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NASB | Ephesians 3:6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 3:6 [it is this:] that the Gentiles are now joint heirs [with the Jews] and members of the same body, and joint partakers [sharing] in the [same divine] promise in Christ Jesus through [their faith in] the good news [of salvation]. |
Subject: Lionstrong, this is not universalism. |
Bible Note: CDBJ: I think that this is an excellent passage to examine. Would you agree that the coming event that Christ is referring to is Pentecost? John 16:7 seems to indicate that this is the case. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came, but only to those who are believers. We nowhere get an indication that after Pentecost every human in the whole world suddenly was convicted of their sinfulness. However, by the indwelling Holy Spirit in the lives of true believers, the watching world is convicted of their sin, the righteousness of God is demonstrated in the lives of believers (since Christ is gone and we see him no more), and the judgment of Satan and his children is proclaimed. Via the Holy Spirit's indwelling and sanctification, we are walking billboards of the truth. What I cannot see from the whole counsel of God is the idea that before Pentecost that judgment and knowledge of sin was not present. That would seemingly contradict Romans 1:18-32: "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." --Romans 1:20 "and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." --Romans 1:32 What do you think of John 16:8-10 in light of such verses? What could Christ possibly have meant if the knowledge of God's law has been present from the beginning? I think that this is a good point of discussion for the Study Bible Forum! --Joe! |