Okay... My wife and I are attending and even met

[DaRev]

I would place more empohasis on "hears my voice".

How does a deadman walk out of a tomb?

"Lazarus, come forth."

"Apart from Me, you can do nothing."

Peace,

Cos

Very good point.
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the message of Christ."
Our "opening the door" would be a reaction or response to the gift of faith.

 

[joyfulthanks]

What do you do with "As many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the children of God."

I realize that the verse says that He gives the power to become God's child, but the wording would seem to imply first a willingness on the part of the individual to receive Him.

Not arguing, just curious.

Or is this verse perhaps not saying that if one is willing to receive Him, He gives power to become His child, but rather something more like, "He was the one who gave power to become a child of God to everyone who has indeed done so."

 

[DaRev]

What do you do with "As many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the children of God."

I realize that the verse says that He gives the power to become God's child, but the wording would seem to imply first a willingness on the part of the individual to receive Him.

Not arguing, just curious.

Or is this verse perhaps not saying that if one is willing to receive Him, He gives power to become His child, but rather something more like, "He was the one who gave power to become a child of God to everyone who has indeed done so."

The word "receive" is by nature passive. It doesn't say "as many as accepted Him...".

 

[JimfromOhio]

I am legally deaf so I know "hearing" is not the same as "hear". 1 Thessalonians 1:5 "because our gospel came to you not simply with words (hearing the gospel), but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake." The Holy Spirit convicts a sinner to be saved when they "hear" the gospel. That's how I understand Romans 10:17 when Paul wrote, Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Looking at Romans 10:17 says in the original Greek, "Faith comes by hearing a speech about Christ." Faith comes by hearing a speech about Christ, not a subjective analysis about what's going on in yourself.

The difference between "accepting" and "conviction" is the actual conversion. I want to go back to Paul's question in Galatians 3:2 "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law (accepting-decision), or by the hearing of faith (conviction) ?" Understanding and accepting faith is one thing and 'actual conversion by the conviction of the Holy Spirit' is another. Not our understanding nor our decisions but rather the Holy Spirit is within us believers, Christ dwells in our hearts, and "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) is the burning core of the Christian faith.

 

[filosofer]

I am legally deaf so I know "hearing" is not the same as "hear". 1 Thessalonians 1:5 "because our gospel came to you not simply with words (hearing the gospel), but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake." The Holy Spirit convicts a sinner to be saved when they "hear" the gospel. That's how I understand Romans 10:17 when Paul wrote, Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Looking at Romans 10:17 says in the original Greek, "Faith comes by hearing a speech about Christ." Faith comes by hearing a speech about Christ, not a subjective analysis about what's going on in yourself.

The difference between "accepting" and "conviction" is the actual conversion. I want to go back to Paul's question in Galatians 3:2 "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law (accepting-decision), or by the hearing of faith (conviction) ?" Understanding and accepting faith is one thing and 'actual conversion by the conviction of the Holy Spirit' is another. Not our understanding nor our decisions but rather the Holy Spirit is within us believers, Christ dwells in our hearts, and "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) is the burning core of the Christian faith.

If you go back to Galatians 3:2, be sure to go back far enough, namely 2:15-21 because that sets the basis for understanding what is happening, who is the "active agent" and what that means for understanding 3:2.

 

[JimfromOhio]

The word "receive" is by nature passive. It doesn't say "as many as accepted Him...".

I agree. Apostle Paul wrote, “Your salvation is nothing you have achieved by your good works (human decisions). It is a gift of God (conviction of the Holy Spirit). You receive it by faith. That way no one can boast of his own accomplishments.” Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." By faith we receive the saving grace of God that delivers us from guilt and sin.

I love this verse, Romans 5:17 ".......how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ."

We all didn't deserve grace but we have it in us now. Spirit indwells us. In our sanctification, we are go grow in spirit and truth. We are to continuing being spirit-filled and spirit-lead by allowing His grace to transform us what He wants us to be. It is God's grace that just initiates there and sustains all the way, every benefit in life, every benefit in eternity is by God's grace.