Subject: need for a bible-anyone |
Bible Note: You wrote: "Who was Paul writing to in Ephesians 2? Was he not instructing the Gentiles that while prior to Jesus dying on the cross they had no hope for salvation, but now, through no effort of their own, God had (has) given them the opportunity?" Not exactly. Ephesians 2 speaks not of an opportunity, but an accomplished reality on the part of the Christians in Ephesus. Paul uses the word "formerly" to describe their previous state of existence (including himself in there, so obviously not referring exclusively to Gentiles). Ephesians 2:1-4 describes the unregenerate state of the Ephesians. The following three verses describe the transformation that has already taken place and their current state. It seems like a pretty completed task to me. Can our faith really be compared to a car which needs maintenance on our part so that it will not break down? I don't see that such an analogy is that great, but let's go with it. You assume that salvation is a gift to us that, once given, must be maintained by US. Let's see what the Bible says: "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." --Philippians 1:6 "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy" --Jude 24 "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." --1 Thesalonians 5:24 "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." --Romans 8:29-30 "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." --2 Peter 1:2-4 Certainly, there is an aspect of effort on our parts in our sanctification (with the grace that God gives us and the work of the Spirit in our lives and our wills), but it is quite clear from Scripture that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, not us; and that it is God who is at work in us, to will and to work for His good pleasure. In other words, the Father not only gives the gift; He also is the one who ultimately maintains it. --Joe! |