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NASB | Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 1:4 just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love |
Subject: Predestination |
Bible Note: You wrote: "One of the main problems with Theological Universities is that they are often guilty of spending enormous amounts of time, effort, and energy teaching students about the Great debates in church history" First of all, theology is not a dirty word, nor should it be reserved for those dreaded "theological universities." It is this kind of anti-intellectualism that has made the church so impotent today. It is completely ridiculous to think that it is possible to read Scripture "without any human influence." Isn't it quaint that it is the kind of thing the Jehovah's Witnesses and other cults tell us to do. "If you read the Bible apart from the church, you will see that WE are right!" Come on. You are influenced by all kinds of people, both Christian and non-Christian, before you open up your text. We are sinful people who believe what we want to believe many times, and in our sin we often do not listen to the Holy Spirit, or misinterpret our own sinful desires as "God talking to us." That is why God has given us the church to collectively interpret Scripture correctly (i.e the Holy Spirit works in and through the communion of saints). He has also equipped certain people with the gifts of teaching and knowledge to serve the church in passing on the traditions in the Bible (i.e. the Holy Spirit works through His Word as taught by OTHER people). To reject the church's role in interpreting Scripture and the role of teacher as a vital one in the church is to dishonor God's gifts to the believer. NEVER has God intended the Christian life to be "me, my Bible, and the Holy Spirit." False notions like this are why people have such disrespect for theology and sound teaching, and a love for our own, "personal" meaning of Scripture, no matter how off-the-wall it may be. Lastly, God has revealed Himself and His characteristics in His Word. That means he wants us to understand some things about Him and the way that He operates. Again, to say that it is pointless to examine how God works in salvation -- to make light of His self-revelation--is to dishonor God. We must get away from the idea that it is useless to know what God has to say about Himself. Obviously both cannot be right in this debate, but to call it an unimportant one just demonstrates one's love of ignorance. And that is something on which Arminian and Calvinist will stand in agreement. --Joe! |