Dodo_David said:
In John 6:44, Jesus says, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them . . ."
In John 6:65, Jesus says, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them."
So, in order for a person to turn to Jesus, God the Father must choose to draw that person to Jesus.
The idea that God has given every person unlimited free will is an idea that pleases the flesh, but it is an idea that is not supported by Scripture.
That God has the authority and ability to manipulate a person's will is seen in Exodus 4:21, which says the following:
The LORD said that He would deliberately harden Pharaoh's heart. In doing so, God was manipulating Pharaoh's will in order to serve God's divine purpose.
Indeed, in Romans 9:14-18, the Apostle Paul says this:
I find it very interesting that Reformed Theologians (whose theology is premised on the Augustinian view of Predestination, ie. fatalism) will often use the example of how God hardened Pharaoh's heart yet OMIT the fact that the Hebrew uses different words in differing contexts for the word harden.
Exo 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but
I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
Harden - H2388 - châzaq
A primitive root; to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong (figuratively courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer: - aid, amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage (-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengten (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong (-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
Exo 7:3 And
I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
Harden - H7185 - kaw-shaw'
A primitive root; properly to be dense, that is, tough or severe (in various applications): - be cruel, be fiercer, make grievous, be ([ask a], be in, have, seem, would) hard (-en, [labour], -ly, thing), be sore, (be, make) stiff (-en, [-necked]).
Exo 7:14 And the LORD said unto Moses,
Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
Hardened - H3515 - kâbêd
From H3513; heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid): - (so) great, grievous, hard (-ened), (too) heavy (-ier), laden, much, slow, sore, thick.
Exo 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite,
he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 9:34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased,
he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
Hardened - H3513 - kâbad kâbêd
A primitive root; to be heavy, that is, in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively to make weighty (in the same two senses): - abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, X be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, X more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.
So whilst it is indeed true that God "hardened" Pharaoh's heart it was clearly within the context of strengthening Pharaoh in his rebellion and not within the context of denying Pharaoh a choice in the matter.
False teachings get their strength via isolating snippets of Scripture out of context in order to substantiate a fiction and such fictions are often quite easily dispelled by diligently examining what the Scripture actually teaches.
Many people treat the Bible as a "book of proof texts" when the truth is that the Bible is instead presenting a picture for us as a "harmonious whole" to which we can align our minds and thus allow ourselves to be genuinely led to the Spirit which lies behind the Bible.
The Bible won't save anyone and neither will the doctrines people attempt to pull from its pages. Salvation is wrought via abiding in the implanted Word whereby we come into union with the Living God. The Bible is but a pointer to this abiding relationship.
God is calling all people to receive with meekness His truth implanted in our hearts having laid aside our previous self-willed resistance. It is only the truth which can set us free, not faulty mental conceptions that are perceived as truth.
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Note: Romans Chapter 9 is presented within the context of God chose to use the Nation of Israel to reveal the Messiah to the world. It is not presented within the context of INDIVIDUAL salvation. God is not willing for ANY to perish but all to come to repentance, a repentance worked by godly sorrow unto salvation for the grace of God has appeared to all men teaching them how they ought to go. Fatalism is an utter denial of man's responsibility in CHOOSING to do right.
Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Rom 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.