A reflection upon Ephesians 1:1-6

[Samson2020]

Hello @Samson2020,

When you refer to, 'ALL', are you referring to all who have been saved by God's grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

Yes, and all that will be once ALL have been brought to life in Christ as 1 Co 15:22-23 states. And Rom 5:18 confirms that ALL have been justified unto LIFE
by His righteous act.

 

[Samson2020]

Yes, and all that will be once ALL have been brought to life in Christ as 1 Co 15:22-23 states. And Rom 5:18 confirms that ALL have been justified unto LIFE
by His righteous act.

Add to this Rom 11:32
KJV "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all"
NLT "For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone."
NIV "For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all."

Pick a translation of the multitude of them and they say the same thing, all were placed in the world to be disobedient and unbelieving so that
He could be merciful to everyone.
God being a righteous God needed a sacrifice to cover the sin of the world which He had selected what/who that sacrifice would be prior to the world being formed.
Since God did this it was up to Him and Him alone to determine how effective that sacrifice would be, and according to 1 Co 15:22-23 and Rom 5:18 the sacrifice
paid for all sin would cause everyone to receive mercy and come into life in Christ at their appointed time.

I wonder why we all could agree on a UNIVERSAL CONDEMNATION, but cannot see the UNIVERSAL SALVATION OF GOD?
It's really not that complicated the grace we all have received is for everybody eventually simply because God said the righteous act would cause all to receive
mercy. This grace that brings all unto life in Christ can never be found to lack in that there is no sin that that grace cannot cover.

Rom 5:20-21 "Moreover the law entered, that the offense(disobedience) might abound. But where sin abounded GRACE did MUCH MORE ABOUND:
that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might GRACE reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

[complete]

Yes, and all that will be once ALL have been brought to life in Christ as 1 Co 15:22-23 states. And Rom 5:18 confirms that ALL have been justified unto LIFE
by His righteous act.

'For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits;
afterward they that are Christ's
at His coming.'
(1Cor. 15:22-23)

Hello @Samson2020,

Looking at 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 that you reference, it is those whom God has placed 'in Christ' on believing (1 Cor. 1:30) who shall be made alive, and 'they that are Christ's' who shall be raised to life 'at His coming'.

'Therefore as by the offence of one
judgment came upon all men to condemnation;
even so by the righteousness of one
the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,
so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.'
(Rom 5:18-19)

'For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
(Rom 6:23)

The gift of God came upon all men unto justification of life, yes, but not all will receive it, for not all have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and as Romans 6:23 shows us, the gift is received 'through Jesus Christ our Lord'.

Are you a universalist, Samson2020 ?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

Add to this Rom 11:32
KJV "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all"
NLT "For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone."
NIV "For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all."

'For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
For as ye in times past have not believed God,
yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Even so have these also now not believed,
that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
that He might have mercy upon all.
(Rom 11:29-32)

Hello @Samson2020,

The above reference is one of your choosing, where God explains through Paul, how the Gentiles had now received mercy through Israel's unbelief, that Israel through the mercy of God shown to the Gentile, may themselves also obtain mercy, for God had concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. God had given all men a level playing field, in which all could come to Him, on the basis of the finished work of Christ, by faith. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Pick a translation of the multitude of them and they say the same thing, all were placed in the world to be disobedient and unbelieving so that
He could be merciful to everyone.
God being a righteous God needed a sacrifice to cover the sin of the world which He had selected what/who that sacrifice would be prior to the world being formed.
Since God did this it was up to Him and Him alone to determine how effective that sacrifice would be, and according to 1 Co 15:22-23 and Rom 5:18 the sacrifice
paid for all sin would cause everyone to receive mercy and come into life in Christ at their appointed time.

I wonder why we all could agree on a UNIVERSAL CONDEMNATION, but cannot see the UNIVERSAL SALVATION OF GOD?
It's really not that complicated the grace we all have received is for everybody eventually simply because God said the righteous act would cause all to receive
mercy. This grace that brings all unto life in Christ can never be found to lack in that there is no sin that that grace cannot cover.

