Did the puppy prevent the hen from gathering her chicks to herself?“O Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, how often would I have gathered thy children together, EVEN AS a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not” (Mt. 23:37)."
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Sing F Lau
The hen had laid and hatched her eggs, and brought forth her chicks.
The chicks are prior to the hen's act of gathering.
Hen gathers her chicks but Christ is prevented from gathering His people? But prevented in what sense? If Christ be as the other hen, who are his chicks?
The children of Jerusalem referred to by Christ ARE His people, even as chicks are the hen's, those that have been regenerated and given eternal life. They are His, He has effectually called them unto eternal life. No one can hinder the effectual calling of an elect unto eternal life. But many of God's children are hindered, by all sorts of obstacles, from being gathered into the NT church, professing Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
BUT they are prevented from coming to Him outwardly ONLY, i.e. professing Him as their Lord and Saviour publicly.
The religious leaders threatened them with all sorts of things from openly professing Christ. And it was a weighty matter to those children of God to be expelled and ostracized from their Jewish community. It was a burden many cannot bear.
Joh 12:42 "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue."
The elitist calvinists will WRITE OFF such children of God as unregenerated cowards! They proclaim that there can be no such among God's children.
In every generation, many of God's children are not converted through the gospel ministry for a host of reasons!
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Abe Jul
He says, "thy children..." not "my children." This is a commentary from an old strict/particular baptist manual of faith...
So, conversion is conditioned on freewill and the sovereignty of man now. This presents God as a frustrated beggar that cannot accomplish His own works of grace. This is what the Pelagians teach. It is synergism divorced from sovereign grace.
Joh 12:42 "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue."
Read the last 2 verses of John 2. Not all "believers" were true converts and regenerate children.
I can't find your view among the old school baptists. Only the conditional time-salvation Primitives. Even this view is not among all Primitives. But, its easy to spot out when one denies God's absolute sovereignty over all things and starts teaching a freewill and synergism time-salvation.
John Foreman
http://againstdutyfaith.blogspot.com/search/label/BK40%20-%20Matthew%2023%3A37
John Gill
http://againstdutyfaith.blogspot.com/2010/05/matthew-2337-john-gill.html
Sing F Lau
Abe, be careful NOT to impute to me thing I have not said. I suggest that you refrain. I do rejected your "So..." It may be your sincere conclusion, but that is not my belief.
Joh 12:42 "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue."
The passage say "among the chief rulers also MANY believed on Christ." I take for granted that as many as believed on Jesus Christ DID SO because of the eternal life wrought in them.
Were the chief rulers' public profession of Christ hindered because of the fear of men? Yes, or no?
Was God's sovereignty frustrated here at all? It most certainly was IF - IF - IF divine sovereignty INDEED guarantees and ensures that each and every one of His children (sentient ones only, it sounds stupid to even qualify, as though the gospel ministry is intended for the non-sentient among God's children) is converted, make public profession of faith through the gospel ministry!
Is it to deny God's sovereignty to note the PLAIN FACT recorded here in John 12:42 - that some who believe in Jesus Christ DID NOT make public profession of faith in Christ, i.e. they were not converted?
Does God's sovereignty guarantee the conversion of every regenerated elect? Yes, or no?
Also, does God's sovereignty guarantee that each regenerate elect become a reformed calvinist too? Are believers of Jesus Christ among the Arminians God's children then? Or did God's sovereignty fail among such? And what about believers like me, who are neither reformed nor arminians?
I remind you that the divine sovereignty is a double-edged sword. Be careful with it - it cuts both ways. Wield it with great care!
Just what exactly do you want to make divine sovereignty to guarantee?
John 2:24-25 DO NOT say that Jesus did not commit himself to them BECAUSE "Not all believers were true converts and regenerate children." That is what you say! You assume that are the reasons!
Abe Jul
Brother Sing, many of your questions and statements are irrelevant to the scripture and have no place in discerning doctrine from error.
Sing F Lau
That's a neat way of answering questions that expose the irrationality and inconsistencies of one's interpretation.
