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Stick with the entire text given which the thread defines as verses 38-38. It does not simply say "My Father gave them me" as you are jerking that statement out of a specific context. This is stated as a reason for His coming, as this is the specific will of the Father which he came to fulfill.
You are right that the text does not use the term "chosen" but the text does demand a pre-coming act of having been "given" and that is simple to show if the context is not ignored as you did above. It does not take too much common sense to realize that "ALL" who come because of a pre-coming act of having been "given" were the objects of a pre-coming choosing as this is a limited "all" rather than a universal all. Think about it.
That is simply not true to the context. He approaches it the very same way first by positive denial (vv. 36-39) and then by direct explicit denial (vv. 44,65). This is a total repudiation of your whole "overall contextual" argument
Stick with the text! In verse 28 they claim to be able to do the PLURAL "works" of God. In verse 29 Jesus responds with the SINGULAR "work" and claims it is God's "work" rather than their "works." In verse 30 they again claim ability but this time specifically in regard to BELIEVING but required that he provide something tangible to base their faith upon. He responds that they already had tangible evidence and yet remained in unbelief and then defined why they remained in unbelief first positively - only "ALL" given come to Christ - they did not come hence they were not part of that "ALL". Then negatively and specific to their claim that had ability to believe in verse 44 - "no man can come" -If you theory and interpretation were correct he would have never restricted coming to just those given and he would have never directly denied that they had ability to come. Your interpretation is completely repudiated by the overall context.
They are called his "disciples" and there is no such thing as an unbaptized among those called "his disciples". The very definition on making disciples necessarily includes baptism (Mt. 28:19-20). The very requirement to be an apostle includes baptism (Acts 1:21-22).
Remember, you are the one that made the charge about ignoring the overall context! This is part of the overall context. The line of development is simple to see. First he explains why the do not believe even though they saw the very things they required of him to believe - they were not "given" and hence they did not come. Then he addresses the problem directly - their belief (and yours) that coming to Christ by faith is a natural ability he bluntly repudiates and says "no man can come to me" or else there is no need of an exception clause. So it is about being drawn in addition to being given.
He that is drawn is also raised up (vv. 44b) showing affinity between those given and those drawn as verses 39-40 both end with the same clause.
Again, you are jerking a statement out of context. They were told to labour not FOR FOOD that perishes - as that was the motivation for continuing to follow him. Hence, they were not told simply to "labor not" in a comprehensive manner as you suggest. They are told to labor for an immaterial kind of food that does not perish and they responded enthusiastically in verse 30 claiming they were capable of laboring for that kind of food. However, Jesus proves they had no such capability as that capability is restricted within the boundaries "OF ALL" previously given and in regard to natural man "NO MAN can come" thus repudiating your whole interpretational argument in one blow.
You are describing yourself to a tee! I have shown that my interpretation is based precisely upon the text and grammar of the text as well as the overall context. In response you have taken a verse here and there and tried to read in this context the very opposite of what the text and context actually states.
That is simply not true at all! In context they enthusiastically claim they do have ability to believe and only require of him substance to base their faith upon, just as the rich young ruler enthusiastically claimed he was sufficiently "good" as God and enthusiastically claimed to have kept the law. Both were deceived - the rich young ruler was not inherently good (agathos) and these people did not have ability to believe and jesus plainly tells them so - v. 44
Again, it is you that brings the name of Calvin into this discussion not I. I don't like Calvin, and I don't gain my theology from reading Calvin and don't believe most of what Calvin teaches or stands for. I am not a Reformed theologian. Why resort to names when we are discussing scripture, grammar and context???????
Why the inflammatory language with a term and person I have never once mentioned, used, or claimed?
I suggest your hatred of Calvin influences your view of scripture so that you are unable to look at the text objectively and purely from unbiased perspective and follow the consequences regardless of labels.
Look at the usage of term outside of the two debates texts (Jn. 6; 12). The object is always passive and never active in the drawing process. However, your view demands cooperative efforts for which there IS NOTHING in Scripture to warrant that idea.
The words "no man can" are as explicit as the Bible can get. He did not say "SOME men" can't but "NO MAN" - that is an explicit expression of universality as it can be. The term "can" translates the term "dunamis" and refers to ABILITY. This universal inability is directly assoicated with the very thing you claim universal abilty "COME TO ME. " inability. Stick to the terms of the text instead of reading into the text what it clearly not only does not say but actually repudiates.
John:6:38-39
Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by The Biblicist, Mar 26, 2015.
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The Biblicist Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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The Gospel; faith; and then salvation with the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit.
If it is "The Faith" which I contend for then it is contained in the 66 books of the Bible. It is often summarized in a statement of faith.
