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NASB | Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, |
Subject: Why won't Calvinists answer directly??? |
Bible Note: When Paul wrote Ephesians (Chapter 1) he was worshiping God in his introduction by stating what is true of God -- we are instructed to worship in Spirit and TRUTH in John 4. The text gives no evidence that his purpose was to encourage the mostly Gentile Believers in Ephesus with Jewish promises..” that all along God knew His plan of salvation which, don’t worry included you outside Israel as well.” What could possibly make us think they were worried about how long God knew His plan of salvation, and how it might relate to gentiles? This is making non-sense out of clear teachings about the Sovereign God of the universe. I hardly fault the desire to learn what was the author’s purpose for writing. But wouldn't it be reasonable to expect to see a different clue in the text of why he launches into such statements about predestination and foreknowledge? Notice how Paul doesn’t give any kind of evidence that he’s answering anybody or that he is in any way exhorting them -- just worshiping God with all the power of understanding he has about God’s inestimable worth! There is no tidy disclaimer that places these statements (Rom 8; Eph. 1; 1 Pet 1, etc.) into a category of mere up building alone. Sure it does that, every time we worship God in Spirit and Truth it greatly upbuilds us. It hardly would make any more sense that Paul would take such a tact to refer to salvation as being pre-planned with Jews either, since this would not have been common ground for most Jews. They didn’t understand the Prophets concerning salvation, and besides Paul is not quoting the Prophets here, what other common ground could he have with the Jews? He does that in other areas for other reasons, but he is not doing that here. As Paul’s introduction to Ephesians continues the text indicates (Eph 1:15-23) that he does want to encourage them with Spiritual wisdom “that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened that you may know what is the hope of His calling...” here is the text giving a clue as to what he wants them to get out of this. To understand who God is and how does knowing Him affect them. The essential points that he makes are God’s greatness ...segway into man’s huge need for just this very God! ...being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will |