If salvation is completely dependent of what God does in a person's heart, the Spirit making a person repent and believe, then is the unrepentant person really responsible for his/her sins? Or should I ask if that person (a sinner) is responsible for not repenting or believing if it is wholly dependent on God doing it?
--Great questioning Bookends. If faith comes by hearing, then the Spirit does not 'make' one believe, but believe comes from a heart which is willing to listen to the Truth. This is said in agreement to all the 'whosoevers' found in the New Testament which implies that one does have a willingness to 'come and follow'. But, on the other hand, salvation is a gift obtained only from God to those who come to believe by the hearing and that hearing comes from the Word of God (the Light which enlightens everyone who comes upon the face of the Earth). Indeed the Spirit convicts, which causes some to repent, much in the same way a father explains to his son that stealing is wrong and the son is convicted by his father's 'words'. But, we know from reality that not all sons will be convicted but some will remain in the same condition and will continue to receive the father's conviction until there is a convertion or death comes.
To imply that an unrepentant person is not responsible for not repenting is the same as saying that the unrepentant sinner is not responsible for his sins. I have read too many of your posts and know that you are not saying this. So, will you please reword it so I can see where you are coming from?
Frankly put, I don't understand the mind of God and how he does it. All I know is those who do put their trust and faith in God alone for their salvation, repent authentically and ask Christ to be their Lord and savior, the He will save them.
-- In reality this is all which is being said by me. We put our trust in God. We put our faith in God for our salvation. We repent. Then just as the Psalmist and you say: Then will He hear your cry and deliver you.
I sought the LORD and He heard and delivered me.... (v4)
This poor man cried and the LORD heard and saved him...(v6)
It is indeed a decision which we make. We are giving the ability to decide who our lord is, with each lord leading on its own path: one leads to destruction and the Other leads to Life. But, in the end, we are responsibile for our own decision and therefore, we have the God given ability to choose life or death.
Which then leads back to who makes the decision for a sinner to repent. We are now at the point where a sinner decides life or death? Good or evil? He is there with darkness before him and the Spirit behind him convicting him. 'O, my soul!! Choose you this day whom you will follow. Remain in the pig pen or walk towards the Father in regret of your rebellion. Do you turn your eyes to Him or shall they continue looking upon the darkness which leads to utter eternal darkness." You see Booknotes, we are responsibile for our own decisions (acts). If not, then is God just to judge transgressions?
Then those who believe go through a transformation process, some times failing at pleasing God and living righteously, but never to be let go or separated from the love of God. Those who are saved may wonder a bit, but through the chastising of the Father is brought back into a rightful but perhaps an imperfect relationship with Him through the purchasing power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
-- I can agree that the transformation is a process. But please listen to how I word this: is it possible to live in habitual rebellion and still be in the process of being lead away from the darkness? I would have to say no that we cannot live a habitual life which is in opposition to God's will and still be considered saved from death. The reasoning behind this: can I continue to look upon two masters? Can I continue to look at two light sources for my soul? No!! For a soul to be a son, he, as you have said and as Scripture do say, we must repent and forsake our past life. As long as we do hearken to God, then we are being led to the Light, but if our conscience condemns us and we sear it so that it can comply to our choice, then are we really delivered from our rebellion? Simply, we cannot live in rebellion to God's beckoning. We are either being led by God or being led astray and if we continue to being lead astray in opposition to what the Spirit is saying, by our own choice, have forfeited the Spirit by polluting our temple.
There maybe/are people out there claiming to be Christians who profess Christ with their lips, but not with their heart, or who do not possess Christ. It is not my job to figure out who these people are, but to edify the help those who struggle in the faith and lift them up to be responsible and accountable people of God. At the same time, be willing myself to to be held accountable for my actions and faith by others in the body of Christ for my own spiritual growth and relationship with God.
-- Agree. If we are held accoutable for our own actions and faith, then would it not be conclusive to say that we are held responsible for not repenting?
I see no more reason why I should continue in this tread, but I encourage you or whom ever to carry on if you think this topic is beneficial to your faith. May God's peace and love fill you all.
-- It is simply a hunger to understand and accept the Truth for what it is, whether it opposses what I believe/ed or not.