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NASB | 1 Peter 2:9 ¶ But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Peter 2:9 ¶ But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A CONSECRATED NATION, A [special] PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. [Ex 19:5, 6] |
Subject: How can we influence who is saved? |
Bible Note: Hi Robert, You write as if it would be unrighteous of God not to give an "opportunity for humankind to respond to the savior," as if his righteousness obligates him to give all men such an opportunity. I submit that if God chose not to save a single soul, he would be no less righteous. God is just and, "will render to every man according to his deeds." Rom. 2:6 And, "Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death..." This is what God "owes" man. God is merciful. He chooses to be glorified in the demonstration of his great mercy, but he is not obligated to show mercy to anyone. He is totally free to save or not save anyone. "For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'" Rom. 9:15 So in his great mercy, he sends his Son into the world to save "his" people (Mat 1:21). But the Son himself has the prerogative of whom he saves, for he says, "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." Matt. 11:27 I submit that one thing that makes God's mercy so great is that is totally without any obligation on God's part to extend it. It is totally free, unmerited, grace. Grace alone. Peace, Lionstrong |