Yes. According to 1 Cor 2:14 the natural man, even if the gospel, which is about spiritual things, was preached to him, he would think that it was foolishness and would not be able to discern what it means. God refers to his elect as being his sheep and to the non-elect as goats.(matt 25:32). His sheep hear his voice and he calleth his own sheep by name.(John 10:3). My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand(John 10:27-28) He tells his apostles to go, not to all of Israel, but to the lost sheep of Israel. Gods children are lost from a fellowship with God when they have a lack of knowledge. Rom 10 indicates this when Paul said some people of Israel had a zeal of God but not according to knowledge and tells them instructions by his preaching to be saved, not eternally but from their lack of knowledge. One of the main things that causes confusion to the student of the bible is not understanding how to divide the salvation scriptures. According to the Greek translation of the word salvation, saved, save , is "a deliverance". There is an eternal deliverance and many deliverance we receive here on earth.
Who are the inspired scriptures directed to?
- Thread starter ForestGreenCook
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Acts 13 [blb] -
26 Men, brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you fearing God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those dwelling in Jerusalem and their rulers, not having known Him and the voices of the prophets that are being read on every Sabbath, having condemned Him, they fulfilled them. 28 And having found no cause of death, they begged Pilate to put Him to death.
29 And when they had finished all the things having been written about Him, having taken Him down from the tree, they put Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him out from the dead, 31 who appeared for many days to those having come up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.
32 And we preach the gospel to you, the promise having been made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled this to us their children, having raised up Jesus, as also it has been written in the second psalm:
‘You are My Son,
today I have begotten you.’
34 And that He raised Him out from the dead, no more being about to return to decay, He spoke thus:
‘I will give to you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
35 Therefore He also says in another:
‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’
36 For indeed David, having served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was added to his fathers, and saw decay. 37 But the One God raised up did not see decay.
38 Therefore be it known to you, men, brothers, that through this One, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 And in Him everyone believing is justified from all things from which you were not able to be justified in the Law of Moses. 40 Take heed therefore, lest that having been said in the prophets might come about:
41 ‘Behold, scoffers,
and wonder and perish;
for I am working a work in your days,
a work that you would never believe,
even if one should declare it to you.’”
The Gentiles Ask to Hear the Gospel
42 And they having departed, they were begging these words to be spoken to them on the next Sabbath.
26 Men, brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you fearing God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those dwelling in Jerusalem and their rulers, not having known Him and the voices of the prophets that are being read on every Sabbath, having condemned Him, they fulfilled them. 28 And having found no cause of death, they begged Pilate to put Him to death.
29 And when they had finished all the things having been written about Him, having taken Him down from the tree, they put Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him out from the dead, 31 who appeared for many days to those having come up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.
32 And we preach the gospel to you, the promise having been made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled this to us their children, having raised up Jesus, as also it has been written in the second psalm:
‘You are My Son,
today I have begotten you.’
34 And that He raised Him out from the dead, no more being about to return to decay, He spoke thus:
‘I will give to you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
35 Therefore He also says in another:
‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’
36 For indeed David, having served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was added to his fathers, and saw decay. 37 But the One God raised up did not see decay.
38 Therefore be it known to you, men, brothers, that through this One, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 And in Him everyone believing is justified from all things from which you were not able to be justified in the Law of Moses. 40 Take heed therefore, lest that having been said in the prophets might come about:
41 ‘Behold, scoffers,
and wonder and perish;
for I am working a work in your days,
a work that you would never believe,
even if one should declare it to you.’”
The Gentiles Ask to Hear the Gospel
42 And they having departed, they were begging these words to be spoken to them on the next Sabbath.
Hi again ForestGreenCook, ok, thanks!
If that's the case however, then my next question is this, unless someone has ~already~ come to saving faith in Christ, how can you tell who is and who is not elect/a lost sheep out of a world full of unbelieving sheep and goats? And what criteria do you use to choose which non-believers to witness to/evangelize, IOW, how do you tell which ones will come to faith if they hear the Gospel and which ones won't (so that you can choose to witness only to the ones who will)?
