Arthur81
Well-Known Member
Friend, I've been responding to your ideas about certain scriptures, now I'll give you a couple from various translations so you can tell us what they mean, and why they do not support the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation.Calvinists great error= saying there are many people no matter what they believe, say and do are predestined to eternal hell. Jesus wants all to be saved and is unwilling that ANY perish.
"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48 RSV)
"When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers." (Acts 13:48 NRSV)
"When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the Lord's message; and those who had been chosen for eternal life became believers." (Acts 13:48 GNB92)
It is NOT those who believed were destined for eternal life, but those who were destined for eternal life believed.
"...and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain." (Rev 13:8 RSV)
"All people living on earth will worship it, except those whose names were written before the creation of the world in the book of the living which belongs to the Lamb that was killed." (Rev 13:8 GNB92)
"The beast was worshiped by everyone whose name wasn't written before the time of creation in the book of the Lamb who was killed." (Rev 13:8 CEV)
The elect's names were written in the Lamb's book of life at the creation, or before.
IF, as some say, God looked forward and predestined those he saw would believe; that would mean he looked forward and saw those who would not believe. In that case, how could Jesus say the following:
"And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'" (Matt 7:23 RSV)