Unbelief vs Belief ?

[percho]

When did Saul/Paul the unbeliever become the believer?

When exactly were his eyes opened unto belief? What healed his blindness?

Would like to ask concerning his repentance but do not know how. Maybe; When did he repent and or become repentant?

Qualifying him to be washed by the blood of Jesus?

 

[David Lamb]

When did Saul/Paul the unbeliever become the believer?

When exactly were his eyes opened unto belief? What healed his blindness?

Would like to ask concerning his repentance but do not know how. Maybe; When did he repent and or become repentant?

Qualifying him to be washed by the blood of Jesus?

I would say that he became a believer on the Damascus road, when the risen Lord Jesus spoke to him. He shows this in his words and actions. From "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord", he is changed so dramatically that he now addresses Jesus as "Lord", and wanted to obey Him:

(Act 9:6) So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

The next verses indicate that he did indeed obey Him. As far as I am aware, we are not told when he repented.

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

When did Saul/Paul the unbeliever become the believer?

When exactly were his eyes opened unto belief? What healed his blindness?

Would like to ask concerning his repentance but do not know how. Maybe; When did he repent and or become repentant?

Qualifying him to be washed by the blood of Jesus?

Saul became a believer on the Damascus road when he stopped resisting Christ and submitted to Him. The moment he said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do,” he moved from rebellion to faith. He did not yet understand everything, but he believed the One who confronted him.

 

[percho]

Saul became a believer on the Damascus road when he stopped resisting Christ and submitted to Him. The moment he said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do,” he moved from rebellion to faith. He did not yet understand everything, but he believed the One who confronted him.

And we -- we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, that God did choose you from the beginning to salvation, in sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, 2 Cor 2:13

So did Paul choose to be a believer or did God choose him to be unto belief?

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

And we -- we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, that God did choose you from the beginning to salvation, in sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, 2 Cor 2:13

So did Paul choose to be a believer or did God choose him to be unto belief?

All are chosen who heed the call. - author unknown.

 

[rstrats]

So did Paul choose to be a believer...

I doubt it since beliefs can't be consciously chosen, i.e., engendered.

 

[Ascetic X]

I doubt it since beliefs can't be consciously chosen, i.e., engendered.

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

[rstrats]

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

I'm afraid I don't see your point. I wonder if you might elaborate?

 

[Ascetic X]

I'm afraid I don't see your point. I wonder if you might elaborate?

You deny that man can choose. You contradict God’s Word.

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

I doubt it since beliefs can't be consciously chosen, i.e., engendered.

Your reply reflects pure, unfiltered Calvinist fatalistic determinism. It is not, in any way, an Historic Baptist distinctive or a Baptist doctrine. It is not biblical anthropology.

It comes straight from:

• Edwardsian determinism
• Augustinian monergism
• Calvin’s doctrine of irresistible grace

In short:

Man cannot choose to believe; God must cause belief.

That is the Calvinist position in one sentence.

It is also one of the most unbiblical positions available, a doctrinal error that strikes at the very nature of human responsibility, the gospel call, and the Scriptural commands to repent and believe.

 

[rstrats]

You deny that man can choose.

.
You left out the phrase "to believe" after "choose".

You contradict God’s Word.

I don't see where scripture says that a person can consciously choose to believe that someone or something exists or that a certain proposition is true.

 

[Ascetic X]

.
You left out the phrase "to believe" after "choose".


I don't see where scripture says that a person can consciously choose to believe that someone or something exists or that a certain proposition is true.

So people are robots that have no ability to choose?

Scripture contradicts you. It is very clear.

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

[kyredneck]

I doubt it since beliefs can't be consciously chosen, i.e., engendered.

SPOT ON! Faith is a conviction, NOT a choice.

 

[rstrats]

So people are robots that have no ability to choose?

Since you seem to be implying that you can consciously choose to believe things, perhaps you can help me. I have never been able to consciously choose any of the beliefs that I have and I would like to be able to do that, I wonder if you might explain how you do it. What do you do at the last moment to instantly change your one state of belief to another? What is it that you do that would allow you to say, "OK, at this moment I have a lack of belief that ‘x’ exists or is true, but I choose to believe that ‘x’ exists or is true and now instantly at this new moment I do believe that ‘x’ exists or is true?

Maybe you could use something like leprechauns to demonstrate your technique. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, a leprechaun is "a fairy peculiar to Ireland, who appeared in the form of an old man of minute stature, wearing a cocked hat and a leather apron" and who stores away his gold in a pot at the end of a rainbow, and If ever captured has to grant three wishes to the person who captures him.
So, assuming that you don’t already have a belief in them, how about right now, while you are reading this, believe - be convinced without a doubt - that they exist. Now that you believe in leprechauns, my question is, how did you do it? How did you make the instantaneous transition from lack of belief to belief?

 

[kyredneck]

Paul:

27​	but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
28​	and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:
29​	that no flesh should glory before God.
30​	But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
31​	that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor 1

@Ascetic X:
Wrong! I chose of my own free will. It is of me that I am in Christ Jesus.