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NASB | Philippians 1:23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Philippians 1:23 But I am hard-pressed between the two. I have the desire to leave [this world] and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; |
Subject: Just out of curiosity. |
Bible Note: Hello Jim- NO, not what I'm saying. Thanks for the question. As Paul does, the "milk" and "meat" are alagories. We are born spiritually dead. When we are saved we are sealed, given the Holy Spirit in our hearts, a promise from God 2Cor 1:22. That promise can be found in Phil 1:6 The Scripture says we are "called..with a holy calling". What is that calling? Matthew 5:16 says we are to let our "light shine before men" that they might "see our good works" that those works might "glorify" God. Eph 2:10 says that we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them". When we are saved we are "called...for good works" and those works were "prepared" by God "beforehand". What are those works????? A better question in this context might be...where do we find out those works? Of course the answer is found in only one place. Scripture! So while salvation is of God and God alone, he purposes that we glorify Him through works that He has prepared for us. In other words, we're not called to a "stagnate" life as Christians, therefore, Paul's calling to move beyond the milk. 2Tim 2:15, knowing what we can know as God reveals Himself in His word and "becoming" workmen as He carries out His plan through us. Phil 1:6 speaks to the work of our being sanctified by God. That is a process and while it is fully of God, there is sumbission and participation from us. In referencing the "milk" and the "meat" Paul was not saying there is a process of gaining or losing salvation. He was speaking to their irresponsible response to God having saved them. Understanding this, in my opinion, helps in understanding how God's sovereignty and man's free will coexist. God does the saving (all by Himself) and He does the sanctifying (all by Himself) and we, the saved, participate in the process. Hope this helps clarify my position and I'm sorry if it's a bit knotted up; I am at lunch and only have a short time before I have to get back at it. God bless, Jeff |