Total Ability

[gmm4j]

More conditional "if" statements and verses that speak of "resistance" rather than inability...

Ezekiel 2:6-8
Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.

Ezekiel 20:13
Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws-although the man who obeys them will live by them

Ezekiel 18:21-24
"But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22 None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? 24 But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.

Jeremiah 4:1-2
"If you will return, O Israel, return to me," declares the LORD. "If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray, 2 and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives, 'then the nations will be blessed by him

Jeremiah 5:3
O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.

Jeremiah 7:4-7
If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever.

Jeremiah 8:4-9
"'When men fall down, do they not get up? When a man turns away, does he not return? 5 Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. 6 I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle. 7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD. 8 "'How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD," when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? 9 The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have?

Jeremiah 13:10
These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt — completely useless!

Jeremiah 15:19
Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.

Jeremiah 18:7-10
If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

Jeremiah 26:4-6
'This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you, 5 and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.'

Hosea 4:6
Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.

Hosea 11:5
Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?

Zechariah 7:11-14
But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry. 13 "'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty.

Malachi 2:2
If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name," says the LORD Almighty, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.

 

[gmm4j]

Even more conditional "if" statements and verses showing "resistance" rather than inability...

Matthew 7:9-11
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?

Matthew 21:42
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;

Luke 17:25
But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

John 5:39-40
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

John 3:36
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

John 7:15
If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

John 7:37-39
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

John 8:24
I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins."

John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:51
I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."

John 14:15
If you love me, you will obey what I command.

John 14:23-24
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

John 15:5-6
If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:1-2
There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

Acts 19:8-9
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.

Romans 2:7-8
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Romans 10:9-10
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 11:23
And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

1 Corinthians 16:22
If anyone does not love the Lord-a curse be on him. Come, O Lord!

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

1 Thessalonians 4:8
Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

2 Thessalonians 2:10
They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

2 Timothy 2:11-13
If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Hebrews 4:7
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Hebrews 6:4-6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Hebrews 10:26
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,

Hebrews 10:38
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."

Hebrews 12:25
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

2 Peter 1:10-11
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 2:9-10
the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1-2
But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Revelation 16:9-11
They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

 

[gmm4j]

So you have:

1. Examples from Genesis to Revelation with absolutely no indication that unregenerated man had to be regenerated in order to believe.

2. Numerous verses that show that God is not thedirect cause in makingmen choose Him or take positive steps toward Him.

3. Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to do so. God tells unregenerate man to choose Him.

4. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to seek Him.

5. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to know God by
telling him to turn to Him and to know Him.

6. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to trust God.

7. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man retains the ability to choose God by telling man to choose to come to Him.

8. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to repent and turn to God.

9. Scripture proving that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling man to call on the Lord.

10. Scripture proves that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling him to believe.

11. Numerous Scripture verses that prove that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to have faith.

12. The command to teach, instruct, or train fallen men would be absurd if unregenerate men did not have the God-given ability to be instructed or taught in the ways of the Lord.

13. The parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price indicate that fallen man has the God-given ability to seek for and find the Kingdom.

14. The many Scripture verses that speak of people resisting, refusing, rejecting, and rebelling against God, communicates to the reader that they could have chosen to do otherwise. Also, the many “if” statements throughout Scripture that are connected with the options set before unregenerate people to choose, show that man has the ability to choose. The very word “if” itself denotes the possibility of options and the ability to choose. “If” statements are always conditional and cannot convey forced or preordained conditions.

And then you add to these, the fact that:

15. The following verse in 1 Corinthians 2 specifically indicates that “your” faith could rest on God’s power, or it could rest on men’s wisdom. Surely if a faith could rest on God’s power, then according to Calvinism, it must be a genuine faith directly given by God and could certainly never rest on men’s wisdom. But instead, as this verse shows us, “your” faith can be placed in men or in Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:4-5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faithmight not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

 

[gmm4j]

So, let’s continue:

1. Examples from Genesis to Revelation with absolutely no indication that unregenerated man had to be regenerated in order to believe.

2. Numerous verses that show that God is not thedirect cause in making men choose Him or take positive steps toward Him.

3. Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to do so. God tells unregenerate man to choose Him.

4. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to seek Him.

5. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to know God by telling him to turn to Him and to know Him.

6. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to trust God.

7. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man retains the ability to choose God by telling man to choose to come to Him.

8. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to repent and turn to God.