Rom 5:20-21 "Moreover the law entered, that the offense(disobedience) might abound. But where sin abounded GRACE did MUCH MORE ABOUND:
that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might GRACE reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

'For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through Him might be saved.
He that believeth on Him is not condemned:
but He that believeth not is condemned already,
because He hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.'
(Joh 3:16-18)

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Samson2020]

All great points. However; back to salvation 101. Eph 2:8 For BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED through FAITH; and that(faith) not of yourselves: it(faith) is
the gift of God.

In your theology it is up to man to accept this correct? However; according to God all of His gifts are without repentance/irrevocable.
So when we read in Rom 5:18 that the FREE GIFT came upon ALL men unto justification of life. That is irrevocable and without repentance on Gods part
and as such will stand.

We who are elect were given the faith to believe from the heart and the HG as a guide. That is why we are called the elect lady by John for in Gods wisdom
He chose some of us in this dispensation of time to be the first fruits unto Himself and the Lamb.

The gift of God came upon all men unto justification of life, yes, but not all will receive it, for not all have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and as Romans 6:23 shows us, the gift is received 'through Jesus Christ our Lord'.

And as is explained if they are not elect they will not be part of the first fruits. They can't accept what He has determined to not give them for now. They are
reserved unto another dispensation of time. Like most you believe that God is allowing mankind to choose their destination with little or no information. Wrong.
Gods initial will was to have sons conformed to the Image of the first spiritually begotten son. Eph 1:5 That privilege is happening according to His election.
Everyone that was placed in a human body will eventually come to this election as that is Gods will and His will be done on earth......... The fact that most
have never even seen or heard this is exceptional. We do not tell God what He can and can't do for He rules in the kingdom of men and if it is/was His will
to bring all humans into that relationship with Himself through a new spiritual birth thats exactly what He's going to do.
TIMES is something that Paul only spoke of once in Eph 1:10 and does not speak to it between verses in 1Co 15:23-24 but the second death dispensation is
another dispensation of time in which possibly ALL Israel will be saved. I for one do not know how many dispensations of times there will be.
As much of Israel has already fallen asleep they must be resurrected before they could be given the heart faith necessary to believe. Rom 11:26
This privilege I speak of requires one to be selected by God to begin the purification process. That could only begin once they actually understand
what it is they have been apprehended for. Phl 3:12 Paul makes the statement He was apprehended by Christ Jesus, as we all who are elected have been.
You could say the apprehension of us is the beginning of salvation. Apprehension isn't something we would do to/for ourselves, but God knowing the outcome
of the apprehension does it for our own good.

Your close like most, but still just can't accept that God would do this for everyone. If you received the HG it was not by your choice even though
you may be allowed, for now, to believe it was. As John 3:17-18 would imply. However; everybody was born under condemnation by the will of God
and if He has not elected them at this time they remain under condemnation. I.E. Israel remains blinded to this day. It isn't their choice it's Gods.

But as I referenced Rom 11:32 It states plainly that God imprisoned everyone to disobedience so that He could have mercy on everybody.
The timing of when that mercy takes place is the lack of understanding. Everything is done according to a predetermined schedule as all of His works
were known to Him before He began.

Are you a universalist, Samson2020 ?

Only in the sense that I see the salvation of ALL as Gods will and desire as stated in 1 Ti 2:4 and as that is Gods desire or will He will have it so. We love
Him for He first loved us, without Him making the first move of drawing an individual to Jesus they would never experience His love thus they will not
love Him for now and that too is by His design.
The rest of what a Universalist may or may not believe I don't know.

 

[Samson2020]

'For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.'

