jobeth
Member
Here is why I think God sent His son into the world.So what you are really questioning, is why did manifest Jesus Christ? Why did God find it necessary to send His Son into this world?
Are you sure you want to question God about the wonders of the Incarnation?
If God controls all things, then He should be the One to pay the penalty of death for all the sin and evil in the world, not us.
And according to the gospel, He did.
1 John 2:2 (KJV)
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
I agree that God must do something in order that we may believe. I just disagree that something is called regeneration. Rather I think that something that God did for us is to give us the Gift of Faith, so that when we hear the gospel we will believe it and be saved.Well, that is what this thread is all about. I simply disagree and say that no dead sinner has the capacity to hear or believe the gospel unless the Holy Spirit first regenerates them to new spiritual life.
I agree that not all are "given" ears to hear. I believe some were denied that "spark" from birth and some were given that "spark" from birth. So that when the "call" goes out to all the world, (Matt 22:14) only those who have previously received the gift of Faith (Eph 2:8) will hear and believe the gospel.The fact that many do not hear or believe the gospel is because many are not born again by the Spirit of Christ. They remain in their depravity and sins and are not given "ears to hear."
This is why I say that it is the Gospel of Christ itself that is the catalyst. Our faith is merely the reactant. But not all have the gift of faith ((2 Thess 3:2). Which means that for those who have no faith, the gospel is a savor of death unto death, but to those who have the gift of Faith it is the sweet savor of Christ (2 Cor 2:15) who thereafter believe on Him unto eternal life. (1 Tim 1:16 ASV)
I am happy to hear you do not espouse that nonsense as some others have done.God does not reprobate men "after they hear the gospel."
I totally agree. The only disagreement between us is that I believe God granted Faith to those He elected prior to their being sent into the world, not after. So that they only await the call of the gospel in order to believe and be saved.Adam was the cause of all persons being born with a depraved and sinful nature. God could have let the entire human race perish in such a condition.
However, God chose to extend grace to some, predestinating them to everlasting life in and through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The rest of humanity will manifest God's holy justice and suffer righteous judgment for their sins.
So this means God is in sovereign control of who will believe the gospel and who will not. (Isaiah 6:9-10) Election to honor or dishonor was established by eternal decree before the foundation of the world.
(Ephesians 1:3-14)
It is not scriptural to say a person is born again (regenerated) before he believes rather than after he believes. Eph 1:13; Jn 1:12;
God knew us before the foundation of the world. What does it mean to be Known of God? In the same way that Adam knew Eve and she conceived and bore a son, God "knew" us prior to our being born. Adam implanted his seed first and then after a time (pregnancy and birthpangs) a son was born. In the same way God implanted his seed (1 John 3:9) in His Elect (sons of God) so that after a time (the tutelage of the Law and the Call of the Gospel) we would be born again.
It is because not everyone has that "seed" that not everyone has the ability to believe the Gospel.
Amen.The actions of men do not determine their fate. If that were true, all men would end up in hell, for "there is none righteous, no not one." It is solely the grace and goodness of God that saves some sinners from what they rightly deserve.
May God receive all the glory for providing His Son to this sorry world!
Nang