God himself must draw them when its all said and done. Jesus said "no man can come to me unless the Father draws him". Yes he uses us but he is the one that convinces them.
You know MtD,
People don't realize the miracle of God's Grace sometimes.
Think about it!!! If God did not draw us to repentance, we would simply not repent.
I know and believe in freewill, but ultimately my salvation is orchestrated by God and His plan-- not anything I have done or will ever do.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
There are a lot of religions in this world. When you are talking to someone who is not a Christian, how do you persuade them that Christianity is the 'correct' religion? The true religion?
You don't show it is the correct religion. You can't.
What you can do is show them that the message of Christianity is a good message. What you can do is speak about the hope and joy and peace and help with life's struggles that faith in God brings.
When Paul and others went out evangelizing the whole world was pagan. No one back then had been born into this belief. It was God himself who opened the hearts of anyone among the nations who believed. Whether by signs and wonders or simply opening the heart it was Gods work as it still is today! That is the accurate message of grace.
You don't show it is the correct religion. You can't.
What you can do is show them that the message of Christianity is a good message. What you can do is speak about the hope and joy and peace and help with life's struggles that faith in God brings.
When Paul and others went out evangelizing the whole world was pagan. No one back then had been born into this belief. It was God himself who opened the hearts of anyone among the nations who believed. Whether by signs and wonders or simply opening the heart it was Gods work as it still is today! That is the accurate message of grace.
An excellent point! I was just picking on ya.
Evangelism would be nothing but a long running and often pointless argument if the Holy Spirit weren't already at work making the "arguments" that we could never articulate.
I resisted the temptation to jump into this thread. But today, the flesh is weak.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pelathais
An excellent point! I was just picking on ya.
Evangelism would be nothing but a long running and often pointless argument if the Holy Spirit weren't already at work making the "arguments" that we could never articulate.
Other religions spread quite nicely, apparently without the Holy Spirit's help. But would Christianity fizzle without it? Why? Do its arguments make no logical sense? Why doesn't its message, on its own merits, compel people to get on board?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
There are a lot of religions in this world. When you are talking to someone who is not a Christian, how do you persuade them that Christianity is the 'correct' religion? The true religion?
I share with them the Story of God. It's a convincing story.
On an apologetics level, Jesus Among Other Gods is a must-read (Ravi Zacharias).
I resisted the temptation to jump into this thread. But today, the flesh is weak.
Other religions spread quite nicely, apparently without the Holy Spirit's help. But would Christianity fizzle without it? Why? Do its arguments make no logical sense? Why doesn't its message, on its own merits, compel people to get on board?
Because coming to faith in Jesus is different than believing in an idol, or deciding you believe in an old prophet. The Bible says that "no man can come to God unless the Spirit draws Him." The acts stories tell us the Spirit sends others out. Jesus is more than a creed. The Spirit attracts the hungry, directs those to the hurting, and discriminates in such a way as to bring those whom God has called to himself.
Jesus' claims make great logical sense. From a logical perspective, one may come to the conclusion that Jesus existed, and said what he said. But to believe what he said defies logic, except a logic grounded in the truth that God is great.
God is living, moving, breathing. His seeking after others is through the medium and person of the Holy Spirit.
Because coming to faith in Jesus is different than believing in an idol, or deciding you believe in an old prophet. The Bible says that "no man can come to God unless the Spirit draws Him." The acts stories tell us the Spirit sends others out. Jesus is more than a creed. The Spirit attracts the hungry, directs those to the hurting, and discriminates in such a way as to bring those whom God has called to himself.
Jesus' claims make great logical sense. From a logical perspective, one may come to the conclusion that Jesus existed, and said what he said. But to believe what he said defies logic, except a logic grounded in the truth that God is great.
God is living, moving, breathing. His seeking after others is through the medium and person of the Holy Spirit.
Not sure I follow. Does the Christian message make logical sense, or doesn't it?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
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