19 August 2006
Discovering Italian Reformers #2
Jesus Christ says that no man comes to Him unless His Father draws him (John 6:44). The apostle Paul says also, " All have not faith" (2 Thessalonians 3:2) and "faith is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). From this I understand that it is not a man's power to believe, to love, and to confide. Nor is it in the power of man to know God or to know himself. All of this is only brought about by the distinct favor of God. For it is beyond a man's power to make himself inwardly pious, just, and holy, since it is only God that is able to effect all of this.
~ Juan De Valdes (d. 1541) in the Eighteenth of One Hundred and Ten Considerations, Because of Christ, James M. Houston ed. (Victor, 2005), p.56.
Some will call such a statement Calvinistic, yet is nothing more than sound biblical teaching with or without the label.
// posted by Unknown @ 19.8.06 
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