It’s so rare to see someone with a humble heart in the comment section. I too have struggled with this passage because of Calvinist teachers. As it turns out the church fathers have always held the same view Dr. Flowers supports here
I get it! I was never a Calvinist but now I think I have a deeper understanding of Eph 1. It's about how God wants to lavish His love on those who believe in Him. Once we have believed, He has already predestined us for these wonderful things - to be forgiven, made blameless, become adopted sons and daughters and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Eph 1 is not emphasizing predestination. It''s emphasizing just how much God loves those who believe in Him in that He has already predestined these gifts (or acts) of love toward those who become believers. Thank you, Leighton!
I’ve been so frustrated recently by Calvinists who claim their view must be correct because scripture uses word like “predestination” and “election”. But, they never actually consider the whole text. As Dr. Ben Witherton said, “ (A) text without context is just a pretext for what we want it to mean, and thus the New Testament text must be read in its historical, rhetorical, literary, social, and religious contexts”.
And those words predated their ideology. People read those same words in Scripture for a long time before Augustine et al, without coming to the conclusion the Calvinists do.
It's amazing how people can twist the scriptures so they say what they want it to. You explained this so clearly and ended so much confusion for me. Thank you!
I love the condensed video and this explanation was the best I've heard. I had to stop and start praising God with how secure I am and the hope I have for the future knowing that He has predestined so much good for those who believe. Thankyou
I’ve watched a number of your videos but this one by far is the best one I’ve seen. Very clear, contextual, and illustrative explanations should help many believers (and Lord willing unbelievers) understand the idea behind predestination, and understand very clearly what Paul was really saying in that first chapter. Good stuff, brother! God bless!
The word "predestined" does not mean nor have anything to do with a "destination". It is wrong to break up the word and define it in English as Leighton here has done imposing a definition upon the word Paul is using here. The word "predestined" is the greek word "proorizo". Here is the definition: to predetermine, decide beforehand in the NT of God decreeing from eternity to foreordain, appoint beforehand Now where is "destination" here? Its not there.
So glad to hear this explanation as I have always believed this to be true. After all Gods plan as we read (Genesis to Revelation) has been about redemption not condemning people to hell. Thank you so much for rightly dividing the word of truth.
Exactly! Only a monster God could plan to make people burn in hell 'for his glory,' as some claim, with those sorry souls deprived of the free will to believe in Christ!
I'm praying hard that I don't have to leave my church over this, but I cannot ignore the fact that Christ died for all. Ephesians 2 makes it plain, because of grace and by faith. I'm hurting and heart broken.
Before I ever saw this video I prayed before reading Ephesians 1… I prayed that the Holy Spirit would teach me, and within the first 2 minutes of this video it’s EXACTLY what I learned reading Ephesians 1… without any commentary or help from anybody else, the first verse jumped out at me like so clearly… to the faithful in Christ Jesus, the “us” being referred to is the faithful in Christ Jesus. It’s actually so simply displayed in front of you if you don’t have calvinist lenses on.
Very similarly to you I prayed for God to show me the truths in his Word and when I read Ephesians, I see the sovereign choice of God who chose "Us" before the foundations of the world. There are 2 distinctions between our beliefs here. When we boil it down, free-will Armenians believe that man is the center of God's plan and Calvinist believe God is the center of God's plan. God's plan hinges on the decisions and actions of man according to your belief.
@@caleb4015 “Gods plan hinges on the decisions and actions of man according to your belief.” First of all you’re putting words in my mouth and misrepresenting my view. No I don’t believe Gods plan hinges on man… God provides a way of salvation and it is our responsibility to respond. Are you just assuming I’m a free will Arminian? I’m not. If you’re holding to the “sovereign choice” of God. He chooses to give some people no ability to accept the truth of the gospel and then punishes them in eternal hell for doing what he decreed them to do. Absolute nonsense. We have a free will, but it’s not some super power… think about Jonah. He resisted God’s call but God chastened him for his disobedience and he ended up doing God’s will, what do you see here besides two opposing wills? Did God decree Jonah to resist Him and then punish him for doing it? “and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command OR DECREE, nor did it come into my mind-” Jeremiah 19:5 Is it part of God’s secret will to meticulously determine His people to burn their children in the fire or was it their free choice to do it? Looks to me God said He didn’t decree it…
@@platinum1781 In that instance, man's will is left in the default state of rebellion and sin, which means in that state, man will do all manner of wickedness because he is a slave to sin. When regenerated by God, man is made a slave to Christ "doulos" instead of a slave to sin. My intent is not meant to be hostile to you. Simply making an observation as to how I see our views. What do you do with the fact that there are many who never hear the gospel in their whole life. They die and go to Hell. Case in point, the natives of Sentinel Island or a close comparison of such a people. What about how God made the Assyrians attack Israel, even though it never entered their mind to do so, but still punished them for the act? At the end of the day, this is God's plan and ultimately everything is to the glory of God.
@@caleb4015 I apologize if I came across as rude… So if a man is a slave to sin (which I agree we are outside of Christ), does that therefore mean he can’t call upon Jesus to free him unless God picked him? Because a man is a slave he cannot respond to God’s appeals to be reconciled? You can try to make this palatable all you want, but ultimately (in the calvinist view) God creates most people for the purpose of eternal torment in hell. For what, his own glory.. really? Who is more blame worthy objectively, the man hated by his maker from the womb created to be destroyed, or the man that hates God and won’t respond to Him despite God’s love for him? I think God is more glorified in displaying His love for His enemies on the cross than creating them to squash them under His finger. Was God using wicked Assyrians for His purpose, or did He decree them to be wicked so as to use them? Something to think about.
Ten minutes well spent. Dr Flowers has given us the key to a proper understanding of Ephesians 1. Thank you for a scriptural explanation of predestination.
@@reynaldodavid2913Jo Please... just stop it .... Nobody was chosen for salvation from before the foundation of the world. If that were the case, you'd present the scripture that says such instead of having to dance around trying to prove something that scripture doesn't say. Calvinism 101
4:47 - “The DESTINATION of those IN HIM is set beforehand. That is predestination.” 8:05 - “And just as the airline has predetermined the destination of all those who board the plane, so too God has determined beforehand the destination of all of those who enter Christ through faith. But we must not lose the fact that it’s your responsibility to get on board. … It is your responsibility to put your trust in Christ.”
@@fishandbike v4 God who chose the believers in Christ before the foundation of the world, (it’s God choice) that we should be….( because of God election we were United to Christ through our faith ) ( because of Christ we are holy, blameless, and loved by God )scripture is clear on that. V5 God who predestined us, it’s a past act of God. Not present act of God when we believe. LF put it as it’s God set the destination, but He did know who will be in Christ, it’s a open election motherhood, Scripture did not say that. V4 clarified God who chose us in Christ from the foundation of the world. Read it as it is. And give glory to God. ❤
@@suganemmenaul brother read the whole verse. It is saying that God chose the faithful to be adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven before the foundation of the world. So Paul is saying that God has already predetermined that those who are faithful will be made holy, blameless and be adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul tells us in verse 1 that "in Him" means the faithful in Christ Jesus. So Paul is not saying that God chose who will be adopted, but rather that God chose that those who are in Him (faithful in Christ Jesus) to be adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven.
