Featured Ephesians 2

From verse 12:
"strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."

Here Paul expresses the covenantal promise of the Redeemer, which Jews thought was only for their nation. But, Paul let's us know that the covenants of the Promised Redeemer is for all whom God saves.
Paul uses another great conjunction...But...to express God's universal outreach to save.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."
~ Ephesians 2:13-16

I love how Christ breaks down cultural barriers and prejudice.

 

Ephesians 2:1 demonstrates that Ephesians 1:4 refers to a corporate election rather than an individual (or foreseen individual) election. Who can bring a charge against God's elect? No one, not even Paul, can because it is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33) Therefore the people of Ephesians 2:1 were not elect at that time. Our individual election for salvation occurs during our lifetime after we had been "dead in our trespasses and sins."

 

It is God who elects individually, whom in the following verse does not imply corporate election... If it was corporate the writer would have used the word those... Not to this Old Line Sovereign Grace Baptist brother it doesn't... Brother Glen

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

 

I am sorry Tyndale 1946, but I believe the view you were taught is bogus. Just read the above passage again. To whom does the whom refer to in verse 28? To them who are called, to them who love God. Thus not foreseen individuals, who have not lived, but individuals who have lived, accepted the call and love God.

Foreknow refers to information acquired or formulated in the past (when God formulated His redemption plan) which had as its target group (corporate) believers chosen by God. The redemption plan included that those chosen and placed in Christ would be conformed to the image of His Son. And (verse 30) the plan is being carried out, thus God has called believers who love God, placed them in Christ where they were justified, and glorified.

All scripture fits together perfectly with this view. Individual Election before creation is precluded by Ephesians 2 and Romans 8. 1 Peter 2:9-10 says we lived without mercy before we obtained mercy, lived not as a people before we became His people and therefore alse excludes before creation individual election.

 

God has no need to “acquire” information. He has always known everything there is to know.

Foreknow means to know in a relationship.

Peace to you

 

I am also sorry the view you were taught is bogus. Recall the story where Isaac was put on the alter and the knife was raise and God said "now I know?" To use your understanding of an attribute of God to nullify a verse is unsound. I am sure you have read the argument, since God is love He would not send people to eternal punishment. Same bogus use of a misunderstood attribute to nullify a verse or passage.

Foreknow refers to information acquired or formulated in the past being utilized in the present.
Recall how Paul told people who knew him when he was a youth, that they could testify Paul was raised as a Pharisee? Same word. Or how Christ was put to death by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God? Do your own word study.

 

Ever think about how much Calvinism limits God? Calvinism limits the Atonement. Limits election to a preselect few. Limits God's love. Limits man in his choices so that he cannot believe. I do not believe God is limited not even to His own will.There are many things I'm sure God could do but doesn't, because of His great LOVE.
MB

 

Yet another taint so post, full of nonsense and misrepresentations. This is all they have folks, fabrications of deflection.

 

Yet another taint so post of nonsense and misrepresentations. God is all knowing. Did I say God was not all knowing? Nope so yet another deflection fabrication. On and on, folks, on and on.

 

... or all men are born fallen and the elect are “quickened” at “just the right time”.

Your conclusion is a valid interpretation, but it is not the only possible interpretation.

 

Ephesians 2 is describing, in great detail, those that the Lord had chosen "in Him" before the foundation of the world in the previous chapter:

" And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
6 and hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
7 that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
9 not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." ( Ephesians 2:1-10 ).

In verse 1, he tells them that they were dead in trespasses and sins.
Then he tells them what they did before...they walked according to the course ( ways ) of this world...according to Satan's ways, who is the spirit that works in his own children, the children of disobedience ( contrary to the children of God who are the children of obedience, see Matthew 7:21, John 14:15, John 14:21, 1 John 5:3 and others. ).

Verse 3 tells us that the Ephesians, including Paul as "we", all had their "conversation" ( manner of life ) in times past in the lusts of their flesh...fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and they were, by nature ( they had the same corrupt heart, or nature ), the children of wrath even as others are.
Verse 4 tells them that God, who is rich in mercy and for His great love that He loved them...
Verse 5: Even when they were dead in trespasses and sins, has quickened them ( made them alive ) together with Christ...and reminds them that they are saved by grace.
Verse 6: ..and has raised them together and made them to sit in the heavenlies "in" Christ Jesus.
Verse 7: Why? So that in the ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches of His grace, in kindness, towards them through Christ Jesus.
Verse 8: He then reminds them again, and really focuses in on it: For by grace they are saved through faith, and that faith was not "of" themselves, but was the gift of God. ( Take out the semi-colon after "faith" and read it in one flowing sentence. )
Verse 9: That gift of faith ( agrees with Philippians 1:29 and others ) was not of works, lest any man should boast.
Verse 10: He finally tells them that all of them are God's workmanship, created "in" Christ Jesus to do good works, which God had before-ordained ( Greek, "προετοιμάζω", "makes ready beforehand" ) that they should walk in ( perform ) them.


I hope that the above is of some value.
If not, please quote the passage above and break it down as I have done to show how you disagree with me.

 

The one I learned by strictly reading God's word is developed in Jeremiah 1:5, as well as Psalms 139 and other places.

It's a relationship, and a loving one.

 

Yet another false claim, because God makes plans. God said "Now I know." When you make a plan, you "formulate" a plan. On and on folks, on and on they spew nonsense nonstop.

 

How could we be chosen individually before creation, and not be a people of God? Impossible.

Next, we are "quickened" (made alive, regenerated) together with Christ, thus after we have been chosen for salvation and placed in Christ.