In scripture, it says that we have one of two natures depending upon whether we are of Christ. Our desires and beliefs derive from one or the other nature. So someone with an old nature will not believe, nor will they want to.
Your statement is true in the absence of God. But in the presence of God and his supernatural drawing where He says "
I will draw ALL mankind to Me" John 12:32 you have the supernatural drawing of "All mankind" that even the worst form of 4 point Calvinism would say "enables all the choice that depravity disables" when it comes to choosing to accept the Gospel.
If I am not mistaken - you are having some trouble with the last two quotes here --
God "
draws all mankind to Me" John 12:32.
God even
comes to "His OWN and His OWN receive Him not " John 1:11
God asks "
what MORE was there to do that I have not done?" Isaiah 5:4
Since you keep insisting on using scripture out of context, let’s look at it.
The obvious fact that the texts are clearly "inconvenient" to the view you are suggesting is not proof that the texts are "out of context". I think we can all see that point.
Though it is interesting that you focus on John 12 and not --
God even
comes to "His OWN and His OWN receive Him not " John 1:11
God asks "
what MORE was there to do that I have not done?" Isaiah 5:4
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
...
The context here is that Greeks wanted to see Him. After a short discourse, and confirmation by His Father, He says that after the crucifixion, He will draw all types of men.
Thanks for that quote. but when you bend the text from saying "all mankind" to "all types of mankind" you are going too far with your eisegesis.
Were it true that we could bend the text by inserting "types of" everywhere we find mankind -- we get a very very different Bible.
Clearly as you indicate Calvinism "needs" to propose that insert into the text. but it makes no sense.
In the example you give - the Greeks are not "held off" until after the resurrection.
When the Centurion makes special request for healing his servant Jesus does not say "not until after the cross". Nor does He say "I am interested in all types - but not in every person and I already blessed a gentile a year ago -- that is all"
He will draw all types of men. How do we know He means all types, and not every single person?
We don't know any such thing. The Holy Spirit "convicts the world of sin " John 16 not "Convicts all types of worlds".
"It is
appointed unto mankind once to die and then comes the judgment" Hebrews 9 --
not "all types of mankind"
Jesus said "
mankind shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" --
not "all types of mankind shall not live by bread alone"
One, we have the Greeks there. So we can make an assumption that He was going beyond just the Jews.
Which is an obvious point with "
I will draw all mankind unto Me".
Next, I don’t know what you thing draw means,
It is that "special" thing that Calvinists are always talking about in John 6
43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless t
he Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
And where else can we see Jesus use this word? How about John 6.
Indeed that is the point I am making -- the very "Draw" that we find in John 6 which even Calvinists will admit "enables all the 'choice' to accept the Gospel - that depravity disables' is the DRAW of "all mankind".
DRAW that is of the form "
I stand at the door and knock IF ANYONE hears my voice and opens the door I WILL come in" Rev 3
DRAW that is of the form "
the Holy Spirit convicts the WORLD of sin and righteousness and judgment" (not merely all types of worlds) -- John 16.
DRAW that is of the form of the Holy Spirit moving on the heart like the wind and causing the new birth -- John 3
DRAW that is of the form where gentiles "
do instinctively the things of the Law showing the works of the Law written on the heart" Romans 2:13-16
DRAW that is of the form of "
light shining in the darkness" John 1
Not "drag screaming and kicking" that is a story in calvinism - but is not in the Bible at all.
And for that reason we have this in scripture --
God even
comes to "His OWN and His OWN receive Him not " John 1:11
God asks "
what MORE was there to do that I have not done?" Isaiah 5:4
Since you are going redefine “draw” for convenience, then there’s nothing more to discuss. Once you decide to use the actual definition, we can continue.
I am not "redefining" anything.
helkō - "draw by inward power, lead, impel"
