If “no one seeks for God,” why did Paul call his listeners to seek God?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.พ. 2020
- Left to ourselves, we will never seek after God. Why, then, does the Lord command people to seek Him? From one of our Ask R.C. events, R.C. Sproul helps us reconcile these biblical truths.
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I marvel at his ability to explain profound truths with such simplicity.
Ya,that’s so simple. Wow I feel so much better knowing that our Loving Father sends people to Hell for not doing what they COULD NOT DO in the first place. You guys might as well just say “because my skin is a different color I can’t seek God because that’s just the way it is!” Wow guys!
1Timothy 4:10
2Peter 2:1. Christ died for all men so that WHOSOEVER believes CAN and WILL BE SAVED! John 3:16 means all people. 1Timothy 4:10 is even more specific in this matter! God loves us guys! Why do you insist that God operates in such a way?? The Bible does not teach this...
@@nicholascarter6543 aside from the clear category error at the end of your comment, the supposition in your argument is that God cannot possibly be loving if He called people to do something that of themselves they could not do. And yet He does. Romans 1 was well used in this video - the unbeliever does not want God and in fact suppresses the truth and knowledge of Him whilst living their lives as they will. I know. I was one of those people.
@@TheB1naryi know this is old but maybe you can help me. If you can suppress the truth doesn't that mean you can recieve the truth and doesn't that determine reprobation or salvation?
Great respect For RC, he actually explained 90% people's condition, we are turning towards God only for our own benefits, Lord please help us .
I think that is what the parable about the "wicked servant" is about. Jesus praises the wicked servant and implies that "children of the light" should have a similar ambition or self-interest in their salvation. That is my opinion.
Not just God.. everything else. We are turning towards X only for our own benefit.
Lunatic Detective only God is able to correct our thinking. It took God 62 years to bring me to the place where He could get through to me. I was raised by parents who loved the Lord and put Him first. They despaired over my anger and rebellion, but I know they constantly prayed for me. They both died nearly forty years ago and I just recently became a believer in Jesus Christ. I was amazed. Now I see. All glory to almighty God for His mercy and grace.
Turning to a form of God to works and activity based religion that makes a peron feel good and makes them Self Righteous.
My question is what about the agnostic, who is sorting through religion to figure out why they might believe a religion is the true religion over the other or if their is evidence of there being a God or not
What a great theologian RC Sproul was the best in this generation.
John nice Agree. The Chosen by God series is unparalleled.
you have got to be kidding me? one of the best in this generation? he did't answer anything
seek god in hopes that god elected you ..... is that what paul said? no paul said to seek god. these great theologians like sproul like to add to scripture
sproul and calvinist are 100% fine with people not loving god.
can love be forced? to a calvinist love has to be forced.
if you were born doomed not to ever want god or not to ever want to love god because of your nature and thats just how it is. then you really don't want to love god.
so how do you come to love god then? since you yourself don't want to ?
god has to make you love him by changing your nature where now you want to love god. it gets better, god changes your nature where you will love him no matter what.
so you see the un-elect and the elect don't make the choice to not love or to love god.
god makes you love him. what kind of god is that ?
A precious soul.
John nice
RC is calling God a liar
Isa 45: 19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
It ALL begins with the Grace of God ..... without His Grace all perish ...
His grace is what provides EVERYBODY the chance to even be able to seek Him. He gave us ability to “choose this day life or death.”
@@nicholascarter6543Jesus would disagree with that, He said no one comes to the Father unless the Father first draws them. God initiates. Whoever the Father gives to Jesus, Jesus will save them.
God’s grace is not such that all will be saved nor did He TRY to save all but failed because someone didn’t “do their part.” If the latter was true and God did extend his grace to all so that all could be saved, then the only difference between someone who is saved and someone who is not is what they themselves do (ie works-based salvation). This is what happens when we either take God’s glory or we shape God into who we feel He needs to be.
How blessed we are to have RC’s teaching, both while he was with us, and even now and going forward
"Flee from the wrath to come" seems to suggest that there is a motivation to flee from judgement and wrath. Jesus said to the pharisees, "Who warned you to flee from the wrath, brood of vipers, etc". Additionally, it is true that no man seeks after God, in and of himself, but God draws people through His Word, by the Spirit, which then causes men, to pursue God. God's grace softens certain hearts and hardens other hearts, but never arbitrarily. Man will harden his heart as a response to God's Word, which is ultimately what God's Word will do to some (harden) and to others (soften). The mystery of the sovereignty of God in conjunction with the will of man is a glorious mystery, but man, to be sure, has a will and a volition. The degree to which this volition is free is debatable, but he (man) can resist the Holy Spirit and often does. "You stiff necked and uncircumcised of heart you resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did". God is the Prime Mover to be sure, but man still chooses, this is certain.
I think much of the mystery falls away when we look at it in terms of love. God is sovereign over everything, but it seems that he desired that there be beings that could love him. Love that is coerced is not love at all, so God gave man freedom and restrains himself from forcing us to do everything that he wants us to. Because we have that freedom, many will reject God, but some will seek him. Many will hate him, but some will love him.
@@TimothyFish I hear you Timothy. But even as Christians, we fail to love God as we ought to. God bless you Timothy
@@Truth537, us not loving God as we ought is evidence that God doesn't force us to love him. If God were forcing people to love him (as if that were possible), then it would be impossible for a Christian to fail to love God as he ought.
@@TimothyFish Sure Timothy. God never forces the creature to love Him. Though our love for Him is never forced, it is a response to Him, only because He first loved us. This is what I am trying to say. Our love for God comes from a willing heart that responds to God's Love for that Individual. When we see just how good, gracious and loving God is, the only proper response is worship and obedience. It is never forced, but born as a result of God's Love towards us. "We love Him only because He first loved us". This is the gift of grace and when I say that we don't love God as we ought to, it is simply reflected in the condition of a Christian who understands the battle between flesh and spirit in his own soul. God bless Timothy.
Uncas Unga - Thank you for providing yet another demonstration of why so many of us find Calvinism and it’s arrogant proponents to be odious. Calvinism was DOA from the beginning. It couldn’t make it past Genesis 3, the moment Calvin (and his precursors) properly identified Adam as the entire human race (in Adam’s fall we died ALL). Who did God “call” in Gen 3? And for whom did he provide a blood atonement in Gen 3? The question of “limited” Atonement was always a non starter.
Praise The LORD.
@Barry Midikiner Psalms 14:1
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
What great wisdom and insight! Thank you for sharing.
*_ABSOLUTE GOLD!_*
These words from the terribly missed RC Sproul are ABSOLUTE GOLD!
Amen.
Mike Bennett He is sorely missed! I will alway “thank my God for every remembrance of him.”
@@toonybrain
Me too!
Wow! RC packs a heavy dose of truth, wisdom and insights into this 7 min video. 👏 Thank you! 🙏🏻
Amen! John 2:23-24 is an excellent example of how man seek the benefits rather than God.
Awesome...
Thanks !
Beautiful explanation.
Amen. Excellent explanation!
Praise God, the Lord Jesus Christ! Dr Sproul is correct. I miss him so much.
Me too!
THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME CORRUPT; THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” Romans 3:12
Great message
Amen!
Thank you RC for all your teachings on God’s word..
We need to remain energized with our seeking of the Lord. Seeking God should be our utmost desire. It should energize us to fellowship in the Holy Spirit.
Amen. 🔥🥰
Wonderful
I WAS ASKING MYSELF THAT QUESTION TODAY !!!! I have been struggling with that question for M.O.N.T.H.S.
M.O.N.T.H.S stands for?
@@erickimatu2082 really serious months, alot of months. 😁
@whatever I'd be interested to know more about your struggle, and what you have been trying to understand, and if you got more understanding now, what did you learn.
@Barry Midikiner I am Christian
@Barry Midikiner Thanks but it won't be necessary
wow....good stuff
I will seek and find R.C. in the kingdom of God, to fellowship with him in Christ Jesus. He is missed, but we have him with us in his teaching.
Uncas Unga Probably (I am). What’s your point? Truth is truth, and RC was gifted to teach it clearly.
Jeff Adams hopefully he’s in heaven his teachings are FAR from truth.
All I ever see in videos of him are people worshipping him in the comment section and paying homage to him.
I can tell you one thing if Christ really did die for all (and yes all really does mean “ALL”) and salvation was truly and genuinely available to all who freely believed and could believe then He believed in a different Christ and not the one who died on Calvary.
@@apilkey whats the difference between you who heard the Gospel and choose of your own free will to believe in Christ and the person who heard the same Gospel and freely choose not to believe? Why did you choose to believe?
Chris Coulter The simple fact is we FREELY CHOOSE to accept or reject Christ’s FREE offer of salvation and each person will be judged according to THEIR OWN DEEDS.
I simply humbled myself and believed.
My neighbor simply FREELY CHOSE to reject and I’m sorry but I’m not responsible for his unbelief, he is.
I don’t need to be concerned about why he didn’t believe.
All I need to know is that I did.
Am I to give account for my neighbour as to why he didn’t believe or is he required to give an account?
Do I need to explain to God why my neighbour didn’t believe?
Then why do you require an answer?
