Logical Problems with Calvinism

[Bible Highlighter]

No insult, just the truth. You consistently advocate for man's ability to save himself and to keep himself saved. You unnecessarily try to add to an already perfect sacrifice and on top of that, preach that the hope of keeping salvation lies in the hands of fallible men. You rarely consider the sovereignty of God when you discuss the saved and the damned. The change from spiritually dead to spiritually alive is a permanent change brought about by the Holy Spirit. It cannot be earned, and it cannot be undone.

Then there is no point of trying to convince me or preach the gospel or in trying to live holy. All things are predetermined by God and you are simply wasting your breath because God is going to do whatever He wants to do. There is no purpose in life. Just let it happen. God will do it all. But that is not the impression I get when I read the Scriptures. There are over 1,050 plus commands given to us in the New Testament alone. Surely this would be absolute utter non-sense if God was going to just do these things automatically thru us, right? I mean, if that is the case, then why even have a Bible?


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[GillDouglas]

It's more like a cooperation. We have to first submit to God of our own free will in order for the Lord to work in us His sanctification process. God does not force sanctification on anyone. If that was the case, then why not perfectly sanctify everyone? Why don't we see a ton of Paul's running around?

Then there is no point of trying to convince me or preach the gospel or in trying to live holy. All things are predetermined by God and you are simply wasting your breath because God is going to do whatever He wants to do. There is no purpose in life. Just let it happen. God will do it all. But that is not the impression I get when I read the Scriptures. There are over 1,050 plus commands given to us in the New Testament alone. Surely this would be absolute utter non-sense if God was going to just do these things automatically thru us, right? I mean, if that is the case, then why even have a Bible?

Let me remind you truly, the story of the Gospel. All men are trapped in a state of sin and misery, from which they are utterly unable to deliver themselves. When they deserve only God's wrath and curse, He determined that He would graciously provide redemption for them by sending His own eternal Son to assume their nature and guilt, to perfectly fulfill the law and to suffer in their place; He would then send His Holy Spirit to apply the redemption that was purchased by the Son onto His children.

People, like you, who believe in a conditional salvation do so because you do not understand nor consider the majesty and holiness of God, nor the corruption and guilt of man's inherent sinful and spiritually dead nature. You forget that men, born in sin, stand before a Maker not as those who may justly claim His mercy, but as condemned criminals who deserve only punishment. You seek to work independently of God's plan by means of good works rather than His grace. The Bible declares wholly that the salvation of sinful men is a matter of God's grace alone, and not by the works of men. For if it were by works then there would have never been a need for the Cross. Yet He has pardoned some of all our sins and accepts them as righteous not because of anything they could do for themselves but because of the righteousness of Christ imputed on them and received by faith through the working of the Spirit.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Let me remind you truly, the story of the Gospel. All men are trapped in a state of sin and misery, from which they are utterly unable to deliver themselves. When they deserve only God's wrath and curse, He determined that He would graciously provide redemption for them by sending His own eternal Son to assume their nature and guilt, to perfectly fulfill the law and to suffer in their place; He would then send His Holy Spirit to apply the redemption that was purchased by the Son onto His children.

People, like you, who believe in a conditional salvation do so because you do not understand nor consider the majesty and holiness of God, nor the corruption and guilt of man's inherent sinful and spiritually dead nature. You forget that men, born in sin, stand before a Maker not as those who may justly claim His mercy, but as condemned criminals who deserve only punishment. You seek to work independently of God's plan by means of good works rather than His grace. The Bible declares wholly that the salvation of sinful men is a matter of God's grace alone, and not by the works of men. For if it were by works then there would have never been a need for the Cross. Yet He has pardoned some of all our sins and accepts them as righteous not because of anything they could do for themselves but because of the righteousness of Christ imputed on them and received by faith through the working of the Spirit.

Bible verses please.


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[faroukfarouk]

1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. It means exactly what it says. You confess sin and you can then be forgiven of sin. It's not a complicated verse. It means exactly what it says. Forgiveness of sin is tied to one's salvation. For how can it not be?


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Indeed, but not to extent of supposedly becoming saved then, if one sins again, then supposedly becoming lost, then, if confession is made, supposedly becoming saved again, then lost, etc.

For those who walk in faith, the present continuous promise of being cleansed applies; for those who habitually walk in sin, whatever they might lie about their profession of faith, they have likely never been converted.

This, anyway, is my understanding of the passage as a whole; this verse, and the surrounding ones.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Indeed, but not to extent of supposedly becoming saved then, if one sins again, then supposedly becoming lost, then, if confession is made, supposedly becoming saved again, then lost, etc.

For those who walk in faith, the present continuous promise of being cleansed applies; for those who habitually walk in sin, whatever they might lie about their profession of faith, they have likely never been converted.

This, anyway, is my understanding of the passage as a whole; this verse, and the surrounding ones.

