What validates the offer of salvation?

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

 

I've already answered it, and it's NO. The ONLY means of eternal life is THROUGH FAITH in Christ. If your answer is yes, you are espousing a works salvation, which is a false gospel.

 

Wait a minute. If you think literally everyone is drawn, then literally everyone will hear the Gospel. How can one be drawn without the Gospel?

And please don't confuse the drawing with general revelation as explained in Romans 1 and 2.

You really need to read John 6 to get a grip on the doctrine of drawing.

 

Acts 17:26-27

 

That passage has nothing to do with the doctrine of drawing.

 

No, I'm saying you are deceived in your understanding of Jesus' words.

...which completely and totally contradicts your understanding of what Jesus said.

Sure it does. Your understanding of Jesus' invalidates the offer itself. I can offer you a million dollars, but if I cannot give it to you because I have already decreed you will not get it that way, it is not a true offer, hence non offer.

 

I wouldn't expect you to say anything differently.

 

Webdog

This may be the first time you and I have agreed on a doctrinal question. If it were possible for anyone to have been saved by keeping the law then the death of Jesus Christ would not have been necessary.

This does not mean that I believe anyone, other than Jesus Christ, was capable of keeping the law.

 

I wonder if you are alone in your opinion that Acts 17:26,27 is dealing with the doctrine of the drawing of the Lord. Off-hand I don't even know any famous non-Cals who would suggest such a thing. But if you can dig up something that agrees with your assertion -- that would be interesting. It wouldn't prove that Acts 17:26,27 has anything to do with biblical drawing -- but at least you wouldn't stand alone with your novel view.

 

I find it rather odd you would refuse to believe God placing man in the precise location, place and time in history so that man would "perhaps" reach out for Him and find Him can be anything but God drawing man to himself. That is something a child can understand.
If you need the further support of men over Scripture...do your own research.

 

That passage in Acts has nothing to do with the biblical doctrine of drawing.

That's what I thought. You have a stand-alone view -- no one is in your one-man club.

 

Like I said...you're blind to it.

Well, I know of at least one other...Paul.

 

And you are the great enlightened one?

Paul isn't dealing with the biblical doctrine of drawing in Acts 17.

It's strange. You deny the import of Paul's Romans chapter 5. You say it doesn't have anything to do with the doctrine of Original Sin. Yet it so clearly does. Then you try and stuff Acts 17 into the doctrine of biblical drawing. Strange. Paul disagrees with you on both counts.

 

If the law was an offer of salvation, then Paul assertion that the purpose of the law was to be our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ was wrong. The purpose of the law was never for God's people to be saved by their keeping of it. By the law is the knowledge of sin. The law was given to shine a light on man's sinfullness and convince man of his need for a savior.

 

No...you are the great blind one.

According to your blindness.

I've discussed Romans 5 - 7 with you in the past, I do not care to waste my time doing that with you again.

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,"