A
2 Corinthians 7:1
New King James Version (NKJV)
7 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
So grace is dependent on how 'open' we are to trust?Well yes, that's what the passage seems to say. But I think the Lord is making the distinction between the those who are prideful in their own wisdom as opposed to those who are open to trust and to be dependent on what Christ said and did; and what more Christ wishes to reveal based on God's foreknowledge on the persons heart and his/her choice to receive or reject God... Grant God is the creator of all things, including the heart, thus in this manner some are predestined, but not on the bases that He desires to ambiguously pick His children out of an line up. WE Could go in endless circles about this and I'm sure you've got an answer, lol... I have to come to an answer taking the whole bible into account that satisfies me, and not what other commentators say, including Luther.
So grace is dependent on how 'open' we are to trust?
Foreknowledge on person's heart?...The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9)
Not a respecter of persons?...I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (Joh 17:9)
or as another example...
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (Deu 7:6)
So grace is dependent on how 'open' we are to trust?
Foreknowledge on person's heart?...The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9)
Not a respecter of persons?...I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (Joh 17:9)
or as another example...
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people (*a group, not individual) unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (Deu 7:6)
It very easy to quote scripture and apply ones own interpretation of it. We are all guilty of it. Jesus is praying for the reservation of the saints. You do the same thing I hope...I need this prayer....I don't believe this has anything to do with how one becomes of the elect. There has always been 2 groups, God's people and the world's people, under Satan (however you want to put it). Thus we don't pray for those in whom God knows who will never choose Him (those of the world, the institution of Satan, the evil corporate body). But yet we do pray for those in the world, in that evil institution, whom will have a conversion.Not a respecter of persons?...I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (Joh 17:9)
These things can be done by yielding to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to put to death the self life, and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit through us. This is one of the purposes of receiving the Acts 2:4 experience and why Jesus COMMANDED it for all His disciples.mmmm
God draws and leads people and He sometimes does it by having one of His children care enough to reason with them and discuss scriptures with them.
Wisdom should not be scorned or sound reasoning dismissed.
you may not be "reasoned into faith" but you use reason to grow in maturity of your faith.
you use reason to teach self control. you add to the faith given to you by God.
2 peter 1
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
hey interesting! ty!
i'll have to remember that.
i'm stunned at the moment - tired....., does it change the overall meaning of the passage
and so then does it change anything about our Q&A?
z
interesting BEHeeh Heeh, I don't think so, sorry for bring it up. But I'm inquiring of the Lord whether or not that add-on is significant to the meaning of the passage. I think that perhaps it could.
i inquired of you elsewhere and don't know if you replied.These things can be done by yielding to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to put to death the self life, and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit through us. This is one of the purposes of receiving the Acts 2:4 experience and why Jesus COMMANDED it for all His disciples.