Chris Coulter The question of “why did I believe and my neighbor didn’t” is used by Calvinists to guilt trip you into thinking you’re some how better than your neighbor because you believed.
The simple answer is because you CHOSE to believe and THEY DIDN’T.
That’s what the word of God says and it’s soo simple that reformers will reject that answer.
They want a philosophical answer to satisfy their philosophical mind.
The answer is SIMPLE and it should satisfy the BIBLE BELIEVER.
The best answer to give is to simply say that they WILLINGLY CHOSE NOT TO BELIEVE.
They willingly chose to reject the mercy they were shown.
The issue you need to point out is their unbelief.
You believing is NOT the focus point.
The fact is light has come into the world and they CHOSE darkness rather than light?
Q: Why did they choose darkness rather than light?
A: BECAUSE they loved darkness rather than light.
It’s as simple as that.
Was it because God picked who would believe or was it because they FREELY CHOSE themselves to reject the light?
Amen
Our church has just started a coarse called Emotionally Healty Spirituality by Peter Scazzero. It’s all about contemplative prayer, daily office etc. It is a Baptist Church. They want to be still and get closer to God they say.
I have since left the church.
Haha. Good on you
See you in Heaven doctor Rc! 🥰🥰✝️❤️
Indeed the truth/Jesus shall make you free.
After spending time studying Reformed theology with Ligioner one began to see the decietful nature of the prosperity, faith and to a large extent the charasmatic and pentecostal movement.You can actually hear the serpent hissing Did God really said or distinguish the real from the counterfeit gospel.
John nice I think you would find the Strange Fire series from John MacArthur’s Truth Matters conference of great interest.
So true.. To me also
John nice Reformed theology is also deceitful and a false gospel.
@@apilkey
That's a statement that means nothing unless it gives facts. Point out for a start were RC is wrong and deceitful here.
Miriam Reutter God’s Word points out where RC is wrong numerous times.
God does not lie or contradict Himself and neither does the Apostle Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Theres plenty of examples of men seeking God in the scriptures so is Paul lying or is RC’s interpretation of Romans 3:11 flawed?
He also appeals to Augustine and Edwards as his authority instead of the word of God.
He’s correct in saying men can seek God for reasons and by works of the law.
Paul goes on in Romans and clearly contrasts faith and works.
ROMANS 3:10
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
This is a description of how God JUDGEMENTALLY sees us as having broken the law in His sight.
ALL HAVE FALLEN SHORT.
If you transgress the law in only 1 point at anytime you are guilty of the ENTIRE LAW.
All are guilty because ALL HAVE SINNED at some point.
Sin is the TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.
**Man can try and seek God THROUGH THE WORKS OF THE LAW but Paul is telling us He needs to be sought THROUGH FAITH and that is the issue he’s saying.
He’s saying none are righteous BECAUSE OF THE LAW.
We know he’s not making a blanket statement for all of mankind because HE’S QUOTING FROM THE PSALMS WHICH ARE POETIC AND USE HEBREW HYPERBOLE.
We know this because the bible lists several examples of men WHO WERE IN FACT RIGHTEOUS.
*Paul isn’t contradicting other passages in scripture, He’s simply setting up the audience in Romans 3&4 so they know that righteousness only comes BY FAITH.
I always encourage Calvinists to do a study on all the people who sought the Lord in the Bible or were commanded to when they quote Romans 3:11 and that they’d be surprised at how many examples there are.
As well as how many people are called righteous or just in the scriptures.
I believe that passages such as Romans 3:11 are simply misunderstood by Calvinists especially when you consider the rest of Paul’s writings coupled with the whole counsel of scripture.
Since there are countless scriptures of men seeking God in the Bible as well as those who are declared by God as being righteous and just we have to determine what Paul is actually trying to say.
Context includes WHAT the writer is writing, WHO the writer is writing to, as well as the time and place.
We need to take a birds eye view of the scriptures before we laser in and isolate certain texts out of context so we can use them as so-called “proof texts.”
We need to ask ourselves what is the heart of the Father and then seek to try and understand and see that heart of His throughout the pages of scripture and what He’s ultimately trying to say and trying to accomplish from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.
If we laser in on one or two verses without considering the concept of the verses and chapters before and after then we’ll miss what God is trying to say and accomplish.
We’ll only know God with head knowledge and not truly know the depth of His love with a genuine HEART knowledge which I believe is clear throughout the pages of scripture that the will of God is that ALL should come to the knowledge of the truth and that He extends His hand to them with a GENUINE OFFER of salvation longing that they would receive Him but they willingly would not.
Not trying to come up with different wills of God or different types of grace or different types of love which is just adding, adding, and adding to His Word.
But just trusting that what He’s saying is real and true and genuine and is in line with His heart and the rest of scriptures.
Amen. Thank you for this explanation.
Well explained
Does anyone know where Edwards talked about the two types of seeking?
No one seeks after God on their own, the Holy Spirit must ‘ prompt ‘ them and even after that the ‘ flesh ‘ still does not want to seek after God.
If we are truthful we have to admit that our flesh really is seeking after the next opportunity to go against God and sin. If we are truthful Christians we have to realize and admit that we are a battleground between our corrupt flesh and the Holy Spirit within us.
Pray that the Holy Spirit never gives up and never goes away.
Truth
A dad is being questioned...he told his son to clean his room. The son did not. The dad spanks his son for disobeying. But there is more to the story--the son is ONE, he can’t hardly walk, much less clean his room. People everywhere are upset with this unfair treatment of the son. But then the Calvinist steps in and says, “That’s ok. That’s what God does. He tells people to do things, that He knows they cannot do. The reason they cannot do them is because He created and decreed for them to be that way.”
If you are evil, and know how to give good gifts to your children, our Father in heaven will give good things to them that ask. God is good!
Substitutionary Atonement! B/c he did it in our place for our behalf. It is all an act of Grace!!! -Danya
@@uncasunga1800 did Paul preach repent from sins?
Talking about “PROSPERITY GOSPEL”
Love this Man !! unfortunately not many of these men left here with us. Thank the lord for John Mac !!!
Proverbs 3:5-7 King James Version (KJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Everyday not just Sunday
Acts 7:48
“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,”
WOW
I am amazed at how complicated some people make this sometimes. R.C. Sproul is a great teacher in many respects but sometimes it sounds as though he is trying his best to persuade people away from God rather than telling people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation.
RC 💕
Resting in CHRIST : RC 💕
If someone is "seeking" after God, then God must be drawing him already. If they do not find God, then it was them seeking for relief but rejecting God as the answer.
That comment went from 100/100 to 1000/100 real quick lol
+1
AMEN!
I guess gods conviction of his own belief wasn’t enough for that person to believe in him. Now god is at fault for that persons own eternal punishment.
Seek and ye shall find.
I’m a new Christian (I hope and pray that I am). How do I know if I’m seeking God for the right reason? I don’t trust my feelings and emotions, and my heart is deceitful above all things.
1920s you will begin to have a new relationship to with/to sin and the sinfulness thereof. The understanding of it will stem from a proper understanding of the gospel in that Christ has expiated your sin and through faith in Him alone you are justified by faith alone. It is in seeking and knowing the -person- of Christ as scripture reveals him to be and not ultimately an idea of your own, just using the name. Therefore, the “right reason” is two-fold, one is that you recognize that our “pre-fall” responsibility always was as Sproul alluded to and that is to “worship God and enjoy him forever” as only the regenerate are truly able to do and secondly as Jesus says, “whoever is forgiven much, loves much” and “you will know them by their love”
A.J. Williams I appreciate your thoughtful reply. I’m going to an Orthodox Presbyterian church and I was baptized in December, but I’ve been struggling with assurance. I’ve been unable to sleep, terrified, restless, nightmares etc. I was on meds for bipolar/depression for 27 years. Drugs and alcohol for 20. Those things I believe are affecting my assurance. I’ve questioned my initial repentance, motives, and everything else. I’ve been getting some counseling from an elder, but I still have lots and lots of questions, and I’m the type of person that just has to know all the answers right away.
I don't think any of us begin by seeking God for the right reasons. Thankfully, it's about Jesus doing all that is necessary instead of us. Maybe after a lifetime of serving God we will seek him for the right reasons, but that comes after we believe, not before.
1920s Hebrews 4:12 for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. - How can you be sure if your motives? Scripture is the answer. Hope that helps
1920s stay away from reformed theology and RC Sproul if you want assurance of your salvation.
Reformers can never know if they’re truly saved because according to their beliefs you could be predestined to eventually fall away from the faith and then at that point they would say you weren’t actually really saved.
Most of God’s commands come after the fall, so how does that make sense? For that matter, Paul is writing after the crucifixion of Jesus, so the means for us to have the ability to follow those commands has been provided. And even those who were saints in times past were predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ, so it doesn't even make sense for those prior to the cross.
Have you lusted? Jesus said if your eye causes you to lust pluck it off.
Jesus said if you want to follow him then sell all your possessions and given to the poor?
-- did Jesus say those things because you could do it? You cannot do it. No one can.
That's the point.
Edited as response to below comment
26 herbs
I’m curious to know what your questions prove to oppose what he said.
