Unbelief vs Belief ?

[Alan Dale Gross]

You’re defining belief as an instantaneous mental flip, as if faith were the ability to conjure conviction out of thin air. That is not what belief is. Scripture presents belief as assent to truth when confronted with evidence, conviction, and the illumination of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Brings Eternal Life to the lost, blind, hopeless, sin-cursed, hater of God, under the Preaching of The Gospel of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, according to all The Old Testament and New Testament writers, including Jesus, of course.

The Holy Spirit Illumines and Quickens the Spiritually dead soul by Enabling them in The New Spiritual Birth from Above to become Partakers of the Divine Nature and Spiritually Discern the evidence in the Message of the Gospel from God's Word. Once that Divine Nature is Imparted into the now Born Again saint's soul, that former lover of evil has been Granted the Ability to "take sides with God against themselves" and agree that their sins have Offended the Holy God of The Universe and to then Repent under that Holy Spirit Wrought Conviction, as an Eternal Law-Breaker.

At the same time the now saved soul that HAS HAD THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEAD THEM TO REPENTANCE of their sins, are Given the Gift of Faith. And since they now have the Divine Nature to communicate with God, Who is Spirit, in the Spirit Realm, they willfully, Spiritually by the Power of God's Will, place their Faith and Trust in Jesus as their Savior, the Forgiver and Safe-Keeper of their soul (whereas before they were saved, it was impossible by being "not of him that willeth") .

That sinner has become willing in the Day of God's Power.

"Thy people shall be willing in the Day of Thy Power", Psalm 110:3a.

"...a New Heart Will I Give you and a New Spirit Will I Put within you," Ezekiel 36:26,27.

"...Of His Own Will Beget He us with the Word of Truth...", James 1:18.

No one can “choose” to believe in leprechauns because there is no truth to respond to. But when the Spirit illuminates the gospel, a man can respond in faith.

True, See above.

The Bible repeatedly commands people to:

Believe (John 3:16)
Repent (Acts 17:30)
Receive (John 1:12)
Come (Matthew 11:28)
Choose (Joshua 24:15)

Not everyone has been Brought to Spiritually discern the Spiritually Reality that God Commands the lost sinner, who has no ability to Believe, Repent, Receive, Come, or Choose, to Repent and Believe the Gospel and that it is God Who Gets the Glory when He Brings the lost sinner under the teaching and preaching and Influence of the Holy Spirit, and by the Eternal Word of God and the Gospel, He has Mercy on whom He Will have Mercy.

"How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God!

25 "For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.

26 "And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

27 "And He said, The things which are impossible with men are Possible with God." Luke 18:24b-26.

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” (Joshua 24:15)

Joshua 24:14
"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

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."

Joshua's Command regarding saved souls serving God, or choosing to serve another false god, has no association to anything about Salvation, other than only those who are saved can "fear God" and "serve Him" in a way that God Accepts their Worship.

“I have set before you life and death… therefore choose life.” (Deut. 30:19)

17 "But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not Hear, but shalt be drawn away,
and worship other gods, and serve them;

Verse 18 speaks of the possibility "that ye shall surely perish, meaning that they would die
and "that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land", meaning to not prolong the days of their lives.

18 "I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

Verse 19 speaks of their lives and whether or not they may die, "that I have set before you life and death",

Commanding them to choose to live, rather than to die, by being cursed, "blessing and cursing: therefore choose life",

They are encouraged to choose to live for them and their seed, "that both thou and thy seed may live:"

19 "I call Heaven and Earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Verse 20 speaks of their being given the Promise that "He is thy life, and the length of thy days:

That they may live and not die, to dwell in the land "that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers", etc.

20 "That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey His Voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them," Deuteronomy 30:17-20.

Nothing there remotely associated with Eternal Life, but for them to choose to live their natural life and not die.

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

“Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways.” (Ezek. 33:11)

You may remember Ezekiel in 37:4 was Commanded to preach to a valley full of dry bones and he did.

"O YE DRY BONES, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD".

Then, Ezekiel tells us, 7 "So I Prophesied as I was Commanded: and as I Prophesied, there was a noise,
and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

8 "And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above:
but there was no breath in them.

9 "Then said He unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, Prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind,
Thus Saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

10 "So I Prophesied as He Commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived,
and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army."

