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| Roselle flowers |
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The flowers and the fruits are distinct; even so, And elect of God and a child of God. |
Dellis
Sing, the more I read your explanation
of conversion, the more sense I can see in it. "God demands His children to
believe the gospel of their salvation... because that is the truth of what God
has done for them." So true!
But are you saying that at no time ever was
the child of God in a depraved state?
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Brother Dellis, it gives me comfort that someone UNDERSTANDS what I'm saying. Whether anyone agrees or not, I couldn't care less.
You asked a good question. I love questions. A biblical position can withstand the most vigorous cross-examination and will NEVER be shown or exposed to be erroneous or contradictory.
An unbiblical position will very soon be shown to be full of contradictions and logical fallacies! And that's what the popular Calvinism IS - I have proven it again and again, and again. Just see some articles on the blog!
When asking questions, it is important to ask them PRECISELY, otherwise you may not get a right answer.
Are these two questions the same?
You asked:
"But are you saying that at no time
ever was the child of God in a depraved state?"
Do you actually want to ask this:
"But are you saying that at no time
ever was an elect of God in a depraved state?"
Biblical distinction is the essence of sound theology.
A child of God is distinct and different from an elect of God. A child of God is an elect of God whom He has effectually called out of his native state of sin and death (state of total depravity) to that of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ. So, a child of God is NO longer in a depraved state; NO, impossible
An elect of God, by nature, was conceived in
sin, born in sin, grew up in sin...
See Eph 2:1-3... note 'EVEN AS THE OTHERS' at
the end.
1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were
dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to
the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation
in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
So, if your question is:
"But are you saying that at no time
ever was an elect of God in a depraved state?"
Then the answer is: an elect of God is in his native depraved state UNTIL he is effectually called out of his native depraved state, by God's free and sovereign grace, into the state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.
An elect who is effectually called is a child
of God.
A child of God who is converted to Christ
through the gospel ministry is a believer and a disciple.
Among God's children, there are good disciples and bad
disciples.
There are God's children who are not brought to faith through the gospel ministry.
The gospel ministry is INTENDED for God's
children... such need to be brought to know and believe the truth of THEIR
salvation.
The work of FEEDING has to do with the
LIVING! It's that basic. The Apostles knew what they needed to do.
