Eph 4:7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
So if the Father wants all men saved.. why does He give more grace to some than others? Why does He not give enough drawing grace so all men without exception have an honest shot to come????
So are you a Wesleyan? They are really big on the Prevenient grace thing...never seeing that it would be unfair of God not to give enough "drawing grace" to everyone ...:)
The verse you cite is: “4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift...11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry”
Hmmm...don’t think anyone has a problem with Christ giving spiritual gifts as appropriate for the church.
“So if the Father wants all men saved.. why does He give more grace to some than others?”
If you want all the answers, you may need to ask someone wiser than I. However, Matthew 25 has the parable of the talents, or moneybags, since a talent was a measure of worth.
I think it is risky to pull much doctrine from parables, but notice: “15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.” Barnes, a predestinationalist, says, “The design of the parable is to teach that those who improve their talents or faculties in the cause of religion— who improve them to their own salvation, and in doing good to others —shall be proportionally rewarded. But they who neglect their talents, and neither secure their own salvation nor do good to others, will be punished...According as he saw each one was adapted to improve it. So in the church and the world. God gives men stations which he judges them adapted to fill, and requires them to fill them. So he makes distinctions among men in regard to abilities, and in the powers and opportunities of usefulness; requiring them only to occupy those stations, and discharge their duties there”.
And Paul seems to indicate we are judged by what we were given, not by what we were not: “14For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” - Romans 2
“Why does He not give enough drawing grace so all men without exception have an honest shot to come????”
Maybe he does. “ 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” - Romans 1
But my approach, at its worst, is no worse off than the PD argument at its best, since PD has God forcing men to reject or accept him. And it keeps grace as grace, not ‘common grace’ damning, or ‘special grace” saving. I’ve found many passages speaking of God’s grace, but none speaking of it coming in different flavors, with one flavor damning and another rescuing!
It also has ‘hardening’ - or callous-building - as something a man deserves, rather than God acting capriciously. And it is consistent with our own ability to harden our hearts to the Holy Spirit.
But in the end, God’s grace doesn’t force a man to believe or not, for we are given a choice by God. That is why we read, “ 14 “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24
“So are you a Wesleyan?”
Baptist. I read my first sermon by Wesley last night.