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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 think you are being too literal here where you state: ""Spiritual life" and "(a heart of flesh)" cannot be taken to mean the same thing here. Flesh is flesh, spirit is spirit." Keep in mind that God replaces with a heart of flesh a heart of stone. Ezek 11:19 "And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh," My reading of the verse is that "heart of stone" represents spiritual death and the "heart of flesh" spiritual life. You asked: "Could we not conclude then that "those who are outside" are those who have not obeyed God, whether the Jews in Mark's account, or both Jew and Greek, in Paul's account?" All who are outside of Christ are wicked and disobediant. (Rom 1) Your conclusion based on Rom 1:16 was: "It is by God's grace we have opportunity for salvation through Jesus Christ. This "gospel" is the power of God for salvation TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES (not just an elect, chosen, predestined, foreordained, etc.) group of people." One must have faith in order to believe the gospel. What good is it to have an opportunity to believe, if one has not recieved the gift of faith to believe? Eph 2:4,5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)," Note that we are saved because of His mercy and His love and that is bestowed upon us as a free gift. The will of man is not mentioned! If one has faith in Christ he is saved. He will then willingly (because of his new heart) be baptized. This is the work of GOD not man! John |