9. Scripture proving that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling man to call on the Lord.

10. Scripture proves that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling him to believe.

11. Numerous Scripture verses that prove that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to have faith.

12. The command to teach, instruct, or train fallen men would be absurd if unregenerate men did not have the God-given ability to be instructed or taught in the ways of the Lord.

13. The parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price indicate that fallen man has the God-given ability to seek for and find the Kingdom.

14. The many Scripture verses that speak of people resisting, refusing, rejecting, and rebelling against God, communicates to the reader that they could have chosen to do otherwise. Also, the many “if” statements throughout Scripture that are connected with the options set before unregenerate people to choose, show that man has the ability to choose. The very word “if” itself denotes the possibility of options and the ability to choose. “If” statements are always conditional and cannot convey forced or preordained conditions.

15. The following verse in 1 Corinthians 2 indicates that “your faith could rest on God’s power, or it could rest on men’s wisdom. Surely if a faith could rest on God’s power, then according to Calvinism, it must be a genuine faith directly given by God and could certainly never rest on men’s wisdom. But instead, as this verse shows us, “your” faith can be placed in men or in Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:4-5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
And then let’s add one more thing:

16. Along with knowing everything that is, God also knows all things possible. The knowledge of what could have been or could be is proof of man’s ability to choose and that foreknowledge is not causative. Free actions do not take place because they are foreseen, but they are foreseen because they will take place.

Matthew11:21
Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Matthew 11:23
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

Isaiah 48:18-19
If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 19 Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed from before me.

Scripture shows that God knows the consequences of all possible decisions, but He does not directly cause through regeneration a person to make one decision over another. The choice is yours.

 

[gmm4j]

Let’s officially add a few more things to the list we are developing that supports Total Ability:

So, let’s continue:

1. Examples from Genesis to Revelation with absolutely no indication that unregenerated man had to be regenerated in order to believe.

2. Numerous verses that show that God is not thedirect cause in making men choose Him or take positive steps toward Him.

3. Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to do so. God tells unregenerate man to choose Him.

4. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to seek Him.

5. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to know God by telling him to turn to Him and to know Him.

6. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to trust God.

7. NumerousScripture verses proving that fallen man retains the ability to choose God by telling man to choose to come to Him.

8. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to repent and turn to God.

9. Scripture proving that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling man to call on the Lord.

10. Scripture proves that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling him to believe.

11. Numerous Scripture verses that prove that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to have faith.

12. The command to teach, instruct, or train fallen men would be absurd if unregenerate men did not have the God-given ability to be instructed or taught in the ways of the Lord.

13. The parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price indicate that fallen man has the God-given ability to seek for and find the Kingdom.

14. The many Scripture verses that speak of people resisting, refusing, rejecting, and rebelling against God, communicates to the reader that they could have chosen to do otherwise. Also, the many “if” statements throughout Scripture that are connected with the options set before unregenerate people to choose, show that man has the ability to choose. The very word “if” itself denotes the possibility of options and the ability to choose. “If” statements are always conditional and cannot convey forced or preordained conditions.

15. The following verses in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 indicates that “your faith could rest on God’s power, or it could rest on men’swisdom. Surely if a faith could rest on God’s power, then according to Calvinism, it must be a genuine faith directly given by God and could certainly never rest on men’s wisdom. But instead, as this verse shows us, “your” faith can be placed in men or in Christ.

16. Along with knowing everything that is, God also knows all things possible. The knowledge of what could have been or could be is proof of man’s ability to choose and that foreknowledge is not causative. Free actions do not take place because they are foreseen, but they are foreseen because they will take place (Is. 48:18-19, Mt. 11:21, 23)

17. A number of verses indicating that faith precedes regeneration, meaning that God has given unregenerate man the inherent ability to believe.

John 1:12-13
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The order presented in these verses is:

1. Belief (those who believed)
2. Right to become children of God / Born of God (Regeneration)

John 20:30-31
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The order presented in this verse is:

1. Recorded miracles
2. Belief
3. By belief - New life (Regeneration)

It would have been foolish of John to write, “that by believing you may have life” if it were by having new life that they would believe.

1 Peter 1:22-25
Now that you have purified yourselves byobeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.

The word of God is imperishable seed that must be received/believed in order to bring about regeneration. Again the order is:

1. Word preached
2. Word believed
3. Born again (Regeneration) through the Word

The answers to the apostle Paul’s rhetorical questions in the book of Galatians also seem to prove that belief precedes regeneration.

Galatians 3:2,5
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law,or by believing what you heard?… 5 Does God give you his Spiritandwork miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

The correct answer to the first question is that I received the Spirit when I believed what I heard.

