Preaching the Gospel !

[beloved57]

Election in Christ !

Election in Christ before the foundation of the world is a Gospel Truth Eph 1:4, for Paul is writing here nothing less or different from the Gospel of God's Grace, of which He preached Christ Acts 20:24

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God, and this beginning in Eph 1:1-6 being nothing but a rehearsal. This Election was not merely prospective of individuals in time, but of actual and existing persons, as members of the Elected Head, Jesus Christ. We do believe that Christ through the inspired David reveals this Truth, though David himself may be referring to his actual physical body members, Yet Christ to His members that constitute His Spiritual Seed in Him, now observe Ps 139:16

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuity were fashioned, when as yet there were none of them.

Thy Book no doubt is God the Father's Foreknowledge of His members, and the Lambs book of Life, which all His members [ the Church Heb 12:23], these are the foreknown in oppose to these that will shortly hear these words "I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.'" For you were never written in my book as one of my members !

 

[beloved57]

Election in Christ !

Now these , the Election of Grace, were Chosen in Christ before the world began, before Adam was formed from the dust. The Elect are a chosen spiritual seed given Christ before the world began. Election must needs be Eternal, because it's Surety is From Everlasting, for Christ, the Wisdom of God, as Surety Head of His Church, was setup from Everlasting Prov 8:22-31 vs 23

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

Micah 5:2

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Now if the Bridegroom Christ is from Everlasting, so must be the Bride, since he who was typical [Adam] had his bride actually existing in him when he brought forth from the dust Rom 5:14, also Paul associates Adam and Eve with Christ and the Church, as a Gospel Mystery Eph 5:30-32

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This is part of the Gospel that Paul Preached as Revealed to him for Jesus Christ to preach ! Gal 1:11-12

11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

[beloved57]

Salvation is of God !

It is certain that one cannot preach the Gospel without naming and recognizing all three Beings of the Godhead at work for the Salvation of the Elect.

We acknowledge the Father's Election 1 Thess 1:3-4,10

3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.


The Son's deliverance : vs 10

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

BTW, the same Jesus of Matt 1:21 who shall save His People from their sins, so these Thessalonians are of that People, which are jew and gentile !

We also have the Spirit's application vs 5-6

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

God must receive all the Credit for the Salvation of souls in Preaching the Gospel !

 

[beloved57]

Not only is Unconditional Election of the Children of God an Essential Doctrine of the Mystery of the Gospel, but indeed so is Predestination of all things and whatsoever comes to pass ! This doctrine was proclaimed in Peter's very first sermon to the Church Acts 2:23

23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 4:28

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

These gospel doctrines are joined together in scripture, i.e Rom 8:28-30, Eph 1:3-6. Paul here in these passages is explaining, going over Truths of The Gospel of God's Grace, and yes, in case none of you knew before, know now that Eph 1:3-11 is Essential Gospel Truth ! Those are Truth's, once revealed to one, that constitutes the Gospel of their Salvation by the Sovereign Grace of God ! However when the beams of Gospel light shines through Preaching, the natural mind of darkness, comprehends them not, because they are spiritually discerned Jn 1:5

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Until one is born from above, they are darkness Eph 5:8

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Those false teachers who claim one can receive and embrace the Gospel as unregenerate, contradict this Teaching, they actually Teach that darkness did comprehend the Light of the Gospel !

 

[beloved57]

The Gospel of YOUR Salvation !

Eph 1:13

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The Gospel of your Salvation or the Gospel of the Salvation of you !

Those who have been saved by Christ, and regenerated by the Spirit, God sends them the Gospel of their Salvation, this is because they are saved, for God does not deceive , for God does not send a People the Word of their Salvation [ Acts 13:26], and yet that person or persons be in a lost state ! For quite frankly, the Gospel is hid to them that are Lost [ 2 Cor 4:3]

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

The second hid is in the greek a Perfect Tense, It has been hid from them once and for all in the past with effects up into the present, God never sends them the Gospel as a word of their Salvation, because they are Lost forever !

The Gospel comes to those who are being saved in the present tense Per 1 Cor 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish[lost] foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Saved here is in the present tense, and passive voice here, they are being saved, they are passive !

The Gospel comes to the saved individual and they hear it [spiritually] and Trust and or Believe. Its not a decision time at all, but they are Enlightened of an spiritual reality ! See Lk 2:32 !

Those who teach Eph 1:13 as one having to meet a condition to get saved, such as faith, are perverting the scriptures and Truth of God to their own destruction !