Rom 5:20-21 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound, BUT where sin abounded GRACE did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned
unto death(as in Adam), even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And that gift is without repentance. Totally agree and that gift was given because of the finished
work of the cross. Col 1:20 When each individual comes into that life is determined by God which should be evident in the fact it occurred 2000 yrs ago but we
were born less than 100 yrs ago. We are entering in now according to Gods election, those that came and passed prior to Jesus never knew these things and could
not see a kingdom and that too was according to Gods election of them. This does not mean that He is tossing them in the fire of eternal torment. It happens
for them after the general resurrection.

As Peter states in Acts 15:11 "We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of our Lord Jesus." NLT

Now look closely at what he said it is grace that saves all of us and that grace will abound unto eternal life, just as sin abounded unto death. Rom 5:21
Surely we understand the wages of sin is death but where sin and death reigned, life now reigns unto eternal life through the grace of our Lord.
For there is no sin that will not be blotted out once all have come to life through Jesus Christ. Thus sin hath no more dominion over man at that time
and death will have been destroyed as all have entered into eternal life. 1 Co 15:23 BUT EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER......

 

[complete]

All great points. However; back to salvation 101. Eph 2:8 For BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED through FAITH; and that(faith) not of yourselves: it(faith) is
the gift of God.

In your theology it is up to man to accept this correct? However; according to God all of His gifts are without repentance/irrevocable.
So when we read in Rom 5:18 that the FREE GIFT came upon ALL men unto justification of life. That is irrevocable and without repentance on Gods part
and as such will stand.

Hello @Samson2020,

Praise God!
We are indeed saved by God's wondrous grace, through faith, and it is this, in it's entirety that is the gift of God. Not faith alone, as you imply, but the whole package. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance on God's part yes, but like every gift it has to be received and that by faith.

We who are elect were given the faith to believe from the heart and the HG as a guide. That is why we are called the elect lady by John for in Gods wisdom
He chose some of us in this dispensation of time to be the first fruits unto Himself and the Lamb.

And as is explained if they are not elect they will not be part of the first fruits. They can't accept what He has determined to not give them for now. They are
reserved unto another dispensation of time. Like most you believe that God is allowing mankind to choose their destination with little or no information. Wrong.
Gods initial will was to have sons conformed to the Image of the first spiritually begotten son. Eph 1:5 That privilege is happening according to His election.
Everyone that was placed in a human body will eventually come to this election as that is Gods will and His will be done on earth......... The fact that most
have never even seen or heard this is exceptional. We do not tell God what He can and can't do for He rules in the kingdom of men and if it is/was His will
to bring all humans into that relationship with Himself through a new spiritual birth thats exactly what He's going to do.
TIMES is something that Paul only spoke of once in Eph 1:10 and does not speak to it between verses in 1Co 15:23-24 but the second death dispensation is
another dispensation of time in which possibly ALL Israel will be saved. I for one do not know how many dispensations of times there will be.
As much of Israel has already fallen asleep they must be resurrected before they could be given the heart faith necessary to believe. Rom 11:26
This privilege I speak of requires one to be selected by God to begin the purification process. That could only begin once they actually understand
what it is they have been apprehended for. Phl 3:12 Paul makes the statement He was apprehended by Christ Jesus, as we all who are elected have been.
You could say the apprehension of us is the beginning of salvation. Apprehension isn't something we would do to/for ourselves, but God knowing the outcome
of the apprehension does it for our own good.
Your close like most, but still just can't accept that God would do this for everyone. If you received the HG it was not by your choice even though
you may be allowed, for now, to believe it was. As John 3:17-18 would imply. However; everybody was born under condemnation by the will of God
and if He has not elected them at this time they remain under condemnation. I.E. Israel remains blinded to this day. It isn't their choice it's Gods.

But as I referenced Rom 11:32 It states plainly that God imprisoned everyone to disobedience so that He could have mercy on everybody.
The timing of when that mercy takes place is the lack of understanding. Everything is done according to a predetermined schedule as all of His works
were known to Him before He began.

