Unable to Believe the “Foolish” Gospel

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Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,350
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#41
The book of John?

3:16
5:24
6:40

Romans 10:9-10?

Believing on the Lord Jesus is not a work.

It is.. led by the Holy Spirit.. changing your mind, heart, about Jesus, and entrusting your salvation with Him.

If you believe in salvation before belief, it doesn't mesh with the book of John..plus a whole load of other verses.

A lost person can choose to change their mind about many many things. But you say they can't believe on Jesus Christ?

I understand some verses that include the word save and deliverance arent about eternal salvation because already converted people are being addressed, but that doesn't cover all verses about believing on Jesus Christ for eternal life.
At one time I thought what Christians whom I knew believed was nice. But foolish.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,624
5,896
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#42
You know what else the Bible doesn't say? That you saved yourself through your own will, desire, effort, or choice.
I wonder why you deliberately keep ignoring verses that explicitly say what you keep denying.



1 Corinthians 4:7b; John 3:27; Romans 9:15-16 What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did also receive it, why do you boast as not having received it? John replied, "A man can receive only that which is given him from heaven." "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then, it does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
:)
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:

therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If they chose either life or death , are they rejecting Gods Will and applying thier own ? Or did he express his Will to them and then they are given the choice ?

to hear what God said will save our souls. And believe we’re supposed to do that isn’t rejecting his Will and applying our own claiming we’ve saved ourselves what saves is to hear his Will and choose the promise of life he offers

to hear what God said will save our souls , reject it and claim it’s not the right way that would be trying to save ourself by our own Will rejecting his
 

JohnRH

Junior Member
Mar 5, 2018
683
330
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#43
Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Acts 2:40 (KJV)
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,096
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#44
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:

therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If they chose either life or death , are they rejecting Gods Will and applying thier own ? Or did he express his Will to them and then they are given the choice ?

to hear what God said will save our souls. And believe we’re supposed to do that isn’t rejecting his Will and applying our own claiming we’ve saved ourselves what saves is to hear his Will and choose the promise of life he offers

to hear what God said will save our souls , reject it and claim it’s not the right way that would be trying to save ourself by our own Will rejecting his
Thank God for Jesus! He opened my eyes and ears... thank you God, for circumcising my heart, so I could love You...


Praise the Lord
:)
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,624
5,896
113
#45
Thank God for Jesus! He opened my eyes and ears... thank you God, for circumcising my heart, so I could love You...


Praise the Lord
:)
“Let every thing that hath breath Praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭150:6‬ ‭😍
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,624
5,896
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#47

Psalm 150:6 plus Job 12:7-10
:D
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: Because his mercy endureth for ever.

The right hand of the LORD is exalted: The right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD. The LORD hath chastened me sore: But he hath not given me over unto death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, Into which the righteous shall enter.

I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, And art become my salvation.

The stone which the builders refused Is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭118:1, 16-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:

but unto them which be disobedient, The stone which the builders disallowed, The same is made the head of the corner,”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬
 
Aug 22, 2024
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#48
You know what else the Bible doesn't say? That you saved yourself through your own will, desire, effort, or choice.
I wonder why you deliberately keep ignoring verses that explicitly say what you keep denying.



1 Corinthians 4:7b; John 3:27; Romans 9:15-16 What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did also receive it, why do you boast as not having received it? John replied, "A man can receive only that which is given him from heaven." "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then, it does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
:)
Then the jailer was misinformed.
What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and all your household. He wasn't told you don't have to do anything , if God chose you, you're already saved.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,624
5,896
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#50
Then the jailer was misinformed.
What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and all your household. He wasn't told you don't have to do anything , if God chose you, you're already saved.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬
 
Oct 28, 2024
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#51
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;


but he that believeth not shall be damned.
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬
A case can be made from the NT that ...
those who believe were given the necessary belief-faith,
i.e. they didn't dream it up by themselves
because they are totally unable to do so
... due to their inherited sin nature, and
their being captives (slaves) of Satan to do his will.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,624
5,896
113
#52
A case can be made from the NT that ...
those who believe were given the necessary belief-faith,
i.e. they didn't dream it up by themselves
because they are totally unable to do so
... due to their inherited sin nature, and
their being captives (slaves) of Satan to do his will.
Yes they were . so we’re those who don’t believe they just chose the other option in the world .

In the end when a man faces judgement for his deeds we aren’t going to have the excuse “ Lord , you didn’t enable me to believe “ it’s not my fault I had no choice .

