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No. The way you are stating that question... no, that's not what I believe. I've answered this question in all its forms many, many times, in this thread and many others.You believe that they are not able to be willing to do so without being born again, right?
So there is no "so." The premise itself is invalid, so there can be no "so."So...
If you ask that question in the sense that you are asking it, Spiritual Israelite, then... going with that... why are not all people saved? In that same sense, regarding what Satan did in the Garden of Eden, do you think God either said or thought, "Well, shoot, I didn't want that to happen..." or "Well, shoot I didn't know he'd do that..." Those are rhetorical questions, of course...God's will is that all people be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-6)...
Again, the premise itself is invalid, so there can be no "so."...so...
Well, salvation is of the Lord, that's for sure... Man has no part, however small, in granting himself salvation, and therefore no ground to claim such or boast in anything except Christ Jesus. But God also chose to give to some new birth, to adopt them as sons in Christ. And subsequent to that happening for any one of us, we then ~ because of the new spirit we have ~ in our free will <smile> are responsible in the ways we were created to be so. And the ways in which this manifests itself outwardly include serving, good works, and love... of and for and to Him.God chose to make man responsible to choose. Man had no say in how salvation would work. God alone determined that.
In your opinion. I get it. Fair enough. But, in Paul's words, "You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?' But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction..." (this does not mean "made/created for destruction," SI) "...in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory ~ even us whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?" (Romans 9:19-24)Your doctrine makes God's desires for all people to repent and to be saved disingenuous and that's not acceptable.
It's not "not possible." All these premises are invalid, Spiritual Israelite. All of them. The very definition of a straw-man argument.If it's not possible for everyone in the world to believe...
That's what I'm saying to you. <smile>Come on.
It does. Obstinacy is real. <smile>This sufficiency thing you talk about makes no sense whatsoever...
Not what I believe. It's merely what you're trying to foist on me. Which I've been crystal clear about, many, many times.since you believe all who are not His sheep don't even get any opportunity at all to be saved.
Nope. Now, generally true of all His disciples, which includes you and me, yes.He was speaking of what is generally true of everyone there.
For believers. Unbelievers not so much; they think it all foolishness, children of wrath and dead in their sin as they are.The spirit can be willing to repent and believe, but the flesh is weak and says no...
Pish. But that's exactly what many will do. And they will be on Jesus's left, not in the congregation of the righteous, and will not stand in the judgment....keep sinning all you want and don't submit to God.
It is what Calvinists believe, so I guess you're not a Calvinist then. But, I don't believe you. You believe the choice is entirely up to God, so how can you deny that what I said is what you believe? It only follows that you believe that. Maybe you just don't even understand what you believe. LOL.No. The way you are stating that question... no, that's not what I believe. I've answered this question in all its form many, many times.
Do you seriously not know my answer to that question? You say you have supposedly answered my questions "many, many times". Well, I have answered this question many, many times.If you ask that question in the sense that you are asking it, Spiritual Israelite, then, going with that, why are not all people saved?
LOL. Of cousre He knew it would happen, but what is the point? This does not mean He doesn't genuinely want everyone to repent and be saved. But, your doctrine teaches that He made sure that only certain people would repent and be saved and that the rest never would.In that same sense, regarding what Satan did in the Garden of Eden, do you think God either said or thought, "Well, shoot, I didn't want that to happen..." or "Well, shoot I didn't know he'd do that..." Those are rhetorical questions, of course...
You misrepresent my view by acting as if I say that man grants himself salvation. How does believing that man must accept God's offer of salvation by humbling himself and admitting that he can't save himself and needs Jesus to save him instead mean that I think man grants himself salvation? You clearly have no understanding of what I actually believe. And, of course, you think that of me regarding your beliefs, too. Which means we're obviously just wasting our time here.Well, salvation is of the Lord, that's for sure... Man has no part, however small, in graninting himself salvation, and therefore no ground to claim such.
Read that again maybe a thousand times and maybe eventually you'll understand that has nothing to do with God choosing who will be saved and who won't be saved, but instead has to do with the fact that God could make salvation available to Gentiles and not just Jews without any Jews or anyone else saying that it was unfair to do so.In your opinion. I get it. Fair enough. But, in Paul's words, "You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?' But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction..." (this does not mean "made/created for destruction," SI) "...in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory ~ even us whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?" (Romans 9:19-24)
That's not true. I really don't think you have put any thought into the implications of what you believe.It's not "not possible." All these premises are invalid, Spiritual Israelite. All of them. The very definition of a straw-man argument.