Only in the sense that I see the salvation of ALL as Gods will and desire as stated in 1 Ti 2:4 and as that is Gods desire or will He will have it so. We love
Him for He first loved us, without Him making the first move of drawing an individual to Jesus they would never experience His love thus they will not
love Him for now and that too is by His design.
The rest of what a Universalist may or may not believe I don't know.

Forgive me, but I cannot follow your reasoning, so to try and respond would be futile.

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Samson2020]

We are indeed saved by God's wondrous grace, through faith, and it is this, in it's entirety that is the gift of God. Not faith alone, as you imply, but the whole package. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance on God's part yes, but like every gift it has to be received and that by faith.

How do you receive what has not yet been given to you? The faith necessary to believe is the gift that is imparted by grace, and if you have not received it yet
how then is it possible to receive it by faith?

I said the gifts are without repentance, that doesn't mean that ALL have been gifted faith at this present dispensation. Some are vessels fitted to dishonor and
destruction. Some are not. The Potter has not relinquished control over the clay so that they can make their own decisions as to which vessel they are.

And I believe that this issue is exactly what Jesus refers to when He says to depart from me ye workers of Iniquity for I never knew you. They chose to be His
but He did not choose them, God never drew them to Him and He never imparted life to them.

I can't say explicitly that everything in the doctrines is backwards but this issue surely is. God does the calling and the gifting, He does not repent of it either.
If He did not call you, you remain under the condemnation you were born into by His choice.

One question. Since you believe that one has to accept or receive the gift, as you put it, in order to be saved,
do you also believe that you have to accept or receive the condemnation in order for death to have dominion over you?

 

[complete]

Rom 5:20-21 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound, BUT where sin abounded GRACE did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned
unto death(as in Adam), even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And that gift is without repentance. Totally agree and that gift was given because of the finished
work of the cross. Col 1:20 When each individual comes into that life is determined by God which should be evident in the fact it occurred 2000 yrs ago but we
were born less than 100 yrs ago. We are entering in now according to Gods election, those that came and passed prior to Jesus never knew these things and could
not see a kingdom and that too was according to Gods election of them. This does not mean that He is tossing them in the fire of eternal torment. It happens
for them after the general resurrection.

As Peter states in Acts 15:11 "We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of our Lord Jesus." NLT

Now look closely at what he said it is grace that saves all of us and that grace will abound unto eternal life, just as sin abounded unto death. Rom 5:21
Surely we understand the wages of sin is death but where sin and death reigned, life now reigns unto eternal life through the grace of our Lord.
For there is no sin that will not be blotted out once all have come to life through Jesus Christ. Thus sin hath no more dominion over man at that time
and death will have been destroyed as all have entered into eternal life. 1 Co 15:23 BUT EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER......

'What fruit had ye then
in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?
for the end of those things is death.
But now being made free from sin,
and become servants to God,
ye have your fruit unto holiness,
and the end everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
(Rom 6:21-23)

Hello Samson2020,

Thank you for responding, but again, I must ask you to forgive me, for I cannot follow you sufficiently to make a reply. The same applies to reply#28.

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Samson2020]

'What fruit had ye then
in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?
for the end of those things is death.
But now being made free from sin,
and become servants to God,
ye have your fruit unto holiness,
and the end everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
(Rom 6:21-23)

Hello Samson2020,

Thank you for responding, but again, I must ask you to forgive me, for I cannot follow you sufficiently to make a reply.

In Christ Jesus
Chris

In due time.

 

[complete]

In due time.

May God be the arbiter.

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Samson2020]

Let me say this another way.
If your initial salvation is contingent upon you doing anything then how is it by grace?
For if you are required to do anything it is no longer grace but a work!

Acts 15:9 "He did not discriminate between us and them, for HE PURIFIED THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH".

Where did that FAITH come from?

The faith that was given to them was according to grace and the election of God. He purified their hearts through what He gave them, FAITH.
Faith is the gift of God.

