Calvinism and Context?
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Eph 2:12
"remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world"
Is Paul implying that in former times, those outside the Mosaic Covenant were "without hope and without God"? As if to say that back then, all of the unconverted gentiles (being born in the wrong place at the wrong time) were born as vessels of wrath headed for inevitable judgment?
Is it also true that God, for no other reason than due to His mercy, His Sovereign gracious choice, ELECTED a people for his Name, Israel?
And then, out of the whole nation, truly only a subset (a remnant) were chosen as the spiritual seed of Abraham?
Far be it for me to call down Gods judgment on any man, or to do nothing less than beg for Gods extended mercy and long-suffering upon all. This I do. This we do.
But let us not a discount, let us not ignore, the fact that it is God's willful intercession to save that is the salient factor and final word on salvation. Without it all men would be lost.
"remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world"
Is Paul implying that in former times, those outside the Mosaic Covenant were "without hope and without God"? As if to say that back then, all of the unconverted gentiles (being born in the wrong place at the wrong time) were born as vessels of wrath headed for inevitable judgment?
Is it also true that God, for no other reason than due to His mercy, His Sovereign gracious choice, ELECTED a people for his Name, Israel?
And then, out of the whole nation, truly only a subset (a remnant) were chosen as the spiritual seed of Abraham?
Far be it for me to call down Gods judgment on any man, or to do nothing less than beg for Gods extended mercy and long-suffering upon all. This I do. This we do.
But let us not a discount, let us not ignore, the fact that it is God's willful intercession to save that is the salient factor and final word on salvation. Without it all men would be lost.
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There is no overriding God's will. God is not stingy with salvation as you paint Him out to be.
MY BIBLE reads...................... "and the spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is thirsty come and
whosoever will let him take the water of life freely"
And this is Calvinism is wrong right out of the gate no understanding of the plan of redemption ... and the sovereignty of God.
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I assure you that I did indeed read your post fully. I read it a number of times, so as to endeavor to accurately ascertain your point (perhaps I didn't achieve my goal, but according to what you have put in THIS post, I DO believe I accurately "understood" your point).
My point (in response) would be (again), that you have pre-supposed "just WHAT" was that "PURPOSE" being spoken of in 1:11 (this word used more than once in Ephesians, by the way).
Your view is that the "PURPOSE" was that (before time) God chose certain individuals to be saved (leaving others to damnation).
My view is that the "PURPOSE" (being spoken of in Eph) has more to do with God's plan (for 'this present age [singular]') for an entity [for lack of a better term] "destined [and called 'the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY' (saved during 'this present age [singular]')] to be 'joint-heirs with Christ'
True, He will indeed have "the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY" as "*joint-heirs with Christ"
"* joint-heirs" [heirs-->] from "G2818 - kleronomos" = "an heir, with inheritance determined by lot"...
so... "IN HIM in whom also we have been lot-cast [G2820]..."
[will come back later when I have more time to post... gotta run!]
My point (in response) would be (again), that you have pre-supposed "just WHAT" was that "PURPOSE" being spoken of in 1:11 (this word used more than once in Ephesians, by the way).
Your view is that the "PURPOSE" was that (before time) God chose certain individuals to be saved (leaving others to damnation).
My view is that the "PURPOSE" (being spoken of in Eph) has more to do with God's plan (for 'this present age [singular]') for an entity [for lack of a better term] "destined [and called 'the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY' (saved during 'this present age [singular]')] to be 'joint-heirs with Christ'
True, He will indeed have "the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY" as "*joint-heirs with Christ"
"* joint-heirs" [heirs-->] from "G2818 - kleronomos" = "an heir, with inheritance determined by lot"...
so... "IN HIM in whom also we have been lot-cast [G2820]..."
[will come back later when I have more time to post... gotta run!]
...meant to add...
[quoting from BibleHub]
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 2820 klēróō (from 2819 /klḗros, "to cast lots") – properly, make a choice when assisted by casting lots (cf. S. Zodhiates, Dict); to appoint (assign) by lot-casting. See 2818 (klēronómos).
2820 /klēróō ("assign by divine lot-cast"), is only used in Eph 1:11 where it is often translated "obtained an inheritance." The Greek text literally reads, "In whom (Christ), indeed we were lot-cast (2820 /klēróō), having already been pre-horizoned (4309 /proorízō, aorist participle) according to (divine) purpose, of the one energizing all things according to the counsel (1012 /boulḗ) arising from His will (2307 /thélēma)."
[The above rendering regards the Greek genitive as "subjective."]
[end quoting from BibleHub; bold mine]
https://biblehub.com/text/ephesians/1-11.htm - Eph1:11
[quoting from BibleHub]
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 2820 klēróō (from 2819 /klḗros, "to cast lots") – properly, make a choice when assisted by casting lots (cf. S. Zodhiates, Dict); to appoint (assign) by lot-casting. See 2818 (klēronómos).
2820 /klēróō ("assign by divine lot-cast"), is only used in Eph 1:11 where it is often translated "obtained an inheritance." The Greek text literally reads, "In whom (Christ), indeed we were lot-cast (2820 /klēróō), having already been pre-horizoned (4309 /proorízō, aorist participle) according to (divine) purpose, of the one energizing all things according to the counsel (1012 /boulḗ) arising from His will (2307 /thélēma)."