Thanks.
I am completely and utterly opposed to the heretical Finny church model which is exactly what R.C. Sproul is talking about that some churches employ.
Great call, that's exactly what he is talking bout!
@Barry Midikiner NeedGod.com
Daniel Hamilton
John 12: 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Could have these believed had they not been hardened?
@@evanu6579 They are either elect or they are not. This does not negate the fact since we do not know who is called by God and who is not that we shouldn't evangelize.
Daniel Hamilton
My question wasn’t about evangelizing. It was about mans ability.
Why did God have to supernaturally later their natural state to prevent them from believing if total inability is true?
Many people are asking, “How can I give myself to God?” They want to give themselves to Him, but their moral strength is weak. They doubt God and are controlled by sinful habits. Their promises are easily broken, like ropes of sand. They cannot control their thoughts or their desires. Because they cannot keep their promises, they lose confidence in themselves and wonder if they are sincere. They feel that God cannot accept them. But they must not lose hope. STJ 44.1
We all need to understand the value of willpower. The power of choice is the ruling power in life. Everything depends on the right use of this power. God has given the power of choice to each person, and it is theirs to use. We cannot change our hearts. We cannot by ourselves give our love to God. But we can choose to serve Him. We can give Him the powers of our mind. Then He will help us choose the right way. Our whole being will be guided by the Spirit of Christ. We will love God, and our thoughts will be like His. STJ 44.2
It is right that we should desire to be good and to be holy. But we must not stop there. These desires will not help us. Many people will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the place where they yield the powers of the mind to God. They do not choose to be Christians. STJ 44.3
An entire change may be made in our lives through the right use of the power of choice. When we put ourselves on God’s side, He gives us His great power to hold us. By giving ourselves to God each day we will be able to live a new life, the life of faith.
Steps to Christ page: 45.1
because he endured all things for the elect
Wise words by Sproul.
Yes, Sir. Dr Sproul was a very wise man and a God send, in the Name of Christ Jesus.
Perfect illustration of this concept from the Old Testament:
The Israelites were commanded to keep the entire Law of Moses perfectly, and yet the text also tells us that they were not capable of doing so, and even foretells that they would inevitably disobey God's Law and suffer the consequences for it. The fallacy would be to say that because God commands people to obey His Law, therefore man is capable of obeying it, but throughout Scripture we see clearly that man does not have the ability to obey the Law which God has given.
"Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!" (Deut. 5:29)
"But Joshua said to the people, 'You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.”
And the people said to Joshua, 'No, but we will serve the Lord!'
So Joshua said to the people, 'You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve Him.'” (Joshua 24:19-22)
“When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the Lord your God to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed. And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you." (Deut. 4:25-27)
It is similar in regards to the command to repent and believe the gospel: although the gospel is to be preached to all people, Jesus said that no man can come to Him unless drawn by the Father (John 6:44). Although the Old Covenant is certainly distinct from the New, I believe that with both we see the total depravity/total inability of man in view, showing that man lacks the capacity in regards to both obeying God's Law and apprehending God by faith. Only the power of God can make a man believe. God has said that it is impossible for His Word to fail, and it will accomplish exactly what He intends for it to do (Isaiah 55:11), which means only those whom God has graciously chosen will respond, and they definitively will do so, but only by the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit. God's people are born not by the will of man, but of God (John 1:13); "it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy (Romans 9:16)."
Uncas Unga True
Cody Reitsma what scripture verse do you use to support your belief that mankind cannot respond to a God who is first seeking them and initiated salvation in sending His Son and took the divine initiative and first step towards us by sending His Son, giving us His Holy Spirit, giving is His Word and speaking to us through creation?
Were all those divine initiatives by God not good enough that He STILL has to on top of all of that effectually cause us to believe?
Does the Holy Spirit need ANOTHER Holy Spirit on top of the one that’s already been sent into the world?
@@apilkey Romans 1-3, when read as a whole, show that man's natural condition is a willful suppression of the knowledge of God even in the face of general revelation (creation and conscience). In other words, those chapters show us that although God has indeed revealed Himself through His creation, man only responds by rejecting God through worshipping the creation, and therefore apart from Christ man stands before God only in a state of condemnation. This is made evident in that Romans 2-3 tell us about the universal guilt of all man (all people have failed to respond to God's general revelation and have broken His Law), culminating with these decisive statements:
"What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
As it is written:
'There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.'” (Romans 3:9-12)
The assumption seems to be that because God has revealed Himself generally through creation, therefore fallen, fleshly man has the ability to respond in faith based purely on general revelation alone. However, Romans 10 makes it very clear that special revelation (the preaching of the gospel in accordance with the Scriptures) is required for a person to put their faith in Christ. The reason why people need to hear the gospel is because of the very fact that all men already reject God's general revelation (as we see in Romans 1), and categorically do not seek after Him at all (as we see in Romans 3).
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:14-15a, 17)
Man is naturally of the flesh and cannot please God (Romans 8:7-8). Since faith is required to please God (Hebrews 11:6), that means the flesh cannot produce saving faith of its own accord, and therefore a man must be given a brand new spiritual nature (John 3:3-8) before he even begins to exercise faith and thereby begin to seek after God.
In John 6, Jesus also states clearly that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, and that those whom the Father does draw will most certainly be raised at the last day (John 6:44). In this one verse we see the total inability of man (he can't come to Christ unless the Father first draws him), and that there is also a direct connection between the Father's drawing and the final resurrection, meaning this verse is referring to God's definitive, effectual drawing of the elect (only the elect are ultimately raised to everlasting life).
Romans 9 and Ephesians 1 also teach that the elect were chosen in Christ before the world began according to God's eternal purpose. This means that God cannot and will not fail to save everyone He intends to save, since salvation is rooted in God's sovereign, infinite will and not man's fallen, finite will. This is a strong argument against the idea that God is actively trying to save literally everyone but will not achieve that goal; again, God definitely will achieve His goal because everyone He intends to save will be saved.
Cody Reitsma Hi Cody I noticed in my email account that you replied but I can’t see your response here.
Did you delete it?
@@apilkey I did respond, but I will post it again here just to make sure.
@Aaron Pilkey Romans 1-3, when read as a whole, show that man's natural condition is a willful suppression of the knowledge of God even in the face of general revelation (creation and conscience). In other words, those chapters show us that although God has indeed revealed Himself through His creation, man only responds by rejecting God through worshipping the creation, and therefore apart from Christ man stands before God only in a state of condemnation. This is made evident in that Romans 2-3 tell us about the universal guilt of all man (all people have failed to respond to God's general revelation and have broken His Law), culminating with these decisive statements:
"What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
As it is written:
'There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.'” (Romans 3:9-12)
The assumption seems to be that because God has revealed Himself generally through creation, therefore fallen, fleshly man has the ability to respond in faith based purely on general revelation alone. However, Romans 10 makes it very clear that special revelation (the preaching of the gospel in accordance with the Scriptures) is required for a person to put their faith in Christ. The reason why people need to hear the gospel is because of the very fact that all men already reject God's general revelation (as we see in Romans 1), and categorically do not seek after Him at all (as we see in Romans 3).
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:14-15a, 17)
Man is naturally of the flesh and cannot please God (Romans 8:7-8). Since faith is required to please God (Hebrews 11:6), that means the flesh cannot produce saving faith of its own accord, and therefore a man must be given a brand new spiritual nature (John 3:3-8) before he even begins to exercise faith and thereby begin to seek after God.
In John 6, Jesus also states clearly that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, and that those whom the Father does draw will most certainly be raised at the last day (John 6:44). In this one verse we see the total inability of man (he can't come to Christ unless the Father first draws him), and that there is also a direct connection between the Father's drawing and the final resurrection, meaning this verse is referring to God's definitive, effectual drawing of the elect (only the elect are ultimately raised to everlasting life).
Romans 9 and Ephesians 1 also teach that the elect were chosen in Christ before the world began according to God's eternal purpose. This means that God cannot and will not fail to save everyone He intends to save, since salvation is rooted in God's sovereign, infinite will and not man's fallen, finite will. This is a strong argument against the idea that God is actively trying to save literally everyone but will not achieve that goal; again, God definitely will achieve His goal because everyone He intends to save will be saved.
Would we believe in Jesus and turn from our sins if there were no heaven or hell? Just non existence after death? I believe there's a heaven to look forward to, and a hell to be shunned.
Romans 7:14 - 8:1
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do (my notes from the mouth of Christ; forgive them father for they know not what they do). For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Why indeed?
Maybe human responsibility!
Humans are totally irresponsible
@@iacoponefurio1915As are you!!!
So can someone explain Cornelius also.. he did tried to please/seek God right ?(if I am not wrong)
Yep
Timothy Fish but bible doesn’t say if he was a believer while is started seeking.. so doesn’t Cornelius incident support seeker sensitive movement ?
th-cam.com/video/F21nhnSgi_4/w-d-xo.html
But why can't God give all those things, happiness, meaning etc...
