- Introduction:
-Calvinists interpret the word "dead" in texts such as Ephesians 2:1 to mean that man has been so corrupted by sin since birth that he cannot possibly respond to the callings of God. This is the premise upon which one argues regeneration preceding faith, and thus the entirety of the Calvinist systematic.
-While we agree that man cannot merit his own salvation, there is simply no scriptural evidence supporting the Reformed understanding of depravity. When one consistently adheres to the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture, one can easily see that Calvinism overstates its case in regard to the sinful nature of man. If Calvinism is true, then the Bible would not make any sense.
-We absolutely need the regenerating work of God, but that does not negate our responsibility of repenting and believing on the gospel for salvation. Man still has the moral capacity to recognize his problem of sin and accept the means of redemption that God has provided. Being dead to sin simply means living in rebellion against God. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts our hearts of sin.
-We absolutely need the regenerating work of God, but that does not negate our responsibility of repenting and believing on the gospel for salvation. Man still has the moral capacity to recognize his problem of sin and accept the means of redemption that God has provided. Being dead to sin simply means living in rebellion against God. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts our hearts of sin.
- The Scripture Tells Us To Seek And Turn To God And His Righteousness:
-"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You." (Psalm 9:10)
-"The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing." (Psalm 34:10)
-"Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!" (Psalm 40:16)
-"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
-"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him." (Lamentations 3:25)
-"Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips." (Hosea 14:1-2)
-"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)
-"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 17:27)
-"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8)
-"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
-"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him." (Lamentations 3:25)
-"Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips." (Hosea 14:1-2)
-"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)
-"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 17:27)
-"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8)
- The Scriptures Tell Us To Come To God:
-"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; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7)
-"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." (John 6:35)
-"Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger." (Zephaniah 2:3)
-"The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." (Revelation 22:17)
-"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." (John 6:35)
-"Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger." (Zephaniah 2:3)
-"The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." (Revelation 22:17)
- The Scriptures Exhort Mankind To Return To The Lord And Repent:
-"For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” (2 Chronicles 30:9)
-"Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness.” “Behold, we come to You;
For You are the Lord our God." (Jeremiah 3:22)
-"From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
-"I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
-"for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:24)
-"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent." (Acts 17:30)
-“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’" (Revelation 3:1-6)
-"Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness.” “Behold, we come to You;
For You are the Lord our God." (Jeremiah 3:22)
-"From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
-"I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
-"for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:24)
-"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent." (Acts 17:30)
-“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’" (Revelation 3:1-6)
- Whosoever Shall Call Upon The Name Of The Lord Will Be Saved:
-"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
-“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
-"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13)
-"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13)
- God Excepts Us To Make Decisions And Scripture Contains Conditional Statements:
-“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known." (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
-"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants." (Deuteronomy 30:19) -"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
-"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
