I am not against the doctrine of election/selection, just so you know-
Here is something I want you to think about-Is faith a gift? Or is salvation a gift? Or both?
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,--
Eph 2:8 Τῇ Tē|G3588|Art-DFS|- γὰρ gar|G1063|Conj|For χάριτί chariti|G5485|N-DFS|by grace ἐστε este|G1510|V-PIA-2P|you are σεσῳσμένοι sesōsmenoi|G4982|V-RPM/P-NMP|saved διὰ dia|G1223|Prep|through πίστεως· pisteōs|G4102|N-GFS|faith, καὶ kai|G2532|Conj|and τοῦτο touto|G3778|DPro-NNS|this οὐκ ouk|G3756|Adv|not ἐξ ex|G1537|Prep|of ὑμῶν, hymōn|G4771|PPro-G2P|yourselves; Θεοῦ Theou|G2316|N-GMS|[it is] of God τὸ to|G3588|Art-NNS|the δῶρον· dōron|G1435|N-NNS|gift,
let's parse this verse-
For by grace are ye saved - By mere favor. It is not by your Own merit; it is not because you have any claim. This is a favorite doctrine with Paul, as it is with all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity; compare the notes at Rom_1:7; Rom_3:24, note.
Through faith - Grace bestowed through faith, or in connection with believing; s
And that not of yourselves - That is, salvation does not proceed from yourselves. The word rendered “that” - τοῦτο touto - is in the neuter gender, and the word “faith” - πίστις pistis - is in the feminine.
The word “that,” therefore, does not refer particularly to faith, as being the gift of God, but to “the salvation by grace” of which he had been speaking. This is the interpretation of the passage which is the most obvious, and which is now generally conceded to be the true one; see Bloomfield.
Many critics, however, as Doddridge, Beza, Piscator, and Chrysostom, maintain that the word “that” (τοῦτο touto) refers to “faith” (πίστις pistis); and Doddridge maintains that such a use is common in the New Testament. As a matter of grammar this opinion is certainly doubtful, if not u Mankind must respond to God's offer of grace and forgiveness in Christ
ntenable; but as a matter of theology it is a question of very little importance.
"through faith" Faith receives God's free gift in Christ (cf. Rom. 3:22,25; 4:5; 9:30; Gal. 2:16; 3:24; 1 Pet. 1:5).
(cf. John 1:12; 3:16-17,36; 6:40; 11:25-26; Rom. 10:9-13).
God deals with fallen mankind by means of a covenant. He always takes the initiative (cf. John 6:44, 65) and sets the agenda and the boundaries (cf. Mark 1:15; Acts 3:16,19; 20:21). He allows fallen mankind to participate in their own salvation by responding to His covenant offer. The mandated response is both initial and continuing faith. It involves repentance, obedience, service, worship, and perseverance.
The term "faith" in the OT is a metaphorical extension of a stable stance. It came to denote that which is sure, trustworthy, dependable, and faithful. None of these describe even redeemed fallen mankind. It is not mankind's trustworthiness, or faithfulness, or dependability, but God's. We trust in His trustworthy promises, not our trustworthiness! Covenant obedience flows from gratitude! The focus has always been on His faithfulness, not the believers' faith! Faith cannot save anyone. Only grace saves, but it is received by faith. The focus is never on the amount of faith (cf. Matt. 17:20), but on its object (Jesus).
"and that"
This is the Greek demonstrative pronoun (touto), which is neuter in gender. The closest nouns, "grace" and "faith," are both feminine in gender. Therefore, this must refer to the whole process of our salvation in the finished work of Christ.
There is another possibility based on a similar grammatical construction in Phil. 1:28. If this is the case then this adverbial phrase relates to faith, which is also a gift of God's grace! Here is the mystery of God's sovereignty and human free will.
-------------------------------------------------
And that
Not faith, but the salvation.
Of God
Emphatic. Of God is it the gift.
And that (kai touto). Neuter, not feminine tautē, and so refers not to pistis (feminine) or to charis (feminine also), but to the act of being saved by grace conditioned on faith on our part. Paul shows that salvation does not have its source (ex humōn, out of you) in men, but from God. Besides, it is God’s gift (dōron) and not the result of our work.
