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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] |
Bible Question: I want so badly to understand. We were chosen, elected, predestined before we were born by God ??? Did we have a choice????? |
Bible Answer: Dear Elizabeth, Welcome to the forum! The old theologians put it this way, "God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree. (Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18; James 1:13; 1 John 1:5; Acts 4:27, 28; John 19:11; Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3-5)" --1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, chapter 3, paragraph 1 In other words, God's eternal purpose cannot be thwarted, and yet He handles things in such a way that imposes on the will of His creatures. That is what we may understand what He has revealed to us in His Word. Remember, that people are dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1-2). A great example is the story of Lazarus (see John 11). Lazarus was dead. Lazarus couldn't hear. Lazarus couldn't speak. Lazarus couldn't act. (Dead people can't do anything.) Therefore, when Christ called to Lazarus to "come forth" he would not be able to hear, pray, or respond. So, what had to occur, took place *before* the call of Christ: the Spirit of God entered into the tomb and did two things: (1) healed Lazarus from that which killed him and (2) brought him back to life. Thus, Lazarus could hear the command and respond to it. Did Lazarus choose to come back to life? No, the miracle was done to him, not by him. He responds when it was completed. He might have chosen to stay in the tomb, but can you imagine anyone in that position not to have quickly forward? In Him, Doc PS You might like to read the following: http://www.biblebb.com/files/spurgeon/elect.htm |