I believe everything Ephesians 2 says. I believe everything the whole Bible says. I am not a clipper-snipper-cutter-paster. The Bible Truth is not difficult to comprehend or understand.
Then you would have to believe that natural man is
dead in trespasses and sins, not only sick, but
dead in them, thus totally
unable before regeneration to respond to God's calling and do of His good pleasure. So, God
first quickens the dead sinful man and
then he believe,
then he respond,
then he obey. Not before regeneration. And regeneration is a work that God alone does and the sinner is a mere unworthy and passive recipient. Just as somebody is raised from the dead, the work is totally at the hand of the one who have power to raise him from the dead. This is thus a work wholly of
God's will, not the will of the sinner.
Eph.2
[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
[2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
[3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ( by grace ye are saved; )
[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
[7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Verse 1: Total depravity and unability for natural man to obey God.
Verse 2: Total depravity.
Verse 3: Natural man's nature: children of wrath.
Verses 4-5: Showing conversion of sinner is solely the work of God.
Verse 6: Equaling regeneration to resurrection, a work solely of God.
Verse 7-9: Showing salvation is solely a work of God.
Verse 10: Showing good works is the result of regeneration, as only in Christ Jesus can one do good works.
None of the above scripture does imply any "free will choice" of the sinner or that the sinner may initiate from his own will a relationship with God. None.
If you gainsay this then it's not me you argue with, it's the Word of God.
1
