The Contradicting Preachers???

[Guest CaraStar7]

ok I watch some of these preacher and I hear them preaching that "no one can come to Jesus, Unless the father enables him"- which is somewhere in the Bible several times. Ok so they preach and then at the end they say to the crowd "Now come up here and accpet Jesus into your life!" OK hold on does this sound like a contradiction to anyone else? If God chooses his people like it says all throughout the Bible (epecially Matthew and Romans) Than by the preacher telling people to come up to the front lay on the floor and "get Saved" is 2 different things. I think that this is how we end up haveing people that are not really saved, just think they are. I think that a so-called preacher should no better - does anyone agree?

[Anne]

Cara,

I have to be honest, I cannot answer your question. But what I can say is that if you really love our Lord Jesus in the deepness of your heart and seek Him then he knows it.

Washed in the Blood of the Lamb

Anne

[Guest He's taking names]

God has given us free will to make the choice to meet Him and accept the love and redemption He offers us Thank you Lord Jesus!!! ...but God also knows our hearts and knows the decisions we will make before we even make them...rest assured YOU still have to make the choice...any clearer?

[apothanein kerdos]

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit has to bring us to a point at which we can get saved. We cannot find God but God must instead call us. It is my firm believe that He calls us all and the Holy Spirit brings us all to a point where we must choose to accept God's grace or not. I think preachers need to be a bit clearer on the topic...but that's my take on it.

[Joe Christian]

Cara, if I remember correctly, I had a similar reaction to this statement also. I recall that this was speaking of the Father enabling us every day ( i.e. the breath of life) this sounds as though it is being used to rebut those who may believe a person can be saved after death. As long as the father enables us, that is, to say as long as he is sustaining us with life, we can come to Jesus. Also the Father can and does place us in certain places to hear the word of salvation preached. It is his wanting desire that we all have a chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus preached. So, I think that is basically what is meant by this. See, the Father enables us to hear the word whenever or whereever it maybe. In some cases, many times. Now also, Jesus said "No one comes to the Father but by me." You see, the Father, the Son, (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit all work together as one. To save all of us from hell and eternal damnation. Anyway, that's what I think. You're doing the right thing, Cara, you are seeking advice and trying to understand things about the ways of God. Hope this helps and may you get more insight on this subject. God bless. Joe.

[Guest CaraStar7]

God has given us free will to make the choice to meet Him and accept the love and redemption He offers us Thank you Lord Jesus!!! ...but God also knows our hearts and knows the decisions we will make before we even make them...rest assured YOU still have to make the choice...any clearer?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can not say i agree brother, As I studied in the book of Romans God Chooses us. Yes man has free will but, not to accpect Christ or not..if God chooses you, you cant say no...God has the power to change our hearts...wait he don't even change them he made them so he is the potter with the clay shapeing us into whatever he wants, if a believer is what he wants he makes a believer, you cant say oh wait no no no God i have free will I refuse. You free will is out the window on that one. Read Romans again and then well talk.

p.s. I do hate this topic because arguments come out of it and i hate arguing with brother when there are millions of unbelievers out there. We are on the same team. Basically your saying you made the choice. Umm don't be so selfish it nothing you or I did all credit and glory for me and you not being fallen sinner forever is ALL because of God's doing. Agree yet? lol

Peace be with you

Love Cara

Edited December 29, 2004 by CaraStar7

[UndecidedFrog]

Dear CaraStar7,

This is just my opinion. You don't have to accept it if you dislike it. DISCLAIMER: I am not a christian.

wait he don't even change them he made them so he is the potter with the clay shapeing us into whatever he wants, if a believer is what he wants he makes a believer, you cant say oh wait no no no God i have free will I refuse.

Following on that thought, if an unbeliever is what he wants, he makes an unbeliever. Is that correct? If so, why do christians try to convert unbelievers?

Just wondering,

UndecidedFrog

[apothanein kerdos]

Cara, arguements don't always have to come out of it. You're obviously not a hyper Calvinist but definately a Calvinist...a lot of my friends are but I am not one. We've had discussions until 4 in the morning sometimes...but it's ALWAYS beneficial because it forces all of us into the Word.

[other one]

While the bible does say that God has to draw you to the knowledge and acceptance of Jesus, it also says:

2 Peter 3:8-9

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

NASB

He wants us all to come to Him, so it seems to me that God must draw us, but draws us all.

It is more of a statement that we can not save ourselves but it is all the work of the Spirit, but the Spirit draws us all.

Just saying you can't save yourself.

As for the preachers saying come up here and accept Jesus, It seems to me that they should say something more like, "The bible says that if you believe in your heart that the Father raised Him from the dead and you confess with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord you will be saved..... If there are any that has made the decision to make Jesus your Lord, we will make this time available for you to confess it."

Just a thought or two.....

[Botz]

Paul clearly talks about those that try and convert...or declare the Gospel to other people be they Jews...who are always looking for a sign..they check the Torah and the prophecies and come to the wrong conclusions...or the rest of the world that tries to work G-d out through logic,science and philosophy...Men think themselves so wise that they are really better thinkers than G-d...

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

If we take this a bit farther we can see that later on as Paul is talking to the Corinthian Church he makes another division...those that are spiritually discerning and those that haven't a clue what he is talking about...ie the 'natural man' who focuses just on what makes sense to him through what he has understood so far within the confines of his own existence...and the 'spiritual man' who has become alive to another dimension of life...

Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.

For those who are fellow Believers in Messiah...be glad you've been 'born again'

For those who are on the outside looking in...there is a whole other 'dimension' to life that awaits you....but only through Jesus.