 

[complete]

'For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
Not of works,
lest any man should boast.'
(Eph 2:8-9)

May God be praised!

 

[Samson2020]

'For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
Not of works,
lest any man should boast.'
(Eph 2:8-9)

May God be praised!

Let me ask of you, How many is many? Is it not all except Jesus? As all were made sinners/disobedient except the one? Yes?
Rom 11:32 Rom 3:23

 

[Brother Paul]

That would require a work on the elects part in becoming an elect.
Why is it that the grace of God cannot simply be acknowledged as a gift and thank Him for choosing us? Why do we always frustrate the grace of God by interjecting our own works of acceptance?
Sure God is humored by your acceptance of His gift but not so much your mandating the acceptance is why you have it.

When I re read the verse it says nothing about the actual plan, it just says He decided to adopt us as sons according to the good pleasure of HIS WILL.
And that is according to grace. Not anything required on our part except hanging on to the faith He graced us with.

You need to read verse 13 in addition to the section highlighted to get the full insight Paul is providing. This becomes the very teaching taught to the earliest church, everywhere, by the Apostles that founded them. God initiates, man responds, and their response inspires God to take up residence. For one example, and there are many, consider Revelations 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." God initiates but how the human recipient responds determines (in God's will and plan) whether or not He will enter in.

The BIble therefore teaches as a whole that Calvin's Total depravity (interpreted as ABSOLUTE INCAPABILITY) is in error. Yes he derived this from Augustine's "Against Pelagius" but he failed (in error as Augustine pointed out next) to read "On Grace and Free Will". Now this is NOT semi=pelegianism because God owes no man anything, Salvation is 100% His choice and doing because all have sinned.

 

[Brother Paul]

'For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
Not of works,
lest any man should boast.'
(Eph 2:8-9)

May God be praised!

Salvation IS a gift, tht is correct!

 

[Samson2020]

Salvation IS a gift, tht is correct!

This is the chicken or the egg question.
What came first His faith given to me or my belief? If it was my belief then salvation is based on my belief. But rather if He gave me the faith to believe
then the faith was the gift that also brought the rest.
Is my election up to my belief or His faith gifted to me?

The gift was the FAITH to believe unto salvation.

 

[Brother Paul]

This is the chicken or the egg question.
What came first His faith given to me or my belief? If it was my belief then salvation is based on my belief. But rather if He gave me the faith to believe
then the faith was the gift that also brought the rest.
Is my election up to my belief or His faith gifted to me?

The gift was the FAITH to believe unto salvation.

Calvin in his "Institutes," Book III, chapter 23, says, "....Not all men are created with similar destiny, but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others. Every man, therefore, being created for one or the other of these ends, we say, he is predestined either to life or to death."


Nowhere is the first of two dilemmas with his Statement. First, it meansGod created people TO BE SAVED and created people TO BE DAMNED. Hemade them to be what each is, and they each do as HIS INTENTION was for them. Therefore, a person like Adolph Hitler was created to do exactly what he did, and therefore God is the author of that which God has said is abominable to Him. He is therefore the author of temptation and sin (God forbid). Hitler therefore did what was God's will, At the judgment He is responsible for the torture, murder, and more. The Bible over and over tells us this is incorrect. For example, let no man say he was tempted by God for God Tempts NO MAN(not just the saved man).

NowI gave you plainly an example fo the 2nd error here in Revelations 3:20 (and there are many more examples, over and over).But please listen NO SCHOLAR (secular or otherwise) except those of the Calvinist camp EVER rendered this passage to be talking about FAITH being the gift here. God predestines according to His foreknowing. Those who respond and open the door are NOT already regenerated. When people heaar the word of truth or tha gospel and they KNOW they are destined for damnation and receive Christ THEN they are given the right or power to become the children of God (John1:12) not before. They receive the gifft of the Holy Spirit after they repent (change their mind and believe) in Acts 2:38.

