Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” with a dollop of "free will".

[Complete]

'For by grace are ye saved
through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
Not of works,
lest any man should boast.
(Eph 2:8-9)

Grace by faith salvation is the gift of God.

This letter was written, 'to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.' Should this not influence our understanding of what is said within it?

Praise God!

 

[brightfame52]

But you must believe it in order for salvation to take place in a believer. Jesus made salvation available to all who believe.

Believing happens because of what Christ did

 

[Kokomo]

Believing happens because of what Christ did

To be saved we believe in what He did on the cross. His doing it is not what makes you believe. It's a choice we make.

If this were true:

Believing happens because of what Christ did

Then everyone would be saved.

 

[brightfame52]

To be saved we believe in what He did on the cross. His doing it is not what makes you believe. It's a choice we make.

If Christ died for one it will be given to them to believe on what He did for them. Philippians 1:29

 

[Complete]

Hello @brightfame52,

We read in Rom 10:17, 'So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' and I can testify to that in my own experience, as I am sure you can too. For it is by hearing the gospel of the grace of God that we believed God to the saving of our souls. It was the action of the word of God, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, that quickened us to life, and ignited a saving faith within.

Praise God!

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[TomL]

Scripture interprets Scripture , he specifically said who He died for in John 10 , so that's good to go by whenever it's talking about someone He died for

Sorry, but you cannot take but a single verse and ignore many others.

Arguing as you argue one can argue that Christ just died for Paul.

Galatians 2:20 (NASB 95) — 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

[TomL]

For all believers, if one is never born again and becomes a believer then He didn't die for them

Your problem is scripture. According to scripture Christ died for the whole world

1 John 2:2 (NASB95) — 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

 

[Complete]

'Jesus cried and said,
.. He that believeth on Me,
.... believeth not on me,
...... but on Him that sent Me.
........ And he that seeth me seeth Him that sent Me.
I am come a light into the world,
.. that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.
.... And if any man hear My words, and believe not,
...... I judge him not:
........ for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth Him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken of Myself;
but the Father which sent Me, He gave me a commandment,
what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that His commandment is life everlasting:
whatsoever I speak therefore,
even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.'
(Joh 12:44-50)

 

[brightfame52]

Hello @brightfame52,

We read in Rom 10:17, 'So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' and I can testify to that in my own experience, as I am sure you can too. For it is by hearing the gospel of the grace of God that we believed God to the saving of our souls. It was the action of the word of God, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, that quickened us to life, and ignited a saving faith within.

Praise God!

In Christ Jesus
Chris

If Christ died for one it will be given to them to believe on what He did for them. Philippians 1:29

 

[TomL]

For all believers, if one is never born again and becomes a believer then He didn't die for them

The whole world

1 John 2:2 (NASB95) — 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Why do you continue deny the word of God?

 

[brightfame52]

Sorry, but you cannot take but a single verse and ignore many others

Scripture interpret scripture John 10 tells us exactly specifically who Christ died for.

 

[brightfame52]

Your problem is scripture. According to scripture Christ died for the whole world

1 John 2:2 (NASB95) — 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

That's the Sheep the elect not only from the Jews but from also the Gentiles

 

[brightfame52]

'Jesus cried and said,
.. He that believeth on Me,
.... believeth not on me,
...... but on Him that sent Me.
........ And he that seeth me seeth Him that sent Me.
I am come a light into the world,
.. that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.
.... And if any man hear My words, and believe not,
...... I judge him not:
........ for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth Him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken of Myself;
but the Father which sent Me, He gave me a commandment,
what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that His commandment is life everlasting:
whatsoever I speak therefore,
even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.'
(Joh 12:44-50)

Good scripture

 

[brightfame52]

The whole world

Of believers yes

 

[TomL]

That's the Sheep the elect not only from the Jews but from also the Gentiles

Sorry, but the phrase whole world does not mean some Jews and some gentiles, just some of the World

 

[brightfame52]

Sorry, but the phrase whole world does not mean some Jews and some gentiles, just some of the World

Yes it does in first John 2:2

 

[Complete]

If Christ died for one it will be given to them to believe on what He did for them. Philippians 1:29

You are handling the word of God deceitfully, @brightfame52.

 

[brightfame52]

You are handling the word of God deceitfully, @brightfame52.

You entitled to your opinion we will see in the day of judgment

 

[Complete]

'Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty,
not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully;
but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord;
and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ. '
(2Cor. 4:1-6)

 

[brightfame52]

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto them

As you can see the gospel is hid to them that are lost so you can only believe it if you're already saved or regenerated