Is it me or he didn't actually answer the question of Paul's address on Mars hill ?
the statement that no one seeks after GOD if spoken in abgeneral form...... maybe to those not converted yet......
the truth is no one seeks GOD and rather they are brought......
a new believer may need that extra push to be told to seek after GOD in order to come by the HOLY SPIRIT......
a believer, after already believing, must grow in the body of CHRIST...... in this sense one must further their salvation till they become mature
You absolutely seek God. He wants a personal 1 on 1 relationship with you and he will reveal Himself to You through this. take up your cross everyday and seek Him.
The Bible disagrees with you no one seeks God. Romans 3:10-11 " None is righteous no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks God".
Chris Coulter you’re taking that verse out of the context it was written. He was getting the point across that nobody understand nobody is righteous and nobody seeks God. If we are not to seek God then let’s all just sit and indulge in our sin until God talks to you?
@@benwassabi6182 he is not talking about those who are saved before you were saved you didn't seek God. Its not talking about those who believe yes of course they seek God because they have been given new hearts. But before anyone is saved no one seeks God.
Chris Coulter in that case yes you’re right my dude
But it wasn't Christians Paul addressed on Mars' hill, it was pagans.
Why is RC Sproul misrepresenting the Pelagian Heresy. And why does every Calvinist just nod like some bobble heads. Pelagianism is heretical not because it states that unregenerates can seek God, but because it denies original sin and the work of work of the cross.
So what would be the point of invinting an unbeliver to church?
GREAT QUESTION!!!! EXACTLY the point....Pretty much there is no point in inviting..... What RC is explaining is *The Albert Finney model* look up wiki... that models people to *invite people* into the church and then *relys* on the pastor to share the gospel....which is wrong. WE HAVE THE GOSPEL. They then *invite them* (wrongly) into a relationship with Jesus, which also is unbiblical.
If you've ever heard of anyone who claimed to be a Christian and then left Christianity....think back to see if they *invited Jesus into their heart* This is unbiblical. They may have accepted the invitation and then later rejected the invitation.
As a new believer back in the late 80s, I walked down an aisle, prayed a prayer, signed a card, raised my hand many times...this is works... which brought about a false sense of security in salvation. I do NOW have Saving FAITH, but it took many years for me to realize that it is all completely and I mean totally all A work of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit ALONE that salvation worked within me, and for me, and is a gift to me.
So, if someone walked away, they never were among us in the first place...1 John. So SINCE the church is for BELIEVERS, they need instruction in going out, they no longer need the Gospel.
They/we are to be instructed in how to GO MAKE disciples Matthew 28, then bring them to be baptized and then teach them the commands Jesus taught us to follow. Pray before reading Mt 28!!
I hope this clarifies or answers your question!
Sorry this is so long of a reply....It is very difficult to explain over TH-cam.
Faith comes by hearing, and yes hearing a preacher preach, might be beneficial, but preachers aren't supposed to be preaching the gospel. The church doesn't need the gospel. Unbelievers need the gospel.
This is where the church, she is supposed to go out and make disciples. Jesus NEVER said, world go into the church, he said Church GO OUT into the world.
Long story short, RC is explaining the heretical model of many churches today.
If you are asking bc you are in a church that does this, RUN!! And find a Reformed Church that teaches historical biblical Christianity, I highly recommend it.
We attended Willow Creek Community Church for 18 years, and then went over to Harvest Bible Chapel for 12 years and then finally left a little over a year ago and have found a wonderful church that teaches verse by verse, how to live for Christ and go out and make disciples.
Have a blessed day!!
Also look up arminianism, Albert Finney, and this should explain a lot. Also pray for the Lord to open up understanding of his truth. Psalm 119.
I only write this because I was trapped as many were trapped in the non-denominational world of arminianism.
A church is the home of believers, not pagans my friend.
@@tracesofheaven-giftbandit3094 aint't lovely to see so much division today, in so called christian churches? Most use a lastname after the world christian.
@Barry Midikiner I wonder what people like you do on videos like these. Is it just uninspired trolling or you think you'll convince anyone to join your side with all those vulgarities?
After the fall we dont have the ability?
Hmm... then why did God tell cain about sin waiting at the doorstep and that he has to subdue it?
Because cain couldnt???
Thats like me telling my paralysed son to fix the roof and then when he doesn't do it I punish him and tell him oh just because I told you to do it doesnt mean you have the ability to do it.
These kind of convoluted logic makes no sense in light of scriptures and commands of Jesus and it has become a business for these calvinists to sell this pack of lies that is totally unnecessary to begin with. So much of fancy talk which mean nothing and dont make us one bit more spiritual.
Ephesians 2:4-10
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ *(by grace you have been saved),* 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 *that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace* in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 *For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,* 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Exactly, because we are not able, it shines a spotlight on the exceeding riches of the grace of God in His tender mercies toward us. Not our strength or will or might, but His. This is not about the glory of man but rather the glory of God.
@@marjieyoung9570 I love Eph 2, but it does not support your point. We cannot save ourselves, but we can recognize our sin and cry out to Jesus to save us.
@@jcthomas3408 I think you may have missed my point. My point was this is not about man. This is about bringing glory to God. Salvation glorifies God.
Before regeneration a person does not confess they have sinned against God. They think they are justified in their sins and deeds. They shake their fists against God and war against Him saying in essence, "You're not the boss of me You big bully!" and "Who are You anyway? I don't believe in You!" The law of God brings conviction and once we have been regenerated we see ourselves as God does and we confess (meaning 'same word') that we are sinners. We agree with God. Then we repent or turn away from our sins and turn toward God instead to embrace Him. All this is not of our own works but of God. We don't get the credit for it at all. Salvation is 100% a work of God and He receives all the credit and glory for it. Left to ourselves we will always choose sin until the Holy Spirit regenerates our hearts. Only after that will we choose God. Queue Ephesians 2:4-10.
@JC Thomas
Pragmatism says if it makes sense it must be true. Scripture doesn't always sound reasonable, but it is always, always truthful. I believe you're reading Scripture wrongly.
If you look back and find a video RC explains how God's word says it is all totally a complete work of God.
Soli Deo Gloria.
No sinner would EVER run to Jesus after they realize they were a sinner. They would RUN the other way.
Ephesians 2 is WRITTEN to believers, people who already have faith. RC is explaining for those who don't have faith, cannot admit they are a sinner and always run the other way...away from God.
You should study the Westminster catechism questions, there's a 107 short questions that answers *this exact question* you are facing.
Questions 13-15 explain Liberty and Ability Adam had *before* the fall and then after the fall of Man, west Ability, kept Liberty.
Before the fall ADAM had ability to choose right from wrong. After the fall we ALL CAN ONLY choose wrongly. We no longer have the ability to choose rightly.
And EVEN after becoming a Believer, the only ability you're given to choose rightly is bc of GRACE. And just because somebody chooses rightly doesn't mean they have God either.
That's a whole nother discussion about the LAW being inborn in and written upon our hearts.... but the catechism does explain that as well in that section about the law. I'm grateful that your mind is thinking about the truth. And even wanting to know the truth. But do not make the mistake of saying just because it's sounds unreasonable, that God's word is incorrect.
I highly recommend the Westminster Shorter Catechism by GI Williamson where you will go through the basics of Christianity.
Page 54 starts questions 13-15.
I'm in a Bible study that is going through the entire catechism in 12 months!! And this very question came up last week in our study.
I pray that the Lord will illuminate the truth to you and that you be willing to listen to the truth. I know sometimes it's hard to accept the truth but please be open to hearing the truth of God's word.... not what you think it means oh, but what it actually means.
God bless!!
And just to be clear .... very clear, no one can cry out to Jesus, SAVE ME!! SALVATION is all 100% work of God.
It would be ....like this....you drowned, washed ashore and then laid dead on the beach and asked someone to revive you... You can't ask. You can't cry out. You can't do anything.
Just like you had nothing to do with your first birth, you have nothing to do with your second birth... salvation.
You're talking arminianism. Study arminianism and you will see that it is based on 99%God, 1% you. Noone has anything to do with salvation.
Arminianism is a Works righteousness salvation... bringing a false sense of Salvation and security.
@@marjieyoung9570 You are repeating Calvinistic lessons, not the straight Bible. We cannot be regenerated until we believe. The message is repeated in scripture, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved", not, if you are elect, then God will regenerate you and then you will believe. Cornelius in Acts 10 and the eunich in Acts 8, and many more in the Bible were not shaking their fists at God, they were seeking him, and God sent them the message so they could believe.
So when Paul says "No one seeks God.... No one does good, no not one". Does that include Christians? Or do Christians seek God after they are saved?
Paul is quoting the words of David. Based on the text in Romans 3:9, it appears that Paul was using it to show that both Jews and Gentiles are sinners. Certainly, David wasn't talking about a total inability to seek God in Psalm 14 and Paul seems to be using it only to say that the Jews had no special claim to salvation that the Gentiles didn't have. Even though they were chosen (elect), they would be punished by God all the same. But the Bible includes plenty of examples of people who have sought after God.
Timothy Fish amen and Psalm 14 is specifically speaking of the FOOL.
His commands are not out our reach according to scripture! For God in his grace has made it possible to seek God!
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
Acts 17:26-27
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:5-9
And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.
2 Chronicles 33:12-13
"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord , that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:6-7
I cant understand why these criminals cant find a policeman.
