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David_P said:
Pilgrim, I agree completely will all you said. I agree with it from our perspective though. From an unbeliever's perspective, they don't care in the least what their relationship with God is. They don't care about anything like that, at least until the Holy Spirit works within them! My friends have scoffed at me when I tell them they need "a new nature; a radical change of their very core being, forgiveness of sins and the ability to overcome sin," because they already think they are "good people".
And how else would you expect an unbeliever to react to the truth; particularly in regard to their depraved nature and the fact that they are guilty before God? If the saying, "The truth hurts!" was ever applicable, it is here. But although unbelievers naturally hate the truth. (Jh 3:3-6, 19; 8:43; 10:26; Acts 7; Rom 8:5-8; 1Cor 2:14) Yet, it was the design of God to call the elect through the truth of the Gospel. (Rom 1:16; 1Cor 1:18, 21, 23; Rom 10:14-17) It is impossible to make the Gospel more palatable to an unregenerate man. Yet, this is exactly what the majority are trying to do today, but fail miserably. What they are doing is offering an admixture of the "gospel" and the "world"... sorta like adding a bit of sugar to sweeten something which is too sour; at least so they think. But to do so is dishonoring to God and a perversion of the truth and which most often produces results which do not accomplish the original intent; to see men saved.

Here is an incredible article by J.I. Packer which I am sure will find most enlightening and helpful: The Old Gospel and the New.

In His Grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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