@@AnthonyHamamjiLeighton Flowers says God choose all. That’s i don’t agree. But I agree with you that God choosen the faithful. That is the Church. so you became faithful by your own choice (will)or God’s choice that you should be faithful in Christ from the foundation of the world?
@@fishandbikeAnd when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed also no one comes to the Son unless they are first drawn by the father. How do you reconcile these verses
Really awesome explanation. I have always believed in Arminianism but in truth I’ve had trouble in the last couple of years being solidly in one camp or the other mostly because of your debates with Dr White which made me contemplate my position. Ty and God bless you Dr for this message. I feel a real sense of peace and assurance on this much debated topic and I’m all the way in
AMEN, Thank you Leighton Flowers for taking the time to put this together. Praise God for the gift of the Holy Spirit that obviously dwells in you. It brings such joy to my heart to hear this message and to know that He first loved us to do what He did for the whole of His creation in order to bring Salvation to those who put their faith and trust in Him. All Glory Honour and Praise be to you Lord Jesus.
The word for "predestined" is the greek word "proorizo" which means: to predetermine, decide beforehand, in the NT of God decreeing from eternity to foreordain, appoint beforehand. Now where in the definition does it mean or even imply "destination?" It doesn't. So the question "what is predestined" and the answer found in this definition. The word does not give that answer. The answer is in the rest of the text. People are predestined not a place. Again Leighton has redefined "predestined" to an improper word that Paul is not saying here.
@@darryld.8616 The word "predestined" in Ephesians is not talking about individuals being predestined. It's talking about people being predestined for something. And that something is not salvation, which is not mentioned in Ephesians. We are chosen in Him to be holy and blameless, we are predestined for adoption. It doesn't say that anyone is predestined to be in Him. Only what those who are in Him are predestined for. This epistle is written to those who are already in Christ by the same author who has previously explained how to be in Christ. This same author said "that IF you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved". Notice Paul said "IF"? No where does the Bible say that anyone is predestined to be saved. It only speaks of what BELIEVERS are predestined to become.
@@djohnson3093a particular people are predestined not a end. The definition of the word "predestination" again has zero to do with a destination. The bible is clear that there is an "Elect" of God chosen before the foundation of the world, individuals of whom Paul surely is talking to and is talking about. Paul writes about the church as the "Elect" of God, chosen of whom Christ intercedes for in so many places in his epistles that its undeniable that Paul is talking about individuals who are chosen. Christ did not intercede for all mankind on the cross, then stop interceding for those who reject Him. Paul says,... Romans 8:32-34 NASB95 - 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. The "us" Paul is talking about is the "elect" of whom Christ will freely give all things to because Christ intercedes for "us." Not only this but Christ will never stop interceding for "us" showing He only does intercede for us here in Hebrews.... Hebrews 7:25 NASB95 - 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. It says in the above verse Christ intercedes for those who drawn near to God which begins with Christ's death on the cross. So thus Christ did and does not intercede for those who will not be drawn near to God. This theology all ties together perfectly when looked at consistantly. In too many instances Paul expresses people are chosen. Just like here in Eph. where Paul says we were chosen for adoption. Exactly! At the moment of salvation the imputed righteousness is given to us whereby we can call the Father Abba because we at that moment of salvation instantly become children of God. We are people whom the LORD chose to whom He gives us all things....justification, adoption, salvation, glorification, sanctification, a seat in heaven, mercy, grace and so much more. So as individuals, we were given all these things because He graciously predestined us to receive them not by our will, but by His will from eternity past.
@@djohnson3093 oh and just for the case of simple logic regarding this. Adoption equals being a Child of God. If we are "in Him" then we are adopted. We dont choose to be saved then God adopts us. No. God chooses to save us thats why we are adopted. That is what grace is...giving us what we dont deserve Us being "in Christ" was from eternity past always in the mind of God as surely as Paul says now we are citizens of heaven. Yeah cause though it hasnt happened yet, since God ordaines it to be so, it is thus guaranteed to happen.
@@darryld.8616 I didn't say a word about predestination meaning a place or destination. I actually said it means "for" something. I also named exactly what Ephesians says believers (the audience being addressed) are predestined and chosen for. Here's the problem with your interpretation. It cannot coincide with the whole of scripture. The majority of the Bible must be explained away. This is what calvinism does (like all false doctrines). Definitions are changed. Explanations are created that are unbiblical. Smooth, convincing language is used. For example, according to Calvinism, ALL doesn't actually mean ALL (not in scripture). Whosoever doesn't mean Whosoever (not in scripture). Everyone doesn't really mean Everyone. (Also not in scripture). The biblical doctrine of the believers assurance is done away with because you nor anyone else can know if you are among the chosen unless you have a list of names. The end times judgement becomes nothing more than show by a judge who passes judgement on those for what the judge made them do. This destroys the definition of "Righteous Judge". The message of the cross cannot coexist with calvinism. No where does the Word of God even hint that God only had intentions of reconciling these He had chosen from before the foundation of the world. It's just the opposite. I can go on forever with this. I can list verse after verse that is in direct contradiction to the calvinist interpretation of predestination. I'm guessing that you would only come back with more proof texts which implies "Oh yeah? I know what John 3:16 says but Ephesians 1:4 says..." which is nothing more than claiming the word of God has contradictions. On the other hand, the interpretation I believe to be right causes zero controversy with the whole of scripture. The believers assurance remains in tact. I can present the gospel to the lost without turning the good news into bad or hiding what I truly believe. All means All. Whosoever means Whosoever. Not only for our sins but for the sins of the whole world means what it says. Again, I can go on forever. The point is, is that I don't have to explain away anything. It all fits together so beautifully. I don't believe that all will be saved because many will not come. Many will choose to remain unbelieving. This is also biblical. I don't have to limit my doctrinal arguments to 10 - 15 proof texts that support my beliefs. I can use every single word without contradiction. You used explanations in your comment that aren't found in scripture. Which forces you to avoid my comment about the Bible NEVER saying that some were chosen before the foundation of the world for salvation. Where is it? The words saved and salvation are used regularly. Why not while talking about predestination? I've heard your exact response from every calvinist I've talked to. They never go outside the proof texts. They all say practically the same thing almost word for word. I understand why. I can give you 100 verses that are in direct contradiction to the calvinist interpretation and 9 out of 10 times they will be ignored and the response will be the same proof texts over and over. Tell me where you find a passage in the Bible that says some were predestined from before the foundation of the world to be saved while the others are condemned to eternal damnation from before the foundation of the world. At least something remotely related. But I am going to need the words saved, salvation, chosen, elect or predestined in the same passage. Thanks
I absolutely loved your video I thought that you explained the scripture in great detail I'm a pastor myself And we'll be using your analogy Thank you so much
I’m so blessed to listen to this video. God is really the God of truth. This affirmed my understanding of these passages, and you explained it simply and clearly. Thank you so much for explaining this that we may understand the context. Praise the Lord for the leading and enlightenment!
