No person can come to Christ by their own freewill !

Nope, you ignore what scripture states.
  1. Unconditional Election
In contrast to the Arminian view that God elected some based on their foreseen faith in Christ, Reformed theology teaches the doctrine of unconditional election. This means that God’s election of sinners to salvation is not conditioned on anything outside of God’s nature. God is not dependent in any way on His creatures.

That, however, is not the only Arminian view.


Corporate election


7 Reasons from Context & Grammar Showing Eph 1:4 Teaches Corporate Future Blessing … not Divine Individual Election



1. The context is a description of spiritual blessings for those in Christ, who Himself is already seated in the heavenlies. The emphasis is therefore forward looking, not backward concerning God’s purpose. Other terms in this context (1:3-14, ā€œinheritanceā€, ā€œfullness of timesā€) confirm this future emphasis. The future blessing itemized in 1:4 is to be holy and without blame before God in the heavenlies with Christ in the future.



2. The grammar of the complementary infinitive – εἶναι – ā€œto beā€ must not be disconnected in thought from the main verb – ἐξελέξατο – ā€œwere chosenā€. The blessing is not being chosen to be in Christ before the foundation of the world, but the blessing to be chosen in Christ to be holy and without blame in the future.



3. The grammar (semantic meaning) of ā€œin Christā€ is crucial to this context and to this passage. The spiritual body of Christ is made up of all believers who were added to it by the Holy Spirit (1Cor 12:13). One cannot be in Christ, that is ā€œin Himā€ before being added to that body by the Holy Spirit. See Rom 9:25 where before being in Christ is clearly called ā€œnot My peopleā€ and ā€œnot belovedā€.



4. The context (delimitations) follows the thread – ā€œin Christā€ (vs 3), ā€œin himā€ (vs 4, 9 & 11), ā€œin the beloved oneā€ (vs 6),ā€œin whomā€ (vs 7, 11, & 13). These point clearly to Paul’s closing description of how one becomes ā€œsealed… until the redemption of the purchased possessionā€ in the body of Christ by the Spirit of promise. One is ā€œsealedā€ in Christ when one has heard the gospel and has believed it (1:13).



5. The grammar (semantic meaning) of ā€œusā€ therefore in 1:4 must be anachronistic. No individuals or group of persons existed before the foundation of the world to be chosen between except the members of the Godhead. It is understandable that promises made to one of those members would benefit any who would later be joined to Him spiritually, that is to His spiritual body.



A future member of that body could say anachronistically that they were chosen in Christ before creation to receive that fulfillment of those same promises made to Christ back then. It would be like a Christian Jew saying, ā€œI was chosen in Abraham before Israel was a nation to dwell in Israel in the Millennium with Abraham.ā€ He would be speaking anachronistically, with no thought of his identity as an individual being chosen to be Abraham when Abraham received that original promise.



6. The grammar (semantic delimitation) of ā€œbefore the foundation of the worldā€ which is a terminus ad quem (limit to which), denotes a finish line of the activity of the main verb/infinitive thought in 1:4, and it should not be confused with the NT use of ā€œfrom the foundation of the worldā€ which is a terminus a quo (limit from which), that is, a starting line of activity discussed where that phrase is found. The verses stating ā€œbeforeā€ creation in the NT, like this one, relate only to activities of the individuals within the Godhead (John 17:3, 2Tim 2:9, Titus 1:2, 1Peter 1:20). The verses stating ā€œfromā€ creation in the NT all relate to activities that began after creation, like adding names to the Lamb’s Book of Life (inferred in Rev 13:8, 17:8). The Greek preposition – απο – always means ā€œfromā€ or ā€œsinceā€ and never ā€œbefore.ā€ The Greek preposition – προ – always means ā€œbeforeā€ either of time or rank.



7. The context (rational concept) of individuals being chosen before creation who do not yet exist in reality requires a definition of how they existed in God’s mind in order to be chosen there in His mind. One option is to be known in His mind as an eternally set group of individual lives (like biographies) which include all God’s interaction also as eternally set. This, however, makes any concept of ā€œchoiceā€ an anthropomorphic expression, since no life was previously unchosen and then chosen. And no forethought would have preceded that ā€œchoiceā€, and God could not express free will to make choices into the future forever. Academia Ephesians 1:4 - exegetical dialog Brian Wagner
 
Nope, you ignore what scripture states.


