Bible Truth #12 - 2 Timothy 2:24-26

2 Timothy 2:24-26
24  And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
25  Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
26  and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

This is proof text that not only is faith and belief a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8, Philippians 1:29), so is repentance (verse 25 above). And I believe this can be applied not only to the lost (as it is in this verse), but also to Christians who are misguided and hold to the philosophy of men (i.e. man can reject God’s call to salvation which is refuted in many places, among which is Romans 8:29-30) rather than hold to the Word of God. Paul wrote that with those who oppose him (Timothy) he should not quarrel, but gently instruct in the hope that God will grant them repentance. Put simply, a man can’t even repent unless God grants it to him - and if God grants a man repentance, he WILL repent. This is why with any debate within which I find myself, I always TRY to never get “passionate” or angry. I inform people gently. My “problem” is that when I may notice they are getting angry, passionate, or a little flustered, I don’t call it off but want to stay on topic.

On top of that, a lost man won’t want to repent because repentance is only a result of belief and faith in the Savior, all of which is a gift (faith, belief, repentance). And a lost man won’t believe the foolishness of the cross (1 Corinthians 2:14) until God works in his heart and makes him a believer (John 6:29). And look at verse 26 above! That they will come to their senses! The lost can’t come to their senses unless God grants them repentance. I believe it is the same with believing God’s sovereignty in Election. Believers who think they chose Christ can’t come to their senses unless God grants it to them.

Again, bottom line is the Arminian and I both agree that a man who believes is saved, but Arminians say a lost man can come into the Light, a lost man can please God by accepting Jesus, and a lost man can understand the things from the Holy Spirit. BUT, I agree with the Bible which says a lost man won’t come into the Light (John 3:20), a lost man can’t please God (Romans 8:8), and a lost man can’t understand the things from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

My friend, the work of God on a man’s heart comes FIRST, because without God working first, the lost man will never stop HATING the Light (John 3:20) and is at enmity with God (Romans 8:7). BUT, God loves us (those He chose before the foundation of the world - Ephesians 1:4), He loves US so much that He changed our heart and MADE us believe/accept (John 6:29).