Thank you . Your analysis of predestination is the first time in 40 years that I have got some light on this topic. And I found it by searching UA-cam. Thank you . Bless you. Let’s end the sin of sectarian behaviour 🙏👍
Thank you so much for this. I was rereading the New Testament, very slowly and deliberately, to make sure that my theology was intact, and began looking for teachings like this after finishing seemingly difficult books of chapters. I was looking for something long and in-depth, but instead found something concise and succinct. And, unbelievably, I was concentrating my study on "soteriological" issues. God is Good ✝️🕊!
This gives the glory to God! Christ Jesus is the destination! He is the everything in Ephesians 1, in the scriptures, in the gospel! Everything is IN HIM!!!!
Once again a very well thought out and well done presentation of the truth. Thank you for what you are doing and in the loving manner in which you do it.
The word for "predestined" is the greek word "proorizo" which means: to predetermine, decide beforehand, in the NT of God decreeing from eternity to foreordain, appoint beforehand. Now where in the definition does it mean or even imply "destination?" It doesn't. So the question "what is predestined" and the answer found in this definition. The word does not give that answer. The answer is in the rest of the text. People are predestined not a place. Again Leighton has redefined "predestined" to an improper word that Paul is not saying here.
@@darryld.8616 What does the text say people are predestined for? (Specifically the Saints/believers that this epistle is addressed to. Not just people.) Does the text say people are predestined to be saved from before the foundation of the world? Or does the text say what those who are in Him are predestined for (to be holy and without blame, for redemption through His blood and forgiveness of sins, inheritance, adoption, etc)? Is predestined for salvation in this text somewhere?
Yes the Bible absolutely says that which is such a relief after finding out that some Christian’s believe God creates people he hates and will send them to Hell whether they want to believe the Gospel or not.
Thanking God for this ministry!! I started going to a church that doesn’t make it clear up front that they are Reformed. I started to hear some different things & questioned the pastor. It led to more confusion, but then led to a fervent study of scripture and the discovery of this channel! I am now more clear on what the scripture says and have since left that church after praying about it and have found a biblically sound church.
Starting a Bible study on Ephesians with my small group tonight and I’m showing this because I want to avoid having to spend hours on predestination. Thank you, Leighton!
This actually makes a lot of sense. And this interpretation coincides with “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16 KJV And “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14 KJV
God has chosen those in Him to be blameless in his sight. The passage is a list of blessings for those in Him. Not a choosing of who will become believers. Great baseball coach analogy.
Jc Thomas, God has chosen the Elect since the foundation of the world to be saved because the Elect are His True Children... The Elect lost their fellowship with their Father God after they inherited the 'Sinful Nature' of Adam and Eve... So God sent Jesus Christ to Redeem them... REDEEM means to take back by paying... Jesus indeed Redeem the elect by paying His Own Blood.... This means the Elect already belongs to God thousands of years before they were even born...
@@josephdurraz8574 You're so right. John 3:16 says it so well: "For God so loved the Elect that he gave his one and only Son, so that the Elect, who were already predetermined to believe in him and saved anyway, shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (Calvinist Edition)
@@josephdurraz8574 Where is that passage in the Bible? Actually... where do you find the words chosen, elect and salvation in the same verse? Maybe you added a few words to support a false doctrine?
The problem is we want to add our opinions and explain things that need no explanation so they fit our biases or so that they make sense. The Word is Spiritual and the moment you want to analyse it with your mind so it makes sense to you, you will loose it. That is why many Churches today are full of theories but lack the Power of the Gospel for they have explained the potency of the Gospel away in order to make sense of it. The Gospel was not made to make sense or appeal to the senses, it is Spiritual and only the spiritual can understand it, it needs to be revealed to you by God, not analysed. Just because this video makes sense doesn't mean its true, when you believe something because it makes sense to you and is logical, you have moved away from the Spirit realm to the sense realm. The Gospel Jesus preached never appealed to the senses or made sense, the message of the cross was and is foolishness to many but is life to the spiritual. A lot of times the Bible just means what it says no need for explanations, dont try to make it fit your opinion, rather seek God till you conform to the scripture and deeper mystries are revealed to you concerning whatever scripture. God is Sovereign, He left nothing to chance.
Excellent! Imagine how helpful it would be if every pastoral candidate was asked to preach on Ephesians 1 before an offer of position was made? In this way, the church, elders would know exactly where the candidate landed on the theology of Calvinism vs. non-Calvinism.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." Phil 2:13 It seems both 100% choice yet 100% in the Lord's control
This is really helpful. Thank you. I am preaching on Ephesians 1:1-14 and couldn't get my head around predestination. And this really helped and made sense.
I have just been studying "once saved always saved." I just left a Calvinist church and my head is spinning. Well, right after I left, I started searching a lot of my own, and I discovered just a few weeks ago that tribulation rapture is actually post and not pre-and that just started all kinds of studying that I wasn’t expecting. God does these things you know. Well then it led to once saved always saved, and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop seeing that that is absolutely a false doctrine. And when I tried to present that to my best friend, who is the pastor’s wife in that church, she pushed me to Ephesians 1. Thank you so much for this very clear teaching really resonates in my heart.
Hi Darla, there is a very big difference between the P in tulip and the doctrine of eternal security. The first relies on who they supposedly are, the elect, and that the elect can never be lost bc they are predestined for heaven.(Calvin) The latter relies and the faithfulness of God to save to the utter most those who place their faith in Jesus. (Hebrews) We receive eternal life the moment we are justified through faith, not temporary life. It's instant and without us having to do anything to earn it. In ephesians we read we are sealed with the Holy Spirit until our day of redemption. There are no verses that speak to us becoming unsealed, or sealed people going to hell. Our sanctification is a life long process and how we live matter a whole lot, and it can deeply affect our fellowhip with God. Thus we are admonished to repent to be restored. But our unity with Christ is forever. If we didnt work to get it, why work to keep it? Makes no sense to me. May I suggest the late pastor Jack Kelly's teachings on the subject. His website is called grace thru faith. Blessings!
@@AnniEast thank you, but my teacher is the Holy Spirit. I have peace that I must work out my salvation with fear and trembling. And my love for God will create obedience in me. I must pick up my cross daily. He won't forsake His promises, but He's righteous and just. If I fall away, He will keep those promises also. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding, my sister. No consequences, no fear. It's a relationship and obedience that He wants from us. Be blessed in truth and love.
