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The good news is all Humanity have the ability to accept Jesus because of God's grace and mercy.
The Gift of Grace
- Thread starter Rowan
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brightfame52
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Thats not true
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Oh but it is true! If it were not true...
“What love is this,” and by what measure can it ever be deemed “good news!?”
No Bible believing Christian questions the truth that “God is love” 1 John 4:8
“The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works” Psalm 145:9
This biblical truth is simply undeniable....
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
With that in mind what would make anyone think that God could send the majority of his creation to hell without giving them the opportunity to hear the gospel and accept the good news?
What kind of love is that?
brightfame52
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Im afraid you've been mislead my friend.
Clifford
Active member
If I were a calvinist i'd be afraid also. We're talking serious doctrines of demons here. That's how bad Calvinism really is. Get out while you still can.
The thing with Calvinism is why does God waste His time and effort and the time and effort of His many prophets pleading with those who, according to Calvinism, cannot hear Him and who—even if they could, being totally depraved—would never respond to His appeal by believing and obeying Him?
Would it not be the worst kind of hypocrisy for God to express concern for the eternal welfare of those He has predestined to eternal torment? Why create this elaborate fiction of mourning and weeping over multitudes who God knows will not only refuse to repent but who, unless He regenerates them, cannot repent because of their total inability to do so?
On the contrary, God must be appealing to human conscience and will—something that Calvinism cannot allow for the non-elect whom they love to claim are being misled.
Exactly! Why would Jesus even bother to exhort everyone far and wide to "Repent and Believe" when the non-elect portion of that crowd could not possibly do so according to calvinist heresy? It warps the mind to allow calvinist nonsense to permeate one's thoughts.
atpollard
Well-known member
In the history of mankind, has anyone ever obeyed the 10 commandments without EVER violating any even once? [Remember Jesus commentary on "adultery in the heart" and "anger = murder"].
If not, then WHY did God "bother to" write the commandments on a stone tablet?
[same argument = same flaw ... just leaving your hatred of the Doctrines of Grace out of it.]
atpollard
Well-known member
I cannot speak to the WCF (as I am a Baptist), but the London Confession of faith teaches no such nonsense about God "predestining" anyone to damnation. The hypocrisy is a figment of your imagination. We Particular Baptists believe no such nonsense. The BCF and Scripture only speak about Predestination to Salvation.
The damned are responsible for their own willful rejection of God.
Like HERE:
John 3:18-20 [NASB]
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."
and HERE:
Romans 3:10-12 [NASB]
as it is written,
"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
None of this speaks of God rejecting people, but of sinful people rejecting God.
God PREDESTINES and DRAWS men to salvation ...
Ephesians 2:1-10 [NASB]
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
- About God saving, not God damning.
Romans 8:28-30 [NASB] And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
- About God predestining for salvation, not God predestining for damnation.
John 6:44-45 [NASB] "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me."
- About God drawing TO Christ, not God driving away.
Yours is a different question. My question is why would Jesus exhort non-elect people to "repent and believe" when they're not able to do so according to Calvinism?
Clifford
Active member
I don't think we're on the same page.
hypothetical
/hī″pə-thĕt′ĭ-kəl/
adjective
- Of, relating to, or based on a hypothesis.
a hypothetical situation. - Conditional; contingent.the hypothetical meaning of a clause beginning with if.
civic
Well-known member
You missed Gods grace
brightfame52
Well-known member
@synergy
He doesnt, Gods commanding to repentance is only for the elect and regenerated, and He gives them the very repentance He commands of them, causing them to do it Acts 5:31
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Now the non elect whom God didn't choose in Christ before the foundation of the world, and consequently Christ didn't redeem by His Death, they still owe a debt to the Law of God which they can never pay, repentance isn't for them. They are under the curse of the law
He doesnt, Gods commanding to repentance is only for the elect and regenerated, and He gives them the very repentance He commands of them, causing them to do it Acts 5:31
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Now the non elect whom God didn't choose in Christ before the foundation of the world, and consequently Christ didn't redeem by His Death, they still owe a debt to the Law of God which they can never pay, repentance isn't for them. They are under the curse of the law
He sure does. Jesus preached to everyone in Galilee to repent and believe the Gospel.
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
The rest of your comments are neutralized by your incorrect assumption.
brightfame52
Well-known member
He preached to the elect in those places. Lk 4_18-19
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
This was foretold Isa 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
The meek/poor have the Spirit of regeneration Gal 5 22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The poor in spirit are spiritually blessed Matt 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
What happened to Mark 1:14-15? Why did you skip right over it?
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Nowhere does it say that Jesus preached only to the elect. Sure he preached to the meek but that doesn't mean that he preached only to the meek, let alone only to the elect. Major fail on your part.
brightfame52
Well-known member
You have evaded the point, Jesus preached the Gospel to spiritually meek and poor.He didnt give them any commands either to do something.
Rowan
Active member
In Mark 1:14-15 Jesus’ exhortation for His listeners to repent indicated that they needed to change their minds. That He told them to believe in the gospel indicated how they needed to change their minds. Mark refers to Jesus’ message as “the gospel of God” in Mark 1:14- or “the good news of God.” It was good news that the kingdom was at hand, and Jesus was preparing His listeners for how to be part of that kingdom.
That's how we are saved today also "repent and believe in the gospel". and recognize that we are saved by grace through faith. That's for all who believe.
In short, the offer of salvation is universal—to all who will believe
11 The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.
12 [No one] for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith].
13 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.
Romans 10:11–13
That's how we are saved today also "repent and believe in the gospel". and recognize that we are saved by grace through faith. That's for all who believe.
In short, the offer of salvation is universal—to all who will believe
11 The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.
12 [No one] for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith].
13 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.
Romans 10:11–13
brightfame52
Well-known member
Whenever Jesus exhorted repentance and belief, it was to His Sheep/Elect and He gave them repentance. Nowhere is He making a offer
Rowan
Active member
Sure He is.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]
30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
Mt 11:28–30.
brightfame52
Well-known member
Yep He is. In the Matt 11:28-29 context, He just praised the Father for hiding truth from some men,the nonelect Matt 11 25-27
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Jesus wasnt calling the wise and prudent, but only the babes
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