That's the problem with the Fall concept (besides which that is never stated anywhere in the bible), it's putting the cart before the horse, after-all, if they had had the 'moral ability' to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, why did they? Because they did NOT have it; why were they disobedient? There was no Fear of the LORD before their eyes. Did they covet? Yes, that is in part why Paul used that example with himself. Did they worship the creature rather than the creator? Yes. Did they know God as the LORD GOD? No. Did God put them there in the first place to show their total inability to be obedient to Him? Yes. Did God create 'the serpent'? Yes. Why did "Eve' not see the Tree of Life, that is to say, did she even know about it? not according to scripture. She wasn't even there when God spoke to 'the man' about it. Here is the True Fall: "And GOD CAUSED a Deep Sleep to FALL upon the man. And He Slept" (end of story, and he still sleeps otherwise Paul would not have written; "Wake up Sleeper..." *quoting Isaiah. Even in using the same explanation R.C. Sproul did, God commanded "the man' to do something he couldn't do. The man was made from DUST - and became a living soul. He did not have the Spirit of God in Him (Christ in you, The Hope of Glory) as such, in His View, was 'fallen'. "And I saw Satan Fall like lightning' to where? A place that is already un-Holy...
All men seek God however, they do not know it is he they are seeking. another word used by Jesus is TRUTH.. LIFE...WAY.. they are seeking but don’t realize that it is God that fills that void. There, that would end that discussion..no debate needed.
Seek after God do not seek after self
You’re saying that before the fall we were able to follow God‘s command, but isn’t it the Adam and Eve were the cause of the fall and they didn’t listen to his command so, even from the beginning, they had a choice. As we do now to believe and have the ability to be righteous through faith.
26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; - Acts 17:26-27
After the fall of Adam, and at particular times throughout human history to the present God created every single nation along with their boundaries so that individuals within these nations would seek Him and find Him. The seeking apparently even involves some groping abilities on the part of the unregenerate person. God has made it possible for "each one of us" to find Him by being not far from us as opposed to far. I agree with Dr. Sproul that no man can come to God unless God draws him (through natural revelation, His word, the Holy Spirit etc). I disagree that this involves a person being regenerate first.
If an unregenerate person can seek God then what's the point of being regenerate in the first place?
he say before the fall we could seek after god but not after the fall. he quotes augustine. augustine did not write any scripture.
funny how he didn't back up that statement about not having the ability to seek god after the fall with scripture isn't it? want to know why? because no where in the scripture says you can not seek god or you don't have ability to believe in god.
the scripture hes talking about says no one seeks not no one can seek
another verse that calvinist go to is no one can come to me unless the father draws them. well thats close to what the calvinist say but the father draws everyone by the gospel. the bible says how will they believe ......
i was talking to matt slick on the phone the other day and he brought up verses that say god grants us to believe. grant does not mean make by some irresistible grace.
follow close a lot of non calvinist like myself believe
can we seek god on our on? no but we are not on our on
the gospel comes to us and we make a choice to believe or reject it
no where in the bible says otherwise. if so please show me
john ford amen not a single verse in scripture says fallen man is unable to respond to a God who is SEEKING THEM.
Man is totally depraved separated from God and in need of a saviour and cannot Dave Himself.
That does NOT mean he is totally incapable of believing.
An Ethiopian can’t change the colour of his skin but he can still cry out ti the One who can.
A slave can’t free himself but he can still cry out to the One who can.
Plenty of examples in scripture of men seeking God in scripture and being called righteous and upright etc.
Reformers don’t understand the context and the difference between trying to seek God by works of the law or obtain righteousness through works of the law and that of seeking God by FAITH.
...According to Hebrews 11:6 he that cometh to God must first BELIEVE:
HEBREWS 11:6
6 But WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: for HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.
**ORDER SALUTIS - You Must BELIEVE in order to come to God.
We ARE able to SEEK Him according to Hebrews 11:6
@@apilkey bottom line is this. calvinism can't have man "choose" to believe and accept god and the death of jesus because it would rob god of glory. if man can choose then he get some credit for his salvation.
john ford Ya exactly and that’s where Calvinism is dead wrong.
According to THEM it robs God of His glory.
But according to God Himself and the inspired Word of God it doesn’t.
That’s simply an OPINION that they THINK it somehow robs God of His glory.
Reformers ASSUME they actually know what glorifies God.
What glorifies God is obedience to His Word and keeping that as our final authority.
What glorifies God is when His creation submits to what He’s sovereignly decreed and so anything contrary to that is an act of rebellion.
They’re on a mission to downplay man thinking that glorifies God.
Downplaying God’s creation actually downplays God so I’d be cautious.
*TO THE CALVINIST:*
In your effort to downplay man thinking that glorifies God you’re forced to resort to a false doctrine of total inability instead of a biblical doctrine of total depravity which is simply being spiritually separated from God and unable to save himself.
And then since you’ve adopted the false doctrine of total inability then you’re forced to believe in pre-faith regeneration.
And since you’re forced to believe in pre-faith regeneration then you’re forced to find proof-texts that you think support that and are forced to twist them to fit your belief.
And then you’re forced to ignore the rest of the numerous scriptures that tell us the Biblical order of salvation which is you believe unto righteousness.
And since you’re forced to ignore those passages you’re also forced to remove Christ from the equation.
You are doing the opposite of glorifying God in your effort.
**God doesn’t need us to downplay ourselves so He appears more glorious or to somehow display Himself in a better light.
**Let’s remember that; because if we downplay our worth in Him we’re actually downplaying our Creator who designed us.
Be cautious that in trying to somehow preserve God’s glory you may actually be DETRACTING from it!
God doesn’t need you to tell Him how you think He’s most glorified because He shows us CLEARLY in the bible.
HIS SON DEMONSTRATED IT!
Yet somehow in our human wisdom we think to ourselves, “that can’t be right!”
We think that God couldn’t possibly be glorified by bringing Himself LOW.
So we say like Peter, “No God!
Far be it from you Lord!”
And what happens to Peter?
Jesus REBUKES Him for thinking he knows better and calls him satan!
MATTHEW 16:23
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, BE IT FAR FROM THEE, LORD: THIS SHALL NOT BE UNTO THEE.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN: THOU ART AN OFFENCE UNTO ME: FOR THOU SAVOUREST NOT THE THINGS THAT BE OF GOD, BUT THOSE THAT BE OF MEN.
God doesn’t need us to be glorified.
He doesn’t owe us anything.
He owes HIMSELF everything and in order to fulfill that God must remain true to who He is in His word.
God is declared as BEING LOVE in His word and therefore He loves us not based on any merit of our own but simply based on WHO HE IS.
Just as it is impossible for God to lie because God is truth; so to it is impossible for God not to love because God IS LOVE.
He CHOOSES to glorify Himself through us.
God’s desire for His own glory/
God’s self-glorification/God’s Glory
IS BEST REVEALED IN HIS SELF-SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR ALL.
God does not sacrifice creation for the sake of His own glory, but instead He sacrifices HIMSELF for sake of His creation, which in turn truly reveals Himself AS THE MOST GLORIOUS OF ALL!
**By putting the welfare of man above His own self-glorification, God reveals Himself to be SOO MUCH MORE abundantly glorious than anything we could imagine!
**We see this modelled in Christ who fulfilled the very definition and greatest form of love by LAYING HIS OWN LIFE DOWN!
It is through giving up His glory, by putting the needs of lowly undeserving humans first, that HE IS MOST ABUNDANTLY GLORIFIED.
**Does God care more about His own glory than the welfare of humanity? OR, DOES GOD’S CARE FOR ALL humanity reveal just how glorious He really is?
If no one seeks God, how can even the regenerate seek God? The conclusion is that "no one" is speaking in a limited sense and the alternative explanation that "basically no one seeks God except for the few who seek him" is completely plausible, and therefore does not necessitate a Calvinist soteriology ("basically no one seeks God except for the regenerate").
John 5:40 you will not come to me so that you may have life. Notice the order. Come to have life not i give you life so you can come...
so how do you know that you are redeemed?
selpingos : repent and believe the gospel. God will give you a new heart and you will know. It is a supernatural transformation.
Hi John...LOL!!! I am a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ and have been one for 39 years. My question was directed to Calvinism actually. If people are chosen to be saved then how do they know that they are chosen?
selpingos : I went to church my whole life and professed to be a Christian who believed that Christ was my lord and savior. I thought it was ok to sin on Saturday and repent on Sunday. I learned the true meaning of repentance at 54 years old. I repented and God changed me. I used to love my sin and now I hate it. Predestination, elect, chosen? I don’t understand that yet but I am learning all the time. I know one thing for sure, the Holy Spirit lives in me.
That's awesome John. The grace of the Lord is what has kept me in Him all these years. God bless you my brother. Let the Holy Spirit lead you through the word.
selpingos : you too. Take care.
I was with RC until he said we don't seek God until after we're converted. I know for a fact I sought God WHILE I was being converted. During that time I would not say I was a Christian. I was working towards it, but it was a months long process.
We don't seek after God until we've been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. He makes us alive to Christ and enables our ability and desire to seek after God which leads to confession, repentance, and saving faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. That process takes a different amount of time for each individual. Before regeneration we are at enmity with God.