@@Ambassador4Christ2022 i understand where you are coming from, especially if one comes from some form of deception, but learning from godly men is absolutely biblical. I also have a deep understanding of the doctrine as I held your view and tried my utmost to disprove people like me. And it is worth mentioning that knowing I am secure in Christ creates nothing but referential fear of the Lord in me. I am ever aware of who I am and where I came from, and it is by God's grace and mercy alone that I am considered righteous in His sight. Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a NEW creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come. If regeneration is done by the hands of God, how can we undo His work by human hands? We have to believe that God gives us a new heart and He is the author and FINISHER of our faith.(have you ever heard of someone who had a heart transplant and then goes back to the doctor and says they want their old heart back?)we have to believe That He has placed a seal of ownership on us and that the Holy Spirit is our token of our inheritance. The Holy Spirit is given to us as a gift, to lead us and guide us. And to give is assurance that we are indeed children of God, and that even while we groan in these bodies, eager to be set free, we can know for certain that we will be redeemed. Once someone is regenerated it is for life. Nothing you can ever do or not do after that point can make God love you less or send you to hell. You are not going through on your own merit anyway. You go based on your faith in the works and character of Christ alone, not based on your performance. Be blessed and rest in the sweet salvation of Christ. And as romans 12 reads, our reasonable response to this truth and reality is to present our bodies a living sacrifice. A true believer lives for God every day bc they love God and respect God so deeply, but they also know they are a work in progress and when they fall Jesus will be right there to pick them up again, and often this looks like discipline/some might say punishment...Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25) I'll end off with one of my favorite passages in the bible... Now it is God who establishes and confirms us with you in Christ, and who has anointed us; it is He who has also put His seal on us and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life]. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 AMP And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. ESV 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. KjV
So true. It's the use of the word predestination. God predestined many things. He predestined a PLAN for salvation, that all that accepted the gift of salvation would receive it, not an assign few.
When I first heard the doctrine of predestination, I cried. It hurt my heart to think of all my family & friends that I wanted to believe in Jesus, might not be able too. And so why should we go out & preach the gospel since God already had His chosen. It didn't make sense. Calvinism reminds me of Jehovah's witnesses teaching, it only looks at one view of how to read the scriptures. Are there any other preachers that give bible teaching that are from a non-Calvinistic view point?
@@reynaldodavid2913Jo Yes, I can believe SOME are predestined or elected or chosen, but what verses back that up. I wish I could copy your response so I could read it more for understanding. Ty for your response.
@@reynaldodavid2913Jo to assume that before or after have any bearing on eternity outside of our relativistic time and causal structure is a fallacy. Acts 13:48 is just a strange English translation. It is tantamount to saying that they ordained themselves from the context of verse 46 by choice
@@reynaldodavid2913Jo no in verse 48 it talks about being "pre-ordained." This is a misinterpretation. It more accurately translated as being disposed or weakly (grammatically) ordaining oneself. Ordering to line up with something in a military sense. Choice actions as displayed by the context of verse 46
This makes so much sense to me. when you listen to others try to make this about predestination for salvation it leads to confusion, (1 Cor 14:33) "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." this explanation gives me peace.
Seems like adoption got completely ignored? Please explain he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 5-6
I'm so grateful for these de-Calvinizing scripture series. For many years, I had no idea how scripture was being frame for me through a Calvanistic lens.
As a member of a reformed church for many years, I am very familiar with the calvinistic interpretation. Often, the key problem is that iyes you determine who the author of a passages and who their audience Is. So often, This changes the entire understanding of a passage. You showed an excellent explanation of that here. Thank you.
I wonder if there’s a better name than “De-Calvinized” for these series. I get what is meant (that we are so ingrained to think a particular way about certain passages that we need to be reprogrammed) but it may unintentionally communicate that the Bible sounds like Calvinism/determinism is true but it actually isn’t. It’s more of a defensive posture than a positive case. My 2 cents 😊 Looking forward to listening in when I wake up in the morning!
@Drew McLeod --- YOU >>> "but it may unintentionally communicate that the Bible sounds like Calvinism/determinism is true but it actually isn’t." ME >>> *That is exactly what it is supposed to convey.*
Drew McLeod, Calvinism's main doctrines are Biblically true but John Calvin did not understand the entirety of the Beautiful Biblical Doctrine of 'Election and Predestination', So he added his own understanding without Scriptural Support and even contradicts to the character of God... =>>> It is biblically true that God predestined the elect to be saved since the foundation of the world...=>>>> It is biblically true that Jesus died only for the elect...=>>> and it is biblically true that none of the elect will lost their salvation....
Calvinism confuses the omniscience of God with the omnipotence / sovereignty of God. It ASSUMES that because God knows all things including the end from the beginning and that He is in ultimate control, that God sanctions all things. Yes, He knows all things and yes, He is in ultimate control but God doesn't approve of the actions of satan and his minions who come to "kill, steal and destroy". God allowing certain actions does not = His approval of them (e.g. Job 1, Luke 22:31-34). When you understand God's love you understand that because He is love and loves us, He gives us all a free will and will not violate our will. But so awesome is the work of redemption at the cross, that when we repent and believe we enter into what God has already mapped out for our lives. Grace is an atmosphere of a divine ability around a person to choose what they otherwise wouldn't due to our sinful nature. It comes to us via the message of the Gospel being preached to us witnessed to our spirit by the Holy Spirit which ignites our faith to believe. But it is still OUR choice to believe or reject it. That said, we shouldn't underestimate God's sovereignty in our lives and His ability to intervene either. Jesus knew Peter would fail - He didn't cause that failure but the hope He gave Peter was His CONFIDENCE / FAITH in Peter's repentance. As believers being "predestined in Christ for good works" means that we can have faith and confidence in God to lead us and guide us and to intervene into our life situations as well. Joseph's life is a great example of this. God foreknew how his brothers would choose to sell him into slavery and all that would follow from it, but He also foreknew how Joseph would respond. That God could maneuver around the free wills of Jacob, his sons, Potiphar and his wife, the Egyptian baker and cup bearer and Pharaoh etc. all to rescue the world from famine, using every last thing that happened as a prophetic foreshadowing of the fulfillment of Romans 11 which is a massive repeat of that story in Genesis in far greater magnitude, is ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING. ALWAYS ALWAYS remember that if God has the very hairs of your head numbered then you can trust Him to lead, guide and direct your life even when you don't understand your circumstances.
