Ephesians
King James Version (KJV)
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In the discourse to Nicodemus; the Godhead is once again refered to as "we" in v. 11. The famous John 3:16 has been used to raise an apparent contradiction. The "whosoever" has been considered the elect according to some. We should also keep in mind that we ALL were a part of the world before we were saved. Therefore; that shows our limit to the scope of time and space to the specifics of when we went from death to life. We should also bear in mind that there is a process involved where the Spirit convicts of sin; righteousness and judgment to come ( John 16:8). Repentance is also said to be something granted by God ( Acts 5:31; etal). Our own consciousness even in a darkened state can recognize consequences for sin and fear judgment
but until we see the light and undergo a heart change we won't want to be reproved (v. 20). (also see Ezekiel 11:19). After we are saved; there must be good works and continuing sanctification as v. 21 alludes to. Therefore; there is transformation occurring before we understand and make a verbal confession; and it continues throughout our lives.
The last part of the passage from verse 22 on show Johns discoursse; once again highlighting election. Verse 27 states that a man cannot recieve anything unless it be "given him from heaven". This theme is repeated in v. 31 and 32 that with earthly uderstanding no man receiveth his testimony (v. 32). Verse 33 seems to show to some extent how a believer is sealed as is shown in Ephesians 1:13-14 (I could use further clarification of that). Nonetheless; v. 36 again shows that someone who believes "on the Son" has everlasting life; and the contrary for those who don't including God's wrath.
The end of this passage is given more detail in other scriptures; including John. We must not only believe; but do as He says; for those who love Him will keep His commandments ( John 14:15). This makes love for one another paramount ( John 13:34)
Please notice what's highlighted.
Ephesians 1:3-10. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places( IN CHRIST:)
According as he hath chosen us
( IN HIM ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted ( IN THE BELOVED.)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times HE MIGHT GATHER TOGETHER( IN ONE ) ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even IN HIM:
So we have a way and a body ( The body of Christ ) that was fore ordained before the foundation of the world that we have been baptized into.
God stands on the out side of time and sees the beginning and the end of the life of man like a picture. He's is foreknowing and his omniscience is not confounded by the present, It's future.
Psalms 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought AFAR OFF.
Example: Isaiah 46:10.
1 Peter 1:19-20 also tells us God knew Adam would sin. "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
No one is predetermined as you put it but God knows before hand who would come to him so by his foreknowledge he uses us as vessels as seen in Romans 9:21.
I hope this helps
God bless.
Part 1.
I Agree with Brother Chris "God knowing beforehand the choices that we make & the way our lives will unfold" and the Gospel goes out to all, the invitation is for all, but not all will respond!!
1 John 2:2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Matthew 7:13-14. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.
Galatians 3:22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given TO THEM THAT BELIEVE.
Ephesians 1:12-13. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
So let's make it clear
Romans 10:8-15 is what's relevant.
But look at verse 16. "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Here's my thought on this that I'm sure can be improved on.
Romans 9:11. (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, THAT THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO ELECTION might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) Here we have God's way that He Elected..
Next we have "WHEN" God's way was Elected.
Ephesians 1:4. According as he hath chosen us ( IN ) him BEFORE THE FOUNDATION of THE WORLD...
You may find it easier to understand if we look at it as the church or the body of Christ instead of Individuals.
See part 2.
God sees our hearts. It is those often unseen; praying in the closet; living chaste lives; giving anonymously; etc. that are blessed.
Following and living out the truth because of obedience results from love of God. The characteristics of God's children today bring them spiritual authority and blessings to rule and reign someday with Him; alongside from the way scripture indicates; the tribes of Israel with the territories promised in their covenants thousands of years ago. He has called us out of this world; seated us in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6); and sealed us to the Day of Redemption. ( Eph. 4:30).
Since His covenants are eternal; we have eternity to spend with the Lord (or conversely; in hell). Eternity has been set in the hearts of man; since God Himself is without beginning or end; thus it is reflected in the nature of man that He created; and communed with from the start. Through His Son; He purchased us and redeemed us through the transaction at the cross to be His own. These are all things tied into the concept of election and Predestination. Those who are NOT His children ALL will eventually fall away. John 6:37 is one verse of MANY in that Gospel and elsewhere showing how we are through the Godhead part of the plan of God to reveal the Truth as His child; or outside that number. These are profound mysteries; but it also shows a covenant or at least an agreement with the Father and Son which apparently was made before the creation in eternity past ( Ephesians 1:4).
