non-believers

[Blessed-one]

do non-believers require faith before the Holy Spirit works on them? (for example, an experience that brings them around completely, like transformation)
i just remember some testimonies.... and i'm wondering about this.

 

[Reformationist]

Originally posted by Blessed-one
do non-believers require faith before the Holy Spirit works on them? (for example, an experience that brings them around completely, like transformation)
i just remember some testimonies.... and i'm wondering about this.

Non believers have no faith.  That's why they're called non-believers.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit that gives fallen man faith.  Faith comes about as a result of regeneration, or more accurately, it's a package deal.  God redeems fallen man and gives him faith.

God bles 

 

[Blessed-one]

well, i'll give an illustration. Say a man doesn't quite believe in God, but he challenged God in that if God did this, then i'll believe, and God did do it.
so, in this case, has the non-believer had faith that God'd respond, (even though it's a little and he hasn't completely agree that there's a God) thus bringing him salvation?

 

[Reformationist]

Originally posted by Blessed-one
well, i'll give an illustration. Say a man doesn't quite believe in God, but he challenged God in that if God did this, then i'll believe, and God did do it.
so, in this case, has the non-believer had faith that God'd respond, (even though it's a little and he hasn't completely agree that there's a God) thus bringing him salvation?

Challenging God to do something is a sign of a lack of faith, not some faith.  Consider what the outcome would have been had God not answered the man's challenge in a way that satisfied him there was a God.  He would have just gone on his merry, uninformed way sticking to the belief he obviously already had, which was that there was no God.  The bottom line is that if the man truly believed he would not have required God to do something.  He would have recognized that God already did something, that is, send His Son unto the world to save, not prove that He was real.  I think that we often put conditions on God that are based on our preconceived notions as to how God should respond to us.  When, in reality, faith is believing that God gave us the most important gift and it should change the way we respond to Him.  The fact that the man had his prayer answered did not bring him salvation.  If he was truly saved then it was because of what God truly did, not whether the man believed that God actually did something.

God bless

 

[RevKidd]

Non believers have no faith. That's why they're called non-believers. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that gives fallen man faith. Faith comes about as a result of regeneration, or more accurately, it's a package deal. God redeems fallen man and gives him faith.

 

 I agree with that...

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Originally posted by Blessed-one
do non-believers require faith before the Holy Spirit works on them? (for example, an experience that brings them around completely, like transformation)
i just remember some testimonies.... and i'm wondering about this.

I would pretty much go along with what Reformationist said.  The Holy Spirit draws and then men come.

Faith comes as a result of hearing, and hearing comes by the Word.  

 

[SUNSTONE]

What about the verse in the bible that says, "you believe in God, you are doing well, but even the demons believe and they sit and tremble."

I heard Andrew Wormack say "everyone has faith, its just a matter of where they put that faith into."

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Originally posted by SUNSTONE
What about the verse in the bible that says, "you believe in God, you are doing well, but even the demons believe and they sit and tremble."

I heard Andrew Wormack say "everyone has faith, its just a matter of where they put that faith into."

I'm not sure of the point you're trying to make Sunstone.  Could you elaborate a little.

The scripture says, "no man comes to the Father unless the Spirit draws." I don't have the ref at the moment . .sorry.  It also says, "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word". (Rom 10:17)

So I percieve that the Holy Spirit must stir up our spirit in order for us to hear with spiritual ears and then faith will come.  Faith then grows according to how much we feed on what the Word says instead of what the world says.

   

 

[SUNSTONE]

Originally posted by Quaffer
I'm not sure of the point you're trying to make Sunstone.  Could you elaborate a little.

The scripture says, "no man comes to the Father unless the Spirit draws." I don't have the ref at the moment . .sorry.  It also says, "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word". (Rom 10:17)

So I percieve that the Holy Spirit must stir up our spirit in order for us to hear with spiritual ears and then faith will come.  Faith then grows according to how much we feed on what the Word says instead of what the world says.

   

I don't have a verse but I think that there is one that says "God shines His light on all men", also in Romans 1 it talks about creation is evidence enough so that no one is without excuse.

I remember calling out to God when I was in trouble, and that was before I got saved. I didn't even believe there was a God, but when things got rough I was making all kinds of promises to Him.

But your right "faith comes by hearing" thats why we are to witness to people.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Joh 12:32 When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me."

 

[Blessed-one]

thanks for all your replies, i think i get it now, thanks.