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NASB | 1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Peter 1:2 ¶ according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be yours in increasing abundance [as you walk closely with God]. [John 14:27] |
Subject: Election, Summary. |
Bible Note: You're welcome, Sam! Thank you for your response. I do not see the 'contradiction' and I will try to explain that. You are correct when you say "there isn't a single verse in the entire Bible that clearly and unambiguously states that God foresaw anyone's alleged "free-will" decision and then on that basis elected (chose) to save us." I agree with this sentence. I think that the confusion rests between distinguishing election and salvation. Election is entirely left up to God's will, and for us to speculate on who, why, when or what is to speculate on something that is totally beyond our capacity to understand. Man cannot determine who has or will be 'elected', and man cannot change God's will in any way, since God's will was set and in place before the foundations of the earth were set, and God does not change. Election is totally up to God, and totally under His control. This supports and affirms my point that man's choosing is not the cause and basis for election. In no way does man have any input whatsoever on election. God is totally in control. When I speak of salvation, man makes a conscious choice to heed the calling of God. I am trying not to confuse or mix up election with salvation here. God in His sovereignty already knows each and every decision that we will make in our lifetimes. I believe that the issue of 'salvation' is where we differ in our points of view. God's calling is to everyone, the world at large, that they may be saved by knowing His Son. But even though people may 'hear' this call, not everyone will accept or follow this calling of God (Matt. 19:16-26). Election is something that man cannot touch, but salvation is something that man can act upon, by heeding the call of God and becoming children in the faith. This is what I meant when I stated that 'God elected people (before the beginning of the world) to salvation who He foreknew would of their own free will believe in Christ and persevere in the faith'.. In no way am I saying that God is acting (or changing) as a result of man's choice. God doesn't change. However, God knows in His sovereignty who will heed his call. It is not for you or me to determine who is elected or not. This is entirely up to God. But it is 'up to us' to make the conscious choice and act of calling upon the name of our Lord, since whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. So this is what I meant. Sam, I believe that you and I, though we both may believe in election, have different views about salvation, and I believe that this is where we may confuse each other and differ. But the doctrine of election is sound, and is something that man cannot tamper with. I think that you would agree with me at least on that. Thanks, Nolan |