gospel.
(We're not talking about people believing in a God
who is seen in the heavens and in our conscience.)

Paul talks a lot about people in the churches who
were chosen and called to be sanctified unto holiness.
Logic dictates that everyone is NOT chosen and called.

Therefore, God had to give these people a seed of faith,
which enabled them to believe in that which is seen as
"foolishness" to normal man (1 Corinthians 1:18, etc.),
which is the absolute Truth of Jesus and His gospel.

1 Corinthians 1
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

That doesn't answer my question. I can't save myself. Why do I have faith? My parents didn't, and my siblings don't.

 

[FreeGrace2]

Where does faith come from? Some people have it and some don't.

Where does contentment come from? Some have it and some don't.

A person chooses what to believe. Those who seek truth will find it. The Bible says so. Acts 17:27 - God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

Faith comes from the heart.

Rom 10:10 - For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

The Calvinist view that God causes the elect to believe by regenerating them so they can believe is not found anywhere in Scripture. As much as Calvinists wish otherwise.

 

[BCsenior]

1 Corinthians 1
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

That doesn't answer my question. I can't save myself. Why do I have faith? My parents didn't, and my siblings don't.

Please re-read my post #6 for your answer!

Some of the best translations state more accurately:
"those who are being saved".

(1) The above is the meaning of the original Greek.
(2) The NT teaches us in dozens of verses that
salvation is a process.

 

[BCsenior]

error - Why cannot a poster delete his/her post?

 

[FreeGrace2]

Please re-read my post #6 for your answer!

Some of the best translations state more accurately:
"those who are being saved".

(1) The above is the meaning of the original Greek.
(2) The NT teaches us in dozens of verses that
salvation is a process.

When salvation is considered in all 3 tenses; past, present and future, it is a process. But, when one believes, they ARE saved at that moment and at that moment possess eternal life, which guarantees that they shall never perish.

Past tense salvation: we have been saved from the penalty of sin. Justification.
Present tense salvation: we are being saved from the power of sin. Sanctification.
Future tense salvation: we will be saved from the presence of sin. Glorification.

 

[bling]

What or who causes one sinner to have faith and another to not have faith?

All mature adults have “faith” in something and/or someone. Saving faith is when the person decides to place his faith (trust) in God. This trust is not a commitment to God or joining God’s army, but it is a trust of a surrendering soldier in the charity of his enemy. We are wimping out, giving up and surrendering to our enemy while we still consider Him our enemy.

 

[Rescued One]

Where does contentment come from? Some have it and some don't.

A person chooses what to believe. Those who seek truth will find it. The Bible says so. Acts 17:27 - God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

Faith comes from the heart.

Does every heart choose to follow Christ?

 

[Rescued One]

All mature adults have “faith” in something and/or someone. Saving faith is when the person decides to place his faith (trust) in God. This trust is not a commitment to God or joining God’s army, but it is a trust of a surrendering soldier in the charity of his enemy. We are wimping out, giving up and surrendering to our enemy while we still consider Him our enemy.

Which verse supports that?

 

[FreeGrace2]

Does every heart choose to follow Christ?

No. Rev 20:15 is clear about people being cast into the lake of fire for not possessing eternal life.

Matt 7 tells us wide is the path that leads to destruction and narrow is the path that leads to to life, and few find it.

I am wondering where your question comes from.

 

[Rescued One]

What causes an unsaved person to choose Christ? What causes another person to reject Christ? Don't they have identical hearts?

 

[Rescued One]

When salvation is considered in all 3 tenses; past, present and future, it is a process. But, when one believes, they ARE saved at that moment and at that moment possess eternal life, which guarantees that they shall never perish.

Past tense salvation: we have been saved from the penalty of sin. Justification.
Present tense salvation: we are being saved from the power of sin. Sanctification.
Future tense salvation: we will be saved from the presence of sin. Glorification.

Please explain:
"But, when one believes, they ARE saved at that moment and at that moment possess eternal life, which guarantees that they shall never perish."