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NASB | Matthew 22:37 And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 22:37 And Jesus replied to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' [Deut 6:5] |
Subject: "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED"!!! |
Bible Note: I must respond in two posts because of content limitation. Romans 9:13 is an interesting scripture and again, context is key here. Beginning in the first verse, Paul assures his readers that his testimony is true and begins to express grief for his "brethren". Who is he referring to? Verse 4 tells us they are the Israelites, or Jews. Also in verse 4, Paul plainly states that the 'adoption' belonged to them. What is this adoption? It is the relationship they could have with God through obedience to the law. Verse 6, "For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel, nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED. That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God (those that are circumcised in the flesh, fta), but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants (those that have obeyed God, fta)." You say, "Both boys were "sons" of Abraham but one was preferred over the other. Why?" I must simply say it was God's plan. Gen 25:23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger." This you state correctly in citing Rom 9:11 "for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice (KJV: election) would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,". God's purpose is at work here. Paul then says, Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH." 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. This passage was, at least for me, a little difficult to understand. Paul asks, "What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!" What we may call injustice in our eyes does not matter. We are God's creation and we have no say in what He chooses to do to implement His plan. This is explained in Rom 9:15 For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH." 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. Many times in the story of Moses' dealings with Pharoah it is said that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Ex 7:3 "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. 2 Ex 7:13 Yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. 3 Ex 7:14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go. 4 Ex 7:22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. 5 Ex 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. 6 Ex 9:12 And the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses. 7 Ex 9:35 Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses. 8 Ex 10:20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go. 9 Ex 10:27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go. 10 Ex 11:10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land. 11 Ex 14:4 "Thus I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." And they did so. Hence the statement Paul makes, "So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires." With this in mind it is easy to understand the situation that occurred between Jacob and Esau. It was always God's plan that Esau "despise his birthright" and that Jacob receive it. Works not being necessary for salvation is the issue here. Where in the bible does it say that baptism is a work? |