God reveals Himself and quickens whom He will. |
John 1:12-13 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, but of God." We receive Christ because we have already been born again by God and all this is not connected to, because of, or dependent on our own will. Romans 9:16 "So then it IS NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." God first gives us a new heart and works in us to make us willing to come to Christ. Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." God reveals Himself and quickens whom He will. "OF HIS OWN WILL begat he us with the word of truth", "neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son WILL reveal him", "even so the Son quickeneth whom HE WILL", "therefore hath he mercy on whom HE WILL have mercy, and whome HE WILL he hardeneth." (James 1:18, Matthew 11:27, John 5:21 and Romans 9:18.) |