The issue with saying o my those who God enables can believe and be saved ….is that everyone that’s lost and condemned just wasn’t given a chance to believe by Gods Will

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

My position isn’t that “ God doesn’t give us the ability to believe “

My position is he’s given all mankind the ability to believe .

those who don’t believe isn’t because they don’t hear , it’s because they do hear what he’s saying things like this

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

someone who is comfortable in thier sinful life doesn’t want to hear such a thing, so they choose to let it go in and out and never recognize it’s value

when people start hearing the truth some of them don’t want to hear it is the thing thier hearts are hard and turned against Gods Will . The gospel is God calling us back from that place

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If im enjoying my sinful life it’s gonna be hard for me to accept things telling me I need to change my ways . We reject the things we don’t really want to hear and we accept the things we do want to hear
 
Oct 28, 2024
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#53
WHY man is unable to choose Jesus
on his/her own w/o God's intervention


NT verses are available for all of these disastrous conditions:

Inherited sin nature ....... Spiritual mortal enemy, Satan
Sin nature against God ..... Satan’s army against him
Enemy of God ............... Under Satan’s power & control
Spiritually blind .......... Satan robs initial faith
Lives in an evil world ..... Satan causes him to be:
Slave of sin ................ - deceived
In Spiritual darkness ....... - spiritually blind
Spiritually dead ............ - held a captive
Sees Gospel as foolishness .. - held a slave
Problems, persecutions,
... worries, lures of wealth
Extremely difficult to enter the Kingdom of God
Cannot come to Jesus
Father God must draw him to Jesus

Jesus must choose him
 

Whomsoever

New member
Dec 2, 2024
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#54
We all started out as one of the 'unredeemed' so just as we became one of the redeemed, all can choose to do so also.

So, how to go from being one of the dead in Christ, unredeemed, or dead in our sins and trespasses to being one of the redeemed? Simply by faith

No wonder the last words of Jesus in are

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Romans 10
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.


Posted just above by another member, which I believe bears repeating, is after an unredeemed hears and believes and comes to faith, then they also are

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:


The Word made flesh is the Old Covenant given to us in a different manner so that we may walk towards God not ONLY in our flesh and blood, by the Law, but in our hearts, in the Spirit. No longer just what we physically do, but it is the thoughts and intents of our heart, who we become

Jesus said from the start in Matt 5


17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
 
Oct 28, 2024
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#55
Yes they were . so were those who don’t believe they just chose the other option in the world .
Latest verse discovered re: God gives faith to believe:
Acts 3:16
NKJV ------- “Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness …”
LB ---------- “Faith in Jesus’ name — faith given us from God — has caused this perfect healing.”
 
Aug 22, 2024
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#56
I think there's a lot of unnecessary "Push /Pull" in the election versus Free Will debate. Each side has verses, and reasonable argument for their position.
My position is different.
I believe we choose , and we were chosen, from the foundation of the world ...and that we also have free will .

we can step into that blessing and free gift, or choose not to.
In other words all those Saints that we read about in heaven in the Book of Revelation, every single one of them, was "once saved always saved." They were not just elected and they did not just decide on their own.
They experienced both.
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,890
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Oregon
#57
I believe we choose

"Then the Lord said to Cain: If you do what is right, will you not be
accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it
desires to have you, but you must master it." (Gen 4:7)

That's the first mention of self control in the Bible. In other words: God
created humanity with the capability to choose bad ways for itself; but that's
only half the story. God also created humanity with the capability to choose
good ways for itself; so He wasn't requiring something impossible from Cain
like touching his right elbow with the thumb of his right hand.
_
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,350
520
113
#58
Latest verse discovered re: God gives faith to believe:
Acts 3:16
NKJV ------- “Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness …”
LB ---------- “Faith in Jesus’ name — faith given us from God — has caused this perfect healing.”


Romans 10:17 - Says?
Faith comes by what?
"Hearing."

Faith is given to us by God, by giving us His word that is to be heard!

..................................... 'Hearing,' is the gift of faith being delivered.


It's almost too simple.
 
Oct 28, 2024
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#59
Faith is given to us by God, by giving us His word that is to be heard!
It's almost too simple.
Thou art the one who is simple!
FAITH is given to enable one to BELIEVE what is HEARD.
'Cause w/o it, one iz just NOT able.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,350
520
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#60
Thou art the one who is simple!
FAITH is given to enable one to BELIEVE what is HEARD.
'Cause w/o it, one iz just NOT able.
That is what grace does.

Grace enables where we are powerless to be what God wants us to be.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may
rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9​

In becoming saved...
Grace overpowers our depravity, so that one's soul can be made free to believe what is heard.

God saves our soul.
Our body was crucified!

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20​


Someone by God's grace is going to have to be made able to explain it, while the devil is always wanting to confound it!

Growth is the process of shedding certain ideas that we accepted and tried for a while.

grace and peace ............