You should at least quote the complete statement you are responding to and not take out portions, especially if doing so, corrupts the meaning of the statement.Chop chop to only that which I was responding to!
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Tong2020 said:
Was the birth from above offered by God to mankind?
Please cite reference scriptures.Yes.
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Tong2020 said:
Can the natural sinful man, who are said to be "dead" and so are not able to see, hear, understand, truth that comes from the true God, accept this supposed offering by God to them?
They can not hear God...however they can hear or read the Word of God.
God offers many, many things, and any individual can discover what those things are by hearing or reading scripture.
I have just pointed out that the natural sinful man, who are said to be "dead", are not able to see, hear, understand, truth that comes from the true God. And that would not exclude truth revealed and written out in scriptures. It seems that you put much difference in hearing God and hearing the Word of God.
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Tong2020 said:
Besides, how can they, in and on their own, accept anything from God whom they do not believe in?
It is Obvious men are naturally born without belief...
Some men are content with their Disbelief...
There is nothing for them to accept.
Some men desire to Believe...and seek...Hear/ read...which IS Enlightment.
For their effort, they are blessed with measures of faith from God.
It is God who first choose people, not the other way around.
And while scriptures says whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, one must consider: How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
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Tong2020 said:
Jesus puts it plain and clear, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God. He cannot see that the God in heaven above is the King whom he must serve and obey.
Mostly correct.
Must serve? What do you mean? Like what?
I am sure you know how to serve God. In the general sense, it is obedience to His will, loving Him with all your heart, soul, and mind, loving your neighbor as yourself.
If the natural sinful man cannot see the kingdom of God, if he cannot see that the God in heaven above is the King whom he must put his faith in, whom he must serve and obey, how can he then believe? As Jesus pointed out, one must be born from above to be able to see the kingdom of God.
Tong
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