Remember that the Lord said to leave the tares in the church with the wheat until the end of the age, because discerning who the tares were would be difficult if not impossible to do .. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
Thanks!
~Deut
If that's the case however, then my next question is this, unless someone has ~already~ come to saving faith in Christ, how can you tell who is and who is not elect/a lost sheep out of a world full of unbelieving sheep and goats? And what criteria do you use to choose which non-believers to witness to/evangelize, IOW, how do you tell which ones will come to faith if they hear the Gospel and which ones won't (so that you can choose to witness only to the ones who will)?
Remember that the Lord said to leave the tares in the church with the wheat until the end of the age, because discerning who the tares were would be difficult if not impossible to do .. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
Thanks!
~Deut
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The scriptures say that we should know them by their fruits, but David got chastened by God for numbering Israel(2 Sam 24:10). All of the elect, those in Eph i that God chose before the foundation of the world. were saved over two thousand years ago by Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, which was the adoption price for his elect. The final phase of the adoption will be when Christ comes back to gather his elect and take them home. God follows the same pattern as our legal adoptions. God chose those he wanted to adopt, Jesus paid the legal fees, and then he takes them home. Did you notice that the children that were adopted had nothing to do with getting adopted? I don't think that we can know, for sure, who the elect are and are not. I suspect that some of the non-elect mimic the elect for their own personal gain by deceiving others. Just my guess! All of the people that God wants to be saved eternally have already been saved by Christ's sacrifice. The Greek interpretation of the words salvation, saved, save etc is "A DELIVERANCE". We are delivered eternally and we are delivered many times as we live our lives here on earth, such as, when we sin we lose our fellowship with God, which in some scriptures is referred to as "being dead to God's fellowship" and when we repent of the sin, if God forgives us, we have just been saved,delivered, from that sin. I am sorry I rattled on that much, just could not find a place to stop.
I put it in the brackets: that's Berean Literal Bible
Which word are you referring to, this one:
https://biblehub.com/greek/3870.htm "parekaloun" "Definition: (a) I send for, summon, invite, (b) I beseech, entreat, beg, […]"
...or a different word or verse? What does the kjv say that you believe is different?
Which word are you referring to, this one:
https://biblehub.com/greek/3870.htm "parekaloun" "Definition: (a) I send for, summon, invite, (b) I beseech, entreat, beg, […]"
...or a different word or verse? What does the kjv say that you believe is different?
The scriptures are written to those who have already been regenerated as instructions as to how God wants his children to live their lives here on earth. The apostles were instructed to spread the good news of the gospel telling God's children how that they have been secured to eternal life by Jesus's sacrifice on the cross and also to instruct them how that God wants them to live their lives here on earth. God does not need our help in saving souls eternally. God also adds to the church daily such as should be saved (delivered) from a lack of knowledge, not saved eternally, he has already accomplished that. The words, repent, accept, believe. etc. are directed to the disobedient child of God and not to the natural man who can not discern spiritual things as described in 1 Cor 2:14.
I already agreed with you that Gal2:16 says "OF" not "IN," don't you remember? Yet this is not the passage under discussion at the moment. What are your complaints about what I posted?
On another note, why does Peter use the word "repent" here (and some do)?
13 The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, whom indeed you betrayed and disowned in the presence of Pilate, that one having adjudged to release Him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and requested a murderer to be granted to you. 15 And you killed the Author of life, whom God has raised up out from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.
16 And on the faith in His name, this man whom you see and know, His name has strengthened; and the faith which is through Him has given to him this complete soundness before all of you.
17 And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your rulers also. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent, therefore, and turn again, for the blotting out of your sins, 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the One having been appointed to you, Christ Jesus, 21 whom indeed it behooves heaven to receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from the age.
22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up to you a prophet like me out from your brothers. You will listen to Him in all things, as many as He might say to you. 23 And it will be that every soul who might not heed that prophet will be utterly destroyed out from the people.’
On another note, why does Peter use the word "repent" here (and some do)?
13 The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, whom indeed you betrayed and disowned in the presence of Pilate, that one having adjudged to release Him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and requested a murderer to be granted to you. 15 And you killed the Author of life, whom God has raised up out from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.