1.Recipient hears Word
2.Recipient believes Word
3.Spirit is received

The correct answer to the second question is that God gave me His Spirit because I believed what I heard.

1.Recipient hears Word
2.Recipient believes Word
3.Spirit is given

Acts 15:9
He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Their hearts were made pure (new) by faith. It does not say that faith was made by or a result of pure hearts. Pure hearts are made by having faith first. Again the order is:

1.Faith
2.Pure (new) hearts.

Galatians 3:26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,

Through faith you are born into the family. You become a spiritual son by faith.

1.Faith
2.Regeneration into a spiritual son.

James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

1. Word of truth
2. Belief in truth (assumed)
3. Birth (regeneration)

1 Timothy 1:16
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

1. Belief
2. Life (regeneration)

Side note: New eternal life begins with the new birth / life (regeneration), unless you believe that a new creation can cease to be a new creature in Christ and be in need of being born again again?

Ephesians 1:13 describes the order in this way,

Ephesians 1:13
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in himwith a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

1.Hear the Word of truth
2.Believe (having believed) the Word of truth.
3.Included in Christ / Sealed by the Spirit

Acts 11:18
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

1. Repentance to…
2. Life (regeneration)

1 John 5:10-12
Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

How can you have life (regeneration)(the Son) without belief? How can you have life before you have the Son? If you do not have the Son by first being united to Him by faith, then you do not have life (regeneration).

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Life (regeneration) is only “in” Christ, not “outside of”, and “prior to” Christ.

 

[gmm4j]

Let’s continue:

1. Examples from Genesis to Revelation with absolutely no indication that unregenerated man had to be regenerated in order to believe.

2. Numerous verses that show that God is not thedirect cause in making men choose Him or take positive steps toward Him.

3. Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to do so. God tells unregenerate man to choose Him.

4. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to seek Him.

5. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to know God by telling him to turn to Him and to know Him.

6. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to trust God.

7. NumerousScripture verses proving that fallen man retains the ability to choose God by telling man to choose to come to Him.

8. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to repent and turn to God.

9. Scripture proving that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling man to call on the Lord.

10. Scripture proves that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling him to believe.

11. Numerous Scripture verses that prove that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to have faith.

12. The command to teach, instruct, or train fallen men would be absurd if unregenerate men did not have the God-given ability to be instructed or taught in the ways of the Lord.

13. The parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price indicate that fallen man has the God-given ability to seek for and find the Kingdom.

14. The many Scripture verses that speak of people resisting, refusing, rejecting, and rebelling against God, communicates to the reader that they could have chosen to do otherwise. Also, the many “if” statements throughout Scripture that are connected with the options set before unregenerate people to choose, show that man has the ability to choose. The very word “if” itself denotes the possibility of options and the ability to choose. “If” statements are always conditional and cannot convey forced or preordained conditions.

15. The following verses in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 indicates that “your faith could rest on God’s power, or it could rest on men’swisdom. Surely if a faith could rest on God’s power, then according to Calvinism, it must be a genuine faith directly given by God and could certainly never rest on men’s wisdom. But instead, as this verse shows us, “your” faith can be placed in men or in Christ.

16. Along with knowing everything that is, God also knows all things possible. The knowledge of what could have been or could be is proof of man’s ability to choose and that foreknowledge is not causative. Free actions do not take place because they are foreseen, but they are foreseen because they will take place (Is. 48:18-19, Mt. 11:21, 23)

17. A number of verses indicating that faith precedes regeneration, meaning that God has given unregenerate man the inherent ability to believe.

Then, we can ask…

18. Why does satan have a present day involvement in preventing a person from being saved by taking the Word from an unregenerate person's heart when he supposedly is not able to receive the Word into his heart in the first place.

Luke 8:11-12 says,
This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

We are not told that the non-elect unregenerate person rejects the word of God due to his fallen sin nature (which I would understand), but we are clearly told here that the devil comes and takes the Word from their hearts, so they will not believe and be saved. This seems to show that they have the ability to receive the Word, but the devil is actively involved in keeping the Word from taking root. Why would satan have to have a present-day involvement “takes away the word from their hearts, so…” if unregenerate man was totally unable to receive the Word into his heart in the first place?

Again, this is more proof that unregenerate man has the ability to believe.

 

[gmm4j]

Let’s add one more point of evidence to the list:

1. Examples from Genesis to Revelation with absolutely no indication that unregenerated man had to be regenerated in order to believe.

