Why do unbelievers not accept this AWESOME gift??

[bobznew]

Rather than derail the Ann Coulter thread, I thought I'd just start a new one about this subject. She writes in the last paragraph of her column these words:

"With Christianity, your sins are forgiven, the slate is wiped clean and your eternal life is guaranteed through nothing you did yourself, even though you don't deserve it. It's the best deal in the universe."

After reading that, I really started to shake my head in disbelief. Not disbelief in what she was saying, but disbelief in that there are SO many people who have this amazing Good News preached to them, yet refuse to accept it. It IS the best deal in the universe!! (Obviously when you think about it, it's the ONLY deal, but that's not the point.)

My question is, WHY would anyone turn down God's offer of forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption? Is it human pride? You know what I mean by that -- that innate desire inside us to "do it for ourselves". Is the Gospel just TOO GOOD for some people to accept? Or is it something else? Like the fear that if they accept this Gospel, that it will have implications on their life that they aren't sure about having to deal with?

Or am I trying too hard to understand (with my mind) something that is more of a spiritual issue?

Please let me hear your ideas, for this really is something that boggles my mind.

 

[KleinerApfel]

One very common reason is that they simply don't believe it.
You have to believe it's true in order to receive it, and many people live by the belief that we are physical beings only, with no spiritual life - so you're born, you live, you die, you turn to dust...end of story.

Then others don't understand sin, just how serious it is, that you can't undo it or balance it out with good works etc.
If you don't feel you're a bad person, you won't think you need saving from your sin.

 

[mrhappy3]

True - they don't think they are SO bad.

Also, their PRIDE gets in the way.

In each case, God permits them to be blinded by Satan.

So REPENT and RECEIVE you hard headed, hard hearted goons !!!

 

[JSGuitarist]

Rather than derail the Ann Coulter thread, I thought I'd just start a new one about this subject. She writes in the last paragraph of her column these words:

"With Christianity, your sins are forgiven, the slate is wiped clean and your eternal life is guaranteed through nothing you did yourself, even though you don't deserve it. It's the best deal in the universe."

After reading that, I really started to shake my head in disbelief. Not disbelief in what she was saying, but disbelief in that there are SO many people who have this amazing Good News preached to them, yet refuse to accept it. It IS the best deal in the universe!! (Obviously when you think about it, it's the ONLY deal, but that's not the point.)

My question is, WHY would anyone turn down God's offer of forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption? Is it human pride? You know what I mean by that -- that innate desire inside us to "do it for ourselves". Is the Gospel just TOO GOOD for some people to accept? Or is it something else? Like the fear that if they accept this Gospel, that it will have implications on their life that they aren't sure about having to deal with?

Or am I trying too hard to understand (with my mind) something that is more of a spiritual issue?

Please let me hear your ideas, for this really is something that boggles my mind.

I think it's a bit strange too. Not only would you consider it a great deal, but you would consider it the very best one that you could possibly get. Eternity in heaven with the creator walking on streets of gold without any death, suffering or pain? It's like a guaranteed win in the lottery!

And actually, people have no problem with that. To walk on streets of gold would incite any imagination, and many people who don't believe in heaven secretly wish there was one. That's not a stretch, but the problem is that there's someone there who they do not want to face.

It's not surprising they don't, because the Spirit has a testimony against them. "The heart is desperately wicked." "All our righteousness is like filthy rags." "There is not one righteous; all have turned away, there is none who seeks God. There is not even one." "The thoughts of his heart are wicked from his youth." Such a person by naturally does not desire righteousness, nor want it because it would mean saying no to the evil things he loves. And he has to face a righteous and just God like this. They don't want to go to hell, but they don't want to let go of their sin either; and despite the self-destructive end of their choice, they'll keep their sin.

We're not all that reasonable

 

[Jpark]

My question is, WHY would anyone turn down God's offer of forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption? Is it human pride? You know what I mean by that -- that innate desire inside us to "do it for ourselves". Is the Gospel just TOO GOOD for some people to accept? Or is it something else? Like the fear that if they accept this Gospel, that it will have implications on their life that they aren't sure about having to deal with?

