Bart Goddard wrote:
> gkmcnees@comcast.net wrote:
>
>
>>>If, on one hand, we can't obey
>>>the law, then we can not receive salvation by believing.
>>
>>I must disagree. We can believe, for God enables us to do so.
>
>
> Which means that we must first be regenerated before we can
> believe. What else could "enabling" mean here?
>

"Enabling" is not causing or forcing - it is well, enabling.

1 a : to render able *enable a person to earn a living* : give power,
strength, or competency *his particular theology enabling him to
overcome some of the difficulties— S.F.Mason* b : to make possible,
practical, or easy *enabled passage of the anti-poll-tax law— H.F. &
Katharine Pringle*
2 a archaic : to give authority or sanction to : ENDOW b : to give
legal capacity to
3 : to give the opportunity to : ALLOW *examinations so designed that
high-school graduates are enabled to pass

Gary

((( s.r.c.b-s is a moderated group. All posts are approved by a moderator. )))
((( Read http://srcbs.org for details about this group BEFORE you post. )))

(~) Bible Readings for Sunday April 17

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a,51-60
or Nehemiah 9:6-15
1 Peter 2:19-25
or Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a,51-60
John 10:1-10

The First Lesson Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a,51-60

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the
Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being
neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called
together the whole community of the disciples and said, "It is not right
that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.
Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good
standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this
task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to
serving the word." What they said pleased the whole community, and they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with
Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of
Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid
their hands on them. The word of God continued to spread; the number of
the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the
priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the
people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen
(as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from
Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen.(And they brou