I will attempt a section on Predestination soon; Lord willing. This section ties together the concept of covenant with election.
Through the Son we are given a new nature which is deemed acceptable to the Father because of Christ's merits and substitutionary atoning sacrificial death. To be one of His children we also must die to self; a lifelong process that initiates at salvation and goes on to death. ( Galatians 2:20; also see Romans 12:1).
understanding where as there is no doubt] then you can go down to verse 21. Then there is the word for know
oida which is like knowing baseball but never played, which is head knowledge God wants us to have a indept heart
of who He is and How his word works in the church.
I put in parenthesis words that can be passed over easily. A lot of the phrases "deity of Christ", "fully God, fully man", "God the Son" I haven't read in the Bible. I might have missed them. If so I would like to know them. I wonder if their is a benefit in adding to the words the Bible uses to describe Jesus Christ.
Yes I understood the same way you do. I just wanted to ensure that we saved as many people on this site. That is why it is important to take time to explain based on the Bible. The Book of Acts is a transitional book. Luke did a magnificent job inspired by God writing the chain of events after Jesus Christ died on the cross. Peter and the rest of the Apostles concentrated on preaching to the Jews, but when they have rejected it three times Paul went to the Gentiles. But Jews and Gentiles today can be saved by the mystery of the Gospel of Paul 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. We are saved by grace through faith. We are baptized by trusting on Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection meaning trusting on the blood of Jesus Christ. Christ Jesus already went to the most Holiest of Holy to sprinkle His own blood as the Jews did on earth. So anybody today can be saved by that blood. Once you are saved, the mysteries are revealed by the Holy Spirit. We are the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, knowing Christ in you.
Romans 16:25; Galatians 1:9-12; Galatians 2:1-14; Acts 15:11; Roman's 2:16; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 1Peter 1:18-20;
1Corinthians 4:1
Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24-27; Ephesians 1:13; Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 3:16 and many more I can share. So knowing we are saved, we know the mystery of the rapture. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Romans 9:1; 2 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 1:20; 1 Timothy 2:7
Revelation 3:3. We are watching and praying with thanksgiving.
We are on the last days and we want all to be saved. We are here on earth to fulfill God's purpose - To trust God and to do God's will. Nothing of anything good we do. Rejoice evermore! I am so happy to communicate with you David. Have a blessed weekend.
Romans 8, Hebrews 4:12,
Warning, 1Timothy 4:1,
1John 4:1-11, 1John 4,
Hopefully these are helpful in your study of your spirit & flesh; (body)
I agree with your first sentence. To add, Jesus said "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 15:24 KJV. During Jesus Christ on earth He commanded His Disciples in Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus was preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. Had the Jews recognized their King..could of, would of, should of. But they killed their Messiah. Your second sentence is half correct. Jesus Christ had chosen Paul to be the twelfth apostle with a purpose to tell us Gentiles more detail what happened during his dispensation. The word dispensation can only be found 4X in Paul's epistles: 1 Corinthians 9:17
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
Ephesians 3:2
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Colossians 1:25
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Ephesians 1:10
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
These verses proved to me that when Paul told us to "divide the word of truth" means that God speaks to different people in different times. Meaning Dispensation. Therefore, some verses of the Bible applies only to the Jews and only to Gentiles and some applies both to Jews and Gentiles in different times as "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets," Hebrews 1:1 KJV. Paul is our Apostle today. His dispensation of Grace is critical for today's salvation. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Agape.
The verse about the Sabbath being made for man indicates that there is a superior principle involved. Namely; those things called "works" on the Sabbath that were added laws to the original statute were not to be considered legitimate. Whereby; a legitimate need such as eating; feeding animals; or healing men were frequently used as examples of how those principles of mercy; love and justice were to supercede superficial legalistic practices. Thus; Jesus would quote the scripture about Daniel and the shewbread as justification for His actions and that of the disciples. Those laws that were in effect specifically for the Jews were eventually superceded by grafting in of Jews and Gentiles; and since Christ is God in the flesh honoring Pentecost (which had a significant prophetic indication of Christ's fulfillment at the Ascencion after the Resurrection) we now are under grace. We are now under a New Covenant; which allows us to fulfill the law as He ever lives to intercede for us and His Spirit remains within us. (see Hebrews 7:25; Ephesians 1:13-14). There is no Temple; and animal sacrifices hence Jews have no way to follow former purification rites. We can choose to rest on Saturdays; or Sundays as I see it-just as we can still celebrate the Passover. Obviously there is much controversy here on this subject.
