Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon Free-Will -A Slave

[Neighbor]

 Regarding Freewill;  I find the four point presentation from the prince of pastors to be a most articulate dissertation on the subject to consider. See https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/free-will-a-slave/#flipbook/

[Neighbor]

Pulling no punches the introduction to the four points of Rev Spurgeon presentation  includes the following:

Our four points, this morning, shall be: First—that every man is dead, because it says: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Secondly—that there is life in Jesus Christ: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Thirdly—that there is life in Christ Jesus for every one that comes for it: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life;" implying that all who go will have life. And fourthly—the gist of the text lies here, that no man by nature ever will come to Christ, for the text says, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." So far from asserting that men of their own wills ever do such a thing, it boldly and flatly denies it, and says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me, that ye might have life." Why, beloved, I am almost ready to exclaim, Have all free-willers no knowledge that they dare to run in the teeth of inspiration? Have all those that deny the doctrine of grace no sense? Have they so departed from God that they wrest this to prove free-will; whereas the text says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me that ye might have life."

 

[Alive]

Yup…he does a great job here. The one inescapable truth is man is ‘dead’ and his pride of self dictates he is not.

Remaining in that pride is a fruit.

[AdHoc]

1 hour ago, Neighbor said:

Pulling no punches the introduction to the four points of Rev Spurgeon presentation  includes the following:

Our four points, this morning, shall be: First—that every man is dead, because it says: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Secondly—that there is life in Jesus Christ: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Thirdly—that there is life in Christ Jesus for every one that comes for it: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life;" implying that all who go will have life. And fourthly—the gist of the text lies here, that no man by nature ever will come to Christ, for the text says, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." So far from asserting that men of their own wills ever do such a thing, it boldly and flatly denies it, and says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me, that ye might have life." Why, beloved, I am almost ready to exclaim, Have all free-willers no knowledge that they dare to run in the teeth of inspiration? Have all those that deny the doctrine of grace no sense? Have they so departed from God that they wrest this to prove free-will; whereas the text says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me that ye might have life."

 

John 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.

 

[Alive]

57 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

John 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.

 

Jesus makes this emphatic statement twice in John 6

[Sower]

1 hour ago, AdHoc said:

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.

 

 

51 minutes ago, Alive said:

Jesus makes this emphatic statement twice in John 6

 

And how does God accomplish this "draw him"?

[Alive]

1 minute ago, Sower said:

 

 

And how does God accomplish this "draw him"?

This is above my pay grade, I just take Jesus at His Word.

[AdHoc]

19 minutes ago, Sower said:

 

 

And how does God accomplish this "draw him"?

I do believe He is the Master of Circumstance. Moses approached the burning bush out of curiosity. I do not say that God puts hooks into a man and drags him. I understand that God can create a set of circumstances that will have one ending - without encroaching on the free will. I have lived a full life. Just about every decision that profited me seemed to be made by me, but on close examination a number of small indicators come to light in which we clearly see God's hand. God wants Samaria to hear the gospel? How dos he move the saints? Why ... persecution. He wants to fulfill His dream to Joseph of Egypt .... why... famine.

[Sower]

1 hour ago, AdHoc said:

on close examination a number of small indicators come to light in which we clearly see God's hand.

Would you consider, when I heard for the first time from a faithful believer, 'you must be born again,' something within me changed my thinking when I also considered what I had heard? I did not know what this born again stuff was about but something within threw a switch, a spark, and my curiosity opened a floodgate of needing more data, the word. I went home and read with eyes to see.

I personally believe and have no doubt that it was those words I heard  that drew me. It was God, The Word!

"And the Word was God"!

I suppose, to me, the distinction between those who respond to this 'call-revelation-prompting' is do they have ears to hear.
Why did I hear? Why does so many not? Was I primed to hear by my situation, the emotional funeral of a neighbors little son? When I shared the gospel during covid most all the people (daily delivery personnel) stopped their rushing to listen back then. I passed out many bible promise books and they were grateful. It's different today and little interest.

My wife and I and family grew the most in the Lord during those mean lean years raising our family. Money was tight, but there was always just enough to meet our needs. It was a time we could really SEE the hand of God working in our lives. I believe who so ever has the choice. Open their eyes and ears, or not. World-flesh-devil.  Their decision, not forced condemnation. My belief.

Thanks AdHoc..

 

 

[farouk]

5 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Pulling no punches the introduction to the four points of Rev Spurgeon presentation  includes the following:

Our four points, this morning, shall be: First—that every man is dead, because it says: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Secondly—that there is life in Jesus Christ: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Thirdly—that there is life in Christ Jesus for every one that comes for it: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life;" implying that all who go will have life. And fourthly—the gist of the text lies here, that no man by nature ever will come to Christ, for the text says, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." So far from asserting that men of their own wills ever do such a thing, it boldly and flatly denies it, and says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me, that ye might have life." Why, beloved, I am almost ready to exclaim, Have all free-willers no knowledge that they dare to run in the teeth of inspiration? Have all those that deny the doctrine of grace no sense? Have they so departed from God that they wrest this to prove free-will; whereas the text says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me that ye might have life."

 

This indeed seems consistent with a passage such as Ephesians 2.