All commands of God in the Greek are placed in the imperative mood for a reason and that id because God made humans capable of obeying, though most will not, and all will eventually fail in some of the 613commands of the Law. Now why will most NOT? Because they like the fruit (the product) of the Tree of Knowledge (Genesis 3:5), being lord of their own life, deciding good and evil for their self as their god.

 

[Samson2020]

Calvin in his "Institutes," Book III, chapter 23, says, "....Not all men are created with similar destiny, but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others. Every man, therefore, being created for one or the other of these ends, we say, he is predestined either to life or to death."

Calvin was half right. He left out the part where God desires or will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Ti 2:4 Therefore predestined
to come to destruction in this dispensation but receive grace in the next.
No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draw him. Yes?
Then who is really in charge of your salvation? It is God, for if He doesn't call then you ain't coming. You are left out as an un-elect for now.
But seeing that God will have all men to be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth we must be missing something, for too many have passed
prior to Jesus and many more un-elect have passed since Jesus.
When will they come into that knowledge and be saved?
Afterall it was God that imprisoned everyone in disobedience so that He could have mercy on all. Rom 11:32

First, it meansGod created people TO BE SAVED and created people TO BE DAMNED.

Close, but the damned part is out. As all were sent here to experience good and evil and participate in it for as long as the Lord allow.
All sin debt has been paid by the blood of Jesus. Col 1:20 peace was made and all things are to be reconciled unto the Father through the Son.
And as mentioned earlier that can't happen UNLESS the Father draw the individual to the Son. So still in Gods hands as to who when and where
each will come to the Son. 1 Co 15:23 But EVERY man in his own order.....

Therefore, a person like Adolph Hitler was created to do exactly what he did, and therefore God is the author of that which God has said is abominable to Him. He is therefore the author of temptation and sin (God forbid)

Correct, what has happened on Earth that God did not foresee? As all things He foreknew before He started. Is He busy fixing all of it or was it by design?
As I mentioned Rom 11:32 God imprisoned everyone to disobedience so that He could have mercy on all. Sounds like it was God all along who orchestrated
everything. Hitler could have been dropped like Ananias and Sapphira but He didn't, I wonder why? Is it possible for you to see the benefit of this?
What would you do if your objective was to transfer all power in heaven and earth to your sons? How would you prepare them in understanding good and evil
and to shun evil and do only that that is good once the power had been given to them? God kills and God makes alive, thus life or death makes no difference
for He is able to resurrect whomever whenever He chooses.

The Bible over and over tells us this is incorrect. For example, let no man say he was tempted by God for God Tempts NO MAN(not just the saved man).

God doesn't have to that is Satans job.

).But please listen NO SCHOLAR (secular or otherwise) except those of the Calvinist camp EVER rendered this passage to be talking about FAITH being the gift here.

He got that part right!
As far as scholars go, couldn't care less what they think as they may or may not be of the elect group, therefore; why would their opinion matter to me?

It is our FAITH that is to be perfected, not our salvation. That is to be worked out with fear and trembling on an individual basis. But the perfecting of
our FAITH that actually is the gift of God is what brings us unto the full measure. Eph 4:13
What is Jesus to do but be the Author and the Finisher of our FAITH. Heb12:2
1 Jo 5:4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world. Our FAITH."
Without heart Faith given by God no one is able to discover who Jesus truly is. He is hidden by the Father from the world until it is that individuals time
to come. Thus elect.

NowI gave you plainly an example fo the 2nd error here in Revelations 3:20

Only one big problem here is that this is a warning-invitation to the ELECT group at Laodicea. Not the general public.

Those who respond and open the door are NOT already regenerated.

???? But it was written to an elect group.

God predestines according to His foreknowing.

You are correct on this, but He foreknew us all and intends for all of us to return to Him as ones who disdain evil and would never apply that to another again.
For we are to be love just like Him, ALL of us.
All things are of God and All things are to be reconciled back to Him.

