3 Tactics Calvinists Use Against Non-Calvinists
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Better still quote the scripture. Be like the Berean my friend...
Acts 17
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Acts 17
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
None is faithful before regeneration my friend and that's obvious, why because all are sinners and how are they saved? when they put faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that is after they heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of salvation then were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.
Eph. 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,”
Eph. 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,”
You talk about the fruit, that is after its root. The natural man has the capacity to understand or comprehend upon the conviction of the Holy Spirit. By believing/ responding to the word, the gospel, or of Christ, he would be born again. Ever notice that even the words of Christ is spirit. in line with this to be born again is to be regenerated by the word. Note, the word of God is inseparable with the Holy Spirit and that is what scripture is given by inspiration i.e. in-spirit...the act of the Holy Spirit through the agency of the word thus responding it by faith is to be born of the Spirit.
John 6:63 King James Version (KJV)
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1 Peter 1:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
John 6:63 King James Version (KJV)
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1 Peter 1:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
And how can a person that thinks the things of the Spirit are foolishness because he cannot discern the things of the Spirit, believe the spiritual word of truth. Only his sheep (born again children of God) can hear his voice, and he knows them. Hearing and believing the gospel are the products of already being born again. and not the cause of being born again. The natural man only has faith in man until he has been born and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, in which spiritual faith is a fruit of, Gal 5:22.
In your understanding of the scriptures, the natural man before the Holy Spirit convicts him, is already one of God's sheep, because God says that only his sheep hear his voice, John 10:27-28. Or maybe you are saying that, by the Holy Spirit's conviction, he is regenerated, if so, I can agree with you and that event is explained in Eph 2:5, while the natural man was still dead, spiritually, in sins could not respond to spiritual things.
Galatians 3
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (One must believe first to receive the faith of Christ.)
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (The faith of Christ was not revealed until after the resurrection and the law was taken out of the way.)
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (The faith of Jesus Christ)
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Now, the faith of Christ is available to those who believe)
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (One must believe first to receive the faith of Christ.)
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (The faith of Christ was not revealed until after the resurrection and the law was taken out of the way.)
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (The faith of Jesus Christ)
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Now, the faith of Christ is available to those who believe)
The way that we receive these spiritual blessings, place, standing, is explained in Eph 2:5 when we are still spiritually dead in sins and unable to respond to spiritual things. In the way your belief comes across to me, is that you believe God wants all men to be saved eternally, and that you are giving man the responsibility of letting God save him eternally, and that seems to be giving man power over God. Dan 4:35, And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
The faith of Christ is the faithfulness of Christ going to the cross.Gal 2:16. the natural man only has faith in man.1 Cor 2:14. Spiritual faith comes to us after we have been regenerated and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Eph 2, in which spiritual faith is a fruit of. Gal 5:22. only then can we believe in spiritual things. God gets the credit for man's good works, not man.
Are you giving me my understanding of the scripture? or it is your understanding that "...the natural man before the Holy Spirit convicts him, is already one of God's sheep, because God says that only his sheep hear his voice, John 10:27-28."
I failed to see that natural man you are speaking of as to how he is convicted. Btw, the Spirit conviction is to show or to make aware of one's sinfulness and that men as sinners need Christ saving power. A person who hears but rejects the word of truth is not saved but the person who believes is saved.
John 3:17-18 King James Version (KJV)
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I failed to see that natural man you are speaking of as to how he is convicted. Btw, the Spirit conviction is to show or to make aware of one's sinfulness and that men as sinners need Christ saving power. A person who hears but rejects the word of truth is not saved but the person who believes is saved.
John 3:17-18 King James Version (KJV)
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.