Question and answer: Does God ever give a genuine invitation for salvation?

Question: (I read this on-line with my answer)

Does God ever give genuine invitation?

Question:

Our pastor offhandedly mentioned 2 Corinthians 5:20 today, and it really caught my attention:
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

I've heard Calvinists (sometimes mockingly) ask where in the Bible God ever ASKS people to be saved, or where people are INVITED to receive salvation - they like to say that God would never stoop to ASKING anything, and that to use such language is demeaning and deceptive to how God actually goes about the salvific process.

Like I said, the wording caught my attention, so I went over to the BibleHub (http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-20.htm), to see if the wording of "appeal" and "implore" were aberrations of the ESV. I found that it's actually quite the opposite: The majority of translations use "appeal", while quite a few actually use "beseech". Many translations also have Paul saying "we BEG you...be reconciled".

The point being...Paul did not think it unfitting of God to ASK: Indeed, Paul thought that God BESEECHED and IMPLORED people to be reconciled to him, and that it pleased God for his ambassadors to BEG on his behalf for people to be reconciled.
I think this verse would be a handy rejoinder to the typical Calvinist scorn when speaking of a God who has to "ask permission" to save people.


Answer:

Yes, God gives a genuine appeal, pleading, begging for people to believe. If language has any meaning and if God is smart enough to speak His thoughts correctly, these verses also speak of genuine appeal.

“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He [is] gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. (Joel 2:12-13, NKJV)

“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the LORD. (Zechariah 1:3-4, NKJV)

Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept [them.] Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the LORD of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’ (Malachi 3:7, NKJV)

So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. (Luke 18:22-23, NKJV)

“Come to Me, all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28, NKJV)

On the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (John 7:37, NKJV)

Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you– The sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:3, NKJV)

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under [her] wings, but you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37, NKJV)

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17, NKJV)

“that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:15-16, NKJV)