When God Sovereignly Commands His servants to "preach the Gospel to every nation" it is because He is going to Use the instrumentality of that preaching of the Gospel, for the Holy Spirit to Bare Witness with it to save souls,

"according to the Good Pleasure of His Will"

"To the Praise of the Glory of His Grace",

and "according to His Good Pleasure which He hath Purposed in Himself",

of whom it is written, "He hath Chosen us in Him before the Foundation of the World,
that we should be Holy and without blame before Him in Love:

5; "Having Predestinated us unto the Adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the Good Pleasure of His Will,

GOD "hath Made us Accepted in the Beloved".

6; "To the Praise of the Glory of His Grace, wherein He hath Made us Accepted in the Beloved.

7 "In whom we have Redemption through His Blood, the Forgiveness of sins, according to the Riches of His Grace;

GOD "hath Abounded toward us in all Wisdom and Prudence."

8 "Wherein He hath Abounded toward us in all Wisdom and Prudence;

However, GOD has not Made Known "THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL", to everyone.

9 "Having Made Known unto us the Mystery of His Will,
according to His Good Pleasure which He hath Purposed in Himself:"

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

“Come unto me.” (Matt. 11:28)

Jesus is Speaking to "all ye that labor and are heavy laden," "NOT meaning, those who are laboring in the service of sin and Satan, are laden with iniquity, and insensible of it: these are not weary of sin, nor burdened with it; nor do they want or desire any rest for their souls; but such who groan, being burdened with the guilt of sin upon their consciences, and are pressed down with the unsupportable yoke of the law, and the load of human traditions; and have been labouring till they are weary, in order to obtain peace of conscience, and rest for their souls, by the observance of these things, but in vain.

Those under Conviction already, from breaking the Universal Laws of God and having been shown that in their conscience:

"These are encouraged to come to Him, lay down their burdens at His feet, look to, and lay hold by Faith on His Person, Blood, Righteousness, and Sacrifice; when they should enjoy that True Spiritual Consolation, which could never be attained to by the works of the Law." Matthew 11 Gill's Exposition

Matthew 11:28
"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I Will Give you rest."



IN THE PREVIOUS VERSE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL WANT TO ACCUSE jESUS OF FORCING HIS BELIEFS INTO A SYSTEM.

Matthew 11:27
"All things are Delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man Knoweth the Son, but the Father;
neither Knoweth any man the Father, Save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will Reveal Him."

THAT WORD "WHOMSOEVER" IN MATTHEW IS SIMILAR TO "WHOSOEVER", IN JOHN 3, ISN'T IT?

Like saying, "For God so Loved the World that" WHOMSOEVER THE SON WILL REVEAL THE FATHER "believeth in Him shall never perish, but have Everlasting Life". Right? Is there supposed to be some difference in that teaching in both places?

“Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:40)

JESUS KNOWS HIS BIBLE.

Along with their Mind and Heart, the lost man's will is infinitely depraved
and entirely alienated from Eternal Life in Jesus Christ.

"His Will The unbeliever’s inability to respond to the Gospel is most overtly seen in the depravity of his will—that faculty by which a man chooses or makes decisions. Simply stated, his will is enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:17, 20; John 8:34).

"The unbeliever does not submit to God’s law, for he is "not even able to do so; and [he] cannot please God" (Rom. 8:7-8).

"He is unable to choose to do anything that is truly good (Rom. 3:12), for his only capacity is to do evil.

"The depravity of the unbeliever’s will flows from the evil of his heart (Mark 7:2123).

"Not only is his heart full of evil, but he is also enslaved to his various lusts and pleasures (Titus 3:3).

"Just as an apple tree can produce nothing but apples, a man with an evil heart can produce nothing but evil (Matt. 7:16-18).

"He cannot produce what is good, not even a positive response to the Gospel. "There is none who seeks for God" (Rom. 3:11).

"If all this is true, how can an unbeliever choose Christ? How can he respond to the gospel?

"He cannot, for just as a leopard cannot change his spots nor a man the color of his skin, neither can a man change—
or even improve upon—the condition of his heart (Jer. 13:23).

"His will is enslaved to the evil desires of his heart.

"He is not able to conjure up enough goodness within himself to choose Christ, for there is none there (Rom. 3:12).

"He is spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13) and has no more ability to respond Spiritually
than a corpse has to respond physically.

"The unbeliever cannot understand or accept the Gospel, for it is foolishness to him;
how then can he respond to it and believe in Christ as his Savior?