Here is the Ephesians text: Ephesians 1:4-5 says "According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world."
Remember Verses 3 through 14 is all one sentence in the Greek text. And I want to make a technical point. Whenever you have a noun, like a person, and you mention this person's name, and throughout the paragraph or chapter, you want to make reference to that person, you don't keep mentioning his name.
Let's say his name is Jesse. You don't keep saying Jesse in every sentence. Once you're introduced to the person, you make reference to "him," and "he."
Those are all pronouns and its antecedent is Jesse so that whenever you see he or him in the sentences, you know who this person is talking about.
So Jesse becomes the antecedent once it's introduced. Now what is interesting, do you see the pronouns? According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.
Who is the "Us?" And that we should be holy without blame before Him in love. Having predestinated us for adoption.
In this text, in Verses 3 through 14, the subject in the Greek text is in Verses 13 and 14 way beyond all of this. So the antecedent to us and we, who is the us and we?
So I got to find out who or what the antecedent is for us and we. If you go to Verses 13 and 14, it tells you. "We who have heard the gospel, we who have believed, and we who have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of God. That's who the us and we are!
God has predestinated us, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. The adoption process has been predestined for us so that we can become children of God, according as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world. Later on it says that He has predestinated us to be holy without blame, just like He did in Verse 4.
I would like to share my understanding on predestination. This may be a little long, but I think it is an important topic that should be addressed.
I am reading over Romans 8:29 which reads, "For whom he did foreknow, (know ahead of time), he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Please allow me to share a little bit with you about predestination. Actually, predestination in the bible is very simple to understand. In Ephesians 1:3-14, in the Greek text, these verses are all one sentence. And that's the chapter that most people focus on when it comes to predestination.
The most prominent teaching on predestination that we have today comes from John Calvin and there are differences, as people take different turns with it as to what predestination means.
But the one that's going around that people hold to a lot is that predestination means that God predestines or chooses those who are going to be saved ahead of time, and He predestines those who are going to go to Hell ahead of time.
So according to that belief, you are chosen and predestined as to whether you are going to go to Heaven or Hell. You have no choice. There's no free will according to this teaching. You are either predestined one way or the other.
But please notice in this text, in context, what it says. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate." Predestinate what? "To be conformed to the image of his Son."
Predestination is never associated with salvation in the bible. You will always see the word associated with those who are already saved. And it won't be salvation. It's what has been predestined or chosen for us as part of our inheritance.
Psalm 110:1. The Lord said unto my Lord, Jehovah ladoni, the saying, or decree, that is, I record the saying or decree of Jehohovah to my Lord, that is, to his Son the Messiah, whom I acknowledge as my Lord and God. This decree, made in eternity, was in due time published, and was actually executed when God raised up Christ from the dead, and brought him into his heavenly mansion. David designedly calls the Messiah his Lord, to admonish the whole church, that although he was his Song of Solomon according to the human nature, yet he had a higher nature, and was also his Lord, as being by nature God blessed for ever, and consequently Lord of all things, as he is called Acts 10:36; and by office, as he was God man, the Lord and King of the whole church, and of all the world, for the church's sake. And this was said to prevent that offence which the Holy Ghost foresaw the Jews and others would be ready to take at the meanness of Christ's appearance in the flesh. The Hebrew word adon, is one of God's titles, signifying his power and authority over all things, and therefore is most fitly given to the Messiah, to whom God had delegated all his power in the universe, > Matthew 28:18. Sit thou at my right hand - Thou who hast for so many years been veiled with infirm and mortal flesh, despised, rejected, and trampled upon by men, and persecuted unto death; do thou now take to thyself thy great and just power. Thou hast done thy work upon earth, now take thy rest, and the possession of that sovereign kingdom and glory, which by right belongs to thee; do thou rule with me, with an authority and honour far above all creatures, in earth or heaven. So this phrase is expounded in other places: see Luke 22:69; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12-13; Ephesians 1:20
See BibleHubDOTcom
The Bible tells us we lived with God before we were born.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? ( Job 38:4,7)
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. ( Jeremiah 1:5)
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 (Timothy 1:9)
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ( Ephesians 1:4)
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: ( 1 Corinthians 2:7)
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus1:2)
(A Prayer of Moses the man of God.) Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. (Psalms: 90:1-2)
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. ( Romans 11:2)
She was with our Lord before and during the creation of the world.
