” So God gives “unequal measure” of grace to men, and yet even then He withdraws it from some of them? / lol. That’s pretty rude.”
Not really.
” 11As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26’I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’” - Luke 19
Dr E “Does God give all men eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart of flesh and a renewed mind? No.”
Does God give a new heart and new mind prior to someone believing? No. Calvin teaches that, but the Bible does not.
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” - Ephesians 1
“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.” - Mark 10
“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—”Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7And he rose and went home.” - Matt 9
John 10:26 comes when the Jews who had watched Jesus and refused to believe said, “”How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” And Jesus replies, “”I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.”
That COULD mean he saves a list of names (salvation by grace thru election), or it COULD mean that having repeatedly rejected both the message and miracles of Jesus, they had made their hard hearts manifest and were no longer able to come. As I have said, those who reject the revelation given may well lose what they had and be entirely cast off.
Matthew 13:10-11 is immediately followed by Matt 13:12, which reads, “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Now, read the last sentence of my previous paragraph...does it seem related?
Context.
It is important in Romans 9, which is answering the question, “Are the Jews still the inheritors of the promise to Abraham, or has their rejection of Christ resulted in the cancelling of the covenant?”. It deals with what will happen to the Jewish people, not how people are saved - Paul already addressed THAT in Romans 3-6. It finishes with Romans 11: “25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26And in this way all Israel will be saved...”
“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” — 1 Corinthians 1:23-24
First, let’s put it in context. Verse 23 follows verse 21: “21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”
And verse 24 is followed by verses 26-29 “26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
So then, God saves those who believe. And He chooses to do so in order that the strength of man might be denied. For it isn’t thru man’s power that we reach up to heaven and pull God down, and it isn’t by our wisdom we understand God, but God reaching down, opening eyes, revealing Himself and saving those who believe.
And it humiliates the wise precisely because it IS by faith. Even a stupid person can believe God. Even a poor person can have faith. Even a commoner can repent. It isn’t our mighty arm that saves us, but God’s - if we believe.
What calling means is well discussed here:
It is an invitation, a summons, a calling - that can be refused:
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ 5But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.” - Matt 22
So much for being irresistibly called by name! Yes, we are called. So are others, who refuse to respond. And if we come, we are clothed in robes fit for the feast...and if we refuse those, we are cast out (see 11-14).
>Even a stupid person can believe God. Even a poor person can have faith<
Amen. And both sides agree that no one has an excuse for not believing due to the intelligence factor, and no one has an excuse for not humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God. And it is only those that do, as unworthy sinners, utterly destitute of anything that would gain them escape from their just punishment in Hell-fire, nor merit them eternal life, but who exalt God as the infinity holy Deity He is, and so cast all their faith upon His only Begotten Son for salvation by His blood, that are lifted up out of the miry pit, and their feet placed upon the Rock.
In His cross justice is satisfied, and in His redemption the demands of holiness met, and mercy and truth have kissed each other. To God be the glory, not man. May all that is within me cry so, unlike when it does to the contrary.