Unbelief vs Belief ?

[kyredneck]

It does not define faith as conviction.

???

1​	Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. Heb 11

 

[Martin Marprelate]

If man cannot believe apart from regeneration, and if faith is the result of God’s prior work, then belief is caused by God. That is the Calvinist position. If you disagree, then you are rejecting the standard Calvinist order of salvation.

What you wrote was:

Man cannot choose to believe; God must cause belief.

That is the Calvinist position in one sentence.

That is what I was objecting to. Man has free will to refuse the Gospel (e.g. John 3:19). But he will not believe the Gospel until He is born anew (or 'born from above'). The relevant texts are John 3:3-7; 1 Cor. 2:14. Why do men freely reject Christ? Because they have wicked unbelieving hearts. But once he is born anew, he freely repents and trusts in the Lord Jesus. The idea that Man does not have free will is a myth. No one comes to Christ kicking and screaming "Give me my freedom back!" No, no! They come willingly. 'Your people shall be willing in the day of your power.'

God did not drag Lydia into the kingdom against her will. Instead He 'opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.' Christ laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). Who are these sheep? Well, there are many breeds of sheep; the Lord's sheep are distinguished by their ears and their feet. They hear the Shepherd's voice and they follow HIm (John 10:27). They are not forced into the kingdom; they freely hear and they freely follow.

All this is in line with the great Calvinistic confessions. Please do not confuse Calvinism with Hyper-Calvinism.

 

[kyredneck]

Please do not confuse Calvinism with Hyper-Calvinism.

Oh, those awful hypers... hyper-Calminians, hyper-evangelicals, hyper-Dispensationalists, hyper-Calvinists, hyper -Arminians, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!... hyper hyper hyper, hyper on the brain...

 

[Ben1445]

Man has free will to refuse the Gospel (e.g. John 3:19). But he will not believe the Gospel until He is born anew (or 'born from above').

If you are born again but can reject the gospel, that is the end of perseverance of the saints.