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NASB | Ephesians 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 2:3 Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God's] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind]. |
Subject: "objects of wrath" |
Bible Note: Dear Colin, What I mean to say is that those who experience the love of Christ, fall in love with Him. He is irresistible! Deut 7:7 "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 2 Deut 10:15 "Yet on your fathers did the LORD set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day. Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, Thess 1:4,5 "knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;..." Also, what about Noah, Abraham, Job and David? Did they choose God freely? Yes. They also were among those upon who God had set His love. 1Ch 28:9 "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." Solomon was commanded to "know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind". He was reminded of Gods omniscience. The statement that "the LORD searches all hearts," cannot mean that God discovers things by searching, the literal interpetation of such a statement would conflict with what the Bible teaches about the nature of God. Therefore, I see it as "searching" as a manner of speaking. So to speak...He searches the hearts of men. The seeking or forsaking of God are determined in the lives of individuals by the desires of their hearts. They are free to choose that which they desire. The desire for God is an evidence that that individual is a recipiant of God's mercy. Rom 9:18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. This is a hard saying, yet, who are we to reply against God by protesting "...Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" John |