Here are 5 questions with 2 choices each, please choose.
#1)Depravity of Man =
A) As the result of the Fall man has inherited a corrupted nature.
C) As the result of the Fall man is totally depraved and dead in sin.
#2) Election =
A) God elected those whom He knew would believe, it is conditional based on man's response in faith.
C) God unconditionally elected some to be saved, it is not based on man's response.
#3) Atonement =
A) Christ died for the entire human race, His death is effective only in those who believe.
C) Christ did not die for everyone but only those who were elected to be saved.
#4) Grace =
A) Grace is given to all people, man is able to cooperate with God and respond to Him in salvation.
C) Common grace is given to all mankind but cannot say anyone. Irresistible grace draws those whom he has elected to himself.
#5) Perseverance =
A) Believers may turn from grace and lose their salvation.
C) Believers are not able to turn from grace and lose their salvation.
(The reason I posted this here and not the Bible Discussion section is cause this is just for fun and not for serious Biblical Discussion, However I do NOT own this thread so feel free to express and share whatever you wish!)
A) As the result of the Fall man has inherited a corrupted nature.
#2) Election =
A) God elected those whom He knew would believe, it is conditional based on man's response in faith.
#3) Atonement =
A) Christ died for the entire human race, His death is effective only in those who believe.
#4) Grace =
A) Grace is given to all people, man is able to cooperate with God and respond to Him in salvation.
#5) Perseverance =
A) Believers may turn from grace and lose their salvation.
I do believe the "once saved always saved", BUT still a believer has the choice to turn from grace say for some reason just chose to be wicked, to become unbelieving. I think this is so because something is lacking in that first moment of being saved, that the conviction is not at all genuine or why exercise the choice to turn away later and refuse the gift of salvation.
MercyMay does have a point about #5, and if I understand what she is saying, I agree with her. By choosing answer C, I was thinking along the lines that there is nothing we can do to cause God to take away our salvation. Once He's given it to us, it is ours forever. He won't take it back.
C) As the result of the Fall man is totally depraved and dead in sin.
#2) Election =
C) God unconditionally elected some to be saved, it is not based on man's response. Amendment: Because God unconditionally elected some to be saved, they will respond to Him.
#3) Atonement =
C) Christ did not die for everyone but only those who were elected to be saved. Ammendment: Christ's death is Sufficient for all, but efficient for some.
#4) Grace =
C) Common grace is given to all mankind but cannot say anyone. Irresistible grace draws those whom he has elected to himself.
#5) Perseverance =
C) Believers are not able to turn from grace and lose their salvation.
I take questions like these seriously and I will answer seriously. Sorry, if you were expecting something funny. You ask simplistically, questions that need a more complex answer.
For number 1�I prefer to call it a �wounded� nature. A nature (weak and fleshly) inclined to sin. So�A comes the closes to what I believe.
For number 2�I have to say that God did not �elect� anyone. Rather God �Knows� who will accept His Grace and who will �cooperate� with Him. To say that God already has �elected� those which will be saved is tantamount to saying
That the Loving God that I know has doomed many from birth to an eternity in Hell. That these people can do nothing to change that and God will make sure that they �burn in Hell�.
It is also denying the �Free Will� that God Gives us.
The people that God Chose are the Jews. God made a Covenant with Abraham and his children�they are the Chosen Ones.
For number 3�Christ Died for All of Mankind!...but you need to do more than just Believe. The dark one believes�!
For number 4�I believe in a combination of A and C.
There is the �Grace of God� which touches a sinner's heart, and calls him to repentance. This grace cannot be merited; it proceeds solely from the love and mercy of God.
Man may receive it or man may reject this Gift from God, he may turn to God or remain in sin. Grace does not constrain man's free will.
Thus assisted the sinner is �disposed for Salvation� from sin; he believes in the revelation and promises of God, he fears God's justice, hopes in his mercy, trusts that God will be merciful to him for Christ's sake, begins to love God as the source of all justice, hates and detests his sins.
This disposition is followed by �Justification itself�, which consists not in the mere remission of sins, but in the Sanctification and renewal of the inner man by the voluntary reception of God's grace and gifts, where a man becomes Just instead of Unjust, a Friend instead of a Foe and so an Heir according to hope of eternal life.
Free will can be just as bad a trap to fall into as predestination. Both are true to a certain extent and false at the same time. The problem with complete free will is, it is not biblical. God has and does intervene in people's lives. The problem with the modern interpretation of predestination is, it does not take our rebellious nature into account. Many do reject Christ.
Try a comparative study of the things God says apply to unrepentant man compared to the things He says about Satan. You will discover that they are the same. Gen 3:15 speaks of Satan's seed. Who do you think this applies to? All of us without Christ.
I see that you do agree that God has to act for us to seek Him, that is exactly right.
