Featured Why is the Gospel referred to as an "APPEAL for reconciliation?"

Benjamin · Sep 8, 2012

Skandelon said: ↑

The gospel, according to Paul, is an "APPEAL to reconciliation," not a mere tool to inform the already reconciled. The word APPEAL in and of itself clearly connotes the idea of a needed and expected response.

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Cor. 5:20

To make an Appeal: parakaleō

1) to call to one's side, call for, summon
2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
a) to admonish, exhort
b) to beg, entreat, beseech
1) to strive to appease by entreaty
c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort
1) to receive consolation, be comforted
d) to encourage, strengthen
e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging
f) to instruct, teach

__________________

If the Gospel is sent with the intention to make an appeal for all enemies of God to be reconciled to God, doesn't it reason to believe that it is sufficient to accomplish that purpose?
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Yes, God Word speaks of appealing, persuasion, faith from “your own” heart etc. and these are not empty and meaningless words given in His instructions to us for life through His grace…as if the “truth” were that in actuality the outcome had been pre-determined before the foundation of the world in which the promise through Christ was brought forth on the condition of true faith. God is Truth, His Word which He brought into all the world is given in truth. His judgment in the matter of a true response out of love for His goodness in creation will also be in Truth. He knows our hearts, rather we are willingly accepting His loving offer of grace or if we are claiming we had no choice either way as well as if our service to Him was telling others that all genuinely can find true hope in Christ or the bottom line to one’s doctrine proclaimed otherwise.

HeirofSalvation · Sep 8, 2012

Iconoclast said: ↑

Hos,
We are to use all legitimate means to remove obstacles for the unbeliever.Look at Paul teaching, preaching, reasoning, speaking the truth in love. The whole chapter is about believers, the new body, the new creation, and our new mission in spreading the gospel..

The all is defined by;

this cannot be said for all at the white throne judgement.

Start reading at 2 cor 4:16...and read through the whole passage,,,,in reference to Paul addressing believers,and see it a bit more clearly...try not to fight it...just read it as a believer...with Paul speaking to you.

read about who Jesus died for...in a covenant death...as in hebrews 2
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Never mind.......:BangHead:

MorseOp · Sep 9, 2012

Skandelon said: ↑

So, in your system you have...

1. God pleading with Himself to respond to His own pleadings through you.

2. God expressing his patience with Himself to respond to Himself through you.

3. God commanding for Himself to refrain from sin through you and when He doesn't, punishing you for not refraining.

Interesting...
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Please. Tell me more about my system. This is quite fascinating.

MorseOp · Sep 9, 2012

HeirofSalvation said: ↑

I think that is because very few Calvinists are truly honest with the gospel (as they understand it) when they share it with people...It is entirely possible that the most powerful reason I am not a Calvinist, is that IMO, they are usually lying about what they believe when they give what they consider to be the "gospel" to people. I have heard entirely too many Calvinist preachers tell their congregants that: "God loves you, and wants you to repent"...That is, (given Calvinism) a lie. Some Calvinists are very honest about what they believe, and I respect that. Icon is one (sort-of, without understanding the sum-total of what he believes) Pink was one....They would tell a sinner to their face that (more likely than not ) God no more "loves" them, than he does rotten cheese...and that they are quite possibly pre-ordained to suffer eternally in Hell, and that is because God loves "glorifying himself" and his sense of "justice" by torturing beings that have no other option but to obey the Sovereign decrees of God by doing as they do, and then punishing them for his own decisions that HE, (and not they) made, but most Calvinists won't.

Some Calvinists are knowledgeable enough about their own Theology to understand that they worship a being who (in their minds) is incensed when the "reprobates" that he created obey, without fail, whatever decree he has set for them...the laughable thing... is that if the non-elect were to obey God's "commands" or "oracles" by attempting to the best of their ability (which God either gave them or didn't) to follow the law...then God would be angered and punish them for FOLLOWING his OWN LAWS!!! Because they would then be dis-obeying his own Sovereign decrees...What a load of hoakum... God would be enraged when the sinner obeys his commands...or he would be enraged when he disobeys...sux to be the "non-elect" huh...Either way...God Hates you, and will punish you for the fact that he chose to create you in the way that he chose to create you...and even the option of killing yourself...(as many hopeless inmates in the prison I work at do)...will never get you free from the wrath of a God who Demands of his own Soveregn decree, that you disobey him...(and he does), and then punishes you for disobeying him, or, alternatively, obeying his decree, which is also known as disobeying Him as he has DEMANDED you do...

It is signifigant to me that I have never heard an Arminian say that they want to "Preach the gospel.....like a Calvinist". Even the greatest of Calvinists (a la Spurgeon) have often made a similar statement when they are honest....no Arminian wishes they could emulate the Calvinist when it comes to that. That matters to me.
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I am very glad you brought this up.

When I preach the Gospel, I do not tell people that God loves them. How can I do that? I believe God's love is effectual; i.e. those whom God loves will come to faith in Christ. While I cannot tell all people that God loves them, I can tell them how to know the love of God. That comes through repentance from sin and faith in Christ.

Do not put too much stock in why Arminians do not want to preach like a Calvinist. Why would they? They are opposed to Calvinism. Calvinists are opposed to Arminianism, but they admire the passion in which they proclaim the Gospel. When that passion is matched with right theology I believe it honors God.

Skandelon · Sep 9, 2012

MorseOp said: ↑

Please. Tell me more about my system. This is quite fascinating.
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Apparently I need to because even Calvin affirmed God's love for all of mankind. But, if something I've said is misrepresentative then spell it out, because the only real WILL in your framework is God's, so what I've said seems pretty accurate.

MorseOp · Sep 10, 2012

Skandelon said: ↑

Apparently I need to because even Calvin affirmed God's love for all of mankind. But, if something I've said is misrepresentative then spell it out, because the only real WILL in your framework is God's, so what I've said seems pretty accurate.
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No, no. Please tell me more about what I believe. This is good stuff.

Yeshua1 · Sep 10, 2012

HeirofSalvation said: ↑

But the trap he set was to use the word "cannot"....

Which is what makes this a classically dishonest and mis-representative question.
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Is the salvation of God based upon what God freely determines to do, or is conditioned by how we will respond to Him?

IF a sinner refused to allow the Cross to benfir him freely, how can jesus be said to have died and atoned to the father that person, if His death was for "all sinners?"

Don't we still have the problem of jesus death at best offering 'potential salvation" to all men?

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