Featured John 6:65 - what is "given"

I don't think you are following what I'm saying brother.

Jesus specifically states, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables..."

and

"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."

and

"many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them..."

and

"Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 'See that you don't tell this to anyone...'"​

Do you see a theme? But, of course Jesus was preaching elements of the gospel truth while on earth, no one is denying that. I'm saying that He didn't send the full message and appeal of reconciliation (cross/resurrection) to the WORLD until he had actually fulfilled it by dying and raising to life again.

"When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned"​

Understand my argument now?

 

:thumbs::thumbs: You walked him through it in a clear fashion.Nice post:thumbs:

 

See, here marks the problem with your view of the gospel. You have reduced God's inspired truth to a mere 'external invitation.' It is GOD BREATHED and sharper than a two edged sword! It's not equal to a birthday invitation you get in the mail....the gospel IS THE POWER OF GOD unto Salvation, according to Paul.

That is because it is a hardening TOWARD God's divine revelation after years of rejection, not an inborn inability to respond to God's revelation as you speculate.

And that is the point. The Jews do not have eyes to see because they are being 'cut off' while the Gentiles are being 'grafted in.' Romans 11. You ignore that historical context and apply 'eyes to see' to your presumptions about man's inborn inabilities and irresistible calling.

Jesus said, "The VERY WORDS THAT I SPEAK TO YOU are spirit and life." So, I'll let you argue your point with Him.

The gospel in my view is an 'appeal to reconciliation' (as Paul calls it). Thus, it does always accomplish its purpose...which is to make an appeal so that man may respond to it. If the gospel's purpose is to just inform those who are already saved, then you might have a point, but scripture never teaches that.

I agree, but I don't believe God's means ever 'come without power.' They are powerful because they are His. Truth is always truth and it's always powerful even if someone chooses to trade it in for lies or suppress it. Don't make the unbelief of a hearer the fault of the gospel, as if its not powerful enough! NO! It's totally the fault of the hearer who CHOOSES to suppress the truth. The unbeliever has not excuse, especially not, "My gospel didn't come with power like his did, so I just couldn't believe it." BALONEY! One could rightly say to the unbeliever, "You heard the truth and CHOSE to reject it, it's your fault and your's alone, not some lacking of power in God's chosen means."

 

He said, "Go and tell this people: "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'

Acts 20:21
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

2 Corinthians 4

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[Gen. 1:3] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)] Since we have that same spirit of[Or Spirit-given] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.



They hear and see, but they have let the god of this age blind and deafen themselves because they don't learn they already know the truth because they are wise in their own eyes. Turn to Jesus first He is the only one who can make all men who are blind and all men who are deaf to see and to hear the real truth.

The hardest thing to do is to get them to admit all men are before they turned to Jesus. They never could until they turned to Jesus just the way they are blind and deaf and kept their eye on Him and away from themselves.