Original Sin and Total Depravity (response to Dusman)

User avatar
_Paidion
Posts: 944
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:42 pm
Location: Chapple, Ontario

Post by _Paidion » Thu Nov 17, 2005 3:53 pm

1) Why is it that one unregenerate person believes the gospel and not another?
Man was created in God's image, and so everyone has a free will, just as God has a free will.

One unregenerate person chooses to sumit to Christ, and another doesn't.

2) What principle in him made him choose what he did?
The principle of free will.

3) Was he able to generate a right thought, produce a right affection, create right belief, while at the same time man #2 did not have the natural wherewithal to come up with the faith to be saved?


He was able to choose. Both person #1 and person #2 were able to choose. The first chose to submit to Christ, but the second didn't.
4) If they both made use of the same grace, did one make better use of it than the other?
Neither "made use of grace" in order to submit. Once having been regenerated, the grace of God becomes available to enable the regenerated person to obey God and work righteousness. See Titus, chapter 2.
5) If prevenient grace places us in a neutral state, then what motivates one man to believe and not another?


The "motivation" is the proclaiming of the gospel, the love shown by disciples, and the urging of the proclaimer. But even so, some people choose to respond, and others don't. It's the free will of man. It can't be anything else. But if you were to use a stronger word such as "cause" (What is the cause of a person's choice?) then I would say, there is no prior cause. The choice of a free will agent is a sort of "first cause" in a string of causes and effects.

"Whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely"
6) If all men are neutral in prevenient grace was it by chance that one believed and not another?
No. Not by chance, but by choice.

7) Is it the grace of God that makes you differ from unbelievers or is it your faith?

It is what you ARE! It is by faith that you are able to appropriate the enabling grace of God--- made available by Christ's death and resurrection. We must co-operate with the grace of God, or it will be in vain, accomplishing nothing.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Paidion
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald

_Anonymous
Posts: 0
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:03 pm

Post by _Anonymous » Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:46 pm

those are some good thoughts. I appreciate that Paidon. I also await others responses as well. Then I will give mine.

SoaringEagle
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:

Post Reply

Return to “Calvinism, Arminianism & Open Theism”