"Every intent of his heart is evil, and he seeks not after God;
how then can he turn to Christ for salvation and embrace Him as his righteousness?

"He is enslaved to sin; how then can he turn from his wickedness to Christ and bow before Him as Lord?

"The unbeliever is not able to please God, obey God, or do anything at all that is good;
how then can he respond to God’s command to believe?

"There is no fear of God before his eyes; how then can he humble himself before God and trust in Him for salvation?

"He hates God, loves sin, and is unwilling and undesirous of coming to Christ; how then can he repent and do so?

"He is Spiritually blind; how then can he make himself see?

"He is spiritually dead; how then can he make himself live?

"In light of these Truths, the evangelist finds himself left with the desperate question that the disciples themselves asked Jesus:

"Then who can be saved?" (Luke 18:26)

"In other words, if the only way to be saved is to turn to Christ, but unbelievers are unable to turn to Christ,
who then can be saved?

"What, if anything, can the evangelist do to bring people to the Savior?

"Isn’t he being asked to communicate a message to which his audience has no ability to respond?

This is the evangelist’s dilemma."

From: Evangelism 101: Laying the Foundation By Matt Waymeyer

The answer to that dilemma presented in the Old and New Testament is answered in the book of Acts where we learn that IT IS GOD WHO MUST OPEN THE HEART OF THE LOST SINNER, BY THE NEW BIRTH BY THE HOLY SPIRIT UNDER THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL.

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

“Be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20)

The gospel call is meaningless

The Master’s Instruments:

"Since salvation is solely the work of our heart-opening God, where does that leave man?

"Does the believer assume any role whatsoever in the salvation of the lost?

"In response to this question, some have insisted that the Christian must passively surrender to the Sovereignty of God and simply sit back and wait for God to zap whomever He Pleases. What such individuals fail to realize, however, is that just as a surgeon uses special instruments to perform a delicate surgery, so also does God use instruments of His Choice to Grant New Life to a sinner.

"The first instrument employed by the Master Surgeon is a Divine instrument, namely the Word of God.

"James writes, "In the exercise of His Will He brought us forth by the word of Truth" (James 1:18). Notice that James first states that his readers were "brought forth"—or born again—in the exercise of God’s Will. In other words, it was the Sovereign Purpose of the Lord that they be Made Alive in Christ.

"And how was it that He Brought them Forth in keeping with His Sovereign Will? They were Brought Forth, James writes, "by the word of Truth." James says the instrument or the means by which God Granted them New Life was the Message of the Gospel.

"The Apostle Peter reminds his readers of this Truth in similar fashion, writing, "you have been Born Again…through the Living and Abiding Word of God…which was preached to you" (1 Pet 1:23, 25). Again, Scripture states clearly that God has caused His children to be Born Again through—or by means of—His word.

" This same teaching is found in Paul’s epistles as well: The apostle reminds Timothy that Scripture is "able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15); he writes to the church at Rome that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17); he tells the Ephesian believers that Jesus has cleansed the church "by the washing of water with the word" (Eph. 5:26); and he assures the Romans that the Gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18).

"At this point some may object and say that the Gospel is offensive to unbelievers, and that another means must be used in seeking their salvation. After all, it’s so exclusive and intolerant, and not at all what people today are looking for. Preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel simply will not be effective.

"The example of the Apostle Paul, however, points in the opposite direction: "For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom," the apostle writes, "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness…" (1 Cor. 1:22-23). In other words, Paul remained committed to the Divine Message regardless of its offense, for he knew that it was "to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (v. 24).

"The bottom line is that any doubts regarding the Gospel as the God-Ordained means through which He saves sinners may be sufficiently put to rest with the simple and wonderful Truth that
"God was Well-Pleased through the foolishness of the Message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).

"The second of the Master’s instruments is not a divine instrument, but rather a human one, for the Gospel Message needs a messenger. This simple truth can be seen clearly in Paul’s epistle to Rome, where he writes,
"How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14)

"Paul’s point here is not difficult to grasp—sinners cannot believe in the One of whom they have not heard, and they cannot hear of Him without someone preaching to them. In other words, the preaching of the Gospel is indispensable to the salvation of the lost.

"God, in His Infinite Wisdom, was Pleased to determine that sinners be saved through a Message brought to them by human messengers (i.e. "the message preached" in 1 Cor. 1:21). It is for this reason that the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20).