Your understanding of what it means to be dead in sin is completely flawed. It means one is separate from God, but does not mean someone is totally depraved and that they can't repent and believe without being born again. Jesus said that sinners are sick and He calls them to repentance (Mark 2:16-17). Are sick people unable to recognize that they are sick while admitting that they can't heal themselves and need the physician (Jesus) to heal them?For believers. Unbelievers not so much; they think it all foolishness, children of wrath and dead in their sin as they are.
What you say Calvinists believe. And some who call themselves Calvinists may, but that would make them, at least on these points, not Calvinists.It is what Calvinists believe...
So there is no "so" (again)..., so...
I know, but I don't care. <smile>I don't believe you.
The initial choice, yes. It's just amazing to me how anyone can refute what Paul says in Ephesians 1:4-5, that "(God) chose us in (Christ Jesus) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will..." But to each his own. which, actually, is precisely the problem.You believe the choice is entirely up to God...
Because it's not what I believe., so how can you deny that what I said is what you believe?
In your opinion. I understand.It only follows that you believe that,
LOL is right.... Maybe you just don't even understand what you believe. LOL.
I said they were rhetorical questions. Which means, among other things, that I do know your answer.Do you seriously not know my answer to that question?
And I have.You say you have supposedly answered my questions "many, many times"
There was never any need to answer it. That's why it was rhetorical.. Well, I have answered this question many, many times.
It... should have been obvious.Of cousre He knew it would happen, but what is the point?
Nope......your doctrine teaches that He made sure that only certain people would repent and be saved and that the rest never would.
No, I know that's not your view. But that's the effect, however unintended it may be, of some of the things you are saying.You misrepresent my view by acting as if I say that man grants himself salvation.
At least to a large extent, yes....we're obviously just wasting our time here.
Well I would say pretty much the same thing to you, Spiritual Israelite. You know that. Because Paul is talking about God's elect, those who, as He has just said, are in Christ (Romans 8:1), and thus are those whom He has called, justified, and will ultimately glorify (Romans 8:29-30), and are more than conquerors in Him and can never be separated by anything in all of creation from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39). It's really kind of a shame that Romans 8 and 9 are divided into two chapters, because it's a continuation of what Paul is saying there.Read that again maybe a thousand times and maybe eventually you'll understand that has nothing to do with God choosing who will be saved and who won't be saved...
I don't disagree with this; it's really a continuation even from Romans 2, especially verses 28-29, where Paul talks about who true Jews of God are., but instead has to do with the fact that God could make salvation available to Gentiles and not just Jews without any Jews or anyone else saying that it was unfair to do so.
It is.That's not true.
I don't care. <smile> That's pretty much what I've been saying to you, SI. And, too, what you call implications of what I believe are really just knee-jerk reactions on your part, really, much in the same sense as what Paul heads off in Romans 9:19-24.I really don't think you have put any thought into the implications of what you believe.
In your opinion. I would say the same of you. Underestimation of sin is real.Your understanding of what it means to be dead in sin is completely flawed.
I don't disagree, but that's a big understatement. At enmity with God... you should do some looking into that, SI.It means one is separate from God...
Not in the sense that you think of total depravity.... which, as I said before, is really utter depravity., but does not mean someone is totally depraved...
Ohhh, there's that word "can't" again, which you... can't... get away from... <smile> I mean, you could... <smile>and that they can't repent and believe without being born again...
Sure.. Jesus said that sinners are sick and He calls them to repentance (Mark 2:16-17).
Ugh. "Unable." Such a problem. <chuckles> What is our sickness, Spiritual Israelite? This is... another rhetorical question... Upon thinking about this, though, one think that comes quickly to mind is Jeremiah 17:9...Are sick people unable to recognize that they are sick while admitting that they can't heal themselves and need the physician (Jesus) to heal them?
I am not refuting what he says there. I would never dream of purposely refuting anything in scripture and you now that. And you would not purposely do that, either. So, don't even go there with that nonsense. I disagree with YOU about what that passage means. You think that God, before the foundation of the world, chose certain individuals that He knew by name that He would cause to believe in Christ and be adopted as children through Jesus Christ. But, I believe it means that God, before the foundation of the world, chose that whoever believes in Christ "should be holy and blameless before Him" and were predestined "for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ".The initial choice, yes. It's just amazing to me how anyone can refute what Paul says in Ephesians 1:4-5, that "(God) chose us in (Christ Jesus) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will..." But to each his own. which, actually, is precisely the problem.
So, you have no problem talking about how I see the effects and implications of my view, but when I do that in relation to your view, you always take offense. I don't take offense that you're doing this, but you are just doing nothing to back it up.No, I know that's not your view. But that's the effect, however unintended it may be, of some of the things you are saying.
