Whosoever Will

Visitor: I say whosoever so ever will and you say who so ever God enlightened

Response:  Indeed "whosoever will" is right... the thought of denying such an important part of Scripture never crossed my mind ...but if we are to honestly interpret the Bible we must declare the whole counsel of Scripture. The same Bible that teaches 'whosoever will' also teaches 'but men love darkness and hate the light and will not come into the light (John 3:19-20) and "the man without the Spirit cannot understand the things of the Spirit and thinks them foolish" (1 Cor 2:14) and "no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor 12:3).  i.e. No one naturally submits to the humbling terms of the gospel.

So I affirm, together with you, that whosoever will may come. But this is a conditional statement asserts nothing indicatively. "if you are willing", "if you hear", "if you do" declare, not man's ability, but his duty. "Does it follow from the imperative 'repent' that therefore you can repent? Does it follow from the command "'Love the Lord you God with all you heart' (Deut 6.5) that therefore you can love Him with all your heart? What do arguments like these prove, but that 'free-will' can do all things by its own power apart from the grace of God. Is that what you are trying to say?

A good interpretation takes into full account all the Scriptures. Taking everything into account affirms that anyone who is willing may come but it also affirms that no one is naturally willing apart from grace.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 11:01 -- john_hendryx

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