“we are described as totally dead, totally helpless, totally lost”
Actually, we are taught that we are sick and in need of a physician, that we are lost and need someone to show us the way, that we are captives who need to be set free.
“He stood up to read the scriptures and the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book and found the place where these words are written—‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord’.
20-21 Then he shut the book, handed it back to the attendant and resumed his seat. Every eye in the synagogue was fixed upon him and he began to tell them, “This very day this scripture has been fulfilled, while you were listening to it!”” - Luke 4
The Prodigal Son was described as dead by his father, and yet we read:
“Then he continued, “Once there was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the property that will come to me.’ So he divided up his property between the two of them. Before very long, the younger son collected all his belongings and went off to a foreign land, where he squandered his wealth in the wildest extravagance. And when he had run through all his money, a terrible famine arose in that country, and he began to feel the pinch. Then he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him out into the fields to feed the pigs. He got to the point of longing to stuff himself with the food the pigs were eating and not a soul gave him anything. Then he came to his senses and cried aloud, ‘Why, dozens of my father’s hired men have got more food than they can eat and here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go back to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have done wrong in the sight of Heaven and in your eyes. I don’t deserve to be called your son any more. Please take me on as one of your hired men.”’
20-24 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still some distance off, his father saw him and his heart went out to him, and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. But his son said, ‘Father, I have done wrong in the sight of Heaven and in your eyes. I don’t deserve to be called your son any more ....’ ‘Hurry!’ called out his father to the servants, ‘fetch the best clothes and put them on him! Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet, and get that calf we’ve fattened and kill it, and we will have a feast and a celebration! For this is my son—I thought he was dead, and he’s alive again. I thought I had lost him, and he’s found!’” - Luke 15
“Then he came to his senses and cried aloud...”
Jesus commands us to repent. He didn’t say, “If you are chosen, I will make you repent. If you are not, I will not permit you to repent”.
Calvinism is contrary to the Gospel.
“Jesus commands us to repent. He didn’t say, “If you are chosen, I will make you repent. If you are not, I will not permit you to repent”.”
This is absolutely true.
However, He also says that He elects and foreordains those he saves.
Both statements are true.
We are also described (outside of Christ) as dead (as well as sick and lost and captive)
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” - Ephesians 2:1
Thank God that He raises the dead.
I confess the parable of the Prodigal Son as being absolutely true and applicable. But we must wrestle with the whole counsel of God; not just parts.