Would you agree free will is a biblical concept?
Here is something I want you to think about-Is faith a gift? Or is salvation a gift? Or both?
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,--
Eph 2:8 Τῇ Tē|G3588|Art-DFS|- γὰρ gar|G1063|Conj|For χάριτί chariti|G5485|N-DFS|by grace ἐστε este|G1510|V-PIA-2P|you are σεσῳσμένοι sesōsmenoi|G4982|V-RPM/P-NMP|saved διὰ dia|G1223|Prep|through πίστεως· pisteōs|G4102|N-GFS|faith, καὶ kai|G2532|Conj|and τοῦτο touto|G3778|DPro-NNS|this οὐκ ouk|G3756|Adv|not ἐξ ex|G1537|Prep|of ὑμῶν, hymōn|G4771|PPro-G2P|yourselves; Θεοῦ Theou|G2316|N-GMS|[it is] of God τὸ to|G3588|Art-NNS|the δῶρον· dōron|G1435|N-NNS|gift,
let's parse this verse-
For by grace are ye saved - By mere favor. It is not by your Own merit; it is not because you have any claim. This is a favorite doctrine with Paul, as it is with all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity; compare the notes at Rom_1:7; Rom_3:24, note.
Through faith - Grace bestowed through faith, or in connection with believing; s
And that not of yourselves - That is, salvation does not proceed from yourselves. The word rendered “that” - τοῦτο touto - is in the neuter gender, and the word “faith” - πίστις pistis - is in the feminine.
The word “that,” therefore, does not refer particularly to faith, as being the gift of God, but to “the salvation by grace” of which he had been speaking. This is the interpretation of the passage which is the most obvious, and which is now generally conceded to be the true one; see Bloomfield.
Many critics, however, as Doddridge, Beza, Piscator, and Chrysostom, maintain that the word “that” (τοῦτο touto) refers to “faith” (πίστις pistis); and Doddridge maintains that such a use is common in the New Testament. As a matter of grammar this opinion is certainly doubtful, if not u Mankind must respond to God's offer of grace and forgiveness in Christ
ntenable; but as a matter of theology it is a question of very little importance.
"through faith" Faith receives God's free gift in Christ (cf. Rom. 3:22,25; 4:5; 9:30; Gal. 2:16; 3:24; 1 Pet. 1:5).
(cf. John 1:12; 3:16-17,36; 6:40; 11:25-26; Rom. 10:9-13).
God deals with fallen mankind by means of a covenant. He always takes the initiative (cf. John 6:44, 65) and sets the agenda and the boundaries (cf. Mark 1:15; Acts 3:16,19; 20:21). He allows fallen mankind to participate in their own salvation by responding to His covenant offer. The mandated response is both initial and continuing faith. It involves repentance, obedience, service, worship, and perseverance.
The term "faith" in the OT is a metaphorical extension of a stable stance. It came to denote that which is sure, trustworthy, dependable, and faithful. None of these describe even redeemed fallen mankind. It is not mankind's trustworthiness, or faithfulness, or dependability, but God's. We trust in His trustworthy promises, not our trustworthiness! Covenant obedience flows from gratitude! The focus has always been on His faithfulness, not the believers' faith! Faith cannot save anyone. Only grace saves, but it is received by faith. The focus is never on the amount of faith (cf. Matt. 17:20), but on its object (Jesus).
"and that"
This is the Greek demonstrative pronoun (touto), which is neuter in gender. The closest nouns, "grace" and "faith," are both feminine in gender. Therefore, this must refer to the whole process of our salvation in the finished work of Christ.
There is another possibility based on a similar grammatical construction in Phil. 1:28. If this is the case then this adverbial phrase relates to faith, which is also a gift of God's grace! Here is the mystery of God's sovereignty and human free will.
-------------------------------------------------
And that
Not faith, but the salvation.
Of God
Emphatic. Of God is it the gift.
And that (kai touto). Neuter, not feminine tautē, and so refers not to pistis (feminine) or to charis (feminine also), but to the act of being saved by grace conditioned on faith on our part. Paul shows that salvation does not have its source (ex humōn, out of you) in men, but from God. Besides, it is God’s gift (dōron) and not the result of our work.
Would you agree free will is a biblical concept?