@@marjieyoung9570 He said conversion...not regeneration.
@@JayWC3333 time 2:18 - 2:40, 4:00, and throughout he is talking about regeneration. Arguably you could say, as R.C. did in the final few seconds of the video, a believer does not *truly* begin to seek God until conversion when he is not just searching for a remedy for his condition but is saying in his heart, "Lord, I want to *know* You," not just meet You.
I found this for you thinking it might help and you may enjoy pondering it:
*What's the difference between regeneration and conversion?*
"The difference between regeneration and conversion is a slight difference, but it’s an important one.
"Regeneration is the work of God the Holy Spirit as He supernaturally and immediately *changes the disposition of the soul from spiritual death to spiritual life.*
"Conversion is a result of regeneration. *When we are converted, we’re turned around and we move in a different direction.*
"Sometimes we get confused about this, because particularly when people give their testimony, they often say, “I was born again on February the 13th, 1975,” and so on. That person is testifying to a conversion experience. They may have been regenerated earlier than that but only became aware of their state of conversion at a later time.
"So I think it’s important that we make sure that we distinguish between those concepts."
This transcript is from an Ask R.C. Live event with R.C. Sproul and has been lightly edited for readability.
If you were seeking you were regenerated weather you knew it or not, no NON converted seeks after God, they Can’t!...but they do run from Him, as his enemy, knowing how formidable opponent He is, is the natural thing to do...
@@uncasunga1800 I am both moved with sympathy for you and repulsed by your unwarranted hostility toward all of us here. Sympathy because you have obviously not experienced the new birth if you think the *only* reason a person seeks God is to avoid Hell. Clearly God also regenerates the heart and causes people to seek after Him as well. That's not simply out of fear of Hell. That's inspired by a 180° change of position accompanied by a new found love of God and everything about Him.
Repulsed because who wouldn't recoil from a person acting with such hostility? Do you interact with people like this face to face? I would not ask for an apology for myself, but you should consider revising your attitude and apologizing to these other people. Just because you disagree with them/us is no reason to behave in an uncivilized manner.
Sproul is right on as per usual
C'mon lets do the twist........................
Dr. Sproul did a good job explaining a Biblical truth that seems contradictory in the scriptures. No one can seek God based on Romans 3:10; it is one of the descriptive features of everyone under sin in Romans 3:9-18. Yet we find many that are commanded to seek God and actually seek Him in the scriptures. This is possible only by the work of God; the Father must draw them to the Son (John 6:44). The gospel is a command to rebel sinners that won't come because they actually hate God (Jesus describes the unsaved world's hatred towards Him, God the Father, and Christians in John 15:18-23), but are required because they know God exists but deny Him; they suppress the truth of God in their unrighteous nature though their conscience and the creative order testifies to it, so they are without excuse (Romans 1:18-23).
The objection here was addressed by Sproul: Does the command to seek, repent, and believe God mean that man has the ability to do so? No, it is only inferred and we can only embrace that inference if there are no declarative verses that say man can't. Romans 3:10 and John 6:44 declares that they can't. In scripture, we must never override the declarative with the inference. We can never override God's attributes with man's limited abilities. When Jesus told Lazarus to come forth, it was a command, not a suggestion, but Lazarus was dead. Why is Jesus ordering a dead man to do something he has no ability to do? Because the command and God's resurrection power on Lazarus is done at the same time, giving Lazarus the ability to come forth when he couldn't (John 11:43-44). In the same way, sinful man is spiritually dead, but God in His mercy brings Him to new life (Ephesians 2:1-5). This regeneration (or being born again) is not by the will of man or the will of his flesh, but by God (John 1:13) so that sinful man can receive/believe Christ and be adopted as sons of God (John 1:12).
Eric Smith The account of Lazarus has absolutely nothing to do with being born again.
Jesus tells us right in the story what His purpose is.
If we take your logic then a dead man can’t sin either.
Spiritual deadness has nothing to do with an inability to respond to God.
Spiritual deadness means we are separated from God due to the fall and in need of a saviour and completely unable to save ourselves.
This does NOT mean we can’t cry out to the One who can.
Can a dead man sin?
@@apilkey Your question can a dead man sin is based on a faulty premise. Ephesians 2:1 says we are dead in trespasses and sins. The prepositional phrase "in trespasses and sins" tells us what we are dead in. It isn't physical death because we are still physically alive, therefore it is spiritual deadness. And Ephesians 2:2-3 describes that spiritual deadness, calling us children of wrath, children of disobedience, and those that walk according to the lusts of the flesh, the desires of the flesh and of the mind. As for Lazarus, it is a physical example of what God also does spiritually. If God physically raises the dead, He spiritually does so as well.
Romans 3:10-18 also describes our sin nature; we are not righteous, we don't understand, we don't seek God, we don't do anything good, we have deceitful, bitter mouths, we are murderous, we don't know any peace, and there is no fear of God. Every fiber of our being is against God in thought, word, and deed, so much so that Jesus says the unsaved world hates Him, God the Father, and Christians in John 15:18-23. Combine that with the fact that Jesus Himself said that no one can come to Him in John 6:44 (and that is talking about belief in the context of John 6:29-65), the Bible makes quite clear that the sin nature of man makes man unwilling and unable to come to Christ because he doesn't want to.
We can only cry out to God when God changes our hearts. That is why we proclaim the gospel, in hopes that God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25). You're objecting based on fleshly logic instead of what the Bible says. That is the reason you didn't use one Bible verse to make your point, but reasoned from your own understanding (which Proverbs 3:5 warns against). Based on God's Word, I respectfully disagree with you.
Eric Smith YOU SAID: “Your question can a dead man sin is based on a faulty premise.”
REPLY: No it was exposing your faulty premise because you’ve just confirmed what I believe in that YES it refers to SPIRITUAL deadness and NOT an inability to respond to God.
Of course it’s spiritual deadness.
*********************
YOU SAID: “As for Lazarus, it is a physical example of what God also does spiritually. If God physically raises the dead, He spiritually does so as well.”
REPLY: Wrong. That’s YOUR conclusion.
YOU draw that inference not the scriptures.
Jesus Christ HIMSELF tells us the purpose of the Lazarus account and yet you reject what He says and instead you want to tell Him what the Lazarus account is about???
...According to John 11:4 the Lazarus account as stated by JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF was for the glory of God that the Son might be glorified by DEMONSTRATING HIS POWER OVER DEATH AND THE GRAVE:
JOHN 11:4
4 WHEN JESUS HEARD THAT, HE SAID, THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, THAT THE SON OF GOD MIGHT BE GLORIFIED THEREBY.
************************************
...According to John 11:15 Jesus intent is clearly stated again as being THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE:
JOHN 11:15
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, TO THE INTENT THAT YE MAY BELIEVE;
************************************
...Then also in verse 25 Jesus says He is the RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.
**This is the purpose of this miracle which is to PROVE that He is:
JOHN 11:25-27;40
25 JESUS SAID UNTO HER, I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND THE LIFE: HE THAT BELEIVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, yet shall he live:
26 And WHOSOEVER liveth and BELEIVETH in me shall never die. BELEIVEST THOU THIS?
27 She saith unto him, YEA, LORD: I BELEIVE that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.…
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, IF THOU WOULDEST BELEIVE, THOU SHOULDEST SEE THE GLORY OF GOD?
*VS25: Lazarus was NOT a depiction of salvation but of CHRIST’S POWER OVER DEATH.
A SIGN OF HIS RESURRECTION POWER.
HE STATES THIS TWICE IN THIS PASSAGE.
JESUS STATES HIMSELF THAT A DEAD MAN CAN BELIEVE BECAUSE HE’S TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUAL DEATH!
(HE THAT BELEIVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD)
YOU CAN BELIEVE THOUGH YOU ARE DEAD.
This is clearly stated by Jesus Christ Himself in vs. 25.
**He doesn’t say, “He that is regenerated first though he were dead.”
We believe even though we are SPIRITUALLY dead.
YOU’RE NOT MADE ALIVE SO AS TO BELIEVE.
*VS 26: WHOSOEVER liveth and BELEIVETH in me shall never die.
BELEIVEST THOU THIS? BELEIVEST THOU THIS?
BELEIVEST THOU THIS?
If you believe in pre-faith regeneration then you absolutely don’t believe Christ’s words in vs. 25.
* VS 40: IF THOU WOULDEST BELEIVE, thou shouldest SEE the glory of God.
NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
*****Jesus DOESN’T say, “If thou wouldest be regenerated you would see the glory of God.”*****
YOU’RE BORN AGAIN SO AS TO SEE THE KINGDOM.
You don’t SEE THE KINDGDOM FIRST SO AS TO BE BORN AGAIN. (HEBREWS 11:1, JOHN 11:25-27;40, JOHN 3:36)
You need FAITH to see the Kingdom.
You don’t see the Kingdom first so you can then have faith.
That’s NOT faith.
Faith is NOT seeing first.
Faith is the exact OPPOSITE according to the Bible.
Faith is the evidence of things NOT SEEN and not the other way around!