That, however, is not the only Arminian view.


Corporate election


7 Reasons from Context & Grammar Showing Eph 1:4 Teaches Corporate Future Blessing … not Divine Individual Election



1. The context is a description of spiritual blessings for those in Christ, who Himself is already seated in the heavenlies. The emphasis is therefore forward looking, not backward concerning God’s purpose. Other terms in this context (1:3-14, ā€œinheritanceā€, ā€œfullness of timesā€) confirm this future emphasis. The future blessing itemized in 1:4 is to be holy and without blame before God in the heavenlies with Christ in the future.



2. The grammar of the complementary infinitive – εἶναι – ā€œto beā€ must not be disconnected in thought from the main verb – ἐξελέξατο – ā€œwere chosenā€. The blessing is not being chosen to be in Christ before the foundation of the world, but the blessing to be chosen in Christ to be holy and without blame in the future.



3. The grammar (semantic meaning) of ā€œin Christā€ is crucial to this context and to this passage. The spiritual body of Christ is made up of all believers who were added to it by the Holy Spirit (1Cor 12:13). One cannot be in Christ, that is ā€œin Himā€ before being added to that body by the Holy Spirit. See Rom 9:25 where before being in Christ is clearly called ā€œnot My peopleā€ and ā€œnot belovedā€.



4. The context (delimitations) follows the thread – ā€œin Christā€ (vs 3), ā€œin himā€ (vs 4, 9 & 11), ā€œin the beloved oneā€ (vs 6),ā€œin whomā€ (vs 7, 11, & 13). These point clearly to Paul’s closing description of how one becomes ā€œsealed… until the redemption of the purchased possessionā€ in the body of Christ by the Spirit of promise. One is ā€œsealedā€ in Christ when one has heard the gospel and has believed it (1:13).



5. The grammar (semantic meaning) of ā€œusā€ therefore in 1:4 must be anachronistic. No individuals or group of persons existed before the foundation of the world to be chosen between except the members of the Godhead. It is understandable that promises made to one of those members would benefit any who would later be joined to Him spiritually, that is to His spiritual body.



A future member of that body could say anachronistically that they were chosen in Christ before creation to receive that fulfillment of those same promises made to Christ back then. It would be like a Christian Jew saying, ā€œI was chosen in Abraham before Israel was a nation to dwell in Israel in the Millennium with Abraham.ā€ He would be speaking anachronistically, with no thought of his identity as an individual being chosen to be Abraham when Abraham received that original promise.



6. The grammar (semantic delimitation) of ā€œbefore the foundation of the worldā€ which is a terminus ad quem (limit to which), denotes a finish line of the activity of the main verb/infinitive thought in 1:4, and it should not be confused with the NT use of ā€œfrom the foundation of the worldā€ which is a terminus a quo (limit from which), that is, a starting line of activity discussed where that phrase is found. The verses stating ā€œbeforeā€ creation in the NT, like this one, relate only to activities of the individuals within the Godhead (John 17:3, 2Tim 2:9, Titus 1:2, 1Peter 1:20). The verses stating ā€œfromā€ creation in the NT all relate to activities that began after creation, like adding names to the Lamb’s Book of Life (inferred in Rev 13:8, 17:8). The Greek preposition – απο – always means ā€œfromā€ or ā€œsinceā€ and never ā€œbefore.ā€ The Greek preposition – προ – always means ā€œbeforeā€ either of time or rank.



7. The context (rational concept) of individuals being chosen before creation who do not yet exist in reality requires a definition of how they existed in God’s mind in order to be chosen there in His mind. One option is to be known in His mind as an eternally set group of individual lives (like biographies) which include all God’s interaction also as eternally set. This, however, makes any concept of ā€œchoiceā€ an anthropomorphic expression, since no life was previously unchosen and then chosen. And no forethought would have preceded that ā€œchoiceā€, and God could not express free will to make choices into the future forever. Academia Ephesians 1:4 - exegetical dialog Brian Wagner
Excellent reply, but small correction.

