They say opposite things. That much is certain.
Cherry picking Scripture can result in a perception of paradox which is not real
Every time there is a clear contradiction we call it a "paradox" and move on.
This is not “know” in the sense of recognize
I am aware of that.
And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God...Luke 4:41
Two things about this: first, demons were not what we think of "demons" (that had to wait until the Middle Ages), and two, what they are saying is that he is the Jewish messiah, the anointed of God, not that he is God himself.
What's the point of that verse anyway?
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: - John 10:26-27
Look, this clearly contradicts Luke 4:41 where the demnons say they believe...yet John says I don't know you because you don't believe...which is it?
To paraphrase, if we declare Christ, He will declare us – if we deny Him, he will deny us
And here I though faith was a free (unconditional) gift of God as they say. Seems like there are some heavy ropes attached to this.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead
Only Paul (and one verse in Acts, probably under Pual's influence) says that Christ was raised by God. The Church professes that Christ rose on the third day. At no time was there a separation between His human and His divine nature. Christ did not need "God" to raise Him any more than He "needed" the Spirit to lead Him into wilderness. Christ's divine nature was suffcient to lead him and to raise Him.
and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Obviously, reading wasn't an option. So much for sola scriptura.
But anyone can pick phrases or sentences out of context and declare a contradiction. Muslim and atheist activists do this a lot on the internet in their efforts to turn believers away from Christ. The irrational hatred of Judeo/Christian belief and believers stands as evidence that more is at work than scholarly debate.
If one attempts to superimpose Aristotlean logic on God, he will no doubt see many Scriptural violations of the Law of Identity (e,g. Trinity) and Law of the Excluded Middle (either/or e.g. predestination v free will.) Likewise, if he begins with the presupposition that all that exists is what he can perceive with his own senses, he will reject much or most of Scripture.
For many this results (whether intentionally or not) in their anthropomorphizing God – i.e. rejecting anything about God which the mortal mind cannot obtain. These cannot know anything but a conceptualization of a small “god.” The others however may have an evil intent, namely the spirit of anti-Christ or anti-God.
Two things about this: first, demons were not what we think of "demons" (that had to wait until the Middle Ages), and two, what they are saying is that he is the Jewish messiah, the anointed of God, not that he is God himself.
Look, this clearly contradicts Luke 4:41 where the demnons say they believe...yet John says I don't know you because you don't believe...which is it?
Also you have the cause/effect wrong. It is not “I do not know you because you don’t believe.” Rather, the first cause in this case is that the Father draws whom He will to Christ, then those who are drawn to Christ spiritually (not physically) hear Him, then Christ “knows” them (intimately) and they follow Him. That is why Peter is called the rock by The Rock.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. – John 6:65
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: - John 10:27
You And here I though faith was a free (unconditional) gift of God as they say. Seems like there are some heavy ropes attached to this.
My musings on the Great White Throne Judgment is this: everyone Christ “knows” (book of life) will make it into the new heaven and earth. But many of us will find ourselves in poverty – heavenly ‘hippies’ – because we squandered the gift of grace while in the flesh. Some who have devoted their entire lives to the ministry – but for self-serving reasons – will find themselves impoverished and sitting in the back of the congregation. And others may be astonished to see what treasures they have laid up, or being assigned a place in the front of the congregation, because their motives were pure. The first will be last, the last will be first.
This anthropomorphizing of God is among the reasons why I’m so adamant about eschewing the doctrines and traditions of mortal men.
Obviously, reading wasn't an option. So much for sola scriptura.
In sum, terms such as “knowing” “believing” “hearing” require spiritual discernment. (I Cor 2)
Kosta: "And here I thought faith was a free (unconditional) gift of God as they say. Seems like there are some heavy ropes attached to this."
God is in full control. This is not the conveyance of an arms-length offer, such as "if you cut my grass, I will give you $25." Rather, it is a statement of immutable fact, such as "if you drop a hammer, it will fall". God's will decides whether we ever declare Christ, for we are fully dependent on Him for the grace to do so.