Theology Club: Is God's Grace Irresistible?

[Ask Mr. Religion]

What is the one unpardonable sin? Has this ever occurred and are you able to name one who had committed the unpardonable sin?

The verse from Matthew describes the unforgiveable sin attributing to Satan (e.g., exorcisms described in previous verses) the work of the Holy Spirit.

This is a sin that is only possible by the reprobated. The unregenerate elect cannot commit it, else election is impossible. The regenerate elect, who have the Spirit indwelling them, cannot commit it as it is impossible for them to blaspheme Him who indwells them.

AMR

 

[Nang]

The verse from Matthew describes the unforgiveable sin attributing to Satan (e.g., exorcisms described in previous verses) the work of the Holy Spirit.

This is a sin that is only possible by the reprobated. The unregenerate elect cannot commit it, else election is impossible. The regenerate elect, who have the Spirit indwelling them, cannot commit it as it is impossible for them to blaspheme Him who indwells them.

AMR

S0ZO has just been awarded a SPOD for committing the unforgivable sin against me, and this deadly crime is now called ~preaching the gospel.~

Pretty sorry stuff happening around here . . .

 

[Shasta]

In the Greek text Titus 2:11 says the grace of God appeared
Since this verb is in the aorist tense this event, (the manifestation of the grace of God) had begun and was completed in the past. Because of this I conclude it is speaking of the appearance and work of Christ. When He came he brought salvation to all men. Christ made salvation possible for all. This does not mean all men will avail themselves of it.

What 58 seems not to have understood is that those of us who hold an Arminian view believe salvation is made available, and can be enjoyed conditioned upon the response of people. This does not mean people will come to God on their own.Far from it. "The carnal mind is an enemy of God." Because of this we must be influenced (or drawn) to come to God by the Holy Spirit (John 12:32) The word translated draw elko means to "attract" and refers to the "pull on a man's inner life." Nothing about the word suggests that this attraction is irresistible. In fact the Holy Spirit can be resisted.

Some see this as an affront to God's of "sovereignty?" It isn't if God's WILL is for us to FREELY choose Him. Then it is the Almighty who gives man the dubious privilege of making the decision to turn down salvation and go to hell. If "sovereignty" means God forces His will on everyone and everything micromanaging the universe then "sovereignty" is simply a restatement of the central premise of pre-determinism worded so that it seems to be honoring to God.

I do not see that it honors God at all. For one thing, it makes Him deceptive. As a grand a puppet master He decides people's fate arbitrarily, inciting people to evil, warning them to repent and be saved all the while knowing He made no provision for them. Then when they die He punishes them forever for doing what He had predestined them to do, something they could not resist doing. If they question this justice of this (as people have questioned this for centuries) they are told in a great voice and flame of the Wizard of Oz "Who are you the vessel to question me the Potter?" What I often remind people is that the "man behind the curtain" is John Calvin and working the doctrinal machinery with him a few others.

Calvin's ideas did not come from an independent exegetical study of the Bible. For the most part they came directly from the works of Augustine of Hippo whom he read extensively. Before his conversion to Christianity Augustine had been involved in Manichaeism, a Gnostic cult started by the Persian "prophet" Mani. Mani taught that all things were predestined either by a good force or a bad force. When Augustine first broke with the group and became a Christian he wrote a book strongly advocating the freedom of the will. Much later, though his earlier beliefs began to resurface in his writing. Instead of purging it out his old issue about the "problem of evil" led him to inculcate both the negative and positive forces into one God. Calvin, ended up imbibing some of the polluted waters of the false prophet Mani and systematizing them so the belief could last for generations.

Before Augustine (in the First and Second Centuries) the "Ante-Nicene Fathers (ANF) taught quite a different message. The views of the ANF are would later be labelled Arminian. They acknowledged humanity can chose God. They denied that God destined anyone to do evil. However since He foreknew it He put even their sinful decisions to use (as God did with Pharaoh).

 

[beloved57]

Thats a serious thought, since Grace supersedes sin, sin is said to have reigned , and so has Grace reigned Rom 5:21

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

This word reign is the greek word basileuō :

I.
to be king, to exercise kingly power, to reign
A.
of the governor of a province

B.
of the rule of the Messiah

C.
of the reign of Christians in the millennium


II.
metaph. to exercise the highest influence, to control

dominating power or influence

Now we see how irresistible death by sin reigning is, The wise man writes Ecc 8:8

There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

Yet, some believe, that though the lesser sin and death cannot be resisted, the Greater Grace that reigns through through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

It can be resisted, that is very inconsistent and dishonoring to Christ, and it crowns satan with more success than Christ !

 

[Nimrod]

S0ZO has just been awarded a SPOD for committing the unforgivable sin against me, and this deadly crime is now called ~preaching the gospel.~

Pretty sorry stuff happening around here . . .

It would make sense if SPOD meant Stupid Post of the Day