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NASB | 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ¶ But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ¶ But we should and are [morally] obligated [as debtors] always to give thanks to God for you, believers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctifying work of the Spirit [that sets you apart for God's purpose] and by your faith in the truth [of God's word that leads you to spiritual maturity]. |
Bible Question (short): Please help me to understand these verse |
Question (full): I was raised up in the church all my life. I thought that I understood about what salvation and the choice of accepting/not accepting it as well. I even used to teach it to others as much as possible. As I was trying my best(I'm only a frail human) to live for God and to spread the WORD so that others would have a chance at salvation as well, when God allowed satan to throw me through the ringer using my wife and children and career. Now I know that these things will come about, but to make a long story shorter, it prompted me to study harder on these type of things happening to those who are HIS adopted sons. As I studied, I began to realize that the bible spoke several times about 'predestination' in several ways and instances. I even went back to Job to try to understand how God saw us. There are several scriptures that come to mind from the studies that I've done on this, but 2 of the ones that really has knocked me around quite a bit is in Job 1:6-1:12 especially 1:8 where the Lord brought Job to satan's attention to do these terrible things to him and his family. And then, for a second time, 2:1-2:6 especially 2:3 where He did basically the same thing, only in a worse way. The second place is in Romans 9:10-9:13 where it says "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." and as the verse above it says that this was before they were even born. And in Rom 9:15-9:18 where it states,...For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth." And in Proverbs 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Now I have tried to understand why He would create beings for the purpose of destruction and then turn around and say that He is "not willing that any should perish" in the scripture...(2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.), but I can't seem to grasp this. It has been tormenting me for more than 5 years now, and how can I teach others what I can't understand myself. So, I'm asking someone/anyone to help me in this dilemna so that I can get back to trying to spread His word again and moreso, live for Him without this hammer of doubt that hangs over me now. I am thouroughly confused to the point that I began doubting the validity of what we know of as the bible(thinking that we possibly have been tricked by a book that is not truly what God has given us) I mean, how can He be 'love' and hate someone even before they are born, or create beings for eternal destruction and say that he don't want any to perish. Please help me to see what I am missing here. |