Acts 13:46-48
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
Exactly along the same lines as Bible Truth #17, this time the Holy Spirit used Luke to say the same thing about God sovereignly appointing some to save, i.e. some to enable (John 6:65) to believe and confess Christ. Those appointed to eternal life believed and the clear implication is that those who were NOT appointed to eternal life did NOT believe. They ALL heard the same message, but some believed because the Lord had given them belief (John 6:29, Philippians 1:29). Then they trusted, accepted, repented, and confessed Jesus as Savior and Lord because God chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).
Many Arminians will say those who believed were then appointed to eternal life. That is an intentional and convoluted twisting of the passage. The structure of the Greek does not allow for that interpretation. It is clear in his writing that Luke is telling us that the appointing came before the believing. Read it again! ...and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. And when read in light of Ephesians 1:4, it is abundantly clear the appointing took place before the foundation of the world. Then at this specific point in time, God worked in these men and made them believers (John 6:29). Why? Because He had already appointed them and placed them in Christ!
Many Arminians will say those who believed were then appointed to eternal life. That is an intentional and convoluted twisting of the passage. The structure of the Greek does not allow for that interpretation. It is clear in his writing that Luke is telling us that the appointing came before the believing. Read it again! ...and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. And when read in light of Ephesians 1:4, it is abundantly clear the appointing took place before the foundation of the world. Then at this specific point in time, God worked in these men and made them believers (John 6:29). Why? Because He had already appointed them and placed them in Christ!
We become children of God not by human decision (John 1:13). Why? Because it’s God’s decision, not ours (John 15:16). All I’m doing is quoting Bible and I really don’t see how these verses can be interpreted another way.
...and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The appointment by God of His Elect came BEFORE the believing, it always has, and always will.
...and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The appointment by God of His Elect came BEFORE the believing, it always has, and always will.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.