‘Nowhere do we read, “Be born again, if God chooses, then accept the gift of faith and believe”. One would think, if that were true, that SOMEWHERE in 450 verses it would be mentioned!’
Point 1
Ephesians 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
“Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
Thus God chooses, or elects His saved.
Point 2
Ephesians 2:5 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Thus, regeneration must precede faith. Dead men cannot cooperate in the process.
Point 1: see post 6746.
Point 2: We are described as dead in our sin. We are also described as slaves of sin, servants of sin, children of wrath, blind, and sick. Of the terms I’ve seen so far that describe how we were before salvation, 1 of 6 has us incapable of responding to God’s revelation in grace. 5 of 6 have us capable.
Can a slave respond to an offer of freedom?
When Jesus healed the sick or blind, how did he put it?
Mat 9:2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
Mar 10:52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.