Or am I trying too hard to understand (with my mind) something that is more of a spiritual issue?

Please let me hear your ideas, for this really is something that boggles my mind.

The evil one is why.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7434751-3/#post54009284

 

[Tamara224]

It's pride. And because they love the darkness because their deeds are evil. (John 3:19).

 

[pinkputter]

It's pride. And because they love the darkness because their deeds are evil. (John 3:19).

Hit the nail on the head. What I was gonna say. I think we could sit here and ponder this...but why? It is what Tamara says, it all comes down to pride. "To each his own, as they say. Our Lord (I'm thinking of a verse here) has in His time revealed Himself to all. Through Nature, thru church, even thru the latest technologies (now all the world has access to the gospels with the touch of a button). They don't want to serve a Higher Being than themselves...PRIDE.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. That whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life."

There's still hope for unbelievers if they believe that verse.

 

[Faulty]

The evil one is why.

Can't say I entirely agree with that. He may deceive the people into rejecting salvation, but people will still reject this salvation even during the Millennium when he is bound.

 

[Jpark]

Can't say I entirely agree with that. He may deceive the people into rejecting salvation, but people will still reject this salvation even during the Millennium when he is bound.

True... People will submit to Jesus without genuine commitment.

Maybe unbelief is a Co-op experience too?

Unbelief is a Co-op experience in that:

1. man chooses not to believe

2. Satan deceives him

 

[Alpine]

My question is, WHY would anyone turn down God's offer of forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption?

1) They don't believe.

2) They do not want to give up their sins.

 

[Yekcidmij]

They are dead in sin and rebels against God.

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

I was reminded of 1 Cor 1:23:

23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

Before I got saved, I never knew nor was exposed to this awesome gift and therefore 'boxed it' along with 'Cinderella' and other fairy tales. It made no sense and thus I never gave it a second thought.

But, PTL, as with 1 Cor 1:24 when the Lord is ready, He does call us and makes sense to us those things that we previously thought was "foolishness"

 

[Criada]

It's pride. And because they love the darkness because their deeds are evil. (John 3:19).

I'm not entirely sure of this.
I want to believe, used to believe, and yet, somehow, at the moment, can't do so. I don't love the darkness, I hate it, and wish I could escape it. But, faith is a gift as well, and if one doesn't have that, I'm not sure it's possible to manufacture it, no matter how much one longs to do so.

 

[Yekcidmij]

I'm not entirely sure of this.
I want to believe, used to believe, and yet, somehow, at the moment, can't do so. I don't love the darkness, I hate it, and wish I could escape it. But, faith is a gift as well, and if one doesn't have that, I'm not sure it's possible to manufacture it, no matter how much one longs to do so.

It's pretty simple from my perspective. If you do not have faith in and have not given honor to God then you are in rebellion against the Creator. You are dead in sin, and Tamara is right, you would rather live in darkness rather than light. If you wanted otherwise, you would repent.

 

[Criada]

Well, I can't debate here, so I won't reply to that in detail.
I have and do repent, though... only, there seems no one to direct it to, so it's hard to see any effect of that.

 

[disciple-ofjesus]

I believe because the prince of this world has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts. There is a Scripture for that, but can't think of where at the moment.

 

[KingZzub]

2 Cor. 4.4.

 

[KleinerApfel]

(((((((((Criada)))))))))

You are not far from the kingdom of God. Love and prayers sister.


Some of the rest of you need to learn to communicate with a modicum of grace and humility before pointing fingers at "those unbelieving evil rebellious prideful folks."

Sheesh.

 

[KingZzub]

Yes, mum.

 

[Joy]

I'm not entirely sure of this.
I want to believe, used to believe, and yet, somehow, at the moment, can't do so. I don't love the darkness, I hate it, and wish I could escape it. But, faith is a gift as well, and if one doesn't have that, I'm not sure it's possible to manufacture it, no matter how much one longs to do so.

I know you are in pain but could I encourage you to be brave and talk to your husband's colleague to get some real life Christian help and support at this difficult time.