What Must I Do?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Aquila

No... it only means that the Father awakens the spiritually dead before He draws them to the glorious light of Christ.

We are not made spiritually alive from spiritual death before we even repent, Aquila. We remain dead until we appropriate what Christ did for us in conscious exertion of faith and are then regenerated. Paul associated awakening to newness of life and resurrection with so many of us as have been baptized into Christ. He also associated being dead in trespasses and sins with our need to be raised with Christ to sit together in heavenly places. There is no awakening to life from spiritual death before we even hear the gospel!

Rom 6:3-7 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Eph 2:1-6 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Death with Christ alone allows for resurrection into newness of life. And death with Christ requires conscious decision-making to die with Him in baptism. This proves awakening to life from spiritual death occurs AFTER we believe the Gospel, not before.

John 6:44
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (KJV)

Who can come to faith in Christ without the Father drawing them first?

"No man." ~ Jesus

Selah.

But the Father draws all, it's just that some refuse.