Unable to Believe the “Foolish” Gospel

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Oct 28, 2024
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#21
Dougcho:
"Do you really think that people in this hopeless condition are
going to be able to choose to believe in Jesus and the Gospel?
"

Yes. God teaches men while in an unredeemed state.
Then when the time is right he opens their eyes to see and believe.
Sorry, everyone ... I meant on their own, with no help from God
 

sawdust

Active member
Feb 12, 2024
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#24
Sorry, everyone ... I meant on their own, with no help from God
That was how I understood your OP which is why I posted what I did because I thought it needed further clarification in that salvation is impossible for man without the grace of God.

God supplies what is needed for man to see the truth and in seeing, what man really prefers, light or dark, is revealed.

God does not decide who believes or who doesn't believe but His promise is to save believers. It is by His determination alone that believers are saved and not by the act of our believing.

People seem to get confused by this. If you say "you have to believe in the Gospel" (which you do for salvation (Rm.1:16), they seem to think you are saying that it's one's own believing that saves them, forgetting it is only because this is what God has determined for believers in His great love and mercy.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The promise is to believers. There are only two types of people in the world, believers and unbelievers. The grace of God does not cause us to be one or the other, His grace reveals which one we are.
 
Aug 25, 2024
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#26
I don't know of anyone who believes or says that.
There are those who do believe that. They insist God's Elect is referring to sinners who by free will "elect" to follow Jesus .

That is nowhere in Scripture yet those type folks do exist. Even on Christian discussion boards. I've read a few over the years. And there is no changing their mind.
 

sawdust

Active member
Feb 12, 2024
903
184
43
67
Australia
#27
There are those who do believe that. They insist God's Elect is referring to sinners who by free will "elect" to follow Jesus .

That is nowhere in Scripture yet those type folks do exist. Even on Christian discussion boards. I've read a few over the years. And there is no changing their mind.
And there are others who are neither Calvinists or Arminians but somewhere inbetween. :)