She can’t help it … she’s Arminian.It seems as if you are constantly departing from truth, we can leave it at that
Does man naturally have ability to Seek God ?
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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
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Okay then, that sin had dire consequences for man, in fact it brought about death. Man is by nature alienated from God, dead to God, the True God that is, he may be alive to all manner of false gods, but not until a change takes place, we are dead and alienated from the True God Eph 4:18
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Col 1:21
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Even our most sincere, and honest religious efforts by nature before God are nothing but wicked works.
So again man by nature has zero ability to seek the True God, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. By nature man is lost !
she posts this;She can’t help it … she’s Arminian.
[And God has a flock...
HOW one gets to be part of the flock is the question at hand.
I'll leave it at that.]
When anyone reads Ezk34 it is easy to see that God already has His sheep.
They are lost and scattered by defective teaching.
God himself says he is going to seek and search for his sheep.
Jesus seeks and saves them, not one is lost. Clear and simple.
Man can indeed be a religious person, worshipping idols and demon spirits; 1cor10
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Some think that this religious activity is "seeking God"....they are mistaken
I agree with all brightfame52 with the exception of this:
Not only can we seek God, it is our responsibility: Ac 17:27 that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us
God promises if you: Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you
You stated you are a Christian in your information, were you born a Christian, or did you in fact seek God? But the question I really want answered is this: How do you explain the contradiction sir?
B52 can answer for himself, but this looks like low hanging fruit, don't you think?
In biblical salvation God seeks the sinner.Ezk34:11-12
11 For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Jesus seeks and saves that which is lost.Lk.19:10
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
This isnt about me, and I have explained myself numerous times. Nothing changes the cold hard facts that man by nature doesnt seek God, the True God that is. Rom 3:11
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
I dont see any contradictions.
How do you understand Rom 10:20
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
The non covenant gentiles by and large did not seek after the true God.
The quote from Isa.65; is showing God's intention to shame national Israel provoking them to jealousy. Reading Deut 32 we find this;
21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
This is quoted by Paul in Romans 10:19...so the covenant curses that were pronounced upon national Israel Deut.[28-33]are coming upon the apostate nation as God forms the true Israel in Christ during the second and final Exodus.
The bringing the gentiles to the true light was planned and purposed by God when the Servant of the Lord was being announced Isa 49:1-8...the rest of isa .to chapter 66 is concerning the gentiles coming into the Kingdom in droves...Isa54/Gal4...lengthen the cords, strengthen the stakes...earthly Israel/ earthly Zion and Jerusalem being replaced by or fulfilled by the heavenly Zion and Jerusalem.
Romans 11, unbelieving Jews broken off the olive tree, elect gentiles, and elect remnant of Israel
I agree with this, thanks for the time you put into your response. Yet what i was getting at, is the fact God must reveal Himself to us before we seek Him, and He does. God was found by them [ because He made Himself manifest] thats by regeneration Rom 10:20
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. See Isa 65:1
Because of mans depravity by nature, God must first do a work in us prior to us seeking Him
This also validates what Paul said a chapter earlier Rom 9:15-16
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Yes sir very true, and that is the assignment of us Christians correct? But once we are reached it is our responsibility to draw close to God so that He will draw close to us, then we will press on to maturity. Remember all Christians sign on for eternity sir.
I am sorry you disagree with the Scriptures I posted, and logically you do not think the Bible contradicts itself, so how do you harmonize those verses you posted vs mine Iconoclast ?
Since there is none that seek God in your eyes sir, then obviously you believe that verse was translated incorrectly, or should not be in the Bible at all. How do you justify it's presence in God's word?
Its in Gods eyes that non seek Him naturally. Rom 3:10-11
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
This was taken from the Psalms 14:1-2
2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
James 4 is an exhortations to Christians not to be double minded, it is not an example of how we are saved.
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
The drawing nigh of vs.8 is drawing close in prayer.
I do not disagree with the scriptures. I do not think you are using them correctly.
3. Come Near to God and He will Come Near to You. Geoff Thomas sermon;
How do we overcome the world? This is the third counsel, “Come near to God.” “But God is everywhere,” someone says, “so how can I come near him?” If you keep him at a distance, steadily ignoring him day by day, he won’t be close to you as a familiar and loved one would be. There was a even a particular congregation, and the Lord Jesus was outside it, knocking for entrance. There is a hymn in which William Cowper sighs, “O for a closer walk with God.” He was conscious of a time when he had been nearer to God. Reckon on this, that you can come near to God. The Lord Christ says, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst.” Go to the fellowship of his true people, and there you will find him. Listen to his word being preached, and there you will find him. Sit under the best ministry you can find. Go to his table and he is shown forth in the bread and wine. Enter a quiet room, close the door, kneel before him and pray in Jesus’ name, and you will find him. Whatever you do, do it for God’s glory and with all your might, and as you do it he will be with you – that is how you come near to God. Lift your heart up to him in faith, as you walk, or drive, or fly, or lie on a hospital bed in great weakness and breathe the word, “Jesus.” When temptations are strong and the pull of the world is powerful, come near to God.
You see a promise again attached to this command, “and he will come near to you.”
We part ways then sir, I believe God has a people, and they know Him, if not then what is the point? 2 Thes 1:6-9
You changing the subject. This is about man by nature doesnt seek God, doesnt have the desire or ability to seek the True God.
John 1:9
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
In what way are people in the rain forrest instructed about Jesus? in the year 45Ad people where living and dying all over the world, in what way did they have any saving light?