That's what I've been saying all along. Because of God's Spirit within us, we can be called sons of God even though we do not appear to be sons of God. We are predestined for the future adoption which is the redemption of the body.
Doctrine of Unconditional Election
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That's what I've been saying all along. Because of God's Spirit within us, we can be called sons of God even though we do not appear to be sons of God. We are predestined for the future adoption which is the redemption of the body.
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 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,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
1. hear the gospel
2. beleive/trust the gospel
3. sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the future redemption
You misunderstand. You referenced the bodily adoption as being the ONLY adoption, to support your claim of Eph 1:4 & 5.
I am saying the exact opposite of that: that those who have been blessed to partake in both adoptions were chosen to such BEFORE the
foundation of the world to be holy and without blame. Notice that nothing is required of those who are to receive it because they had been CHOSEN:
[Eph 1:4-5 KJV]
4 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:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
It is obvious that Ephesians 1 is speaking of the future adoption as part of our inheritance. It's what has been predestinated unto us who has first trusted in Christ. I do not use Calvins's RCC goggles to read scripture.
1. no one of themselves until born-again can correctly comprehend the gospel
2. no one of themselves until born-again can believe/trust in the gospel.
3. until and unless becoming saved/born again, no one will become sealed by the Holy Spirit
Notice, God didn't choose us TO BE in him, but rather, the context of the verses is located in verse 3 which you left out.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
The spiritual blessings in the heavenly places are in accordance to what God has chosen those in Christ. Before the foundation of the world, God chose Christ as the location of all spiritual blessings. If you want in on these spiritual blessings, one must first trust in Christ.
So, your theology flip flops the order.
1. you receive the Holy Spirit
2. you trust/believe in Christ
3. you hear the gospel
I don't understand your reply. Verses 3 and 4 are as clear as they can be: that those whom God chose before the foundation
of the world have been/will be given ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS, period - no other qualification included nor necessary. It
is not possible to force it to say anything other than that.
[Eph 1:3-4 KJV]
3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:
4 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:
The word "according" takes the context back to verse 3. What has he chosen? Answer: Spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. God has not chosen people to be in Christ, but spiritual blessings.
Wow! One can trust/believe the gospel before hearing the gospel. That's your belief? Wow!
But that's not the order in scripture. Don't rearrange the order to fit your theology. Change your theology to fit the order.
Did you see my correction to the last sequence you provided? I said it was my mistake - flip 2 and 3
Just to be clear:
1. Receive the Holy Spirit given as a gift of God
2. Hear the gospel through spiritual ears given as gift of God
3. Trust/believe in Christ given as a gift of God
All God's work. None ours.
Ephesians 1:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 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,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Verse 13 contains the steps in order.
1. hear the gospel
2. after you hear, you believe the gospel
3. after you believe, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit
You didn't mention salvation in your list above. Actually, I understand how you came to that interpretation --
It comes about when we only read verses superficially at face value and do not probe more deeply, not realizing that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, neither comparing the spiritual with the spiritual.
Anyway, the "ye heard" is a hearing by spiritual ears, not by physical ears. To be able to hear spiritually, one must first have become born-again; to become born-again, one must have become saved. The receiving of the seal is God's mark being spiritually placed upon someone as they come to a belief in Christ - but the seal is not salvation: it is a result of salvation; neither does our belief bring salvation: it also is the result of salvation. If you look at the verses immediately following, you can see that true faith(belief) is given as a fruit of the Spirit... but.... the Holy Spirit is only given to those whom God has chosen and saved -- when they become saved -- and in no other way, to no one else.
[Gal 5:22 KJV]
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
The things that we have discussed come only with/by salvation. There is no other way to receive them but through salvation. Please
observe the following:
[Heb 6:9 KJV]
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
[2Co 1:20-22 KJV]
20 For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
[1Pe 1:21 KJV]
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Yes, I take scripture at face value. Private interpretation occurs when you don’t take scripture at face value but look for some alternative meaning, especially using Calvin’s goggles when reading.