2. Numerous verses that show that God is not thedirect cause in makingmen choose Him or take positive steps toward Him.

3. Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to do so. God tells unregenerate man to choose Him.

4. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to seek Him.

5. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to know God by telling him to turn to Him and to know Him.

6. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to trust God.

7. NumerousScripture verses proving that fallen man retains the ability to choose God by telling man to choose to come to Him.

8. Numerous Scripture verses proving that fallen man still retains the ability to choose God by telling him to repent and turn to God.

9. Scripture proving that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling man to call on the Lord.

10. Scripture proves that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to respond favorably to God by telling him to believe.

11. Numerous Scripture verses that prove that by the grace of God fallen man still retains the ability to have faith.

12. The command to teach, instruct, or train fallen men would be absurd if unregenerate men did not have the God-given ability to be instructed or taught in the ways of the Lord.

13. The parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price indicate that fallen man has the God-given ability to seek for and find the Kingdom.

14. The many Scripture verses that speak of people resisting, refusing, rejecting, and rebelling against God, communicates to the reader that they could have chosen to do otherwise. Also, the many “if” statements throughout Scripture that are connected with the options set before unregenerate people to choose, show that man has the ability to choose. The very word “if” itself denotes the possibility of options and the ability to choose. “If” statements are always conditional and cannot convey forced or preordained conditions.

15. The following verses in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 indicates that “your faith could rest on God’s power, or it could rest on men’swisdom. Surely if a faith could rest on God’s power, then according to Calvinism, it must be a genuine faith directly given by God and could certainly never rest on men’s wisdom. But instead, as this verse shows us,
“your” faith can be placed in men or in Christ.

16. Along with knowing everything that is, God also knows all things possible. The knowledge of what could have been or could be is proof of man’s ability to choose and that foreknowledge is not causative. Free actions do not take place because they are foreseen, but they are foreseen because they will take place (Is. 48:18-19, Mt. 11:21, 23)

17. A number of verses indicating that faith precedes regeneration, meaning that God has given unregenerate man the inherent ability to believe.

18. In Luke 8:11-12, we are clearly told here that the devil comes and takes the Word from their hearts, so they will not believe and be saved. This indicates that unregenerate men have the ability to receive the Word, but the devil is actively involved in keeping the Word from taking root. Why would satan have to have a present-day involvement “takes away the word from their hearts, so…” if unregenerate man was totally unable to receive the Word into his heart in the first place? Again, this is more proof that unregenerate man has the ability to believe.

And then add to that:

19. There are many Scriptural references where God says, “Because you (man)” have responded positively in some way that the benefits of His grace are bestowed. In these instances, there is never an indication that God is the cause of these men’s positive responses by regenerating them. Instead of acting unconditionally, God reveals to us by using the term “because” that He many times chooses to act or interact with humanity based upon conditions. Yes, according to the Word of God, our cause can produce God’s effect. Does that somehow make us sovereign over God? Of course it doesn’t. God sovereignly chooses to respond to our free will decisions, which include unregenerate man’s ability to believe. God does this without impinging on our free will. If He were to impinge on our free will, He would become the direct cause and He could never say, “Because you”, or “Because ??” anything other than, “Because I.” Instead many more times than space will allow (I’ve counted at least 70 times just from Genesis to Jeremiah alone) God reveals to us that He responds based on conditions set or caused by men. Because you… Because of you… Because of them… Because I found you… Here are just a few examples:

Gen 6:13-14 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.

Gen 22:15-18 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

Ex 1:21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

Ex 33:17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Num 14:24-25 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

Josh 6:17-18 Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.

Josh 14:14-15 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

Judg 6:7-8 When the Israelites cried to the LORD because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:

1 Kings 3:6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

2 Kings 10:30 The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."

1 Chron 5:20-21 They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.

2 Chron 12:12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.

2 Chron 19:2-3 Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you. 3 There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God."

2 Chron 34:27 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.

 

[gmm4j]

Let’s add another point, #20.


20. Paul ministered as if people had the Total Ability to believe. Paul would not have tried to persuade people, if he had thought they did not have the ability to be persuaded. Persuasion would not be necessary if Calvinism were true. In the following verses it states that some were convinced by what Paul had said, not that they were convinced by an inner work of the Spirit. Also, notice the effort Paul puts forth in order to persuade people to believe in Christ.


Acts 28:23-24
From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

If the Calvinist’s view of salvation is correct then the only persuading that needs to be done is the inward persuading or “dragging” of the Holy Spirit. The verse above would have read, “the elect were convinced by what he said, but the non-elect did not believe for they could not.” Paul however, felt very differently.

