Hi Both

"Q: If God alone grants repentance, then why does God become angry at unrepentance? For example, in the letters of Revelation, Christ said that He gave Jezebel time to repent, but she didn't, so He's going to throw her into a bed of sickness. But if she's incapable of repenting (or you can substitute sinning Israel in various OT situations), then why give her "time"? She wouldn't have been any more able to repent two months later than two months earlier. Or, to give another example, unregenerate Israel had no more potential or ability to repent 390 days into the Babylonian siege than on day one. It's as if God has a repentance ray-gun sitting by His side in Heaven, and He is getting wrathful toward people, clans, and nations who constitutionally can't repent, but who would repent if He would just shoot them with His ray-gun"


I note that these words of Christ are directed to the Church. If it is regenerate believers he is addressing then, we can assume as such they were then in that state of regeneration, capable of repentance. We see this in the life of the believer, who backslides and then is restored to fellowship with God. We can assume that this the work of God in the believers heart, whereby his soul is aroused from temporary engrossment with his flesh, and makes its movement back to God.

This call to repentance then, is not to be confused with those who do not have the Grace of God in regeneration, and as such can not heed the call to repent. Even though the gospel is preached to them.
Except of course in the so called "effectual calling",when fallen and spiritualy dead people are given Divine ability power and life to comprehend and respond to the Gospel of Christ. I believe this is what is called "Effectual Calling".

Of course there are scriptures supporting this and this is a quick reply.

Cf 1 Corinthians-Paul has to address all manner of carnality in the church, where there was immorality, factions, drunkeness and so on. There is a parrallel with what is said by Christ to the Church in Revelation and with what Paul was addressing here. Note particularly what Paul says to them in Chapter 11 29-31 and Rev 2:21-22 see also 2 Cor 12:21. All speak of the requirement to repent or face Divine Measures being bought to bear upon those who refuse to.