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To: xzins; P-Marlowe; Dr. Eckleburg; Frumanchu; HarleyD
Prevenient grace is irresistible. Saving grace is resistible. Therefore, to say "grace is resistible" is not the whole story.

I was only speaking of saving grace since I'm not sure what prevenient grace is good for. It seems to be a completely unnecessary step. I think we all agree that by whatever method, God already has His elect set at the foundation. If true, then why does God bother to give prevenient grace to those He already knows will not benefit from it at all?

Those who are saved do NOT choose Him. He chose them. They are passive recipients of His saving grace.

I agree, so then how can saving grace be resistible? This implies to me that God can choose Fred, but then Fred can say "No". But that wouldn't match the idea that God only elects (chooses) those He already knows will choose Him.

Belief is a gift from God to those who are being saved in that it is logically at the same time as their salvation. Humans are brought by God's own goodness and the only thing to derail would be their resistance.

Are there then three types of people: those to whom God gives no saving grace, those to whom God gives saving grace but they refuse, and those to whom God gives saving grace and they accept? If you agree with this, then I would make the same argument concerning wasted saving grace as I did with wasted prevenient grace. Why does God bother?

676 posted on 11/27/2006 9:12:09 PM PST by Forest Keeper
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To: Forest Keeper; xzins
I was only speaking of saving grace since I'm not sure what prevenient grace is good for. It seems to be a completely unnecessary step. I think we all agree that by whatever method, God already has His elect set at the foundation. If true, then why does God bother to give prevenient grace to those He already knows will not benefit from it at all?

Why did God create man in the first place? Why did Jesus need to die on the cross? If men were already elected it "seems an unnecessary step"? It seems....

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

677 posted on 11/27/2006 10:23:27 PM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: Forest Keeper; P-Marlowe
what prevenient grace is good for.

It is God's revealing both His existence and His goodness to humanity so that they are without excuse. It is the beginning of His drawing love. Because of it the justice of God is undeniable. All were drawn. All had the price paid for their sins. Those who resist have no excuse.

This implies to me that God can choose Fred, but then Fred can say "No".

If Fred is among the elect, then Fred will not always resist. Resistance occurs during the drawing....if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me. Salvation is by grace through faith. Lostness results from resistance.

My sense is that faith is gifted at the same time as salvation.

689 posted on 11/28/2006 5:59:35 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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