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hisalone said:
Something I discovered, like the doctrine of election or other doctrines, when a person is convinced of something it is next to impossible to unconvince them by simple reasoning. It takes the power of the Spirit of God to make that change. I wouldn't have it any other way, none of us want to be blown about by every wind of doctrine. It is this conviction which the martyrs were unwilling to compromise even to the death, might we all be as convinced.
Ya know... that almost sounds logical and biblical but unfortunately it is not. It is true that the Holy Spirit leads and convinces us of the truth of Scriptural teaching but it is not APART from secondary means, e.g., reasonable and logical arguments. It is NOT the case where someone rejects a truth and then suddenly without any human intervention (argument, defense, reason, etc.) that person embraces it. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/nono.gif" alt="" />

The Scriptures themselves are a testimony against this type of illogical "reasoning". And, they also explicitly teach that believers are to give a "defense of the faith", e.g.,

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Nehemiah 8:5-8 (ASV) "And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: and Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place. And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading."

1 Peter 3:15 (ASV) "but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: [being] ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:"

Acts 17:2-3 (ASV) "and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, [said he,] I proclaim unto you, is the Christ."

Acts 18:4 (ASV) "And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks."

Acts 18:19 (ASV) "And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews."

Acts 24:25 (ASV) "And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me."

Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 (ASV) "And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, [and] set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, [even] words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are [the words of] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd."
God Himself has "reasoned" with men to convince them to do right, e.g., Ex 4:11; 20:5,11; Isa 1:18; 5:3-4; 43:26; Ho 4:1; Mic 6:2.

In fact, preaching is a form of logical reasoning, i.e., it is a reasonable, logical and orderly expounding of God's written Word. It is through preaching of the Gospel and sound doctrine that men come to Christ and are sanctified. (cf. 2Tim 3:16, 17)

Thus, those who remain unconvinced of a truth have no defense in, "Until the Holy Spirit reveals this to me or convinces me of this truth, I shall keep my view(s)." For it is THROUGH the means of argument that the Holy Spirit works in the minds and hearts of men. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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