“The unbeliever cannot hear the word, (1Cr 2:14) “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned”.”
Odd, isn’t it, that Cornelius received an angel of the Lord with a message before he was saved. He was even commended. And a centurion was commended for his “great faith” - even odder, since faith is a gift, and not something the centurion could have had... < /sarcasm >.
And in Acts 2, were they cut to the quick before or after they believed and were baptized?
Yes, that is God working in the lives of men - and doing so effectively - BEFORE they are born again...at least, if being born again is what it is described as in John.
“The unbeliever is not able on his own to come to a saving knowledge so how can he exercise the “faith” that accesses salvation.”
The unbeliever ISN’T on his own, not in most cases. There are times God abandons someone and lets them go on apart from his grace - but it isn’t often. Even the heathen (or Gentiles) have the law in some form written in their hearts.
Read the Abolition of Man (CS Lewis). IIRC, he discusses the knowledge found in nearly universal thought in societies.
Can any man reason his way to God? No. I’ve had folks tell me they won’t believe unless they can ‘prove’ God. I always tell them any God they could think their way to would be a god too small and imperfect to be the Creator of the Universe.
“Well, when God gave Israel the Law and told them to obey it, was He mocking their inability to keep it?”
He gave them other options, didn’t he. Not only sacrifices, but salvation was ALWAYS about faith in God - from Genesis 15 on. David wasn’t a man after God’s heart because of his perfection, but his faith.
The Law, from the beginning, was our teacher. It was never our means of coming to God. Matthew 5 isn’t about what we must do to be saved, but about what we cannot do, so we need a Savior.
Luther’s Introduction to Romans has a great discussion of this, which I heartily recommend:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/luther/romans/files/romans.html
Even if you hate everything I’ve written, if you haven’t read what Luther wrote, please do so - you will be blessed. You can think I’m a horse’s butt and still love reading that introduction.
“The unbeliever is separated from God, dead spiritually, just as Jesus was dead physically, and the exceeding great power that raised Jesus from the dead also quickens the unbeliever so that they can exercise the faith to be saved that was included in the abounding grace of God”
Actually, that is wrong. Unless and until God abandons us, we are never described as so dead we cannot repent. Remember the Prodigal Son? He was dead, but he repented without his father’s kidnapping him.
There actually aren’t all that many passages talking about us as ‘dead’ prior to conversion. Most passages talk about us being lost, or slaves, or rebels, or disobedient, or sinners.
And there isn’t a single verse where God says he regenerates those whose names are on his list, and gives them faith. That seems kind of odd, if that is God’s plan of salvation.
“Odd, isn’t it, that Cornelius received an angel of the Lord with a message before he was saved. He was even commended. And a centurion was commended for his “great faith” - even odder, since faith is a gift, and not something the centurion could have had... “
Sarcasm aside, there is no mention of Cornelius’ “great faith” in the scriptures. What you do find in the story is God’s leading him to salvation with no mention of his exercising faith. It was all of God.
Acts 10:20, “Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.” Acts 11:13-15, “And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.” Acts 15:7, “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.”
“And in Acts 2, were they cut to the quick before or after they believed and were baptized?”
Vs. 37, “ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
The Holy Spirit convicted them of sin before they believed and were baptized. That is the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. They were dead in trespasses and sin and quickened, brought to life, and recognized their condition.
Jhn 16:7-8, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment”
“The unbeliever is separated from God, dead spiritually, just as Jesus was dead physically, and the exceeding great power that raised Jesus from the dead also quickens the unbeliever so that they can exercise the faith to be saved that was included in the abounding grace of God”
“Actually, that is wrong. Unless and until God abandons us, we are never described as so dead we cannot repent. Remember the Prodigal Son? He was dead, but he repented without his father’s kidnapping him.”
When one reads the context of the parable of the Prodigal son they will find the subject is the father’s searching for the son. It is the father’s love, not the son’s change of heart that is being taught.
Luke 15: 1-2, “All the tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus. But the Pharisees and the scribes complained, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Vs. 3-7, Concerns a shepherd searching for a lost sheep, not the condition of the sheep Vs. 8-10, Concerns a woman searching for a lost silver coin, not the condition of the coin. Vs. 11-20, Concerns a father looking for his lost son, not the condition of the son.
“There actually aren’t all that many passages talking about us as ‘dead’ prior to conversion. Most passages talk about us being lost, or slaves, or rebels, or disobedient, or sinners.”
The passage in Eph. 5:14, “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” uses the Ezek. 37:4-14 prophecy to demonstrate forcibly the idea that unbelievers are spiritually dead and only the breath of God can bring them back to life.
Jesus refers to that same passage in defending himself against the attack of the Jews concerning the Sabbath.
John 5:24-25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
“And there isn’t a single verse where God says he regenerates those whose names are on his list, and gives them faith. That seems kind of odd, if that is God’s plan of salvation.”
Eph. 1:4-5, “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 predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
Jn. 1:13, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Col 2:13, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”
Jas. 1:18, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
Jn. 3:3-6, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Tit. 3:5-6, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”
Eph. 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
Rom. 8:29-30, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.