[The above rendering regards the Greek genitive as "subjective."]
[end quoting from BibleHub; bold mine]
https://biblehub.com/text/ephesians/1-11.htm - Eph1:11
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No. The point is NOT to say "you might get lucky [to be saved]"... it is saying, "IN HIM/CHRIST in whom also we have been lot-cast" 
[positional/legal truths]
____________
and, oh boy, I must be really getting distracted [here where I am, today ], as I had meant to also add:
[from BibleHub]
[re: a word in Eph3:6... but see vv.4-6 (quoted below)]
HELPS Word-studies
4789 sygklēronómos (from 4862 /sýn, "closely identified with" and 2818 /klēronómos, "an heir, with inheritance determined by lot") – properly, joint-heir; used of believers sharing in the inheritance of the heavenly Father with (through) the chief heir, Jesus Christ. See 2818 (klēronomos).
[end quoting from BIbleHub; bold and underline mine]
____________
we should understand these words (related to each other) in the context of Ephesians.
It is "IN HIM" (not apart from Him, like, on our own, or something... or "chance-y". No.)
_____
"3 that He made known to me the mystery by revelation, just as I have written before in brief, 4 which, by reading, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as now it has been revealed in the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets, 6 that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, 7 of which ..."
[positional/legal truths]____________
and, oh boy, I must be really getting distracted [here where I am, today
], as I had meant to also add:[from BibleHub]
[re: a word in Eph3:6... but see vv.4-6 (quoted below)]
HELPS Word-studies
4789 sygklēronómos (from 4862 /sýn, "closely identified with" and 2818 /klēronómos, "an heir, with inheritance determined by lot") – properly, joint-heir; used of believers sharing in the inheritance of the heavenly Father with (through) the chief heir, Jesus Christ. See 2818 (klēronomos).
[end quoting from BIbleHub; bold and underline mine]
____________
we should understand these words (related to each other) in the context of Ephesians.
It is "IN HIM" (not apart from Him, like, on our own, or something... or "chance-y". No.)
_____
"3 that He made known to me the mystery by revelation, just as I have written before in brief, 4 which, by reading, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as now it has been revealed in the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets, 6 that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, 7 of which ..."
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Beautiful passages.
Isa 55:1
"Come, all of you who thirst, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without cost!
BTW, in Rev 22:17, "the one who desires" is a far better fit than "whosoever".
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/22-17.htm
Isa 55:1
"Come, all of you who thirst, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without cost!
BTW, in Rev 22:17, "the one who desires" is a far better fit than "whosoever".
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/22-17.htm
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No. The point is NOT to say "you might get lucky [to be saved]"... it is saying, "IN HIM/CHRIST in whom also we have been lot-cast" [positional/legal truths]
____________
and, oh boy, I must be really getting distracted [here where I am, today ], as I had meant to also add:
[from BibleHub]
[re: a word in Eph3:6... but see vv.4-6 (quoted below)]
HELPS Word-studies
4789 sygklēronómos (from 4862 /sýn, "closely identified with" and 2818 /klēronómos, "an heir, with inheritance determined by lot") – properly, joint-heir; used of believers sharing in the inheritance of the heavenly Father with (through) the chief heir, Jesus Christ. See 2818 (klēronomos).
[end quoting from BIbleHub; bold and underline mine]
____________
we should understand these words (related to each other) in the context of Ephesians.
It is "IN HIM" (not apart from Him, like, on our own, or something... or "chance-y". No.)
_____
"3 that He made known to me the mystery by revelation, just as I have written before in brief, 4 which, by reading, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as now it has been revealed in the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets, 6 that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, 7 of which ..."
[positional/legal truths]____________
and, oh boy, I must be really getting distracted [here where I am, today
], as I had meant to also add:[from BibleHub]
[re: a word in Eph3:6... but see vv.4-6 (quoted below)]
HELPS Word-studies
4789 sygklēronómos (from 4862 /sýn, "closely identified with" and 2818 /klēronómos, "an heir, with inheritance determined by lot") – properly, joint-heir; used of believers sharing in the inheritance of the heavenly Father with (through) the chief heir, Jesus Christ. See 2818 (klēronomos).
[end quoting from BIbleHub; bold and underline mine]
____________
we should understand these words (related to each other) in the context of Ephesians.
It is "IN HIM" (not apart from Him, like, on our own, or something... or "chance-y". No.)
_____
"3 that He made known to me the mystery by revelation, just as I have written before in brief, 4 which, by reading, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as now it has been revealed in the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets, 6 that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, 7 of which ..."
I don't want to read anything into the text so help me out here.
What is to account for this? The determined purpose and foreknowledge of God? Divine enlightenment? Or the will and discernment of man?
Matt 13:11
And answering He said to them, "Because it has been granted to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it has not been granted.
Matt 13:16:17
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous mendesired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Matt 13:11
And answering He said to them, "Because it has been granted to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it has not been granted.
Matt 13:16:17
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous mendesired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
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