[Quester]

Simple question. What happened to those who Jesus called to be His disciples? Did they spend time "thinking" about whether to follow Him or not, or did they drop what they were doing and immediately follow Him?

Did any who Jesus called to follow Him choose not to ?

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Did any who followed Jesus for a time stop following Him at some point ?

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

[snerkel]

Did any who Jesus called to follow Him choose not to ?

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Pay attention to the context. Did Jesus call this rich young ruler or did the rich young ruler seek Jesus out and want to follow Him on his terms?

According to Scripture, the rich young ruler came running and fell at Jesus feet, no?

Did any who followed Jesus for a time stop following Him at some point ?

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Yes, but this returns to my previous comment above. Did Jesus call them or did they come to Him on their terms and leave when they could not abide according to His terms?

[rwfromkansas]

You have a second grade defense of Arminianism. Well done. You can come to the front of the class to get a pop after nap time.

Unfortunately, you don't have a Biblical understanding of grace, that it ALL BEGINS FROM DAY ONE WITH GOD'S WORKING IN US.

The bones in Ezekiel come alive ONLY when God commands them to do so and he "puts" in a new heart without them doing anything at all. They do NOTHING but receive God's grace.

Similarly, the NT says it is God who "begins a good work" in us and that God WILL COMPLETE THAT WORK (we can't fall away).

Yes, God calls us to come. But, when we do come, it is because his Spirit works to show us the loveliness of Christ and God's wonderful grace, to fall on our knees and turn away from our sin. It is only by God's work that anyone ever chooses to come.