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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | need for a bible-anyone | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 50532 | ||
You wrote: "Who was Paul writing to in Ephesians 2? Was he not instructing the Gentiles that while prior to Jesus dying on the cross they had no hope for salvation, but now, through no effort of their own, God had (has) given them the opportunity?" Not exactly. Ephesians 2 speaks not of an opportunity, but an accomplished reality on the part of the Christians in Ephesus. Paul uses the word "formerly" to describe their previous state of existence (including himself in there, so obviously not referring exclusively to Gentiles). Ephesians 2:1-4 describes the unregenerate state of the Ephesians. The following three verses describe the transformation that has already taken place and their current state. It seems like a pretty completed task to me. Can our faith really be compared to a car which needs maintenance on our part so that it will not break down? I don't see that such an analogy is that great, but let's go with it. You assume that salvation is a gift to us that, once given, must be maintained by US. Let's see what the Bible says: "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." --Philippians 1:6 "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy" --Jude 24 "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." --1 Thesalonians 5:24 "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." --Romans 8:29-30 "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." --2 Peter 1:2-4 Certainly, there is an aspect of effort on our parts in our sanctification (with the grace that God gives us and the work of the Spirit in our lives and our wills), but it is quite clear from Scripture that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, not us; and that it is God who is at work in us, to will and to work for His good pleasure. In other words, the Father not only gives the gift; He also is the one who ultimately maintains it. --Joe! |
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2 | need for a bible-anyone | Bible general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 50552 | ||
Ok..MANY thoughts on salvation...Part III So what is God’s response to us today? Can a Christian lose their salvation? See: 2 Peter 2:20-22 20For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." NAS But is this person Peter speaks of really a Christian or an imposter? See further: James 5:19-20 19My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, 20let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins. NAS It is pretty clear that God means to tell us that it is our brethren, Christians, who we must help turn back if they stray from the truth. See further: He 10:26-31 26For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. NAS Jude 3-5 3Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 5Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. NAS ROM 11:17-24 17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. 22Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? NAS Finally, let us be reminded of our purpose to obey God: Phil 2:12-13 12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. NAS Persevere under trial; for once you have been approved, you will receive the crown of life, which our Lord has promised to all of us who obey Him. |
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3 | need for a bible-anyone | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 50579 | ||
You wrote: "But is this person Peter speaks of really a Christian or an imposter?" Now that is the key question, isn't it? First of all, let's see who Peter is referring to in his own words: 'It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."' --2 Peter 2:22 We see that the false brethren were "dogs" and "sows" all along. For a time they acted otherwise, but their true natures came out in the end. Or do you think that the dog actually became a "non-dog" and then a dog again? The whole of the chapter refers to those who are BY nature not truly the children of God. Peter is right to warn them, as he does in the previous chapter, to make one's calling and election sure by obedience (not to EARN one's election, but to provide ASSURANCE of the already-present reality), because only those indwelt by the Spirit of God can truly obey Him (Romans 8:7-9). Our obedience and our suffering is affirmation of what God has already done. You wrote, regarding James: "It is pretty clear that God means to tell us that it is our brethren, Christians, who we must help turn back if they stray from the truth." Agreed. Is this a "falling away" or a straying, however? If they are indeed our brethren, they will be turned back to the truth from their straying. Regarding Hebrews, the visible church is made up of the elect and the non-elect, both who are partakers of grace, just as the nation of Israel was. The fact that some live in the covenant community of the church and continue to reject the truth brings greater condemnation upon them. Just as there was a "spiritual Israel" within the physical nation of Israel, there is also among the visible church both wheat and tares. Again, we do not have people changing from one "species of vegetation" to another, back and forth, over and over. We have both the elect and the reprobate among the visible church, and it is by their works that we come to find out what they were in the first place. Regarding Jude, did you miss this part? "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." These people: 1. Crept in unnoticed (from the outside) 2. Were marked our long beforehand for condemnation (i.e. not true Christians) 3. Ungodly (i.e. the reprobate -- false Christians) Romans 11 speaks of the unbelief of the non-elect Jews and the grafting in of the Gentiles. Just like all those who were part of Israel the nation were not the Israel of God (Romans 9:6), all of those among the Gentile covenant community will not show themselves to be true children of God. Obedience does not MAKE us children of God, but rather shows that we are. --Joe! |
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