How Free Will Destroys Faith in Christ (Continued)

[Bible Highlighter]

They see the gospel as law. And law cannot save.

Have you ever been given an order or a command in your life before? If God or His Word tells us to do something directly that is essential to the faith or our salvation, that is a command.

Here is an example in Scripture of God's Word telling us directly to do something essential to our salvation (Which is a command).

"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15).​

Actually, Jesus said these words.
Jesus is GOD.
So when Jesus is telling us to believe the gospel.... that is a command.
It is not an option.
We must believe the gospel.
He is telling us to do this.
Why would Jesus tell us to do something that was impossible for some people to do? It makes no sense.

 

[Dave L]

Have you ever been given an order or a command in your life before? If God or His Word tells us to do something directly that is essential to the faith or our salvation, that is a command.

Here is an example in Scripture of God's Word telling us directly to do something essential to our salvation (Which is a command).

"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15).

Actually, Jesus said these words.
Jesus is GOD.
So when Jesus is telling us to believe the gospel.... that is a command.
It is not an option.
We must believe the gospel.
He is telling us to do this.
Why would Jesus tell us to do something that was impossible for some people to do? It makes no sense.

This is legalism and not grace. Grace raises us from the dead spiritually so we can believe.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Not enough for you?

"This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 3:23).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

In Calvinism there is no such thing as.... "should believe."
In fact, this verse should not be in our Bible because John says that we are given a commandment to BELIEVE in Jesus.

 

[Dave L]

Not enough for you?

"This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 3:23).

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29 (KJV 1900)

 

[Bible Highlighter]

This is legalism and not grace. Grace raises us from the dead spiritually so we can believe.

No. It's called reading your Bible and believing it.

 

[Dave L]

In Calvinism there is no such thing as.... "should believe."
In fact, this verse should not be in our Bible because John says that we are given a commandment to BELIEVE in Jesus.

Jesus also commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb.

 

[Dave L]

No. It's called reading your Bible and believing it.

You can't believe unless saved.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29 (KJV 1900)

Right, Jesus calls believing in Jesus (Which implies not only believing in the person of Jesus, but believing in everything He taught, said, and did), as a WORK, and John says that a belief in Jesus is a COMMANDMENT. So belief in Jesus is both a commandment and a work.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Jesus also commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb.

But that does not mean Jesus commanded salvation upon Lazarus. Raising the dead in this life does not equate with salvation.
There is also a resurrection of the wicked.

 

[Dave L]

Right, Jesus calls believing in Jesus (Which implies not only believing in the person of Jesus, but believing in everything He taught, said, and did), as a WORK, and John says that a belief in Jesus is a COMMANDMENT. So belief in Jesus is both a commandment and a work.

Only beliebers (saved people) will respond.

 

[Dave L]

But that does not mean Jesus commanded salvation upon Lazarus. Raising the dead in this life does not equate with salvation.
There is also a resurrection of the wicked.

Lazarus had to have his sins paid for or Jesus could justly not revoke his punishment.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

You can't believe unless saved.

We've already covered this before.

The way the Bible describes the order is this:

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted" (Acts of the Apostles 3:19).​

Repent (first), and then be converted (second).

30 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts of the Apostles 16:30-31).​

Believe (first), and then you will be saved (second).

In Calvinism: The apostles should have said, "Nothing. You cannot believe on Jesus unless you are elected or saved first."

But that is not what we read in the Scriptures.

In other words, you are not just plainly reading and believing your Bible normally. Just read it, and believe it, my friend.

 

[Dave L]

We've already covered this before.

The way the Bible describes the order is this:

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted" (Acts of the Apostles 3:19).​

Repent (first), and then be converted (second).

30 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts of the Apostles 16:30-31).​

Believe (first), and then you will be saved (second).

In Calvinism: The apostles should have said, "Nothing. You cannot believe on Jesus unless you are elected or saved first."

But that is not what we read in the Scriptures.

In other words, you are not just plainly reading and believing your Bible normally. Just read it, and believe it, my friend.

But only believers (saved people) will do this.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Lazarus had to have his sins paid for or Jesus could justly not revoke his punishment.

Again, there is a resurrection for the damned or the wicked.

"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:29).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

But only believers (saved people) will do this.

I've already explained it.
If you do not see it after my showing it to you, then you never going to get it unless God opens your eyes to the truth on this, friend.

 

[Dave L]

Again, there is a resurrection for the damned or the wicked.

"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:29).

Only saved people do good works.

 

[Dave L]

I've already explained it.
If you do not see it after my showing it to you, then you never going to get it unless God opens your eyes to the truth on this, friend.

How can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

We are not going to get anywhere unless you explain the above verses rationally. All Scripture must be read in harmony together and should not be rejected. Until you accept the above verses in Scripture, there is really no point to debate this. You are not offering any rational explanation to the above verses in what they plainly say. It appears simply that you are not believing these verses.

Moving on unless you can give a rational explanation on the verses I presented.

 

[Dave L]

We are not going to get anywhere unless you explain the above verses rationally. All Scripture must be read in harmony together and should not be rejected. Until you accept the above verses in Scripture, there is really no point to debate this. You are not offering any rational explanation to the above verses in what they plainly say. It appears simply that you are not believing these verses.

Moving on unless you can give a rational explanation on the verses I presented.

Who but a believer would any of this apply to? The rest would think it foolishness.