If that is not what you are looking for, I answered your question in detail in my previous post. It is innate. Children have faith. Everyone has faith. Faith is confidence in the word of another. Do you have faith in your wife, confidence or trust in her; you can rely on her for certain things? If you don't have such a relationship where there is no trust or confidence in your spouse you shouldn't be married. However, the longer two people are married the more trust or confidence they can put in one another. It is based on a relationship. So it is with the Christian life.
Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
--Faith is being fully persuaded that what God has promised God will perform. That is a biblical definition of faith.
Calvinists believe regeneration comes first. I believe they are wrong and in error.
What happens first is that the gospel is preached and heard.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
There is your source of faith--the Word of God. It follows the hearing of the Word. Only after a person puts their faith in the gospel message can a person be regenerated.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
We are born again by the Word of God. -
Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
He does not really answer because he cannot...he deflects and hides behind Calvin. -
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The Biblicist Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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The Biblicist Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
What Arminians do not understand is that there is both a experiential and judicial or legal condition of condemnation to death.
That is, you are dead SPIRITUALLY by nature, in addition to being dead LEGALLY by the law. When a child is born they are not conscious of either their spiritually dead nature or their legally dead position before God. It is through experiential interaction between the law of indwelling sin and the Law of God that both are consciously made known to them. They are legally dead BECAUSE they are first spiritually dead. Only consicous interaction with the law reveals the knowledge of their spiriutal state and legal condition to them (Rom. 7:7-11). The law does not make them spiritually dead but only REVEALS they are spiritually dead and thus as a consequence reveals they are under the LEGAL condemnation of death.
Initial salvation regenerates the condition of fallen man whereas justification reverses LEGAL condemnation to death unto justification of life. These both occur simultaneously in connection with the preaching of the gospel, but logically regenerative life precedes judicial life.
Hence, wherever faith is mentioned as the cause of life it is in the context of judicial life. Wherever, the actual condition of man is mention as being "quickened" (made alive) it is in the context of new birth. Man receives Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:12) because he has been born again (Jn. 1:13).
The new birth counters the experiential condition of SPIRITUAL death, while justification by faith counters the legal or judicial POSITIONAL or LEGAL death They are both simultaneous in action but logically the experiential life (new birth) precedes the judicial life (Justification).
So yes, faith precedes judicial life but faith is the product of regenerative life. So the logical and Biblical order is regeneration - faith- justification. Regeneration is the creation of a believing heart, and it is "with the heart man believeth." It is not the OLD heart that believes as that heart is in a state of enmity against God and it is impossible for a heart in a state of enmity against God to submit to that God by faith. That is why the New covenant is giving a NEW HEART, thus beginning with an INTERNAL change (Ezek. 36:26) before their can be an EXTERNAL change (Ezek. 36:27).
Now, DHK and others are not going to like or agree with what I have said, but their dislike and disagreement does not change the facts at all. -
"And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith." (2 Thess. 3:2)
Scripture vs. DHK --the Scripture is true. DHK's philosophy is false. -
Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
A stated reason that DHK denies the truth of the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in EZK 36...is that his dispensational system does not allow him to understand the teaching as valid for New Covenant gentiles who are grafted into the root promises.He is trying to solve the puzzle.....but is bewildered because his system does not supply him with the necessary puzzle pieces.
B.....you have methodically worked through these passages leaving him no wiggle room so he has three options.
1] Believe them as the truth of God as you and others have posted and given a solid explanation....
2] say Jn 6 is true...but seek to confuse the clear teaching and instead insert a carnal understanding about a "different context"...insert the name of calvin in here and argue about him.....
3] just look for any reason at anytime to sneak away to a future time when the passage somehow only speaks about God dealing with national Israel.:thumbs:
Now, DHK and others are not going to like or agree with what I have said, but their dislike and disagreement does not change the facts at all. -
Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
You have consistently illustrated the frustration that a wrong system of interpretation will bring to a person by these images:laugh:
It is not lack of effort....or sincerity. It is missing the mark:thumbsup: -
Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
The other day a poster was trying to say everytime you or any other Cal makes such a statement it is Arrogant..
Why this can always be a danger...it is not the case most of the time.
The consistently accurate presentation of truth which has been offered by you, and B , and protestant, and reformed, Con 1,Bosley,AA etc.....is withering to those who avoid the careful working through the passages....:wavey::wavey:
Reading post after post by DHK......[ he is doing the bulk of the heavy lifting for those who actively oppose these truths...] it is clear that like a child doing a puzzle without all the pieces cannot complete it....and perhaps he takes pieces from another puzzle and tries to force them in where they do not fit.
