Some people want to take the definition of words, punctuation and sentence structure and use them like mathematicians to come to a answer. Certainly there is some value in knowing what a verse "doesn't "say" and exploring what it "could" say. We miscommunicate with each other on a fairly frequent basis. Now we read writings 2000+ years old, written by people of another language, culture and times and expect to "formulate" highly accurate meanings every time just like a math equation? This kind of Bible interpretation can be a tool used by the Holy Spirit or can be used by the enemy to misinterpret and/or distract.
Much of the Bible is in story form to teach lessons and spiritual truths which are interpreted by the Holy Spirit, not by mathematicians.
Such a story is that of Nicodemus:
Some Calvinists like our friend Sir James will tell you according to his formulas, a spiritually dead man has to be born again by the Holy Spirit BEFORE he can be drawn to Jesus and accept Him as the Savior. Here we have a story about Nicodemus who came in the middle of the night to see Jesus, you could say he was drawn to Jesus. He even confessed he knew Jesus was from God. (So according to James Nicodemus must already be born again ....right? And what did Jesus tell him?..... "You must be born again to see the kingdom of heaven ". And Nicodemus clearly didn't understand.
What does this story from Scripture tell us concerning the doctrines of Calvinism, specifically that one must be born again BEFORE they can come or be drawn to Jesus?
The statement that anyone who desires to repent and trust Jesus has ALREADY BEEN BORN AGAIN has me wondering if all Calvanists believe that and if so; Are they really born again? I'm not sure!
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. -Acts 2:38
Jesus told Nicodemus that a man CANNOT enter or even see the kingdom of God unless he IS born again!
Read that passage of Scripture again, twosparrows, and concentrate on what must happen first!
Now read these Scriptures, and concentrate on what must happen first...........
John 6:63,65 "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life... Therefore have I told you that no man can come to me, unless it be given to him by my Father."
"And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live...Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD." - Ezekiel 37:14
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive [quickened us] with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions � it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:4-5
�It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.� (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, �This is why I told you that no one can come to me [i.e. believe in me] unless it is granted him by the Father.�
John 6:63-65
You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God..."�
1 Peter 1:23-25
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.
1 John 5:1
Notice, the verse above says, "HAS BEEN" which is past tense.
Faith in the living God and his Son Jesus Christ is always the result of the new birth, and can never exist except in the regenerate. Whoever has faith is a saved man.
Charles Spurgeon from the sermon �Faith and Regeneration�
If salvation is the implantation of a new, infinite life in the soul, it must be a work of God. Self-caused effects can never rise above the character or qualities of their cause. "Flesh gives birth to flesh but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit," Jesus told Nicodemus. This saving grace cannot be caused by the creature, it can only come from God.
John Hannah from To God be the Glory (pg. 34-5)
The inward offer is a kind of spiritual enlightenment, whereby the promises are presented to the hearts of men, as it were, by an inward word.
Not one of the scriptures you have posted James are in the light of your statements, they are the opinions of men not in the light of the scripture, and all of these men you hold and esteem, in lieu of the word of God.
The epistles where written to the church of course those written to where born again, that is no substantiation to the statement they where born again before faith.