16 And on the faith in His name, this man whom you see and know, His name has strengthened; and the faith which is through Him has given to him this complete soundness before all of you.
17 And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your rulers also. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent, therefore, and turn again, for the blotting out of your sins, 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the One having been appointed to you, Christ Jesus, 21 whom indeed it behooves heaven to receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from the age.
22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up to you a prophet like me out from your brothers. You will listen to Him in all things, as many as He might say to you. 23 And it will be that every soul who might not heed that prophet will be utterly destroyed out from the people.’
Not sure i agree..people have been shown scripture as part of the process of becoming saved..etc. "Romans Road"..great witnessing tool as well as other scriptures to present to the unsaved...i had a Bible and knew bible stories before i was saved at age 7..the paster..teachers..parents all played an importamt part at helping me understand the scripture at that young of age...
Behold a man of Ethiopa!
Acts 8: 27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Acts 8: 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Sure, it is the responsibility of the believers to guide those who have not yet have the saving knowledge of Christ but it does not necessarily to mean they can't own or read scriptures.
Acts 8: 27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Acts 8: 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Sure, it is the responsibility of the believers to guide those who have not yet have the saving knowledge of Christ but it does not necessarily to mean they can't own or read scriptures.
Its by the scriptures that we can believe God. As always God must do the first works by giving us his faith to make it possible to love Him.
Cause and effect
1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
Cause and effect
1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
The Etniopia eunuch was not a man void of the Spirit, else he would not have been on his way to Jerusalem for to worship.according to 1 Cor 2:14.
Yes, he first loved us by choosing us (Eph 1:4) before the foundation of the world and providing a sacrifice to take away our sins. Those that the Lord loves he chastens and those that he does not love he does not chasten until the last day judgement (Ps 73:5, They are not PLAGUED like other men. Greek interpretation for the word plagued is "divinely punished". also the case of Jacob and Esau, to show that his election might stand).
Yes, he first loved us by choosing us (Eph 1:4) before the foundation of the world and providing a sacrifice to take away our sins. Those that the Lord loves he chastens and those that he does not love he does not chasten until the last day judgement (Ps 73:5, They are not PLAGUED like other men. Greek interpretation for the word plagued is "divinely punished". also the case of Jacob and Esau, to show that his election might stand).
The natural man described in 1 Cor 2:14 cannot understand the scriptures, they are foolishness unto him. The only way the natural man can become a spiritual man is explained in Eph 2, especially in verse 5. Notice that he is "dead in sins" unable to respond to anything spiritual at the time he is regenerated. We are saved by grace, through the faithfulness of Jesus going to the cross, and that not of ourselves.
1 Cor 2:14 is speaking of what the [saved] people in 3:1 could not yet receive/understand.
_______
Here's the rest of that other passage (and in the kjv):
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
So in light of this passage, what do you say (about the thing I brought up in past posts) about the "who suppress [hold] the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom1:18) whom, it was suggested, refers [specifically in this verse] to Israel who wanted to keep the truths that had been deposited to them [the Word of God, basically (Rom9:4-5); "God's address" on the earth, so to speak] all to themselves, not giving it out to the nations/Gentiles as was God's intention for them to do... Any thoughts on that?
_______
Here's the rest of that other passage (and in the kjv):
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
So in light of this passage, what do you say (about the thing I brought up in past posts) about the "who suppress [hold] the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom1:18) whom, it was suggested, refers [specifically in this verse] to Israel who wanted to keep the truths that had been deposited to them [the Word of God, basically (Rom9:4-5); "God's address" on the earth, so to speak] all to themselves, not giving it out to the nations/Gentiles as was God's intention for them to do... Any thoughts on that?
Romans 9 -
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up [that is, to a position of prominence], that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Romans 11 [the conclusion of this matter] -
32 For God hath concluded them all [Jews and Gentiles] in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all [Jews and Gentiles].
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up [that is, to a position of prominence], that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Romans 11 [the conclusion of this matter] -
32 For God hath concluded them all [Jews and Gentiles] in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all [Jews and Gentiles].