tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20166943.post3758171417235306892..comments2024-03-28T14:43:35.296-05:00Comments on Ministry and Music - Seeking the Old Paths: What is Calvinism? A Book ReviewR. L. Vaughnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10992710377193518029noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20166943.post-6376194175344513112013-08-29T10:23:29.351-05:002013-08-29T10:23:29.351-05:00DOES GOD ARBITRARILY BESTOW FAITH?
Many believe t...DOES GOD ARBITRARILY BESTOW FAITH?<br /><br />Many believe that Ephesians 2:8 teaches that God arbitrarily bestows faith on a selected few so they can believe and be saved. Nothing could be farther from the truth.<br /><br />Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.(NKJV)<br /><br />Salvation is the gift of God, not faith. The gift God gives is forgiveness from sin.<br /><br />How do men receive faith?<br /><br />Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.(NKJV)<br /><br />Faith comes from hearing the gospel preached. Faith is not arbitrarily dispatched to a chosen few.<br /><br />Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greeks,<br /><br />Salvation is attained by believing the gospel. Salvation is not predetermined by God and forced on a select few by forcing them to have faith and be saved.<br /><br />1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God , it pleased God through the foolishness of the messaged preached to save those who believe.(NKJV)<br /><br />God saves men through preaching the gospel. God does not preselect men and the force them to have faith so they will be saved.<br /><br />John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but that the wrath of God abides on him."(NKJV)<br /><br />If God imputes faith to all who believe, why would those who do not believe receive the wrath of God. Non-believers would have no responsibility nor capability to believed and be saved.<br /><br />1 John 3:20-23....And this is His commandment: that we we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.(NKJV)<br /><br />Why would God command us to believe on His Son Jesus Christ if we are not capable of believing, unless He arbitrarily bestows that faith on non-believers?<br /><br />Jesus said "He who believes and is baptized will be saved.."(Mark 16:16) Jesus did not say God will give you the gift of faith so you can believe, be baptized and be saved. <br /><br /><br />YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY CHRISTIAN BLOG. Bing search>>>steve finnell a christian viewSteve Finnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863026367048527526noreply@blogger.com