Acts 20:26-27
Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

Paul seemed to think that if he failed to proclaim the gospel to individuals, then their blood would be upon him. This could only be true if redemption was available to everyone and Calvinism is incorrect.

Paul understood that the gospel message itself had the power to produce faith and he felt compelled to share it, even persuasively, with all people.

Acts 19:8-9
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.

He didn’t apathetically attempt to persuade the believer. He labored to persuade those who resisted his message. He didn’t take the approach that he would simply share the gospel and those who were elect would receive it, while those who were non-elect would reject it and then move on. No, he proclaimed it to them; he reasoned with them, he pleaded with them, he explained it to them, he argued with them, he became like them, he labored among them, and he did whatever he could to persuade all men. Paul believed all people had the ability to be persuaded; therefore he attempted to persuade them by all means possible.

1 Corinthians 9:19-22
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

Paul’s desire was to win as many people to the Lord as possible, by whatever means possible. Paul’s position wouldn’t make sense if Christ’s redeeming work were intended to save only a select few predetermined by God. His method of spreading the gospel is in keeping with someone who believes that salvation is available to everyone, and that everyone has the ability to believe.

Acts 17:2-4
he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

Acts 17:11-12
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

Acts 18:4
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Acts 18:13
This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.

Acts 18:19
He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews

Romans 15:15-16
because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

According to Calvinism, Christ did not die for the salvation of everyone so why would Paul try to persuade everyone? And, persuation could never cause someone to believe, so why try? It would be foolish.

Colossians 1:28-29
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

 

[gmm4j]

Overwhelming evidence.

 

[Shulamite]

The overwhelming evidence is that I have no ability. If I have ability, then Christ is unncessary to me.
We are blessed when we recognize that without Jesus, we are poor in spirit. We aren't born "having". We are born empty so that, by His grace, "We receive" (what's given).

 

[gmm4j]

The overwhelming evidence is that I have no ability. If I have ability, then Christ is unncessary to me.
We are blessed when we recognize that without Jesus, we are poor in spirit. We aren't born "having". We are born empty so that, by His grace, "We receive" (what's given).

God has given men the ability to breathe. He is necessary. No argument there. He has also given us the ability to believe in the work of His salvation!

 

[Arcoe]

The overwhelming evidence is that I have no ability. If I have ability, then Christ is unncessary to me.
We are blessed when we recognize that without Jesus, we are poor in spirit. We aren't born "having". We are born empty so that, by His grace, "We receive" (what's given).

Hello again Shula. In a peaceful, mature discussion, I would like to get your thoughts about something I brought up earlier.

I would like to present your ability to obey God's commands, if you don't mind. Please tell where I am wrong.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from murder, thus keeping God's command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from lying, maybe not in every situation, but you had the ability to tell the truth, thus keeping God's command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from stealing, did you not?

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from continual adultery, or else I can guarantee you wouldn't be married now. This ability helped you keep God' command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from hating everyone, thus keep God's command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to love others, right? Did you not love your husband, children, family, and friends? Where did you get the will and ability to love them?

What I would like to know is this - if you had the willingness and ability to obey God's commands before you were regenerated, why is it you do not have this willingness and ability now? Does a person lose this ability after regeneration?

I'm wondering, because I have always had the willingness and ability to obey God's truths. And no, I didn't keep them all the time, but the ability has always been present within me. Thank you.

 

[Shulamite]

Hello again Shula. In a peaceful, mature discussion, I would like to get your thoughts about something I brought up earlier.

I would like to present your ability to obey God's commands, if you don't mind. Please tell where I am wrong.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from murder, thus keeping God's command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from lying, maybe not in every situation, but you had the ability to tell the truth, thus keeping God's command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from stealing, did you not?

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from continual adultery, or else I can guarantee you wouldn't be married now. This ability helped you keep God' command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from hating everyone, thus keep God's command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to love others, right? Did you not love your husband, children, family, and friends? Where did you get the will and ability to love them?

What I would like to know is this - if you had the willingness and ability to obey God's commands before you were regenerated, why is it you do not have this willingness and ability now? Does a person lose this ability after regeneration?

I'm wondering, because I have always had the willingness and ability to obey God's truths. And no, I didn't keep them all the time, but the ability has always been present within me. Thank you.

