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Unbelief vs Belief ?

percho

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
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

Well-Known Member
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

Active Member
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

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
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?
 

Ascetic X

Well-Known Member
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

Member
Site Supporter
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

Well-Known Member
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

Active Member
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.
 
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