HEBREWS 11:1
1 NOW FAITH IS the substance of things hoped for, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.
Again you have faith FIRST before you see.
************************************
...yet again so there can be absolutely no doubt what the purpose and intent of this miracle is for Jesus states again in His prayer in John 11:42 that it is SO THEY MAY BELIEVE:
JOHN 11:42
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE that thou hast sent me.
Eric Smith ...We clearly see at the very end of the account that Jesus’
very purpose as stated at the beginning in verses 15 and 42 was fulfilled and was successful in that many of the Jews that saw the miracle BELIEVED:
JOHN 11:45
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, BELIEVED on him.
************************************
...Then according to John 11:47,48 the chief priests and Pharisees fully recognized this that it was through the working of such miracles that people would believe.
Even the Pharisees recognized it wasn’t because pre-faith regeneration that they believed but because it was witnessing the miracles and power of God:
JOHN 11:47
47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48 IF WE LET HIM THUS ALONE, ALL MEN WILL BELIEVE ON HIM: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
Eric Smith Jesus said Lazarus sleepeth because he was not dead spiritually but only dead PHYSICALLY.
Lazarus coming to life was a picture of the resurrection to life again in Christ of them that believe at the last day and a demonstration of Christ’s power over death and the grave.
JOHN 11:25
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that BELIEVETH in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
*VS25: Believe FIRST though He were dead shall live.
This is told clearly right in the account itself-Jesus says BELIEVE and though he were dead shall live.
He does NOT say I effectually call him so that he may believe and live.
Jesus simply called Lazarus and he came forth.
He didn’t change his heart or open his ears to hear.
He simply called him just as everyone has been called and invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Parable of the Wedding Feast Matthew 22:1-14)
...According to Romans 10:17 faith comes by HEARING and not by a heart change:
ROMANS 10:17,18
17 So then FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? YES VERILY, THEIR SOUND WENT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS UNTO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD.
************************************
...Again according to Psalm 19:1-6 God’s voice has gone out:
PSALM 19:1-6
1 The HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD;
And the FIRMAMENT SHOWETH HIS HANDIWORK.
2 Day unto day UTTERS SPEECH,
And night unto night REVEALS KNOWLEDGE.
3 THERE IS NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE WHERE THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD.
4 Their line has gone out through ALL THE EARTH,
And their words TO THE END OF THE WORLD. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and THERE IS NOTHING HID FROM THE HEAT THEREOF.
************************************
...Similar to Lazarus HEARING GOD’S VOICE we also see earlier in John 5 that he who HEARS AND BELIEVES IS PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
That even the spiritually dead can STILL HEAR:
JOHN 5:24-29
24 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.
25 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.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 MARVEL NOT AT THIS: FOR THE HOUR IS COMING, IN THE WHICH ALL THAT ARE IN THE GRAVES SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE,
*VS28: this is a reference to the resurrection in the last day as stated by Martha in John 11:24
************************************
... According to Revelation 3:1-4 Jesus Himself describes the church of Sardis AS DEAD YET STILL FULLY CAPABLE OF REPENTING:
REVELATION 3:1-3
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I KNOW THY WORKS, THAT THOU HAST A NAME THAT THOU LIVEST, AND ART DEAD.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I HAVE NOT FOUND THY WORKS PERFECT BEFORE GOD.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and REPENT. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
************************************
Jesus Himself tells us His purpose in this story of Lazarus and yet we ignore Him and make it out to be about something totally different than what He originally intended!
Is scripture your authority in this passage or is reformed theology?
SOLA SCRIPTURA.
Sad he didn't believe the scriptures
May we introduce Jesus to those who do not yet know Him?
Psalms 119:151
Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
Jesus is The Word, John 1:1-5
The Word God spoke: Exodus 20:1
The Word God wrote: Deuteronomy 4:13
and The Word God made flesh John 1:14. He is our example of The Trinity. He is The Law that hung on the cross and The Law that is written in the heart.
Psalms 40:7
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me
Hebrews 10:7
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
We do not work for our salvation, Jesus died and saved the world. But we can work for our protection from the plagues, those coming to steal, kill, and destroy, from deception etc.. There is nothing wrong with works for we are judged on our works. Faith without works is dead. Why would Jesus tell us to pray for workers, if no work is to be done?
May we all receive the wisdom of The Father in Deut. 6:8-9 and the advice of Paul and put on Jesus.
This complicated theoretical faith amazes me. And even when being complicated, it is actually at the same time far too black and white in this question. So I Wonder, how many of you calvinists have actually experienced eternal life, which is knowing God? If you have, You would understand that there is both a calling and a choice like the one Adam and Eve had, eating or not eating of the tree of knowledge, or one like the choice God gave the israelites, when he told them to choose between life and death, and not least the call for repentance to THE CHURCH in the book of revelation chapter 2 and 3, where Jesus says to most of them that they are about to fall away and be rejected by Him. So the bible rejects this calvinist theology from the start to the end. You would have known from your own experience how faith grows a little by little by hearing the gospel like in the parabel of the different soils and the seed, and you would recognize the choice being part of that process, and understood the calling correct. Have you guys really never seen that process in others as well, and seen how some people reject God even though obviously being called by God? Come out of this false Babylon religion where your high priests make a religion based on pure human philosophy, before it is too late. Wake up and realize that the sign of being Gods people is not to have the correct doctrine. That is exactly what the pharisees thought was making them special. If you admit you have never experienced being driven by the holy spirit, which is the true sign, and you start seeking God with all your heart, taking off your religious calvinist glasses when you read the bible, you will experience being born again, and a life with God. HE who seeks will find. I recommend listening to people knowing this life and with the gift of teaching, like Zac Poonen.
Seems complicated maybe it is just me
Asked, the Lord Jesus Christ to open your eyes to His Truth.
I disagree with R.C's statement at 6:11, "Nobody seeks for what they don't want." The Holy Spirit will cause an unrepentant sinner who is elect to curiously seek out the things of God AGAINST the sinner's will. The unrepentant sinner will not understand nor necessarily appreciate the things taking place inside of him that are causing him to "seek" - that is the "drawing process" of the Holy Spirit. In fact, much will take place inside inside the 'uncooperative seeker' before he is aware of what has even happened to him. He can't make sense of or even explain why he is driven to seek. Gradually he becomes more cooperative but still rebels as much as he seeks. In fact he rebels to the same degree the Holy Spirit is causing him to "seek" until the heart has been fully transformed and he becomes born-again wishing to fully turn to God.
THE LAST DAY You only get the Holy Spirit when you are born again, and once that happens you are saved. Ezekiel 36:24-28. Everyone does not get the Holy Spirit.
Barry Midikiner says the guy that thinks everything came from nothing! 🤣😂 And everything is random too, huh...yet here you are in my non random world, arguing for something you don’t even believe in. 🤔 Interesting unless you are suppressing the truth of God, that you claim doesn’t exist. *we know you know that God is real*
Just dropping a comment to get the number to 667 comments
Wtf he tryna say?
"No one seeks after God," is a generalisation.
Mark Rogers how’s so?
@@susewambold8175 2Chr 26:5, Ps 34:4, Jer 29:13, Jer 50:4, Hosea 3:4-5, Zech 8:23, Deut 4:29-31, 2Chr 11:16, Ps 40:16, Ps 70:4, Ps 105:3
There are plenty of people who seek after God. I would suggest that Ps 14 is quoted in Romans as proof that both Gentiles and Jews, as groups, have all chosen to reject God. ("What then? Are we [Jews] better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, 'There is none righteous... there is none who seeks for God.'") This suggestion is strengthened by reading the entirety of Ps 14 which contrasts the wicked majority with the "righteous generation" and "the afflicted" - of whom it is said: "the LORD is his refuge."
Now, if you are very motivated, you may decide that the righteous generation and the afflicted are actually part of the evil majority - they does not seek God. They have somehow managed to keep the LORD their refuge whilst at the same time turning aside and becoming corrupt. I find that improbable.
It is much more reasonable to take the text in the manner Paul seems to use it: as proof that "both Jews and Greeks are all under sin," not in a hyper-literalist form from which we are to conclude that no living human being has ever sought after God. For the Bible frequently claims that this person or that person sought after God or this group or that group will seek after God. And it frequently exhorts us all to do the same.
N.B. It is worth noting that just because many people have sought after God does not mean that anyone has ever found God without His help. For our sin keeps us from God and we cannot pay for it - or even really be free from it - except by the grace of God.
@@jeremiahkeenan8293 I find your analysis really just fine, and generally can go along with it, particularly for the Christian virtue of unity. But if I may - none of the scripture you provided actually negates a traditional understanding of the scripture mentioned in the video, namely that no person seeks God apart from cooperating with God in that seeking. Since it is only by Christ that we come to the Father, it is reasonable (as the church has done since its inception) to conclude that the interpretation of Paul here is that someone who is seeking God **is** being empowered to do so in or by Christ. Then, the point remains, those who are truly seeking him, find him.
Always missed.
Regeneration precedes faith.
Chaz Giordano
That’s not what the bible says.
John 20: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Did you know that regeneration didn’t even take place until Pentecost?
Blessings.