I have never understood how people have such a hard time with this. Just takes a little though. First, what is an apostle? It is someone that had an encounter with the Risen Christ. Second, think about you sending a letter to someone. When you say “we” you aren’t talking about the people receiving the letter. If I write to you and say “we look forward to learning more about this situation” I’m talking about myself and whoever is with me. In this case Paul is clearly using “we” to talk about the apostles. When he says “you” he is talking about the believers receiving the letter- and by extension all of us reading it now. Paul is clearly indicating that it was predestined for him to be in the position he is in. He in now way hints that the receivers were predestined to be in their position. They heard and believed, not compelled.
Thank you very much Dr Flowers for this insightful explanation of the text. I've watched your other video on decalvinizing Romans 9, and I'm also equally edified by the insightful approach you took towards the text. However, my dilemma now would be this: boiled down to the final analysis, is it my RESPONSE to the offer of salvation that "unlocks" salvation for me? If this is true, I can't help but to think it goes against Ephesians 2: 8 - 9 (8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can BOAST.) If it is indeed (ultimately) my ability to response to God's offer of salvation, my justification to others when being asked why am I a Christian will definitely contain the following element: 1) I'm a sinner; 2) Christ died for my sins; 3) I CHOOSE to believe. My argument to a non-calvinistic approach to soteriology would mainly be point 3., as I can't help but to think it gives a believer ground to boast, which is not what Ephesians 2:9 says. Perhaps you have address this issue as well in your other videos. If yes maybe someone could recommend me those videos too? Thank you and have a blessed day
I can understand your dilemma, truly. However, it is kind of the sinful, proud part of us that could ever consider that it was our response that saved us. And we all get that way from time to time! It's just as foolish as a man grabbing a person's hand to be pulled out of shark infested waters, at first being so very grateful, but as the years pass and the memory dulls he says, "You know it was really I who saved me because he couldn't have done it if I didn't reach out." No one ever says that while staring at the cross with tears in their eyes. It's only after you walk away and consider in our human hearts. We never ever say, "You know, maybe it's the Romans who really saved us because if they never killed Jesus we couldn't be saved." Or "Perhaps Mary saved me because she said yes to God and bore Jesus" We never say these things because it would be ridiculous. I find that when I am in deep worship and I consider the work on the cross, I don't find my heart won't dare give weight to my act accepting Jesus as thought THAT saved me, but rather my soul gives ALL glory to Jesus for dying. So the thought 'Did I actually myself because I accepted Jesus when others didn't?' is just another foolish thought that should be dismissed along with the other foolish thoughts the devil inspires :). That's how I see it anyways. Have a good day!
Great response, delleisha! I would like to add by pointing out to tge original poster that in Ephesians 2:9 Paul contrasts works with faith, so we can conclude that faith is not a work. And I don't actually see the act of faith as the means by which God saved, but rather the prerequisite. God is not unable to save you unless you believe, like faith in itself has some power, but rather God said He already decided that He will extent His saving grace to those who will place their faith in Christ. Much like an university doesnt need anything to teach you, they are fully able, but yet they require a high school diploma as a prerequisite. That is their sovereign right and will. In this same manner I see nothing wrong with God, as the Sovereign Creator God, to demand whatever He pleases. He couldve demanded many different things, but He couldnt have made it easier for us. We literally have to do nothing except believe that we can do nothing and Jesus did it all. It's a pretty sweet deal!
One can agree with both statements: that God can decide that whoever is in Him will be holy and blameless and that God chooses who will be in Him. Two issues that I see here: Holiness and blamelessness begin with justification as Christ's holiness and righteousness is imputed unto us. I agree that there is an element of sanctification (especially taking into account Rom. 8:28-29), but that does not take away justification from the process. Secondly, there is a constant repetition that God has not chosen who will join the team, but it seems that V. 5 is conveniently skipped as this point is being made. In that verse, we see that God predestined us for adoption to sonship. This is a privilege only given to those who believe (John 1:12). So the destination of sonship is set beforehand i.e. who joins the team.
The children of Israel are Gods elect and the gentiles have been predestined for the opportunity for salvation. For everyone it boils down to believing, loyalty.
There's a cheap Kindle book called The Arminian Bible Commentary. It compiles different commentary from Arminians on verses central to the debate. It's older writing, but I've found it useful, especially for the cost of a dollar. Also, Flowers' site has a list of resources. I don't know about Provisionist/Traditionalist Bible commentaries specifically, but I assume there will be a fair amount of overlap in interpretation with the Arminians.
The thing that frustrates me is that there’s a comma after “world.” There is no punctuation in Greek, so the translators put it there. This disrupts the passage because putting it after “World” means that the subject of those who are chosen in Christ is before the foundation of the world and not that the choice is to bring us to eternal life after we’ve chosen Christ to be holy and blameless.
A basic rule of Biblical interpretation is that you can't create contradictions by your interpretation. If Leighton's interpretation of Ephesians 1 holds up, it can't introduce a contradiction in another passage that speaks to the same concept. Let's hop over to Paul's second epistle to the church at Thessalonica. *2 Thessalonians 2:* 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is the plain meaning of the text? God chose us from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Who chose us? _God did._ When did He choose us? _From the beginning._ For what were we chosen? _For salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth._ By what means did He do this? _He called you by our gospel._ Why? _For the obtaining of the the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ._ Who is "us" in this passage? _It is anyone who believes in the truth, the gospel; each and every Christian._ If Leighton's exegesis of Ephesians 1 is correct, then 2nd Thessalonians becomes contradictory. Both this passage and Ephesians 1 are explicitly about salvation. But Leighton brushes off the very plain wording of Ephesians 1 to say that God did not choose each individual that is a believer, and that He didn't do that individual choosing before the foundation of the world. In so doing, he runs into direct contradiction with 2nd Thessalonians. Leighton also runs afoul of John 1, which is explicitly about Christ's saving work. *John 1:* 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Who became children of God? _As many as received Him, those who believe in His name._ How did they become God's children? _Not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God._ Being born of God's will, being chosen by God, and being predestined for salvation are all cohesive statements; they work together to tell us what God has done. Interjecting human will as the ultimate sovereignty over an individual's salvation introduces obvious contradictions in the very plainly-worded texts in Ephesians, 2nd Thessalonians, and John. God chose you, by His will! Isn't that great news? He chose you from the beginning! And since He chose you, He will never turn you away! (John 10:27-30) God is holy, merciful, and good! His name alone is worthy of glory, and honor, and praise!