Not at all. Who was Jesus speaking to in Matthew 6:15? If Jesus was speaking to unbelievers it would do them no good because forgiving others does not help an unbeliever. An unbeliever first needs to believe in the gospel in order to be saved. So this lets us know that Christ was speaking to believers in Matthew 6:15. This then means that Christ believes that believers can be unforgiven by the Father if they do not forgive others; And one cannot be saved and also not be forgiven by the Father. That would not make any sense.

Furthermore, these words of Jesus have not changed, either. How so? Well, Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:3-4 that if any speaks contrary to the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of Godliness, they are proud and they know nothing.


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[Bible Highlighter]

In addition, we have confirmation by Scripture that confessing sin in 1 John 1:9 is related to continued salvation and mercy. Proverbs 28:13 says he that confesses and forsakes sin shall have mercy. Also, in the Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee, the man who was more justified was the one who cried out to God to have mercy on his sin versus the one who thought he was better than the Tax Collector. Jesus makes a point in the fact the Tax Collector was humble. Scriptures states elsewhere that God gives grace to the humble.

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[GillDouglas]

Bible verses please.
...

I Corinthians 2:14 - The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Romans 3:9-12 - None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.

Ephesians 2:12 - You were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

John 8:42-47 - Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but He sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the word of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Truly I say to you, Unless a man is born new, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'

Romans 5:8-10 - But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.

Isaiah 46:9-11 - I am God and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure; I have spoken, and I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.

Psalm 139:16 - Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in they book they are all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there were none of them.

II Timothy 1:9 - It is God who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal.

II Thessalonians 2:13 - God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of Truth.

John 17:9 - Jesus said 'I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine.'

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

Acts 16:14 - One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

John 5:21 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

Acts 13:48 - And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Romans 6:14 - For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 7:4 - Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

Romans 11:6 - But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

II Corinthians 4:7-10 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Romans 8:35-39 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Romans 11:29 - For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Philippians 1:6 - And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I Corinthians 2:14 - The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Romans 3:9-12 - None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.

Ephesians 2:12 - You were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

John 8:42-47 - Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but He sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the word of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Truly I say to you, Unless a man is born new, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'

Romans 5:8-10 - But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.

Isaiah 46:9-11 - I am God and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure; I have spoken, and I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.

Psalm 139:16 - Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in they book they are all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there were none of them.

II Timothy 1:9 - It is God who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal.

II Thessalonians 2:13 - God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of Truth.

John 17:9 - Jesus said 'I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine.'

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

Acts 16:14 - One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

John 5:21 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

Acts 13:48 - And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Romans 6:14 - For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 7:4 - Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

Romans 11:6 - But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

II Corinthians 4:7-10 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Romans 8:35-39 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Romans 11:29 - For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Philippians 1:6 - And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for the verses. Give me some time to give a response to them. For you have offered quite a few verses here that need to be explained in their proper context.


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[Bible Highlighter]

1 Corinthians 2:14 is talking about the natural man (who has chosen the path to remain in his sin and refuses the truth) who does not accept the things of God. This is talking about the current state of those men who have chosen to have a natural man mind set and be completely at odds to the truth of God's Word of their own choice. This does not mean they cannot accept the gospel. They simply refuse to receive the love of the Truth of their own choice. How so?

Well, Scripture says elsewhere that man can hear with his ears and see with his eyes and understand with his heart and thereby be converted.

"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Matthew 13:15).

This echoes what is in the Old Testament,

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14).

For we understand that God sends a strong delusion upon those who believe a lie by the fact that they have chosen not to receive the love of the truth (that they might be saved).

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).


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[ToBeLoved]

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," (Hebrews 10:26).
...

This is talking about in the OT that there were the blood sacrifice of animals as temporary atonement for sin.

In the New Covenant this no longer exists.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Not at all. ...

Okay, friend. It's just that your understanding and mine are profoundly different. I think we'll have to leave it there.

 

[GillDouglas]

1 Corinthians 2:14 is talking about the natural man (who has chosen the path to remain in his sin and refuses the truth) who does not accept the things of God. This is talking about the current state of those men who have chosen to have a natural man mind set and be completely at odds to the truth of God's Word of their own choice. This does not mean they cannot accept the gospel. They simply refuse to receive the love of the Truth of their own choice. How so?

Well, Scripture says elsewhere that man can hear with his ears and see with his eyes and understand with his heart and thereby be converted.

"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Matthew 13:15).

This echoes what is in the Old Testament,

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14).

For we understand that God sends a strong delusion upon those who believe a lie by the fact that they have chosen not to receive the love of the truth (that they might be saved).

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).
...

