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BobRyan said: ↑
God sovereignly decreed free will (no one forced Him to choose to do that)-- and that put the level of indirection needed to disconnect God from having blame for any act of evil that would arise. Thus "He came to His OWN and His OWN received Him not" John 1:11 puts none of the blame on God - who is the first-actor the first motivator the one who took the initiative.
How do we understand 'free will'?
1. God sovereignly chose free will as the system that his creation would operate under. So Adam and Eve just like Lucifer - had free will.
2. Mankind became depraved in spirit and inclined toward sin at the fall of Adam. apart from the supernatural work of God - they would remain slaves of sin.
3. God supernaturally "draws all mankind unto Him" John 12:32 which enables the "choice to accept the Gospel" that is disabled by depravity. All are enabled to make that choice - but it is because God sovereignly chooses to supernaturally draw them. Not force them.. draw them.
"I STAND at the door and knock - IF anyone hears My voice AND opens the door... I will come in" Rev 3
The lost sinner is alone without Christ. But Christ is knocking on the door and enabling that sinner to hear and to choose to open the door IF they will.
That’s quite the abuse of scripture.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
and then you posted
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
BTW - there is no such thing as "Salvation without Christ" the one who is alone on the inside with Christ on the outside who has not yet opened the door... is not yet saved.
this is the saved experience.
Gal 2: "20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
The point remains.
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