...thank you ALSO for your responses although you keep inisiting I'm trying to earn my salvation instead of me just ACCEPTING the GRACE GIFT of eternal life made available to ALL mankind YET only accepted by those who want it. Here's what you said...
J> I think your view runs into problems because it views faith and repentance as something unregenerate man can do in order to merit God's favor towards that man. You make faith and repentance meritorious spiritual actions that God accepts as sufficient to save that man.
N> I'm sorry Joe, but that perception is not what I perceive at all. Plainly I see God offering man the gift of eternal life. The HE INSTRUCTS MANKIND on what their part is in order to make the transaction complete.
God through John the Baptist AND our Lord stated clearly.
Matt 3:1-2
1 Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 "REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (NAS)
Mark 1:14-15
14 And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; REPENT AND BELIEVE in the gospel." (NAS)
Both John and Christ preached this to WHOEVER would listen. This is not a MERITORIOUS WORK that we do in order to attain salvation, this is just PLAIN OBEDIENCE to God's command so that HIS provision can be completed. When He went preaching He was preaching to WHOEVER would listen and EVERY SINGLE one of them at the time was UNREGENERATE but SOME LISTENED by the ability God has given ALL MANKIND to HEAR (in the mind) and OBEYED, while others HEARD but not in the mind for their thoughts were in the world.
When I came to Christ I was ALL EARS and full of questions. I still am. Pinpointing where we differ is on the point of free will. Yes I agree with EVERY verse of your post and do so FREELY and WILLINGLY just as Christ even did so giving of Himself to suffer and die on the cross.
John 10:17-18
17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." (NAS)
Even though I believe that God is Sovereign in His predetermined plan and purpose, when Christ laid down His life, He laid it down FREELY as a DISTINCT PERSON from His Father.
It is the same with UNREGENERATE MAN, ie. the crucifiers of Christ....
Acts 2:23
23 this {Man} delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put {Him} to death.(NAS)
While in God's sovereign plan and purpose Christ was to be crucified, those who crucified Him did so FREELY of the own choice. Since God does not force ANYONE to sin, then this proves there exists free will in even unregenerate to sin. If they had no OTHER CHOICE than but to crucify Christ then they can't be held responisble.
Your questions
John 10:26
John 10:26
26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep.(NAS)
Very true, but those are not His sheep willingly. You see Joe? Just because they are not His sheep doesn't take away the fact they are not His sheep by choice. In vs 3 of that same chapter it clearly states THE SHEEP HEAR HIS VOICE that mean ALL THE SHEEP PRESENT but the calling reaches only those that are His. It doesn't clarify anything that there is no free will choice.
John 10:3
3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. (NAS)
As I stated in agreement with you before there is NOTHING in man that is the basis for God saving him...BUT there IS something IN GOD (LOVE) that is the basis for man's salvation. It is because of God's great love that He died for SINNERS. Have not ALL SINNED Joe? So Christ died for ALL.
Rom 5:8
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(NAS)
There is no CONDITION on God's part for giving salvation BUT man's part is that we MUST BELIEVE. If man doesn't exercise the faith given to ALL by God's grace then man CANNOT be saved.
John 8:47
47 "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear {them,} because you are not of God." (NAS)
Again,when you were not a Christian, you ALSO were not of God....Correct?
Unless we LOVE the truth, we cannot know it ~~ Pascal
Pinpointing where we differ is on the point of free will. Yes I agree with EVERY verse of your post and do so FREELY and WILLINGLY just as Christ even did so giving of Himself to suffer and die on the cross.