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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: On Saturday I wrote a reply to your main question already, but it is somehow gone now so I can only assume you never got it either. To recap, I explained that I didn't intend to use the Eph 2 passage as the best example of specific or particular atonement as a stand alone verse. I was instead citing it as a great source of revelation regarding the issue faith and choice. Sure, you're right to say that faith when first excersized (appears to be) a choice made by people when looked at by man. We make real choices that are have real consequences. But there is a larger picture and our experience is not reliable to use alone to see the whole picture. So we need to study what is even possible for man to exersize choice over and what things are not possible. Man can not just believe a specific set of propositional truths and seal some kind of transaction thereby, granting him salvation as a reward. It is too big for man, whose depravity is too all encompassing. The text says it is "through" faith not by works, this rules out a first ordered choice made by man or even. It is not "by" faith. The finest texts use "through" and that is significant. Sinful, unregenerate man did not choose ultimately, God did, nothing else is good news. When the Bible gives the universal appeals to believe and be saved it gives us the idea that we can make the same offer, and I think that is right. But that is only for evangelism. There could be no other way we could participate in evangelism, unless we are to believe that there is real hope that the person we are talking to is elect, but we most certianly don't know if they are or not. The Bible makes too many other clear statements regarding God's election of believers for us to be able to to only grab onto the evangelistic appeals and therefore conclude that God did not choose us unto salvation. You are right to say that God must make the first move, but does your silence regarding the second and third moves, etc. mean that you think God's part is exclusively at the cross. Look back at Eph. 1 and see His part was settled in time and space long before that event and it also has nothing to do with us. So when stated to unbelievers we do say it is for them. God willing. I hope I have answered your question. Eph 2:5 ..even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), |