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; ( Proverbs 8:30)
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
( Proverbs 8:4, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
Thanks for replying.
I believe the question is, "is water baptism ESSENTIAL for salvation?" No! It's the Holy spirit that gives life to a sinner dead in trespasses and sin.
Ephesians 1:22- Ephesians 2:1 "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."
I was water baptized, it was ritual and pointed to what has already taken place once I believed. I was put into the body of believers by the spirit."
Now whatever good I do is by the power of the Holyspirit. that is what the baptism is all about. A NEW LIFE! The focus is on the resurrection! By which way were we given new life?
Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4.
The disciples were given a command to go out teach all nations baptizing them, which was a dispensational teaching. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matt 28:19.
What we have here is a picture of those being saved grafted into the genuine vine, one that gives life and produces fruit as seen in john 15:1-5. And Paul hammers at this in Romans 11.
The emphasis is on the Holyspirit empowering the believer.
God bless.
5043 tknon - properly, a child; (figuratively) anyone living in full dependence on the heavenly Father, i.e. fully (willingly) relying upon the Lord in glad submission. This prompts God to transform them into His likeness.
When the adulteress women was found guilty what did Jesus say? He said let him who has never sinned cast the first stone. Now Jesus who had never sinned, did he accuse this women or put her to Death? No he forgave her of her sins and asked her to sin no more.
Jesus came into her life and if this happened to you would you Sin again or at least try to walk righteous in approval of the Lord?
Romans 3:25.
It is up to US all not to accuse or judge but to Praise the Gospel and TEACH it so all become touched by our FAITH thus trying to do no wrong anymore and walk so we and others are irreproachable (423). Blameless, Unrebukeable.
Blessed Marke Brother.
Nothing can happen that takes God by surprise but lots of things do happen that are contrary to the will of God.
The NT teaches the will of God on two "levels": 1012/boul ("God's immutable will" which includes the providential presetting of all physical circumstances), and 2307/thlma ("desire, God's preferred-will") which centers in choices.
[1012 (boul) focuses on the will (plan) of God for physical circumstances. 1012/boul ("a resolved plan") underlines the pre-set, unalterable nature of the plan. When used of God,1012 (boul) refers to Him authorizing all the physical scenes of life in His perfect wisdom and love.]
Nothing happens outside of God's plan (boul). People are often out of God's2307 (thlma), but never outside of God's1012 (boul)! See also1012 (boul). Both terms are used for example in Eph 1:11,
"In whom (Christ), we indeed (2532/ka) were divinely lot-cast, having been pre-horizoned (predestined), according to purpose (4286/prthesis, 'providence'), of the one energizing all things according to the boul-plan [arising out] of His thelma-plan."
[ Eph 1:11 states believers are "in Him" (Christ) and chosen by Him for a "divine-lot inheritance" (Gk text), i.e. our "divine-lot inheritance, having been pre-horizoned, according to (divine) purpose of the one energizing all things (neuter plural, ta panta), according to the counsel (1012/boul) of His will (2307/thlma)."]
Eph 1:11 conveys God's1012 (boul) as naturally proceeding from His2307 (thlma). The broader term (2307/thlma) includes the Lord's generous offers of love to all people. Each person therefore must make meaningful (undetermined) choices - in physical circumstances He arranged in His perfect wisdom before creation ( Jn 1:3).
["God's2307 (thlma) is more inclusive than1012 (boul), and centers on choices. God's 1012/boul ('plan') predestines all the physical scenes of life.
Blessed
I agree that there is much error taught in the Roman Catholic Church, however, it is not alone in teaching error. There is error and false doctrines taught across the board in Christian denominations. Each believer should examine what is taught in their own denominations and discover if it is taught in the Scripture in the Spirit of the Words of God.
Ephesians 2:19
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
1 Corinthians 4:1
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
1 Corinthians 4:4
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
1 Corinthians 6:2
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Let us grow in grace and in charity for the Glory of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your kind response.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." 1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye." 1 Corinthians 16:1 KJV
The WORD OF GOD is so powerful that speaks to everyone that believes.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:9
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
I love to know you as a daughter of God and a Saint here on earth.
I pray for all saints. Our encouragement to one another makes us stronger here on earth while waiting to see Jesus Christ in the clouds.
You've been given great answers.
I also believe the oil represents anointing. 1 John 2:27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
We are ready because the Holyspirit seals us. Ephesians 1:13. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.
