John 12:40 says that some are blinded and have had their hearts hardened..... How can these people ever be saved, if God himself seems to be preventing them from seeing the truth ??
2006-08-26 18:56:21 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God already knows who will choose him and who will reject him. He still uses those who will reject him to fulfill his purpose. These are the people whose hearts are hardened. He is not preventing them from seeing the truth, he is just using their rejection of the truth to accomplish his will.
Kind of funny, because ultimately it means whether you are for him or against him, you are still helping him fulfill his plan. Pretty clever, eh?
2006-08-26 19:07:21 · answer #1 · answered by anabasis 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try IIThes 2 :16 -18 or so
God sends a strong delusion (KJV) or the power of error in other versions so that people will not recieve the love of the truth
God not Satan is blinding people - Hardened Pharoh's heart as well
2006-08-27 02:01:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans harden their own hearts. GOD can not break a persons free will. I suggest you check the old questions on free will in the search box. Free Will is what GOD gifted us because GOD does not want puppets, or robots. If he did he'd have them, easy enough. But! A people that have grown on their own to live as he wants for the love of HIM, and to do it freely, MEANS SOMETHING TO GOD.
You state: "How can these people ever be saved, if God himself seems to be preventing them from seeing the truth?"
For over 2000+ years humans keep flipping this as GOD has left us.
This is not the case, it has never been the case. GOD watches us turn from him, and gets sadder, but is patient, and sure enough the human that turned from him on Monday is back begging for help on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday back to sinning. BUT GOD NEVER STOPPED CARING - NEVER.
Actually, I can't get through to you - because your free will thinks GOD is at fault. So good luck with that, I can't force you to see 2+2=4 if you can't or won't lower your defenses to try and see.
night.
2006-08-27 02:14:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We harden our own hearts by sinning and then rationalizing and saying either that it wasn't sin or that what we did was justified.
God hardened the Pharaoh's heart because the Israelites needed to know that they were delivered by God, through the 10 plagues, and not by Moses.
People who have hardened hearts can be saved because it is the Holy Spirit that causes us to believe. It is nothing we can brag about. Having riches also hardens our heart. When Jesus told his apostles that, " It is harder for a rich man to enter Heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.", His apostles asked, "How then can anyone be saved?". Jesus replied, "With man, it is impossible. With God, everything is possible.".
We can not be saved by our own merit, "It is a free gift of the Holy Spirit.".
2006-08-27 02:21:30 · answer #4 · answered by Smartassawhip 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All people will be saved who want to be saved if they will turn from their wicked ways. God has made a way for all. Some are blind, which we all once were, but can see if the way is showed to them. Hardened hearts can be melted for God when the word is revealed to them...
EVERYone has a chance to be saved. Salvation is offered to all.
We have a fair and just God. Just remember He is also a Judging God.
2006-08-27 02:10:23 · answer #5 · answered by deed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read Romans 1:18-32. This is why some are blinded and have hardened hearts. 1: 24 is most important.
2006-08-27 02:09:33 · answer #6 · answered by imnoangel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God can only save those who wants Him to. These people are not letting God come into their hearts. How can God save you if You won't let him inside your heart? This is how you build your relationship with God if you let Him in your life and once you have Him in your heart He will always be with you wherever you go to give you guidance, comfort and security.
To understand God more read the bible everyday and attend bible study so you will know the meaning of all the scriptures. The bible is a good book to read. Try it cause you will find all the answers you need about God. God Bless and Amen to that!
2006-08-27 02:29:19 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all it is not God that is preventing them from seeing the truth, it is the devil that does that. I speak from experience. It is not until you can come to terms with what ever it is in your life that makes you hard hearted that God will open your heart and mind to further truths, and when you can handle them, God will give you more. But if you slip back into your old ways, God will hold back until you come asking for Him again.
2006-08-27 02:20:35 · answer #8 · answered by william_james_bond 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
John 12:40 is actually a quote from Isaiah 6:10. Read the entire Scripture in Isaiah and you'll see it's meaning.
2006-08-27 02:08:05 · answer #9 · answered by TJMiler 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have always been taught to read above and below a scripture that may raise some questions. In this book of John, Jesus had performed MANY miracles in front of a lot of people. He had healed a man that was born blind, walked on water, fed over 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and two small fish and had just raised his friend Lazarus from the dead!! Certain people still refused to believe in him, and what this scripture is saying is that those who refuse to believe by choice are going to have the truth kept from them!! You can't receive something you don't believe in.But the part that you left out is 'and I would heal them'. If they would just turn to God and believe in his son Jesus, he will unharden their hearts and open their blinded eyes!! Take one step towards God, and he takes two steps towards you!!!!
2006-08-27 02:17:32 · answer #10 · answered by Monique 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