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NASB | Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 8:13 Even Simon believed [Philip's message of salvation]; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he watched the attesting signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. |
Subject: How do I make sense of the context? |
Bible Note: Here I respond, as expected! :) You wrote: "Your right if you pray that someone be saved, your asking God to violate their freedom. We should be praying that God will bring His Holy Spirit into their lives to convict them of their sins and someone to tell them of Jesus, opening their eyes to the truth. Whether they accept salvation is then their problem." I guess someone forgot to tell Paul: "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation." --Romans 10:1 "If on the other hand you believe God chooses who to save and they have to accept that call, then it really doesn?t matter how you pray." Nonsense! "That is unless you think you change things established from the foundations of the earth, or appear pious by praying for someone." No, because many things were established from the foundations of the earth as answers to prayers which were also established from the foundations of the earth as means. God ordains not only the ends, but also the means. Seriously, Ed, sometimes I think that your love of autonomy really gets in the way of you thinking clearly through the arguments of your opponents. John Piper has given a very good illustration of how prayer and predestination work together: http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/prayer/prayer_pred.html Along with a longer exposition which addresses your very accusation: http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/prayer/sovereignty_and_prayer.html And here is a guide to what the NT church prayed for: http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/prayer/nt_prayers.html --Joe! |