Right, so it's inadvertent. Which I knew also. Or... possibly you're just in denial, still. It's probably at least a little of both.I am not refuting what he says there. I would never dream of purposely refuting anything in scripture and you now that.
I'm well aware of that, too. <smile>I disagree with YOU about what that passage means.
This much is true, and if you don't, then... <smile> ...the issue you are taking is not really with me.You think that God, before the foundation of the world, chose certain individuals that He knew by name...
And your insinuation here is not true, namely that He would "cause to believe in Christ." I get that that can be the perception of Augustine's and Calvin's understanding of Scripture and thus their position, but is not remotely true.... that He would cause to believe in Christ and be adopted as children through Jesus Christ.
Again, well aware. And the undeniable implication of that is that God's will and purpose depends on man's, which is absolutely antithetical to various passages throughout Scripture. Which ones? Name one, right? Well, see above...But, I believe it means that God, before the foundation of the world, chose that whoever believes in Christ "should be holy and blameless before Him" and were predestined "for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ".
No, it spurs this kind of knee-jerk reaction in various folks. But... that's okay, it still is what it is (and not what you keep saying it is).Your doctrine makes nonsense out of the fact that God loves the whole world so much that He gave His only Son to die for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16, 1 John 2:1-2)...
Ah, there's that word 'cannot' again. Such a problem. But no, in the sense that you are saying that, it does not.Which means you have God offering salvation to people who cannot possibly accept His offer, which makes no sense whatsoever.
No offense taken whatsoever. Rather, maybe exasperation, to some degree, at your obsinacy... <smile> But yeah, if you keep misstating what Augustine or John Calvin, or I or any other true Calvinist believes, then, I'm going to keep correcting those misperceptions and misstatements. But yeah, sooner or later... although it's pretty much always the latter, it probably would just be good to say... fair enough, and part on good terms. <smile>So, you have no problem talking about how I see the effects and implications of my view, but when I do that in relation to your view, you always take offense.
It certainly seems you do, but fine, fair enough. <smile>I don't take offense that you're doing this...
Would be interesting to know what color the skies are in your world... <smile> The record is clear....you are just doing nothing to back it up.
LOL. I am definitely in denial that you have any idea of what you're talking about.Right, so it's inadvertent. Which I knew also. Or... possibly you're just in denial, still. It's probably at least a little of both.
Come on. You are completely dishonest about all of this. Would they believe in Christ if God didn't do anything? No. So, it's quite appropriate to describe your view as God causing people to believe in Christ. Your denials of the implications of your doctrine is just downright hilarious.And your insinuation here is not true, namely that He would "cause to believe in Christ."
Nonsense. The fact that God punishes people is absolute proof that His will and purpose, which includes punishing rebellion and unrepentant sinners, is dependent on whether or not man repents. We see that over and over again in scripture. But, in your view, He punishes people for no real reason because He punishes them for not doing something (repenting of their sins) that, because of their supposed totally depraved nature that they can't change or overcome, that they are not even capable of doing. It's like punishing someone for not being able to lift 50,000 pounds. Ridiculous.Again, well aware. And the undeniable implication of that is that God's will and purpose depends on man's, which is absolutely antithetical to various passages throughout Scripture. Which ones? Name one, right? Well, see above...
Can any person repent and believe on their own without God giving them repentance and faith? You say no, right? Not sure what your problem is with the word "cannot" since it accurately describes what you believe?Ah, there's that word 'cannot' again. Such a problem. But no, in the sense that you are saying that, it does not.
I don't misstate what Calvinists believe. You just don't like reading the implications of what you believe. You won't admit that you make God's command and desire for people to repent and be saved disingenuous, but that is exactly what your doctrine does.No offense taken whatsoever. Rather, maybe exasperation, to some degree, at your obsinacy... <smile> But yeah, if you keep misstating what Augustine or John Calvin, or I or any other true Calvinist believes, then, I'm going to keep correcting those misperceptions and misstatements. But yeah, sooner or later... although it's pretty much always the latter, it probably would just be good to say... fair enough, and part on good terms. <smile>
Yeeeeeeah, right back atcha. And we'll leave it at that.LOL.
You do.I don't misstate what Calvinists believe.
What I don't like is watching people flail away in futility trying to make something stick ~ which itself is terribly disingenuous.You just don't like reading the implications of what you believe.
Right, because I don't.You won't admit that you make God's command and desire for people to repent and be saved disingenuous
Your opinion, however erroneous, is... noted. <smile>...but that is exactly what your doctrine does.