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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Every NATION or every PERSON? | Matt 24:14 | kalos | 169249 | ||
"He does not wish for any to perish." Jeff: Thanks for your Note. Sorry I've been slow to reply. I hope this helps answer your question. I believe the following will show that while God does not desire (wish for) any to perish, He nevertheless decrees that all who reject His grace will perish. Grace to you, Kalos "The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any[4] to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 (NET Bible) Footnote 4. "He does not wish for any to perish." '...the literary context seems to be against the Arminian view, while the historical context seems to be against (one representation of) the Calvinist view. The answer to this conundrum is found in the term "wish" (a participle in Greek from the verb boulomai). It often represents a mere wish, or one's desiderative will, rather than one's resolve. Unless God's will is viewed on the two planes of his desiderative and decretive will (what he desires and what he decrees), hopeless confusion will result. The scriptures amply illustrate both that God sometimes decrees things that he does not desire and desires things that he does not decree. It is not that his will can be thwarted, nor that he has limited his sovereignty. But the mystery of God's dealings with humanity is best seen if this tension is preserved. Otherwise, either God will be perceived as good but impotent or as a sovereign taskmaster. Here the idea that God does not wish for any to perish speaks only of God's desiderative will (what he desires), without comment on his decretive will (what he decrees).' ____________________ (http://www.bible.org/ cgi-bin/netbible.pl#note_3) |
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2 | Every NATION or every PERSON? | Matt 24:14 | jlhetrick | 169251 | ||
Hi Kalos, thanks. This explanation is something I am familiar with. I guess the question here would be; does God decree something He does not desire or wish to happen? The answer may be yes. I don't know. Another question might be, where concerning God, would we assign meaning to this as being no more than His "mere wish"? I would agree with you that the single verse you quoted supports your premise. However, there continues the problem. The doctrine of election does not allow for choice as I am understanding it at this point. What you state you believe based on this verse (not saying that you don't have much more context that supports your belief) is in conflict also with the doctrine of salvation by grace alone (again, as I am understanding it at this point). That is, God's grace is not enough unless coupled with my choice. Actually, this is exactly how I grew up hearing it and believing it. But as I continue to study the doctrines of Grace, Predestination, Election, and God's Sovereignty, I am having problems putting it all together. Thanks again for you input, and thank everyone for your patience, Jeff |
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3 | Every NATION or every PERSON? | Matt 24:14 | kalos | 169254 | ||
WHAT DOES BIBLE TEACH ABOUT ELECTION 1 [Jeff: I think perhaps the best I can do to clarify my understanding of the doctrine of election is to quote one of the many Notes I have previously posted on the subject. To read more of my posts, do an Advanced Search. After "were submitted by user" type: kalos. After "contain these Words" type: election. (Type both words without a period (.) after them.) Grace to you. --Kalos] 'Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past He chose those who will be saved. Election is unconditional, because it does not depend on anything outside of God, such as good works or foreseen faith (Romans 9:16). This doctrine is repeatedly taught in the Bible, and is also demanded by our knowledge of God. To begin with, let's look at the biblical evidence. 'The Bible says prior to salvation, all people are dead in sin-- spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3). In this state of death, the sinner is utterly unable to respond to any spiritual stimulus and therefore unable to love God, obey Him, or please Him in any way. Scripture says the mind of every unbeliever "is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:7-8, emphasis added). That describes a state of total hopelessness: spiritual death. 'The effect of all this is that no sinner can ever make the first move in the salvation process. This is what Jesus meant in John 6:44, when He said, "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him." 'This is also why the Bible repeatedly stresses that salvation is wholly God's work. In Acts 13:48 we read, "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." 'Acts 16 tells us that Lydia was saved when, " . . . the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul." 'Romans 8:29-30 states, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." 'Ephesians 1:4-5,11 reads, "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will . . . also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will." 'Ephesians 2:8 suggests that even our faith is a gift from God. 'In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, the apostle Paul tells his readers, "God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation." 'Second Timothy 1:9 informs us that God "has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.' (continues in next post) ____________________ Article by John MacArthur at www.gty.org - listed in Issues and Answers archives |
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