Yes, that is completely the scripture- based sequence of salvation. No one can come to Jesus unless the Father "draws" him, and he is born of the Spirit. We cannot birth ourselves physically , nor can we birth ourselves spiritually. Jesus was crystal clear on this. The LORD is sovereign of all things!
Me thinks Sproul quotes to many Philosophers like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas instead of the word of God in context. If we read Romans 3 in context the Apostle Paul does not say sinners are incapable but there is no fear of God. Romans 3 confronts everyone bringing the whole world guilty before God. The Moral law of God is brought into view a spot light shines on the conscience that reveals the knowledge of sin that none are good none are righteous pointing sinners to Christ who freely justifies by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
There is nothing in Romans 3 that says sinners are incapable of coming to Christ or incapable of understanding when they are shown the law pointing to the justifier Christ Jesus. Furthermore Romans 3:26-28 reveals that faith is not a work. Faith is not a gift so that destroys regeneration proceeding faith. The Apostle Paul in Acts 17 preaching to the Athenians says seek the Lord while he may be found. Now this is the same Apostle Paul that wrote Romans 3 there is a contradiction. So either your interpretation of Romans 3 is wrong or your right and have to accept contradiction that the Apostle Paul is contradicting himself. I will go with your interpretation of Romans 3 is wrong that philosophy of man has corrupted the inspired text in context meaning.
Tony777 Amen exactly. According to Psalm 14:1-3 the FOOL has GONE ASIDE (Not was aside from birth) and has BECOME filthy (Not was filthy from birth):
PSALM 14:1-3
1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all GONE ASIDE, they are all together BECOME filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
When Paul speaks of none seeking God we know he’s not making a blanket statement for all of mankind because HE’S QUOTING FROM THE PSALMS WHICH ARE POETIC AND USE HEBREW HYPERBOLE.
He’s quoting from Psalm 14 which is speaking of the FOOL.
We know this because the bible lists several examples of men WHO WERE IN FACT RIGHTEOUS.
**Paul isn’t contradicting other passages in scripture, He’s simply setting up the audience in Romans 3&4 so they know that righteousness only comes BY FAITH.
ROMANS 3:10
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
This is a description of how God JUDGEMENTALLY sees us as having broken the law in His sight.
ALL HAVE FALLEN SHORT.
If you transgress the law in only 1 point at anytime you are guilty of the ENTIRE LAW.
All are guilty because ALL HAVE SINNED at some point.
Sin is the TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.
**Man can try and seek God THROUGH THE WORKS OF THE LAW but Paul is telling us He needs to be sought THROUGH FAITH and that is the issue he’s saying.
He’s saying none are righteous BECAUSE OF THE LAW.
We CAN seek the righteousness that is by FAITH.
ROMANS 2&3 are designed by the apostle Paul to create a problem thereby showing what is IMPOSSIBLE.
ROMANS 2 shows we’re going to be judged according to our DEEDS and (“by the way”) in chapter 3 it’s showing you’re going to FAIL!
It’s showing us that OUR righteousness is NO GOOD.
It’s AS FILTHY RAGS
Hes quoting from Romans 8. Please pay attention.
Choice Meat Randy I just re-watched it for to get the time stamps for you.
Please pay attention Randy.
RC mentions what Paul wrote in Romans 3 @2:29 - 2:41.
Then @5:58 the other gentleman mentions it yet again.
Please pay attention.
@@apilkey RC clearly says that no unregenerate person seeks after God as it says there in Romans. That quotation is specifically from Romans 8:7-8. He goes on to explain that humans only *look like* they're seeking after God but there's no true seeking. This ties back to what Paul already wrote from Romans 3:11 about how no one understands and no one seeks God *unless* God first intervenes in a sinner's life.
Choice Meat Randy RC specifically talks about not seeking God which is in Romans 3 not Romans 8.
The word “SEEK” is not found in the passage you’re referencing.
The verses you’re referring to are these ones:
ROMANS 8:7-8
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Biggest theological issue in the first few centuries was Augustine vs Pelagius? No...I think you need to go back and restudy Church history....
What was the biggest issue?
In most of the first four centuries, this was no great controversy. It was only a controversy when Augustine made it one around 400 ad. This was the gateway to the dark ages.
Pelagianism was denounced by the early church. Sorry but you need to go back and do some studying.
Dwang, in all fairness Augustine did develop a few false doctrines, but in all fathers they did add their own thoughts that another continued to develop it. All fathers had errors whether large or small, Subordination gave way to Arianism and Synergism emphesized gave way to Pelagianism.
But the Roman Catholic church in the end was somewhat semi - pelagianism which was partly the reason why the reformation was needed and so the reformers appealed to Augustine for their soteriology.
The ones who did not seek after God in this verse doesn’t refer to all man kind. Because the Lord said He was found by those who did not seek Him. The ones Paul is referring to in that verse as not seeking Him, was Israel. Not gentiles. Israel did not attain what they sought because they did not seek by faith. But by the keeping of the Law. By generational lineage. So The Lord said I would provoke you to jealousy by a foolish nation. Respect of persons is a tool Satan uses in the end times to blind Christians to the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. The Grace of Christ be with you all.
Born again people seek after god i think Romans 3 11 means lost sinners dont seek after god
You are wrong sir:
Acts 17:26-27
And hath made of one blood ALL NATIONS OF MEN for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That THEY SHOULD SEEK THE LORD, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.
Besides, if fearing going to hell wasn't a good reason to seek for God, the Lord Jesus Himself wouldn't have told us to fear the One who has the power to send us there...
You are wrong they did not seek after him. Cult member blinded by the delusion of human righteousness
You literally cant read
@@iacoponefurio1915Wow…you’re literally in every post. You’re the brainwashed one in these threads!!! But, you have no choice but to be in these threads as God preordered you to do it…you have choice BUT to write your nonsense!!!
This is easy to answer. That Calvinist “prooftext” in Romans 3 does not teach the Calvinist doctrine of inability. Neither does the Bible anywhere. That passage is a quote from the Old Testament referring to rebellious Jews. It’s not a passage saying all people from birth cannot respond to the gospel. That’s false and unbiblical.
Sproul is wrong, God commands us to do things because we can do all things through Christ. He is just trying to rationalize the heresy of Calvinism
_because we can do all things through Christ_
That's exactly what he just said! Seeking can only be done by Christians, not non-believers. Please pay attention next time!
No!!!!! Stop taking scripture out of context...God tells us to seek Him, because we are required, accountable to God. If I can not seek Him, and yet God tells me to seek Him, then God is a liar. Just take scripture in it’s context, let it speak for itself.
Yes exactly
Why complicate the simple.
rangersNHL, no one is denying that God requires the sinner to seek Him and to repent and believe. It is a gospel command. You see that clearly in Acts 17:27-30. Yet you also can't deny that Romans 3:9-18 describes all (Jew and Gentile) under sin, and one of the descriptions is that no one seeks after God in 3:11 (which also tells us that no one understands, speaking of their mental capacity to understand spiritual things, which the natural man doesn't have according to 1 Corinthians 2:14). So do we have contradictory statements? No, because the Bible doesn't contradict itself.
God's command for man to seek, repent, and believe is based on God's attributes, not man's inability. Men are wicked sinners that break God's law in thought, word, and deed. This is the reason sin is called the transgression (or breaking) of God's law in 1 John 3:4. It is part of our sin nature. That nature makes our minds hostile to God (Romans 8:7) stemming from the fact that we hate God the Father, God the Son, and Christians when we were unsaved (this is Jesus' own words of the unsaved world in John 15:18-23). But mankind is held responsible because we know all about God based on our conscience and the creative order so we are without an excuse according to Romans 1:18-23. We actually suppress that truth in our unrighteous nature. So God must require the rebel creation to seek, repent, and believe the Creator based on the fact that mankind is totally sinful and He is totally good as lawgiver, judge, and king (Isaiah 33:22). It doesn't matter that the criminal won't obey the lawgiver because he refuses to; he is required to obey because the law is good. And without the Father drawing sinners to the Son (John 6:44), no sinner will seek God.
@DiscoFalcon, look back at Romans 3:9. The point is that BOTH the Jews and the Gentiles are under sin. (The elect and the non-elect.) The Jews aren't saved just because they are God's chosen people and that fact doesn't make God a liar. If you intend to make Romans 3:11 about inability, I would love to see you try to support that from the text of Romans.
@DiscoFalcon, "elect" just means "chosen." In this particular passage, the ones who were "chosen" were the Jews. In other passages where the concept of "election" comes up it may be other people, but in each case we need to know both who was chosen, what they were chosen for, and why.
@DiscoFalcon, what do you mean by "free will?"
I want purpose and I want a good God not the God of the Bible As I see him to be. Action speak louder than words and I know that God says he is all love but the fact that he would be willing to send somebody to eternal torment in hell just for not understanding God and coming to love him..... It's pretty pathetic. How can I have faith in a God and love a God that Never reaches out to his own son. Yes I believe in God and that jesus died on the cross for our sins but that doesn't make him good. Not everyone will refuse God because they hate him some will simply do it because there is no evidence of him trying to work in their lives for a relationship. It's those people that don't deserve to go to hell for their unbelief.