 

[beloved57]

The Gospel hope in a nutshell

1 Pet 1:2-5

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this passage we see Gospel Truth, limited and particular redemption of the elect of God, by the blood of Christ, which brings about the experimental sanctification by the Spirit, and this begets hope, attested by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and preservation of this hope to the end, by the Power of God, this hope being set forth in the Gospel Col 1:23

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

 

[beloved57]

Rom 1:16

Rom 1:16

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

When Paul speaks here of the Gospel being the Power of God unto everyone who is believing, He is not speaking of the preached word only, but as it [The Gospel] comes in power, in the Holy Ghost, and much assurance to the regenerated Heart, converting !

1 Thess 1:5

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

When those who hear the Gospel and began believing it, it is then we know it came with power and the Holy Ghost !

 

[beloved57]

2 Tim 1:9 is the Gospel also !

2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

We have here the Key Elements of Truth that form the Everlasting Gospel, according to the Eternal Purpose of God in Christ Jesus.

Rev 14:6

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Eph 3:11

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Note: This Eternal Purpose is the Gospel message also !

Now understanding this Truth dispels with many many false gospels that pervade the world today, such perverted gospels as that , Grace is offered, or made available to all without exception. This is grave error, for those saved by Grace in the Time state, meaning conversion Titus 2:11ff, was given to them in Christ Jesus, their Mediator, before the World Began, and at no time is an offer !

 

[beloved57]

Preach to you the forgiveness of sins !

Acts 13:38

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

The word preached here is the word kataggellō

to announce, declare, promulgate, make known

2) to proclaim publicly, publish

3) to denounce, report, betray

God through the preaching of His servants was making known, reporting to them Christ had died for, the forgiveness of their sins.

They were not making a offer of forgiveness to anyone who would meet conditions, that's a false Gospel, but through Preaching, He makes known the good news to them Jesus Christ did redeem by His Blood, the forgiveness of their sins Eph 1:7

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

These things we do not know until God makes them known through Preaching ! And then Faith comes by Hearing, Hearing the Word of God. The Word of God makes known the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of His Grace, displayed through the man Jesus Christ ! Those who teach a condition is required of men whom Christ died for and redeemed by His Blood, before they have remission or forgiveness of sins, they are teaching another Gospel, preaching another Gospel !

 

[beloved57]

Salvation was Given Us before the world began !

2 Tim 1:8-10

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Paul here tells Timothy or rather reminds him that all whom are saved in time, that are saved by Grace through Faith, that they were given this Eternal Salvation in Christ before the World Began. For God had Purposed it, and gave us Grace in Christ before the world began in order to experience it in time ! In other words the Grace that doth save the Elect in time Eph 2:5-8

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved )

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

That Grace here in Eph 2:8 was actually given to us in Christ 2 Tim 1:9 before the world began !

Its the Grace of our Election in Christ before the foundation Eph 1:4-6

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The same Grace as in 2 Tim 1:9

This is the Gospel Paul encouraged Timothy to be partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel 2 Tim 1:8 !

 

[beloved57]

Eph 3:6

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

The Promises of the Gospel are absolute and unconditional, once we loose sight of this basic premise, we slip into a false gospel. Yes there were conditional Promises in scripture, but they were not the Gospel. The Gospel is a proclamation of Good News or Glad Tidings and has no conditions. To whom is it good news to ? To them that fear God Acts 13:26

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

It is good news to all whom have been given spiritual ears to hear it so, Christ's regenerated sheep, who have been begotten again by His Resurrection from the dead 1 Pet 1:3, and it is to them that it is said that they shall hear His voice Jn 10:16 !

This Gospel however ceases to be good news if conditions are put into place, it then reverts back to law, work principles, which are do this and live Deut 4:1;8:1, and if not, then threats are made ! Again this is not Gospel Preaching at all. It is not the Gospel if there are any conditions of obedience imposed before God would save us !

 

[beloved57]

For our gospel came not unto you in word only !

1 Thess 1:5

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

The Gospel in the providence of God is not always sent by God for the purpose of believing and be saved, for when that is God's design it comes not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance !

That word power is the greek word dynamis and means:

strength power, ability

a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth

b) power for performing miracles

c) moral power and excellence of soul

d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth

e) power and resources arising from numbers

f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

And it is the same word Paul uses here Rom 1:16

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

In other words, if one begins to become a believer of the Gospel, then it came to that one or ones with Power ! The believing is the result of the Power of God.

Another way of saying it is like this 1 Thess 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Paul knows that the Gospel was effectually applied by the Spirit to all those who were receiving it as the word of God. Thats why Paul says " Thank we God without ceasing" Paul understood their believing and receiving the Gospel, was indicative of God's Power working in them !

