(a short Bible study)
It is reasonable that the unsaved person is hesitant to accept the offer of salvation from God. He has been living in darkness, separate from the life of God, and without any understanding of the life of righteousness, not to mention that he loves his sin (Jn. 3:19-21).
If you could communicate with a pre-born child, he would be hesitant in accepting the offer to leave the only life he has known, during his nine months of his existence.
If a caterpillar could think, it would probably be hesitant to enclose itself in a pupa, and then it would be hesitant to leave the pupa.
The possibilities of salvation, or life outside of the womb, or the caterpillar flitting away on the wind, would seem unreasonable to each one.
The caterpillar cannot think, and cannot reason, and cannot decide its future. It will either become a butterfly or die prematurely.
The pre-born cannot reason or communicate, and cannot decide his future. He will either be born or he will die prematurely.
The sinner cannot change his status (Je. 13:33).
The sinner was born with a sinful nature (Ps. 51:5).
The sinner sinned willfully when he had a choice (Ro. 3:23).
The sinner has continued in his rebellion, and he will die in his sins (Ro. 6:23).
OR he will hear the call of God (Lk. 19:10), and by faith he will accept the offer of God to be born again (Jn. 1:12).
God does not reason with a pre-born or with a caterpillar, but He does communicate and reason with the sinner (Is. 1:18).
God does call the sinner to repentance (Lk. 5:32). God does offer salvation to the sinner, provided someone takes the gospel to him (Ro. 10:13-14).
In the beginning, God's plan for all of nature was life, growth, fulfillment. But sin brought death to the human family (Ro. 5:12) and to each individual in the human family.
Death came into the world by Adam, but each person is dead in his own sins and trespasses (Ep. 2:1).
We had no choice about being born, but we do have a choice about being born again (1 Jn. 5:1).
The preemie cannot save his own life, either from natural or violent causes.
The sinner is shown the inevitable tragedy of his rebellious life (Ro. 6:23), and he is called to faith (Ac. 16:31), repentance (Mk. 2:17), confession (Ro. 10:9). The sinner is offered deliverance from his lost condition (Lk. 19:10). The sinner is enabled to be saved (Ac. 2:21).
What a tragedy that so many choose to just follow their own sins to eternal separation from God.
In the beginning, God's plan for all of nature was life, growth, fulfillment. But sin brought death to the human family (Ro. 5:12) and to each individual in the human family.
Death came into the world by Adam, but each person is dead in his own sins and trespasses (Ep. 2:1).
We had no choice about being born, but we do have a choice about being born again (1 Jn. 5:1).
The preemie cannot save his own life, either from natural or violent causes.
The sinner is shown the inevitable tragedy of his rebellious life (Ro. 6:23), and he is called to faith (Ac. 16:31), repentance (Mk. 2:17), confession (Ro. 10:9). The sinner is offered deliverance from his lost condition (Lk. 19:10). The sinner is enabled to be saved (Ac. 2:21).
What a tragedy that so many choose to just follow their own sins to eternal separation from God.