So are you a Calvinist or not one? Because if you are, I was wondering where it says in the Bible that God creates some people he hates and to just send them to Hell. Because I am under the impression all Calvinist’s believe that and if you don’t that’s good to know but I’m just curious
@@TheMaineSurveyor Taylor Swift hosts a concert; tickets are sold out a month prior via Ticketmaster. During ticket purchase, fans are asked to complete a survey and provide the name of their favorite song. On show night, ticket holders who provided "Lover" as the name of their favorite song were given VIP backstage passes by event staff. This is because, while planning the concert, Taylor decided to select individuals from her fans to gift a VIP pass. She determined that anyone who bought a ticket and picked the song "Lover" should receive the gift. Taylor prior to the concert ticket sales choose fans for VIP access through Ticketmaster and a survey. Taylor chose fans before the concert tickets went on sale. Each individual fan also made a choice which resulted in them receiving a free pass. Taylor didn't choose anyone after the fact, her decision was made long beforehand. Those who received a VIP pass were the "elect," those chosen from beforehand to receive a special gift. This is not intended to be a direct analogy, but it serves to make relatable what the passage is describing concerning God's choice. From the very start, God determined that everyone who would put their faith in Him should receive the gift of Salvation. And this gift would come through believing the truth and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. God categorically choose to save believers; he didn't choose individuals to force into belief.
@@Psawyer555 It is interesting that you equated God choosing some over others to Him hating them. Since God stands outside of time, we will never fully understand how He reconciles His foreknowledge with His sovereign or permissive wills. If He knows you are going to reject Him and burn in Hell, then wouldn't the loving thing be to use His Holy Spirit to just change your mind? God didn't create us to love or hate us. We were created with the specific purpose of praising and bringing glory to Him. His gift of salvation through Christ is due to His love for us ( John 3:16 ) . From before time, God knew we would sin and He always planned to send Himself in the form of the Son to pay the debt we all owe for that sin. Jesus was not plan B, Eph 1:7-10. It is also hard to hear sometimes, but God created us to serve Him and bring Him pleasure and glory and honor. Romans 9:21. The potter has the right to do whatever He wishes with the lump of clay. God can choose or not choose, hardened or soften whose ever heart He wants. Read Job 38-42 to see God's response to a a righteous man questioning His motives.
Then where does our faith come from? Do we generate faith by ourselves? By no means, it is given to us by the Father. Salvation is a free gift, therefore we cannot choose salvation because if it was up to our own accord we would be giving ourselves glory instead of God. You did nothing to deserve salvation just as it says in Romans: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by HIS grace as a GIFT ." A gift isn't something you choose a gift is given, also we see we are justified by His grace not by giving ourselves grace. Jesus also says Himself in John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." Jesus is saying no one can choose Him unless God the Father Draws us.
God’s good pleasure is the body of Christ. Pleasure involves a body. Pleasure means gratify the body. Gratify means to please and satisfy. Please means to cause a good feeling. Satisfy means to pacify by contentment. Pacify means to bring peace to something that is not at peace. Peace means free from disturbance. Content means the expectations of or the needs, wants, desires have been met
It appears to me there is a shift between “those who first believed” in verses 3-12 and “you also” in verse 13 that appears to refer to the Gentiles. Is there a reason in the Greek this would not be the case? This pattern continues through Chapter 4 back and forth between we (us), and you.
Elise Fowler God’s plan is not confined to the Jews: in whom also you, having heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. In the case of the Gentiles also, as Paul here shows in addressing the Ephesian congregation, which consisted largely of Gentile Christians, God’s eternal purpose was realized. They have been brought to faith in Christ by accepting the Word of Truth, the message which testifies of the divine truth, the Gospel which tells them of the salvation gained by the Savior. In this way they have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. When working faith, the Holy Ghost comes into the heart of man, dwells in him, becomes a seal of his faith, gives him the divine certainty that he belongs to God and will remain His own in time and eternity. Preservation in the true faith is a work of the Holy Ghost, who, as Luther has it, called us by the Gospel, enlightened us with His gifts, sanctified and kept us in the true faith. The result therefore is: Who is the earnest of our inheritance for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory. In Christ we have the redemption in His blood, the forgiveness of sins. This fact the Holy Spirit has impressed upon us by faith. And therefore He Himself is our earnest-money, our guarantee and assurance, that our final redemption from all evils of body and soul, of property and honor, will come, that we, the redeemed of the Lord, His own peculiar people, shall enter upon the possession and enjoyment of our inheritance in heaven. And with this consummation of our hopes the praise of the glory of God will also reach the state of perfection; then we shall exalt Him and all that He has done for us, world without end. Note: The election of grace always refers to the entire plan of God with reference to the chosen. It is not an absolute decree, but was made in Christ and is founded in the divine promises. Its acceptance is done by the certainty of faith.
Elise Fowler provided a nugget of truth and you two trampled on it. She's correct. There are two groups of believers in Eph 1 just as there are two groups of believers in Jn 17. Yes, they come together but they are distinct at first because some things pertained to the "first" group before the second group was included.
I gave it a shot, because I simply want to believe and know the Truth for His glory and do NOT claim any 'ist' doctrine. But, alas, while it all made a lot of sense, the end is what killed it for me. "It is YOUR responsibility". I do greatly appreciate your insight though, sir. Exegesis is the only way to study the Bible, and you demonstrated it beautifully. Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ to you.
That’s really interesting, I would call myself a Calvinist, I do believe that God is sovereign over every aspect of salvation, the biggest, sticking point that I have with this passage is the concept of adoption. My take on it so far up until now has been that adoption is dependent in no way on the child being adopted, it’s entirely dependent on the parent doing the adopting, and therefore, I concluded from this passage, quite definitively, that we have nothing to do with our salvation. But to cross reference it with Romans 823, which is written by the same author, adoption appears to be understood, as some thing that we are awaiting, that it has not happened yet. Am I getting that right? Because if that is true, then I need to rethink my understanding of what adoption means.
How about this angle on Ephesians 1? In vv. 1-12 Paul speaks of 'we', referring to the Apostles. They were 'predestined' (v.5) and became the 'first to hope in Christ' (v.12). So the pull upon the Apostles was so powerful, they had no choice but to become of Christ. Then in vv. 13, he addresses 'you', the Ephesians, who believed the gospel that the Apostles, the pre-destined ones, preached to them. So we have two groups, the Apostles, the chosen ones and regular Christians, those who believed the gospel. Thanks, :) Ed
M an open minded calvinist.. I agree that Predestination is a real problem if you take the non elect into account. But The non calvinistic predestination explanation is so weak that it's unconvincing especially when you read the old testament and see gods abolute sovereignty over all things ..
