Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | atdcross | 163644 | ||
Regrading Jn 17:9. First question: "Did Jesus know at that time who was His Father's and who wasn't?" Response: There is no indication at all that this is an issue contemplated in the verse. Second question: "If Jesus didn't pray for the 'world', should we? Or should our prayer be for the elect only?" Response: Tim Moran has provided an adequate answer to this question in his post ID#163556. Third question: "Is it futile to be praying for someone to be saved when 'before the foundations of the world' they were already known." Response: It seems you left more out in the question. Do you mean it is futile to pray because they were already known by God to be damned? On the assumption that this is what you meant, whether God foreknows one's eternal destiny is not the issue nor is any indication given in this verse one way or the other. Again, I refer you to Tim's post cited above regarding whether ot not we ought to pray for the "world". Unfortunately, what you are being taught, that 2 Peter 3:9 refers to "His Chosen," seems to be a total distortion of its clear and intended meaning. 1. If one wants to argue that the context - "is patient toward you" - demands that "the chosen" are understood, then it must be understood that Peter is writing to those who are not saved at the time his letter is being read (or else why does God need to be patient with them and why does will that they not perish if they are already saved?). 2. To change the meaning or interpret "any" to refer to "the chosen" is totally unwarranted in the text and, although I am not a Greek scholar, my references give no indication this is the case. The "any" includes the "God-mockers" of v.3; God desires their repentance also and that is why he delays his return. Respecting your desire not to debate the issue (nor do i want to argue it or attempt to prove anything), I only add my understanding of the Bible for further thought. |
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2 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Sonlit | 163668 | ||
Thank you for your response. I do so appreciate your taking the time to share. Like I said in an earlier post, I feel so very insignificant, even reading the different responses to my question, because my theological knowledge is limited, at best. I was content to accept the viewpoint of the learned, the Biblical scholar, bacause I was of the conviction that if they are being taught by the Holy Spirit, than who am I to question. But, the more I read, the more I find there are different viewpoints, different intrepretations that seem to contradict each other. You said "To change the meaning or interpret "any" to refer to "The chosen" is totally unwarranted in the text". John Macarthur has been my resource in regard to my question. He wrote, "The 'any' must refer to those whom the Lord has chosen and will call to complete the redeemed, i.e., the 'us'. Since the whole passage is about God's destroying the wicked, his patience is not so He can save all of them, but so that He can receive all His own. He can't be waiting for everyone to be saved, since the emphasis is that He will destroy the world and the ungodly. Those wo do perish and go to hell, go because they are depraved and worthy only of hell and have rejected the only remedy, Jesus Christ, not because they were created for hell and predetermined to go there. The path to damnation is the path of a non-repentant heart; it is the path of one who rejects the person and provision of Jesus Christ and holds on to sin. Even in this one paragraph I realize that John Macarthur is contradicting some of what I have read from John Piper. Do you see my dilema? I want to know the truth...how can I be sure what intrepretation is the right one. How can I be sure what I feel the Holy Spirit is teaching me is correct? Ever seeking, Sonlit |
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3 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Morant61 | 163670 | ||
Greetings Sonlit! Even though you did not address me in your question, I feel compelled to respond. :-) The best advice I can give you is to only rely on commentators as a secondary source. Go to the text of Scripture itself first and primarily. My general rule of thumb is that I am highly suspicious of any attempt to explain to me why the text doesn't really mean what it says. Use the search feature on this site and look up the following words: world, save, perish, savior, love, salvation, reconcile, sacrifice, atoning, ect... See what Scripture has to say about these words and go from there. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Sonlit | 163677 | ||
Thank you, Tim, this does help. Again, though, I think I'm becoming paranoid in the thought that I may be misquoting, taking something out of context, and reading into something that isn't there. I guess I've relied on other Saints for answers because I am so unsure of myself. Even when I feel I have studied a portion of Scripture and that the Holy Spirit has revealed truth to me, there have been many times when I am told that I misunderstood what is really being said. Makes me long for His return....sometimes Heaven looks so good! I do get weary! | ||||||
5 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Morant61 | 163683 | ||
Greetings Sonlit! Amen! We all long for His return! :-) Fortunately, understanding Scripture isn't as difficult as most people make it seem. Sure, there may be fine points of theology that can be debated and refined, but most of Scripture is quite clear. We only muddle it up when we try to ignore it. :-( I remember when I was in Ohio, a pastor got on the radio and proceeded to inform his listeners that Scripture didn't really mean that 'no one would know the hour of His return'. He really only meant that it would not be common knowledge. Funny, the verse actually said 'no one' would know. :-) I certainly don't want to downplay the value of the learning that so many of gained over the years, but the ultimate authority on Scripture is Scripture itself. Read it! Mediate upon it! Memorize it! Live it! If you find yourself believing something that absolutely no one else sees in Scripture, take a step back and re-evalute it. But, trust God's Spirit to teach you as well. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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