Butch5
Member
They start out not believing. If they start out not believing how can being blinded result in their not believing? How do you blind someone to something they don't believe?
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More on Redemption ! Secures unto us our regeneration
- Thread starter brightfame52
- Start date
Butch5
Member
Right, but they had the truth. The Israelites had had God's word. They didn't accept their Messuah. They didnt believe Jesus was their Messiah. As I pointed out, Isaiah prophesied that they would be blinded. Paul states that blindness in part has happened to Israel. Part of the Israelires believed the other part didn't, they were blinded.
Everyone starts out as unbelievers sir because everyone is born spiritually lost and under the power of satan. So the Gospel is hid from everyone initially while they are in a lost state. As long as we remain in a lost state, the Gospel is concealed. Its permanent as long as we are in a lost state.
Truth is hid to them that are lost, jew or gentile ! Im not even going to keep going back and forth about it !
Butch5
Member
Only if one takes the passage out of context. As I said, Reformed theology is a system built on proof texts and you're making my case.
When the Gospel is preached it brings light to those who minds have been darkened.
However, each person who hears the Gospel, must believe in order to be saved.
- For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
JLB
When the Gospel is preached, its going to fall on the ears of either them which are in a saved state, or a lost state, to them which are lost its hidden, thats what scripture says 2 Cor 4:3-4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Titus 3:5-6
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
According to this passage, Mercy preceded Regeneration and any work of righteousness that we have done,
All which is the fruit of Christ giving Himself for us and redeeming us from all Iniquity Titus 2:14
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
According to this passage, Mercy preceded Regeneration and any work of righteousness that we have done,
All which is the fruit of Christ giving Himself for us and redeeming us from all Iniquity Titus 2:14
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Yes mercy and love preceded redemption, as the scripture so plainly says -
- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God first loved, before anyone was redeemed.
In order for anyone to take part in God's plan of redemption, they must first believe.
Believe comes first before redemption.
- whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life
Whoever believes has everlasting life.
- How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10: 9-14
Paul asks these questions.
- How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
- And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
So the question remains, how is someone saved without ever hearing and believing in Jesus?
JLB
Christ applies redemption as well !
The Lord Jesus Christ in His Threefold Mediatorial Character as Priest, prophet and King, makes sure that the Salvation He accomplished for all those He died for, is experienced by them, that is, not only was His blood a bare purchase and then He sets back and offers it, but also by Him as King, He applies it to its subjects to give it effect, to bestow its benefits of grace, they being destined to be conformed into His image, which is their total salvation.
For this cause He was invested with all power in both heaven and earth as per Matt 28:18
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Jn 17:2
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give[apply] eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
The word power in Matt 28:18 and Jn 17:2 is the greek word exousia:
power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
a) leave or permission
2) physical and mental power
a) the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises
3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)
Jesus made this point very clear, that He has all Power to His [Disciples] at their commission. This was not just to be saying that He has all power, but in and through their witness of the Truth of His death, He would be applying that which He purchased as Priest [His offering of Himself] by His own blood, their salvation. 3
The Lord Jesus Christ in His Threefold Mediatorial Character as Priest, prophet and King, makes sure that the Salvation He accomplished for all those He died for, is experienced by them, that is, not only was His blood a bare purchase and then He sets back and offers it, but also by Him as King, He applies it to its subjects to give it effect, to bestow its benefits of grace, they being destined to be conformed into His image, which is their total salvation.
For this cause He was invested with all power in both heaven and earth as per Matt 28:18
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Jn 17:2
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give[apply] eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
The word power in Matt 28:18 and Jn 17:2 is the greek word exousia:
power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
a) leave or permission
2) physical and mental power
a) the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises
3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)
Jesus made this point very clear, that He has all Power to His [Disciples] at their commission. This was not just to be saying that He has all power, but in and through their witness of the Truth of His death, He would be applying that which He purchased as Priest [His offering of Himself] by His own blood, their salvation. 3