What does sovereignty mean to you? Total control or total power? Does sovereignty have to mean someone meticulously dictates everything? If a owner of a company is considered to be sovereign over his business, can that only be true if he controls and dictates every single decision of every employee? I dont see any real evidence in the Bible that OT believers thought God to be sovereign in this way. Just the fact that they made sacrifices for their sins showed they understood their part in their unrighteousness. If they thought God ultimately caused them to sin by His determination of all things, then I would suspect there would have been some resistance to sin offerings. I do believe they believed, as we should believe, that God has the final say and He has power over all things. I think that if we ask ourselves why did Jesus have to die,Why didnt God just save people, we might better understand predestination. As I understand it God created the first humans to walk with Him. He gave them choices and dominion over the earth. They disobeyed Him and sin entered into the world,it already existed outside of the world, which caused God to curse creation. One effect of the curse is our sin nature we inherited from Adam, which causes us to inevitably sin and be seperated from God. Before the law people relied on their conscience and God judged them according to their own understanding of right and wrong, but no one went to heaven when they died, as sins were never forgiven in the true eternal sense, how could it without just punishment? When God gave the law stuff changed a little and there were a set of rules that they had to obey, but no one could just be forgiven and sacrifices were needed to cover sins, and even then it was only a temporary remission. And even when a saint died, they didnt go to heaven, they went to Abrahams Bossom. Sins literally brought a seperation between them and God. Fast foward to Jesus. Now obviously God was fully aware of our dilema. No way could we get to heaven as there is no place for a sinner in heaven. And no one was without sin. And since God already knew how all of it would play out, He predetermined a plan, and that plan was Jesus. Someone had to make a way for us to be with God in Heaven when we die. And we had to become sinless. Only way was for someone to be sinless, keep the law perfectly and then pay for all the sins of all mankind past, present and future. And we know that only Jesus could ever be that Someone. Ok, so know God had the plan, but how does He apply it to us? Can we say when Jesus died all people were saved? Surely we can agree that is not so. In order for God to impute the righteouness of Jesus to our account, effectively making us the righteouness of Christ in His sight, He decided that faith would be the means by which He placed us IN Christ. He said here is a gift aka Salvation. It is free and even the best things you can think of to do will never he good enough to earn it, but believe that what is said about Jesus is true and I will give it to you. I will baptize you into the Body of Christ and you will be holy and blameless in My sight. And I have already predetermined that whomsoever believes will receive eternal life. They will be justified, sanctified and ultimately glorified. All of this relies on God's foreknowledge of events. God cannot predestine anything if He doesnt know all things, and Romans 8 is pretty clear on the order. For those He foreknew, He predestined... So even if you dont believe a single thing I said, i just want you to take away that Calvanism isnt the only reasonable understanding of predestination. We can never say God doesnt know who will and will not respond to the gospel bc we have free will. Foreknowledge doesnt require determinism. God can know all things without Him determining all things. He can work all things for His purpose without controling all things because He has complete foreknowledge. Imagine what you could accomplish of you had foreknowledge of every person's choices around you. Wouldnt you be able to streamline your life? Now just imagine what God can do with His foreknowledge...He can bring about the salvation of those who would have been otherwise seperated from Him after death, and He did! All the glory to God for this gracious predetermined plan of salvation to all whom are in Christ through faith.
Excellent analysis of Ephesians 1. I like to keep it to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Abraham believed in God, and it was accredited him the righteousness. Also Acts 19:4 makes it clear what repentance John the Baptist was preaching, and the apostle Paul said that it was telling the people to believe in Jesus. Great work on Ephesians 1.
This only makes sense if you’re looking at it through a lens which doesn’t account for tota scriptura. That said, I enjoy Leighton as a brother. I look forward to spending eternity with Dr. Flowers in heaven!
In my experience, it is so hard for my calvinist brothers/sisters to understand this. I know once it clicks, it clicks like a chemistry equation but I think the issue is the conflation of faith and grace in their minds. Being faithful in Him = adoption, salvation, etc (if he’s chosen us to be saved, he’s chosen us to be faithful). It’s near impossible for me to aid in them mentally separating the two. Where as I understand it, my faith in Christ leads to adoption, salvation, etc. I’d even throw a < symbol up there instead of =. Just rambling.
God determined before the foundation of the world that he would do all these things for anyone who believes in Christ. But he didn't determine who would believe.
@@glurp1 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” I think this pretty clearly states that the only way we come to saving faith is by something done by the Father to us, not by us believing on our own. We all would reject God if we had the chance but by His grace He called some, that is what Calvinists believe.
@@carterborgelt6713 The passages on this topic in John relate to the current hardening during his ministry before the crucifixion and resurrection. After these things, he would draw all people to himself, as he says in chapter 12. Many of the same people who were blinded during Jesus' ministry would become saved later. Also, those who did not know the Father would not recognize Jesus because they relied on works, not faith. After Jesus' ministry, the hardening of unbelieving Jews was meant to save more gentiles AND bring the Jews themselves to faith, as mentioned in Romans 11. Scripture never states that people can't generally respond to the Gospel. They don't seek God, but they can respond.
@@carterborgelt6713 And who was brought to Christ by the Father? John 6:45 "those who have listened and learned from the Father". Which makes reference to the Israelites whom learned from the Prophets, which would then recognize the things the Father taught before but from Jesus. Those who didn't learn from the Prophets and instead rejected and stoned them, were not taken or did not recognize the Son for His teachings were unrecognizable.
@@monkizaki1440 I think that that theory of who would accept the Son or reject Him can be disproven by John 4, where the Samaritan woman had the dialogue with Jesus.
Is there a change in who is being addressed once we hit verse 13? It goes from “we” to “you.” Was wondering if before v 13 this was about possibly Jewish believers, or about the apostles, then the verses after 12 becomes about the Ephesians? Any help or insights appreciated! Trying to make sense of the pronouns. Thanks in advance.
Anyone ever notice that Dr. Flowers has basically made it his life goal to stomp on a particular flower? You’re doing a very good job btw, to the degree that the calvinists now use as a rebuttal to our points as “you can’t think for yourself so you just quote Leighton Flowers” Lol
Ok. So I'm thinking deeply about the Calvinism vs Armenianism debate. According to Ephesians 2, we are dead in our trespasses and sins. *And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.* _Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV_ According to the text, salvation is purely wrought by God. If you're dead, you couldn't possibly react to anything, right? God does the life-giving. That's why we can never boast about our salvation. It's 100% a work of God. *He* gives us life. Am I wrong about this text?
Yup you got it right! As Charles Spurgeon wrote "If anyone should ask me what I mean by a Calvinist, I should reply, He is one who says 'salvation is of the Lord'. I cannot find in scripture any other doctrine than this." The modern idea that we can be brought to Christ without the help of the Holy Spirit is truly disheartening.
@@AtHomeInvesting There are these two verses that I believe point to God's sovereignty in salvation. *All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.* _Matthew 11:27 NKJV_ *And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”* _John 6:65 NKJV_
Who believes we can be brought to Christ without the help of the Holy Spirit? Surely you cannot believe that is what non calvanist and calvanist disagree on? Of course we believe the Holy Spirit brings us to God. That is literally His job. To convict the world aka us of sin, Righteousness and judgement. It is when we hear the word of truth and believe it, that we are sealed aka regenerated. How can we believe unless we are convicted of the truth of the gospel? That we are sinners in need of a saviour. That surely doesnt have to mean we dont have a responsibility to respond in faith. We have a responsibility that is why it is just for God to punish those who do not take responsibility. God determined that faith be the means by which He saves, those who are saved chose to comply with His demands. It's not a work, it is a conviction, given by the Holy Spirit. No one can take credit for a conviction, that is just silly.
