@FreeInChrist
@FreeInChrist I know
perfectly what you believe, the sad part is that
you do not see that "
you" cannot totally separate the new birth
by the Spirit alone from
your cooperation with the Spirit to bring this birth to fruition and without your so-called free will agreeing to believe and repent, this birth will
not happen. Now, did I misrepresent you in any way? No I did not.
You said:
"I do not believe the flesh, apart from the Holy Spirit, can perform spiritual acts pleasing to God."
You then said: "Scripture explicitly denies that (Rom 8:7–8), and I fully affirm that"
What the scriptures said is this, listen very carefully:
Romans 8:7,8: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Do you hear what Paul is saying, I think not. All men who are still IN the flesh, or, in their natural state, cannot please God by doing any spiritual acts, such as believing, fearing, loving, repenting, etc., etc., etc.
One must be first born again, and having a nature that is created after the image of Jesus Christ before any man can please God. This is exactly what Christ taught in John 3:
John 3:3~“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Again, I
know what you believe, the problem lies in the fact that "
you" cannot see that faith is
the result of the new birth,
not the means whereby God
grants regeneration and salvation from sin and condemnation. Your gospel/understanding thereof is another gospel.
Here you are close, but still in error. Your bold letters is your error. Faith is the evidence of the new birth, whether or not a person receives this matters very little.
Examples: infants; those feeble minded folks who are unable to process information, and the millions of millions who have never heard of Christ's and gospel both OT and NT! Maybe more on this later.
Yes as far as receiving "
the knowledge of" this blessed truth, and the comfort, peace, and joy it gives.
The gospel has no meaning, or glory to men born of Adam,
it is all foolishness to them until they are quicken to life, and then at that point, they see the wisdom, power, then and
only then, they glory in the mercy and grace of God given to them on the behalf of Jesus Christ's redemption work for them.