Criteria for Enabling Belief for the Select Elect

[Herald]

You cannot in the same way we cannot...that was my point. It is antithetical to both of our theological views. Just as you can't grant me this premise, I can't grant Ann or anyone who agrees with her, their premise. Are you following my argument now?

Skan,

I followed your argument from the beginning. I responded to the idea, not the personalities involved.

 

[Skandelon]

Skan,

I followed your argument from the beginning. I responded to the idea, not the personalities involved.

Personalities? I'm not sure what you are talking about. I'm referring only to the arguments. Ann suggested that in our view we could claim to be better and I argued that is no more true of our view than hers. I stand by that argument and your insistence that it doesn't apply to your view isn't a refutation of my original argument, but indeed a support for it.

 

[HeirofSalvation]

Now my question for all of you is this. If all means all and that's all all means, as I have heard said so many times. What does all mean below?

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

It means EXACTLY what it says, namely: that God "works" all things...in lieu of the Calvinist notion which reads it as if it says he: "causes" all things.

Since Scripture is the best thing to use in interpreting Scripture, it may also be wise to cross-reference the same apostle to the Romans:

Rom 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.

Here is, again, God, assuring us (as believers) that God will "work" all things to his desired ultimate ends....you know, as the text you quoted says. It is not, of course, saying that all things which occur are initially concieved of in the mind of God, and that all things which occur are perfectly in consonant with his perfect will. God is assuring us that no matter what occurs, we can be confident that God has either caused it, or he has permitted it/allowed it, and that He will WORK all things TOGETHER for his ultimate purpose..