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How does God give or grant repentance?
By preaching. How so?
Jesus said,
"The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas." (Matthew 12:41).
Now if you were to turn to Jonah 3:6-10, we learn four things that are important here:
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14).
Conclusion:
God "grants or gives repentance" by preaching. So 2 Timothy 2:25 is not a case for God enabling somebody so as to repent. That would be a poor way to read such a verse. We need more testimonies in Scripture that show that God enables a person to repent. But there is none. The rest of Scripture confirms that "grant repentance" is in reference to the opportunity to repent by hearing the gospel like Acts of the Apostles 11:17-18. For if we were to read Acts of the Apostles 11:17-18 as in reference to God enabling the Gentiles to repent, then we have to conclude that this is talking about Universal Salvationism. But we know that is not true. For not all men will be saved (Matthew 7:23, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 21:8). God is merely giving the Gentiles an opportunity to repent by hearing the gospel.
...
By preaching. How so?
Jesus said,
"The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas." (Matthew 12:41).
Now if you were to turn to Jonah 3:6-10, we learn four things that are important here:
#1. Jonah preached to the city of Nineveh of God's coming judgment (Jonah 3:1-4).
#2. The king of the Ninevites told his people to cry out to God (Repentance) (Jonah 3:8).
#3. The king of the Ninevites told his people to turn from their wicked and evil ways (Nature Fruits of Repentance) (Jonah 3:8).
#4. God turned away from His judgment or wrath upon the city of Nineveh when he had seen the Ninevites turn from their evil and wicked ways (Jonah 3:10).
#2. The king of the Ninevites told his people to cry out to God (Repentance) (Jonah 3:8).
#3. The king of the Ninevites told his people to turn from their wicked and evil ways (Nature Fruits of Repentance) (Jonah 3:8).
#4. God turned away from His judgment or wrath upon the city of Nineveh when he had seen the Ninevites turn from their evil and wicked ways (Jonah 3:10).
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14).
Conclusion:
God "grants or gives repentance" by preaching. So 2 Timothy 2:25 is not a case for God enabling somebody so as to repent. That would be a poor way to read such a verse. We need more testimonies in Scripture that show that God enables a person to repent. But there is none. The rest of Scripture confirms that "grant repentance" is in reference to the opportunity to repent by hearing the gospel like Acts of the Apostles 11:17-18. For if we were to read Acts of the Apostles 11:17-18 as in reference to God enabling the Gentiles to repent, then we have to conclude that this is talking about Universal Salvationism. But we know that is not true. For not all men will be saved (Matthew 7:23, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 21:8). God is merely giving the Gentiles an opportunity to repent by hearing the gospel.
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