Nope. Nice try though. It plainly states the natural man, a man not reborn/made new/regenerated, cannot understand or receive anything spiritual. Until a man is reborn/made new/regenerated things that are spiritual make no sense or they mean nothing to him, because God has left them with a hardened heart until the appointed time. Until then the Word, and all things spiritual fall on deaf ears.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

As for Romans 3:9-12:

Well, Paul here is referencing an Old Testament passage (See Psalm 53) to make a point.

If you were to read that Psalm, you would understand that the Psalmist was referencing the heathen who said there is no God. See, Paul's point in Romans 3 is that both Jews and Gentiles are both are under sin and can both come to God equally towards His saving grace (See Romans 3:9). The Gentile no longer has to become a Jew. Also, the Psalmist is speaking in poetic language. Unless of course you believe verse 4 is a support of how man enters this world with a tendency towards cannibalism.

Anyways, if you were to keep reading, it is by believing in Jesus that one initially attains the righteousness of God (for both the Jew and the Gentile).

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" (Romans 3:22).


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[GillDouglas]

As for Romans 3:9-12:

Well, Paul here is referencing an Old Testament passage (See Psalm 53) to make a point.

If you were to read that Psalm, you would understand that the Psalmist was referencing the heathen who said there is no God. See, Paul's point in Romans 3 is that both Jews and Gentiles are both are under sin and can both come to God equally towards His saving grace (See Romans 3:9). The Gentile no longer has to become a Jew. Also, the Psalmist is speaking in poetic language. Unless of course you believe verse 4 is a support of how man enters this world with a tendency towards cannibalism.
...

Nope. Nice try again. Do men come into the world praising and loving God? No, I do not believe so. To be a sinner is to be in rebellion, an enemy of God from birth. Do you seek out your enemy, unless to kill him? Paul was right to use this OT passage to make his point that men are inherently wicked, and do not love God.

 

[sdowney717]

1 Corinthians 2:14 is talking about the natural man (who has chosen the path to remain in his sin and refuses the truth) who does not accept the things of God. This is talking about the current state of those men who have chosen to have a natural man mind set and be completely at odds to the truth of God's Word of their own choice. This does not mean they cannot accept the gospel. They simply refuse to receive the love of the Truth of their own choice. How so?

Well, Scripture says elsewhere that man can hear with his ears and see with his eyes and understand with his heart and thereby be converted.

"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Matthew 13:15).

This echoes what is in the Old Testament,

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14).

For we understand that God sends a strong delusion upon those who believe a lie by the fact that they have chosen not to receive the love of the truth (that they might be saved).

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).


...

Your quoting Matthew 13, in support of your view.
However Jesus says the exact opposite about that scripture in Isaiah,
Matthew 13
The Purpose of Parables
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

Jason explain why Christ says that these people have not been given to know about the kingdom of heaven.
You do realize the gospel to them which have not been given to know the truth is hidden by decree of God and Christ.

Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Nope. Nice try though. It plainly states the natural man, a man not reborn/made new/regenerated, cannot understand or receive anything spiritual. Until a man is reborn/made new/regenerated things that are spiritual make no sense or they mean nothing to him, because God has left them with a hardened heart until the appointed time. Until then the Word, and all things spiritual fall on deaf ears.

You are making large assumptions with the text. I showed you the verses that says man can hear, see, and understand with his heart whereby it would lead him to be converted. However, It is up to you if you want to believe what it says, though.

Anyways, I will refrain currently in explaining the other verses unless of course you really want an explanation.

In the mean time, may the Lord's love shine upon you.


....

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Your quoting Matthew 13, in support of your view.
However Jesus says the exact opposite about that scripture in Isaiah,
Matthew 13
The Purpose of Parables
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

Jason explain why Christ says that these people have not been given to know about the kingdom of heaven.
You do realize the gospel to them which have not been given to know the truth is hidden by decree of God and Christ.

Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

To WHOM is not given? Those who are dull of hearing and their hearts have waxed gross. WHY? Because they chose not to see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and understand with their heart so as to be converted.

...

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Also, 2 Thessalonians 2:10 makes it unmistakable. They received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.


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[Bible Highlighter]

This is talking about in the OT that there were the blood sacrifice of animals as temporary atonement for sin.

In the New Covenant this no longer exists.

There is no indication that verse 26 is talking about the OT. It is talking about the current New Covenant because it mentions how if we willfully sin after we receive the love of the truth.... This is not OT. There is no receiving of the love of the truth in going backwards towards the OT. The OT is gone. The writer of Hebrews is speaking to New Covenant believers. Truth for them is in reference to Jesus Christ and the gospel (And not the OT).

....

 

[sdowney717]

To WHOM is not given? Those who are dull of hearing and their hearts have waxed gross. WHY? Because they chose not to see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and understand with their heart so as to be converted.


....

It is not their choice, it is God's choice to hide or reveal truth.
See you have misunderstood what Christ says here.
Read again what Christ says.

11 He answered and said to them,
“Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. (to know)