Now over time DHK and others have complicated this scenario by developing and agenda and going to poisonious web sites dedicated to an opposition and a concerted effort to explain away truth. They think that this is a valid option but it fails them over and over and when refuted they look for another.
If you read over just this months posts you see more time trying to explain away good teaching than offering anything new.
Those portions he is correct on....are the factual and plain narrative...There was a crowd...the crowd was in need...faith is essential...etc.....but the doctrinal content remains closed to him...the eyes of his heart are veiled for these reasons:wavey: -
The Biblicist Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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His posts are quite lengthy and I have not had the time to work through them. You would do well not post such foolishness. -
IOW, you have selectively chosen two verses out of this chapter and still continue to ignore the rest of the chapter. That is not a moot point. It is not that you deny anything, but simply ignore it.
"As Jesus plainly states in John 6:44."
What you say Jesus says in John 6:44 is not so plain after all. I see that you never replied to the last part of my post which shows why it is not as plain as you think it is.
Hence, the will of the Father precedes his coming. He then explicitly states the specific will of the Father is to make sure "OF ALL" that the Father had already "given" (perfect tense) him none would be lost. Hence, having been given is inclusive of the revealed will that motivated Christ to come. So there are no assumption on part at all. If there are, then please demonstrate such assumptions by the text rather than making an unwarranted accusation.[/QUOTE]
Who are the ones that the Father gave Him.
Why is your conclusion so different than mine. It is based on unwarranted conclusions that are being read into the text. -
The Biblicist Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Hunt divorces John 6:37-40 from John 6:44-45 when in fact they are directly connected by the very same subject - COMING TO CHRIST and directly connected by the very same conclusion "raise him up at the last day" Moreover, the term "all" in verse 45 is EQUAL to the word "all" in verses 37-39 because it is a quotation from the PLURAL prophets Isaiah 54:13 and Jeremiah 31:33-34 where "ALL" leaves no exceptions outside those who effectually are made to know God in the New Covenant salvation. So Hunt's arguments are simply false. The same facts completely repudiate your following arguments:
Second, you are now inserting something into the text that is not stated and so you have no right to condemn me for drawing the necessary inferrence that a pre-coming act of having been given necessarily demands a pre-coming act of having been given.
Why is your conclusion so different than mine. It is based on unwarranted conclusions that are being read into the text. Your own words fit your interpretation so I just repeated them. -
Stick with the text. It simply says: "My Father which gave them me..."
I did stick with the text.
Here it is again:
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Joh 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
--My point simply was that the text is dealing with those that the Father GAVE to Christ. Those that he GAVE, he will not lose. No argument.
--But I do note that you are the one reading more into this Scripture than that which is written.
1. He came from heaven, and He came to do his Father's will.
2. There is nothing said about anything more about eternity past.
You are jumping around from one thing to another instead of simply sticking to the text.
"The 'too much common sense' to realize that 'all' who come because of a pre-comming act..." is not there, but inferred by you." The text doesn't say that. Perhaps your "common sense" is not all that common.
Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
--There is no claim here of knowledge. They were asking "what must they do, what works were necessary--the same basic question that they rich young ruler asked.
Joh 6:35-40
(35) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
(36) But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
(37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
(38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
(39) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
(40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
He declares to be that bread from heaven. It alone can give eternal life.
The only way to attain it is through faith. They must believe on him.
Faith is the primary teaching here.
(35) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
--These are the ones that are given by the Father to Jesus.
--In verse 36 he declares that there are some that don't believe.
--In verse 37, but those that do believe are the ones that the Father gives to Christ. -
The Biblicist Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
So likewise, with these men in John 6:28-36. They too BELEIVED they had ability to do whatever works God required and were motivated by that belief to challenge Christ to simply provide substance for credible faith and they would also beleive. They were wrong, He had provided substance for credible faith and yet the did not believe (v. 36) because they had no such ability to COME TO HIM BY FAITH as that is restricted only to those given by the Father and those drawn by the Father and apart from that WORK OF GOD "no man can come."
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What must they do:
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
--They must come to him; they must believe on him.
Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
--What is the will of God?
That everyone sees (or comes) to the Son, and believes on him.
He is not willing that any should perish.
Joh 6:49-51
(49) Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
(50) This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
(51) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
--They must come to him; they must believe in Him.
This is the commandment that Jesus gave to them. He did not give them a command they could not obey. The plain sense of the Scripture tells us that anyone can come. He will not cast out anyone. He will not turn anyone away. He never, in his entire ministry, turned anyone away.
The doctrine of reprobation is nowhere taught in Scripture.
For that matter, not even the doctrine of election unto salvation is taught in Scripture.
Election is always unto the blessings of Christians or even the service of Christians, but never the salvation of Christians.
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