I posted that among the other 4 Tulip points because brightfame52 hangs on every word in them and I wanted him to see exactly what he was hanging onto.

Again... your reply is excellent
 
Nope, you ignore what scripture states.


That, however, is not the only Arminian view.


Corporate election


7 Reasons from Context & Grammar Showing Eph 1:4 Teaches Corporate Future Blessing … not Divine Individual Election



1. The context is a description of spiritual blessings for those in Christ, who Himself is already seated in the heavenlies. The emphasis is therefore forward looking, not backward concerning God’s purpose. Other terms in this context (1:3-14, ā€œinheritanceā€, ā€œfullness of timesā€) confirm this future emphasis. The future blessing itemized in 1:4 is to be holy and without blame before God in the heavenlies with Christ in the future.



2. The grammar of the complementary infinitive – εἶναι – ā€œto beā€ must not be disconnected in thought from the main verb – ἐξελέξατο – ā€œwere chosenā€. The blessing is not being chosen to be in Christ before the foundation of the world, but the blessing to be chosen in Christ to be holy and without blame in the future.



3. The grammar (semantic meaning) of ā€œin Christā€ is crucial to this context and to this passage. The spiritual body of Christ is made up of all believers who were added to it by the Holy Spirit (1Cor 12:13). One cannot be in Christ, that is ā€œin Himā€ before being added to that body by the Holy Spirit. See Rom 9:25 where before being in Christ is clearly called ā€œnot My peopleā€ and ā€œnot belovedā€.



4. The context (delimitations) follows the thread – ā€œin Christā€ (vs 3), ā€œin himā€ (vs 4, 9 & 11), ā€œin the beloved oneā€ (vs 6),ā€œin whomā€ (vs 7, 11, & 13). These point clearly to Paul’s closing description of how one becomes ā€œsealed… until the redemption of the purchased possessionā€ in the body of Christ by the Spirit of promise. One is ā€œsealedā€ in Christ when one has heard the gospel and has believed it (1:13).



5. The grammar (semantic meaning) of ā€œusā€ therefore in 1:4 must be anachronistic. No individuals or group of persons existed before the foundation of the world to be chosen between except the members of the Godhead. It is understandable that promises made to one of those members would benefit any who would later be joined to Him spiritually, that is to His spiritual body.



A future member of that body could say anachronistically that they were chosen in Christ before creation to receive that fulfillment of those same promises made to Christ back then. It would be like a Christian Jew saying, ā€œI was chosen in Abraham before Israel was a nation to dwell in Israel in the Millennium with Abraham.ā€ He would be speaking anachronistically, with no thought of his identity as an individual being chosen to be Abraham when Abraham received that original promise.



6. The grammar (semantic delimitation) of ā€œbefore the foundation of the worldā€ which is a terminus ad quem (limit to which), denotes a finish line of the activity of the main verb/infinitive thought in 1:4, and it should not be confused with the NT use of ā€œfrom the foundation of the worldā€ which is a terminus a quo (limit from which), that is, a starting line of activity discussed where that phrase is found. The verses stating ā€œbeforeā€ creation in the NT, like this one, relate only to activities of the individuals within the Godhead (John 17:3, 2Tim 2:9, Titus 1:2, 1Peter 1:20). The verses stating ā€œfromā€ creation in the NT all relate to activities that began after creation, like adding names to the Lamb’s Book of Life (inferred in Rev 13:8, 17:8). The Greek preposition – απο – always means ā€œfromā€ or ā€œsinceā€ and never ā€œbefore.ā€ The Greek preposition – προ – always means ā€œbeforeā€ either of time or rank.



7. The context (rational concept) of individuals being chosen before creation who do not yet exist in reality requires a definition of how they existed in God’s mind in order to be chosen there in His mind. One option is to be known in His mind as an eternally set group of individual lives (like biographies) which include all God’s interaction also as eternally set. This, however, makes any concept of ā€œchoiceā€ an anthropomorphic expression, since no life was previously unchosen and then chosen. And no forethought would have preceded that ā€œchoiceā€, and God could not express free will to make choices into the future forever. Academia Ephesians 1:4 - exegetical dialog Brian Wagner
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