"Therefore, while the evangelist is not a divine instrument per se, he is a Divinely Ordained Instrument, and one that plays a vital role in God’s Plan to save His people.

"Most simply stated, then, evangelism consists of the human messenger proclaiming the Divine Message to depraved sinners.

"God is indeed the One Who saves, but the Master Utilizes instruments of His Choice to Carry Out His Work. And these instruments—both the Message and the messenger—play an indispensable role in the Work whereby our Life-Giving God does what no human surgeon could ever hope to accomplish."

From: Evangelism 101: Laying the Foundation by Matt Waymeyer

JESUS IS THE SAVIOR.

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

The Master’s Instruments:

"Since salvation is solely the work of our heart-opening God, where does that leave man?

"Does the believer assume any role whatsoever in the salvation of the lost?

"In response to this question, some have insisted that the Christian must passively surrender to the Sovereignty of God and simply sit back and wait for God to zap whomever He Pleases. What such individuals fail to realize, however, is that just as a surgeon uses special instruments to perform a delicate surgery, so also does God use instruments of His Choice to Grant New Life to a sinner.

"The first instrument employed by the Master Surgeon is a Divine instrument, namely the Word of God.

"James writes, "In the exercise of His Will He brought us forth by the word of Truth" (James 1:18). Notice that James first states that his readers were "brought forth"—or born again—in the exercise of God’s Will. In other words, it was the Sovereign Purpose of the Lord that they be Made Alive in Christ.

"And how was it that He Brought them Forth in keeping with His Sovereign Will? They were Brought Forth, James writes, "by the word of Truth." James says the instrument or the means by which God Granted them New Life was the Message of the Gospel.

"The Apostle Peter reminds his readers of this Truth in similar fashion, writing, "you have been Born Again…through the Living and Abiding Word of God…which was preached to you" (1 Pet 1:23, 25). Again, Scripture states clearly that God has caused His children to be Born Again through—or by means of—His word.

" This same teaching is found in Paul’s epistles as well: The apostle reminds Timothy that Scripture is "able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15); he writes to the church at Rome that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17); he tells the Ephesian believers that Jesus has cleansed the church "by the washing of water with the word" (Eph. 5:26); and he assures the Romans that the Gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18).

"At this point some may object and say that the Gospel is offensive to unbelievers, and that another means must be used in seeking their salvation. After all, it’s so exclusive and intolerant, and not at all what people today are looking for. Preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel simply will not be effective.

"The example of the Apostle Paul, however, points in the opposite direction: "For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom," the apostle writes, "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness…" (1 Cor. 1:22-23). In other words, Paul remained committed to the Divine Message regardless of its offense, for he knew that it was "to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (v. 24).

"The bottom line is that any doubts regarding the Gospel as the God-Ordained means through which He saves sinners may be sufficiently put to rest with the simple and wonderful Truth that
"God was Well-Pleased through the foolishness of the Message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).

"The second of the Master’s instruments is not a divine instrument, but rather a human one, for the Gospel Message needs a messenger. This simple truth can be seen clearly in Paul’s epistle to Rome, where he writes,
"How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14)

"Paul’s point here is not difficult to grasp—sinners cannot believe in the One of whom they have not heard, and they cannot hear of Him without someone preaching to them. In other words, the preaching of the Gospel is indispensable to the salvation of the lost.

"God, in His Infinite Wisdom, was Pleased to determine that sinners be saved through a Message brought to them by human messengers (i.e. "the message preached" in 1 Cor. 1:21). It is for this reason that the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20).

"Therefore, while the evangelist is not a divine instrument per se, he is a Divinely Ordained Instrument, and one that plays a vital role in God’s Plan to save His people.

"Most simply stated, then, evangelism consists of the human messenger proclaiming the Divine Message to depraved sinners.

"God is indeed the One Who saves, but the Master Utilizes instruments of His Choice to Carry Out His Work. And these instruments—both the Message and the messenger—play an indispensable role in the Work whereby our Life-Giving God does what no human surgeon could ever hope to accomplish."

From: Evangelism 101: Laying the Foundation by Matt Waymeyer

JESUS IS THE SAVIOR.

Alan, I’m not arguing against the Spirit’s work in regeneration. I’m pointing out that Scripture commands belief, repentance, coming, receiving, and turning, and commands are addressed to the person, not to their nature. My point was simply that belief is the mind’s assent to truth when confronted with the gospel. If you believe these passages mean something different, please show it from the text itself rather than from theological summaries.