The word will come in Power to all those who have been appointed to Eternal Life Acts 13:48

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Also it would be wise to consider to whom Paul is speaking in 1 Thess 1:5 when He stated our gospel came to you not in word only ! It tells in vs 4 1 Thess 1:4

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

Yes, the elect of God ! That is who God sends the Gospel not in word only, but in Power and in the Holy Ghost and to them with much assurance !

All others, it comes to them in word only !

 

[beloved57]

When did He Lay them ?

Isa 53:6

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Those for whom Christ died, God did long before they believed, had laid their sins or iniquity upon Christ, this legally, Judicially, imputatively, and so the guilt of them and legal condemnation of them, first incurred in Adam, as their Natural and Federal Head, as well as their own actual transgressions in time, these were never laid upon them, or charged upon them, yes, even before they believed ! In God's Eternal Purpose, He never laid iniquity on the elect Christ died for, but He laid upon Him, the Inequity of us All, meaning All the Sheep Jn 10:11,15 !

 

[beloved57]

Because of Covenantal obligations !

Because of Covenantal obligations or engagements of the Everlasting Covenant or the Eternal Counsel set up before the world began; God the Father was engaged to lay the sins or iniquities of the Elect, not on them, but on Christ Their Surety and who was slain in that determinate Counsel before the foundation, oh yes Christ was engaged as Surety before the world was created, in fact, the world was created for that purpose ! This laying iniquity on Christ was an obligation as soon as he was bound to it by Covenant Stipulation or Agreement, even though it was determined in this agreement, that the actual Payment for those Iniquities would be for yet a while, in the fulness of time. God gave assent to this Covenant engagement in His determinate counsel and foreknowledge Acts 2:23

23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Yes, the foreknown of God as per Rom 11:2

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

Which are the Elect 1 Pet 1:2

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Yes its True that even before they had any actual flesh and blood being in time, all their sins, iniquities, trespasses, were laid upon Christ before the world began by means Covenant Suretyship !

 

[beloved57]

Covenant Grace Given !

2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

What about this Grace given us in Christ before the World began ?

This Grace is the Grace of the Covenant of Grace, which Christ Jesus Our Mediator and Head and Surety made with The Father ever before the world was made, and in it Grace was given, which is all our Salvation ordered in all things and Sure as revealed to David 2 Sam 23:5. Its Grace in Our Election before Time, the Election of Grace Rom 11:5, the Grace in Our Justification Titus 3:7, and in time its Grace for Our Sanctification and Faith and Grace for our preservation unto Glory ! For this is preaching the Gospel of God's Grace, and holding nothing back. All this Grace is traced back to its source in God the Father giving it to us [If a True believer in time] in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Tim 1:9; Also it should not go without saying, that this grace given us before the foundation is not without the giving of Eternal Glory also Ps 84:11

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

 

[beloved57]

Its sent to certain People !

Acts 13:26

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

The Gospel as a word of Salvation is sent to a certain people, to those who fear God, in order that they may know of His Covenant Salvation, and so it was sent to Cornelius a gentile who feared God Acts 10:2,22,

and so David makes this statement Ps 25:14

14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Or Gospel

This is but God making them to see of their own personal interest in the Everlasting Covenant made with Christ their Surety before the World began !

He is but granting them in time of that Grace which was given them in Christ according to His Divine Purpose before the world began 2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

God does not reveal the Gospel Mysteries to a heart that is at enmity with Him, which all are by nature, but only to those who have been given a heart of flesh or that fears Him which is by New Birth ! So again David relates Salvation to God's Covenant 2 Sam 23:5

5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

All who Truly believe on Jesus Christ unto Salvation can Truly say here what David says, revealed by the Gospel to Faith !

 

[beloved57]

The Gospel is a word of Salvation to those only who are of that seed which He should see Isa 53:10

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

It is their good news to them that He was bruised for !

And it is to them still , that seed which shall serve Him Ps 22:30

30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

Now to them, the words of the Gospel are words of Life Jn 6:68

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Acts 5:20

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

To them, the Seed, the Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation, also Isa 59:21

21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

You see, the words of the Gospel as to Salvation is limited to a certain seed, Isa 53:10

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

 

[beloved57]

Preaching or Testifying the Gospel of God's Grace !

