Yes, I would agree. You can't repent unless it is from God.
Think of it this way, if a person rationally, logically came to a point in their life where they understood that they have a choice of eternal bliss which would be beyond our wildest imagination or the eternal hell fires of damnation which do you think he would choose? What choice would he make? There is really only ONE "choice" that they will make, there is only one way they will go.
4. We must make us a new heart and a new spirit. This was the matter of a promise, ch. xi. 19.
Absolutely. And this ties back to Augustine's prayer, "Command what you will and grant what you command." We can only make us a new heart and spirit if it is granted to us by the Father as the other verse in Ezekial states.
It's like why do you pray when God already knows what you need? Why do you need to ask for wisdom when God already knows you need wisdom? Why do you need to ask to understand the scriptures when God already wants you to understand the scriptures? It is simply because even though God has commanded all of these things from us, He has not necessarily granted them to us. This is the very nature of God and the brilliance of Augustine to discern this trait. If one understands this, then many of the seemingly "conflicts" of scriptures disappear.
If anything, Ezekial 18 adds to the FW side, saying, “32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”
I have no argument with your interpretation here. God is constantly calling to people to repent. People just don't listen. They want to go their own way. They are dead and can't hear or see the things of God. Yet God keeps calling to those people to repent. Just like He did with the people of Noah's time until He closed the door of the ark. They were without excuse. This is the justice of God and God was perfectly fair.
God must actively intervene in our lives to make us listen to Him. We have to be born again. He has to open our eyes and ears. When He does do you think we will want the eternal fires of damnation? Of course not. We will move to Him. He opens our eyes/ears. He calls us to repent. He gives us godly wisdom to make the right decision. He gives us faith to trust in Him. Just like He did with Paul. This is the grace and mercy of God.
God calls all men in the same way. He called Abraham somehow. He called Moses through a bush. He called Samuel through a small voice. He called Jacob through a dream. He call Peter and John and Matthew by simply going up to them and saying "Follow me" (they left everything). He called Nathanael through Philip. He called Paul on the Damascus Road. He called Cornellius by an angel. On and on.
Our salvation is no different than Moses or Philip or Paul. In some cases it may have been dramatic like Paul. In other cases it might have been uneventful like Nathanael. But is all cases it is God who seeks us out and saves us.
God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth...And immediately change it to:
God must grant a person the ability to repent which leads to the truth.It doesn't say MUST. You've changed it to MUST.
Are we supposed to just not notice this?
Hello HarleyD,... Just to say how refreshing to see your response stated in an uncomplicated and distinct way. I especially liked how you spoke of God’s call to people, different one from the other and continues to be this today.
We can all look back to the process and see God’s hand bringing us to Him...but it isn’t all that clear as we walk those steps.
I recall well reading the scriptures in a big old family Bible..the ten commandments came into view, (with that usual checking off one does of passing that test or not.) Thought I faired ok, seemed to be balanced, until I came to......
“But if anyman sins in the LEAST of these commandments he is guilty of them ALL.”.....You can imagine the jolt on my self-examination..stopped in my tracks. My first prayer then began as I argued with God how unfair that was, and finally ended as I threw my arms high and declared to Him..”Then I have no hope.”.....”I’m Doomed!”
Of course a string of events,and people, and alot of scripture would follow that moment of time, which He clearly had in the pipeline, and I met Jesus along that path. But I won’t forget that God accepted my first prayer just as it was...just as I was..and continued to take me the rest of the way.
Thank you for prompting my thoughts to that day...it was a good day....
It was Him....
Thank you for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!