In Revelation 1:12-13. the candlesticks mentioned here are oil burning lamp stands. A believer is to be a light to the world and that light should always shine on the one in the midst of the lamp stand. Our lord. Matthew 5:14-16.
Also used symbolically here.
Leviticus 24:2-4.
God bless.
Ephesians 1:11 In whom (in Christ) we (all creation) have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the PURPOSE of him who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS WILL.
Part of God's will is that ONLY a FEW will receive their inheritance in the first resurrection.
The rest will receive their inheritance after the second resurrection.
Romans 8:19 For the earnest EXPECTATION of the creature WAITETH (till the second resurrection) for the manifestation of the Sons of God (first resurrection).
Romans 8:21 Because the creature ITSELF shall be DELIVERED from the BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION (the grave, second resurrection) into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Why are they waiting until the second resurrection, the resurrection to JUDGEMENT.
Psalms 149:9 To execute upon them (second resurrection) the JUDGEMENT WRITTEN (their inheritance), this HONOUR hath all his saints (first resurrection).
Isaiah 26:9 ....for when thy JUDGEMENTS are in the earth (second resurrection) the inhabitants of the world (second resurrection) will LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1 Corinthians 15:28 .....that God may be ALL IN ALL.
God Bless YOU!
If we then look at those aspects of God's Work in Romans 8:29,30, we see firstly, His Foreknowledge (a knowledge of all things past, present & future). Based on that knowledge, He predestined some to become His children (as His Son is & His adopted ones would be - Ephesians 1:5). Then God's Work upon us begins: those predestined are now called to come to Him/drawn to Him - John 6:44. Those whom He has called, God applied to them the outcome of the Cross, i.e. of Justification - the guilty declared not guilty by reason of substitutionary payment made on their behalf. And those so justified, have received glorification - in part now with the indwelling Holy Spirit (the "earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession" - our completed redemption & glorification fitted out for Heaven: Ephesians 1:14).
Then what part "does our faith in Christ Jesus do for us?" Those whom God has predestined, called, & justified, are those who would be blessed with the gift of Faith - Faith that is needed for God's Grace to do its mighty work ( Ephesians 2:8). What then is the Gift of God? It is both His Grace poured out upon us plus the Faith to apprehend it & fully rest in it. One might ask, 'Can such a person drawn of God resist Him?' I would reply with questions: 'Would God even draw one who wouldn't be saved? Would the one being drawn want to resist the Love of God in Christ & the Holy Spirit's Work of Conviction? And, even if barriers were set up by Satan to obstruct the passage of the sinner into eternal life, would not the God Who makes no mistakes, still bear upon the sinner that he might understand the Truth & find that his hope lay in Christ alone?' John 6:37-40 - none of His will be lost.
I am struggling with family and friends who are deceived.
Pray with me please.
a. Dispensationalism. I don't believe that seeing different dispensations in the Bible is altogether wrong. It would be wrong if everything you read must fit (or, be forced) into a dispensation category to make the Bible work. Rather than give details on the various dispensations, I would just say that there does appear some clear demarcations seen that could be of help to us in correct Bible hermeneutics, but that shouldn't be forced upon one as an essential to understanding & trusting in the Words in the Bible.
b. Can the Holy Spirit leave? When one has truly repented of sins, turned to Jesus in faith, & being born again, the promise to us is that the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us: 1 Corinthians 6:19 (i.e. His Presence is there to give us new life, Titus 3:5, 1 John 2:29); a new nature ( 2 Corinthians 5:17); sealing us ( 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13); filling us ( Ephesians 5:18); & other ministries to guide, teach & comfort us. Yet, we can hardly fathom how intimately the Spirit works in us, drawing us closer to our Heavenly Father, & longing for us to be conformed to our blessed Lord Jesus. But if we step outside the Will of God, to disobey or to pursue a fleshly desire, then the Spirit in us will be grieved ( Ephesians 4:30), quenched ( 1 Thessalonians 5:19), outraged ( Hebrews 10:29), even resisted ( Acts 7:51). But does He leave us when we sin? No, He continues to minister to us bringing us to repentance, that we should call upon God to help us overcome & glorify Him in our lives. The true believer remains secure ( John 10:28), but we need to make sure we are indeed 'in the faith', experiencing God's Work in our lives.
c. Gluttony? Can be ranked with drunkenness or other obsessive, repetitive behaviour that slowly destroys the body God has given us. We need to take control over it, even if it means medical help & know that God desires our healing. It may not be sin, but can lead to it.