Acts 20:24

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

In doing this, its no more than what is called today Testifying or preaching of the Doctrines of Grace or its called Tulip, which again is nothing but a nickname for the Gospel of God's Grace. The T known as total depravity is merely God setting the foundation as to why the other doctrines of Grace are imperative or indispensable, because Total depravity informs us of our condition by Natural Birth because of being born sinners, dead in trespasses and sins. This Truth of the Gospel is also called man's total inability, pointing out inability to do good [spiritually], and this is a difficult pill to swallow for the pride and vanity of us men, but nevertheless scripture does testify Rom 3:12

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good[spiritual good], no, not one. Through the fall, spiritually we are unable to do and are worthless, and yes God knew this when He told proud wicked cain this Gen 4:7

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

The problem though, is that man cannot do well enough to be accepted of God , a lesson the Young Rich Ruler had to find out.

However man's inability to do good [spiritually] is only but part of the problem for man, the other part is that man by nature is only energized to do evil while in Nature, so it is written even of the Elect Eph 2:2-3

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Thats all we could do, that is why freewill is a lie also ! We could not will ourselves out of this walk, even when we are very moral and religious by nature, this is still our walk. Religious Lust as in 2 Tim 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

You see, spiritual death by nature is not some stagnated state of being, but is an active living state of being, but it is like how Paul describes the you widow 1 Tim 5:6

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. Where dead here means spiritually dead !

It is a manner of life to be the walking dead by nature, without any ability or strength to do a shred of good Rom 5:6 to cause God to accept us. The plain fact is, that by nature men are always actively evil Gen 6:5

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And many of these people were moral and religious ! Its the same today on the brink of Christ's Second Coming see Matt 24:37-38, but yet Gen 6:5 applied !

And we are darkness itself Eph 5:8a

For ye were sometimes darkness This is why technically men by nature no more retain the Image of God, because God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all ! 1 Jn 1:5

The Problem is this, man by nature is spiritually dead, dead in sin, man is not merely sick, though sick he is, but he is dead, dead to the degree that he cannot even cooperate. Yes it is a state of hopelessness, as it regards man, and so Jesus aptly put it Matt 19:26

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Salvation, being Saved is only Possible by God's Ability ! Jesus is saying, that Salvation for men is impossible unless it is totally performed by God, for Jesus is alluding to the New Birth, being made a New Creation ! Now can man assist or cooperate in his Creation ? Other than that, we as men are utterly lost and ruined ! This is the Gospel of God's Grace !

 

[beloved57]

More on Man's Depravity in the Gospel !

As stated already, that man not only does not do good by Divine Reckoning Rom 3:12

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

But also by the same Reckoning, God says man cannot or lacks the ability to good, such is God's judgment here Jer 13:23

23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

You see by Nature, evil doing comes natural , its a built in learning process that activates and develops naturally, as soon as we are from the womb Ps 58:3

3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Even though this verse is speaking about the reprobated, nevertheless, by nature even the Righteous have this same nature that causes the wicked this early practical estrangement from God manifest !

 

[beloved57]

More on Man's Depravity in the Gospel !

Jesus makes the same Judgment call here Jn 6:44

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Coming here actually is in regards to Faith or Believing in Christ, for man cannot even do that, even though many deceived souls believe they can, and by it they achieved their salvation , but believing on Christ is doing good, which man cannot do according to the sacred record.

Again, what Jesus says here in Jn 6:44 is vitally important, because this is what has deceived millions upon millions, for we as men believe in our wicked and deceitful hearts, that this is the one good thing we can do, but that is believing a lie. A scripture that clearly states that men COULD NOT BELIEVE is here Jn 12:37-39

37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

Jesus could have done thousands more miracles in their eyes, but they still would not have the ability to Believe ! This is because of Spiritual Death and Alienation from the Life of God, the only remedy is a New Life Principle communicated, and then and only then, do men believe by Grace Acts 18:27

27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

Yes, I believed, but not I, but the Grace of God in Me 1 Cor 15:10

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Paul did not take personal credit for any of His Spiritual actions !


Once again, Another scripture that teaches that man in nature cannot please God Rom 8:7-8

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

That word cannot is the greek two words #1 ou:


no, not;

And # 2 dynamai:


to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom

2) to be able to do something

3) to be capable, strong and powerful

Basically what this teaches is that while we are unregenerate, and in the flesh, we have no ability, power, resource to Please God !

And so why do people believe they, in the flesh, can exercise Faith, which Pleases God ? Does not Faith Please God according to the understanding of Heb 11:6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

And since men reject New Birth before Faith, then the alternative is that they do please God with Faith while in the flesh ! What these people are doing, They are flat out calling God a liar to His Face.

All of us who believe that while in a unregenerate state, we pleased God by believing in Christ, and by that He saved us, You are calling God a Liar, but we really know who the liars are !