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Pilgrim said:
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Joe k said:
It is an involuntary response, below the level of consciousness, a perfect obedience to the Divine imperative of Jesus. The Lord God is the active cause; the sinner is the passive recipient. This is irresistible grace! The gift of faith enables the newborn soul to function in the spiritual realm, an ability he did not have prior to his quickening (Jno. 3:3b,5b; I Cor. 2:14). It also gives the individual the ability to believe, or, if you please, "ears to hear" (Rev. 2:7,11; Pro. 20:12; Mt. 11:15). The gospel is, subsequently, addressed to the regenerate (Acts 2:39; Acts 13:16, 26), for the unregenerate cannot believe (Jno. 8:43; Jno. 10:26; Rom. 3:10-18). Before an exploration of the purpose of the gospel in relationship to regeneration, let's further develop the concept of the immediacy of regeneration.

The word "draw" suggests the picture of someone drawing water out of a well. Does a man beg and plead for the water to get into the bucket? No, he reaches down and by an act of His own strength, he acts upon the water, dipping the bucket and pulling it to Himself. In the same way, sinners are regenerated. Interestingly, by comparing the Greek word for "draw" in John 6:44 with the few other places it is used in the New Testament, it becomes readily apparent that the idea of force, not invitation, was the popular usage of the term. For example, Acts 16:19 says that the masters of the demon-possessed girl "caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers." Acts 21:30 says that the Jews "took Paul, and drew him out of the temple...and...went about to kill him...." It doesn't sound like they were begging and pleading with Paul. He was acted upon by external force. Finally, James 2:6 uses the word to describe the persecution of early Christians, as "rich men...draw you before the judgment seats." Though some commentators argue that the word "draw" in John 6:44 does not necessarily imply the idea of external force, the way the word is used in the larger context of Scripture suggests that this is not only the possible meaning, but the probable sense of the word. The Holy Spirit effectively and successfully draws the sinner to Christ in regeneration. There is no exception to this rule. The call of God in regeneration is always effectual.
Joe,

Sorry, but I think the author has made several critical errors and IF this is one of your primary sources for holding to the view you do, I can now understand where you are coming from. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Again, I would suggest you read through several of the articles I have already referenced, particularly those on the "New Birth" and "Irresistible Grace", of which there are quite a number available.

But just briefly:

1) Regeneration: It is a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit of which a person does not experience, i.e., it is something which takes place without the person's knowledge and beyond his senses. However, the RESULT of regeneration which is conviction of sin, repentance of sin, a love of God, believing upon Christ, etc., IS experienced and is done by an act of the person's will, albeit irresistibly and infallibly. Again, the "will" is governed by one's intellect and affections, i.e., his predisposition, inclination.

2) Irresistible Grace: This is also known as the "inward call", which is ONLY perceptible by the new nature created in regeneration. Thus the "drawing" of the Spirit through the means of the Gospel appeals "compellingly", "forcefully" to the new nature. One illustration might be comparing this "force" to that of offering a cup of cold water to someone who is dying of thirst. Thus the "spiritual appetite" for God is so overwhelming that the person is "driven" to Christ... but this "compulsion" is NOT contrary to the will but IN FULL ACCORDANCE WITH the will.

3) Just because a word appears in more than one place in Scripture the idea that the definition of the word must be the same. This is nothing more than the old, "psycho-statistical-mean" hermeneutic used by Dispensationalists. Words have various meanings in all languages, including Koine Greek. It is the CONTEXT which determines which meaning is to be understood. To ignore this universal truth of grammar is to commit linguistic suicide and the resulting errors with it.

In His grace,

OK pilgrim. We shall part ways on this and differ. I find the article in accordance with scripture. In fact, I am more comforted that God does not have to wait for me to be willing to be regenerated or come to him. The fact that the word draw IS used in the same way in all of the examples I provided is not refutable. We always use this "context' arguement to argue our opinion. Too many times though we use it as a blanket. At times, scripture is plain and simple.

Were those in James dragged according to their will? And why would this be different for salvation?

There never was a sinner half as big as Christ is as a Savior.