When people heaar the word of truth or tha gospel and they KNOW they are destined for damnation and receive Christ THEN they are given the right or power to become the children of God (John1:12) not before.

Again a problem in that the only reason anyone would acknowledge the Son and accept Him is if God revealed Him to them first. Matt 16:15-17

All commands of God in the Greek are placed in the imperative mood for a reason and that id because God made humans capable of obeying, though most will not, and all will eventually fail in some of the 613commands of the Law. Now why will most NOT? Because they like the fruit (the product) of the Tree of Knowledge (Genesis 3:5), being lord of their own life, deciding good and evil for their self as their god.

Who was it that brought the condemnation of a carnal mind on man? It was God. He had to allow us to believe we were in charge of our own destinies,
this is the vanity that He subjected the entire world to in hope that when He reveals His first group of sons the world would be freed from that condition.
Rom 8:20-21

 

[Brother Paul]

Calvin was half right. He left out the part where God desires or will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Ti 2:4 Therefore predestined
to come to destruction in this dispensation but receive grace in the next.
No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draw him. Yes?
Then who is really in charge of your salvation? It is God, for if He doesn't call then you ain't coming. You are left out as an un-elect for now.
But seeing that God will have all men to be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth we must be missing something, for too many have passed
prior to Jesus and many more un-elect have passed since Jesus.
When will they come into that knowledge and be saved?
Afterall it was God that imprisoned everyone in disobedience so that He could have mercy on all. Rom 11:32

Close, but the damned part is out. As all were sent here to experience good and evil and participate in it for as long as the Lord allow.
All sin debt has been paid by the blood of Jesus. Col 1:20 peace was made and all things are to be reconciled unto the Father through the Son.
And as mentioned earlier that can't happen UNLESS the Father draw the individual to the Son. So still in Gods hands as to who when and where
each will come to the Son. 1 Co 15:23 But EVERY man in his own order.....

Correct, what has happened on Earth that God did not foresee? As all things He foreknew before He started. Is He busy fixing all of it or was it by design?
As I mentioned Rom 11:32 God imprisoned everyone to disobedience so that He could have mercy on all. Sounds like it was God all along who orchestrated
everything. Hitler could have been dropped like Ananias and Sapphira but He didn't, I wonder why? Is it possible for you to see the benefit of this?
What would you do if your objective was to transfer all power in heaven and earth to your sons? How would you prepare them in understanding good and evil
and to shun evil and do only that that is good once the power had been given to them? God kills and God makes alive, thus life or death makes no difference
for He is able to resurrect whomever whenever He chooses.

God doesn't have to that is Satans job.


He got that part right!
As far as scholars go, couldn't care less what they think as they may or may not be of the elect group, therefore; why would their opinion matter to me?

It is our FAITH that is to be perfected, not our salvation. That is to be worked out with fear and trembling on an individual basis. But the perfecting of
our FAITH that actually is the gift of God is what brings us unto the full measure. Eph 4:13
What is Jesus to do but be the Author and the Finisher of our FAITH. Heb12:2
1 Jo 5:4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world. Our FAITH."
Without heart Faith given by God no one is able to discover who Jesus truly is. He is hidden by the Father from the world until it is that individuals time
to come. Thus elect.

Only one big problem here is that this is a warning-invitation to the ELECT group at Laodicea. Not the general public.

???? But it was written to an elect group.


You are correct on this, but He foreknew us all and intends for all of us to return to Him as ones who disdain evil and would never apply that to another again.
For we are to be love just like Him, ALL of us.
All things are of God and All things are to be reconciled back to Him.

Again a problem in that the only reason anyone would acknowledge the Son and accept Him is if God revealed Him to them first. Matt 16:15-17


Who was it that brought the condemnation of a carnal mind on man? It was God. He had to allow us to believe we were in charge of our own destinies,
this is the vanity that He subjected the entire world to in hope that when He reveals His first group of sons the world would be freed from that condition.
Rom 8:20-21

Salvation is always 100% God's choice not man's.