Hi Arcoe! It's a refreshing thing the way you approached this. I appreciate it. I'm responding on my cell phone, so plz excuse any typos! I do agree that before we are born again, man may do what he deems as "good works" to others, but is not capable of perfectly keeping 100% of God's law. Jesus fulfilled it fo us because He knew we couldn't. That's why God sai that "good works" produced by us apart from Him are filthy rags. If our obedience is authored by us, then His work on the cross is not necessary and then I can claim I can redeem myself due to my capability to keep ALL His commands. Being able to keep 99.9% of His commands is still missing the mark. The rich young rulr came to Jesus telling Jesus he had kept all te commands! Yet...Jesus told him he "still lacked one thing". You see, it won't help us to stand before Jesus one day and tell Him we were good nd we had the ability to keep the commands. He wll tell us we still lacked "one thing"....the Righteousness that only comes from Him. Hope this helped!


]

 

[crimsonleaf]

Hello again Shula. In a peaceful, mature discussion, I would like to get your thoughts about something I brought up earlier.

I would like to present your ability to obey God's commands, if you don't mind. Please tell where I am wrong.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from murder, thus keeping God's command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from lying, maybe not in every situation, but you had the ability to tell the truth, thus keeping God's command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from stealing, did you not?

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from continual adultery, or else I can guarantee you wouldn't be married now. This ability helped you keep God' command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to refrain yourself from hating everyone, thus keep God's command.

Before you were regenerated, you were willing and able to love others, right? Did you not love your husband, children, family, and friends? Where did you get the will and ability to love them?

What I would like to know is this - if you had the willingness and ability to obey God's commands before you were regenerated, why is it you do not have this willingness and ability now? Does a person lose this ability after regeneration?

I'm wondering, because I have always had the willingness and ability to obey God's truths. And no, I didn't keep them all the time, but the ability has always been present within me. Thank you.

They may be God's truths, but they are also society's truths. Nobody claims that the unregenerate can do good things, or even the right things under some circumstances. That's part of Common Grace. Look it up in the context of Calvinism and you'll see what I mean, because you obviously never have.

But how many of the things you've listed does an unregenerate do for the love of God?

Total Depravity or Disability never means man is as bad as he can be, but it does mean that he does nothing for the glory of God. I'm not sure how your argument helps you here.

 

[Arcoe]

They may be God's truths, but they are also society's truths. Nobody claims that the unregenerate can do good things, or even the right things under some circumstances. That's part of Common Grace. Look it up in the context of Calvinism and you'll see what I mean, because you obviously never have.

From where did society get these truths?
Why can't you show me in the context of the Bible? Also, please show me 'common' grace in the Bible. Why do men have to invent these things?

But how many of the things you've listed does an unregenerate do for the love of God?

I'm not talking about the 'why', but rather the ability to do these things.

Total Depravity or Disability never means man is as bad as he can be, but it does mean that he does nothing for the glory of God. I'm not sure how your argument helps you here.

Stay with me here; I'm talking about ABILITY. Do the unregenerate have the ability to keep God's laws?

 

[crimsonleaf]

Stay with me here; I'm talking about ABILITY. Do the unregenerate have the ability to keep God's laws?

Yes, they have the ability. But you (Arcoe) often can't tell the difference between ability and will. In general, men have both the ability and the will to do the things on your list. But of course they will deny these are God's laws. The unregenerate recognise nothing as having come from God.

What unregenerate man does is pleasing to himself and/or his peers. He might refrain from theft or murder to stay out of jail. But he does nothing to please God, because for him God doesn't exist.

Are YOU aware of the difference between pleasing yourself and pleasing God?

 

[Jack Terrence]

Do the unregenerate have the ability to keep God's laws?

The greater question is if it would justify them if they could?

 

[Shulamite]

Yes, they have the ability. But you (Arcoe) often can't tell the difference between ability and will. In general, men have both the ability and the will to do the things on your list. But of course they will deny these are God's laws. The unregenerate recognise nothing as having come from God.

What unregenerate man does is pleasing to himself and/or his peers. He might refrain from theft or murder to stay out of jail. But he does nothing to please God, because for him God doesn't exist.

Are YOU aware of the difference between pleasing yourself and pleasing God?

Agreed. Well said.

 

[Shulamite]

The greater question is if it would justify them if they could?

Excellent. If our ability to keep the Law was sufficient, there is no need for the Cross. Thanks to Jesus Who fulfills the Law for me and now I am only Justified in Him. Good post.

 

[Jack Terrence]

But he does nothing to please God, because for him God doesn't exist.

"So then, those who are in the flesh CANNOT please God" (Romans 8:8).