…With regard to salvation, I believed the gospel because it was revealed to me as truth. Once I knew with my whole heart, soul, mind that the gospel was truth it was impossible for me to deny it. It would be like denying that two plus two is four. So, to me, those who are lost are lost because they have not had revelation. I know someone else had a similar experience wherein God revealed to them that it was their pride keeping them from accepting the gospel. Once they got this revelation they then knew it was truth and the pride fell away. So, I'm wondering if prior to man exercising his freewill there isn't some element of God's sovereignty which has to be at work?
Does God still reveal himself to mankind in that same exact way today? No.
Signs and wonders belonged to Israel! He brought the nation Israel out of Egypt with a mighty miraculous hand and promised them those signs in prophecy!
Deuteronomy 7:19
The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out:
Psalm 74:9
We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
But that's not so for today. Today it is faith that pleases God.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How does faith come?
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
But, you might ask, how do we hear his word?
Romans 10:13-15
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
1 Corinthians 1:17-21
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
So the way that God "reveals" himself and his truth today is not by mighty signs and wonders. He does it when we as humans put our pride and unbelief away, and believe his word! That is how God reveals himself today, and not the way Calvinism preaches it.
Romans 4:4-5
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
We hear the word of God and choose to believe it or not! If we believe it, we are saved; if we do not, we are damned!
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
1 Thessalonians 2:13, 10-12
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture [the words on the page] is given by inspiration [aka, from the mouth] of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect [mature in the faith], throughly furnished unto all good works.
In short, the way that God revealed to you (and to anyone else) the truthfulness of his word and need of his Saviour was while you thought upon his word and meditated about what he says about himself and your own sinfulness.
It was then, you were convicted by his word in your heart and mind and chose to believe it!
What about those who "have not had revelation?" There are no such people on earth!
Romans 2:14-15
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
God gave man a conscience [i.e., created man ‘with knowledge’] of his existence at creation and fortified it when we ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Every man knows there is a God and that they will be judged by him!
We just hold his truth in unrighteousness...we suppress it!
Psalm 14:1-3
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. [But] They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Psalm 50:6
And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
Psalm 97:6
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Romans 1:18-32
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge [their conscience], God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
And just like in Acts 17, when Paul was sent by God to tell them about the unknown God, God's word goes out to all men on earth and everyone has a chance to get saved if they choose to!
1Timothy 2:3-4
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth [of God’s Word].
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God has already made the provision!
Romans 10:18
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Psalm 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
They choose to stay in unbelief!
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Hopefully this
helps!
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