This is excellent and I also think it important to mention that God being outside of time and knowing your beginning from your end knew what your decision would be using your free-will before you were even born!
@@guillermodominguez8643 if that was really what the text meant, then there wouldn’t be any Christian’s. I think calvinists fail to understand how God makes known his existence throughout the world which is also mentioned in the Bible so therefore it also says in the Bible whomever the Lord sends the Holy Spirit to intervene in a person’s life, they will either believe or not but the simple fact is that the Lord gives everyone a chance at salvation and I don’t know why calvinists would believe God wanted and created people just to go to Hell. It’s not biblically sound. There would be numerous verses about that if it was true but it’s not. And how calvinists say that Christ didn’t die for everyone’s sins because then that would mean that Jesus died for people that are going to Hell which mean the atonement wasn’t enough which is just confusing to the most genuine believers in Christ it causes division and causes “one of these little ones” to stumble which is very bad according to scripture. Bottom line is, scripture can’t contradict other scriptures so Christ atonement was unlimited for anyone whom will believe which God doesn’t show favoritism and it also says in Ezekiel how God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked which would mean he doesn’t just create people to burn for an eternity while he chose some to be saved…it’s so sad how Calvinists try to make scripture say something that is almost blasphemous in nature such as Jesus didn’t die for everyone’s sins I mean John 3:16 clearly says He did idk how Calvinists still try to justify their doctrine when scripture flat out says what it means…it’s almost like they are just as bad as the false teachers that say LGBT is not a sin…I wonder if they’ll ever realize the error too
Excellent Pastor Leighton. I only wished you had emphasized “the plan of Him who works out everything” V11 - which only supports your explanation even more! This is such a great video
Calvinism does but make God a moral monster. People today have a sense that they are entitled to forgiveness or mercy or salvation. If God sentenced the entire human race to damnation and sent no messiah then so be it. He would have been perfectly just doing so BECAUSE we are wicked. The fact that sentencing the entire human to damnation would be considered by definition a just and good act, should not provoke you to think God is Injust, but should highlight our depravity. Who are you Oh mere man to say there is injustice with God!!!
Could it be that Eph 1:3-11 is Paul's way of introducing his Apostolic authority and that the "us" is in reference to the Apostles? It's unlikely that "the mystery of his will..." in 9 was made known to all the believers in Ephesus (see Eph 3:2-3.) Also, "the first to put our hope in Christ..." doesn't seem to mean the church but the Apostles. Finally, in 13 "And you also were included in Christ when..." seems to mean that he is now speaking to the church. If you read his other epistles, you get the same formula of first establishing Apostolic authority and then addressing the church. See Rom 1:5-6. Lastly, the earliest manuscripts don't include "To God's holy people in Ephesus" which leads most scholars to say that this is a general letter to the churches in the region thus prompting Paul to establish authority. Just an honest question...Thanks for your ministry.
So what about " many are called by few are chosen" . At face value it means many are rejected. Like who? The called who respond, ugly people, etc. Who are the ones not " chosen" ?
Paul is clearly writing specifically to the faithful Ephesians, not to all believers or believers to come. So when he’s uses the word “us” it’s not to “whoever is in Christ” its specifically referring to Paul and the faithful in Ephesus. Based off that, I don’t think this interpretation stands strong. Tell me what y’all think.
Ok I’ve been Calvinist for 3 years but for some reason your explanation makes more sense.
Leighton is an ex calvinist himself! I hope and pray God reveals to you the truth my bro/sis in Christ! Whether it be calvinism or provisionism.
Amen 🙌
I was Calvinist for ten years.
Phil 2:13
It’s so rare to see someone with a humble heart in the comment section. I too have struggled with this passage because of Calvinist teachers.
As it turns out the church fathers have always held the same view Dr. Flowers supports here
I get it!
I was never a Calvinist but now I think I have a deeper understanding of Eph 1. It's about how God wants to lavish His love on those who believe in Him. Once we have believed, He has already predestined us for these wonderful things - to be forgiven, made blameless, become adopted sons and daughters and sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Eph 1 is not emphasizing predestination. It''s emphasizing just how much God loves those who believe in Him in that He has already predestined these gifts (or acts) of love toward those who become believers.
Thank you, Leighton!
I’ve been so frustrated recently by Calvinists who claim their view must be correct because scripture uses word like “predestination” and “election”. But, they never actually consider the whole text. As Dr. Ben Witherton said, “ (A) text without context is just a pretext for what we want it to mean, and thus the New Testament text must be read in its historical, rhetorical, literary, social, and religious contexts”.
my 3 rules are
context
the Bible interprets the Bible
and clear passages override unclear passages
And those words predated their ideology. People read those same words in Scripture for a long time before Augustine et al, without coming to the conclusion the Calvinists do.
Yes!!!!! 💯 Amen 🙏
It's amazing how people can twist the scriptures so they say what they want it to. You explained this so clearly and ended so much confusion for me. Thank you!
I love the condensed video and this explanation was the best I've heard. I had to stop and start praising God with how secure I am and the hope I have for the future knowing that He has predestined so much good for those who believe. Thankyou
Thank you Leighton Flowers!
GLORY TO GOD!
PRAISE OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST!
Please do more of these short and to the point video series! This one is very clear and concise. Thank you!
I’ve watched a number of your videos but this one by far is the best one I’ve seen. Very clear, contextual, and illustrative explanations should help many believers (and Lord willing unbelievers) understand the idea behind predestination, and understand very clearly what Paul was really saying in that first chapter. Good stuff, brother! God bless!
Leighton, thank you for these more condensed videos! They are much easier to make time to watch.
I always say if you put the emphasis on “Him “and less emphasis on “us“, you’ll very quickly leave the subculture of Calvinism.
Exactly, and yet they think their view is less man-centered. Think about it.
Trey"!😃well said"
@@nathanhellrung9810 precisely, we don't follow the doctrines of men, but the truth of Christ. We don't need calvin, calvin needs Christ.
That us true lol.
The word "predestined" does not mean nor have anything to do with a "destination". It is wrong to break up the word and define it in English as Leighton here has done imposing a definition upon the word Paul is using here.
The word "predestined" is the greek word "proorizo".
Here is the definition:
to predetermine, decide beforehand
in the NT of God decreeing from eternity
to foreordain, appoint beforehand
Now where is "destination" here? Its not there.
So glad to hear this explanation as I have always believed this to be true.
After all Gods plan as we read (Genesis to Revelation) has been about redemption not condemning people to hell.
Thank you so much for rightly dividing the word of truth.
Exactly! Only a monster God could plan to make people burn in hell 'for his glory,' as some claim, with those sorry souls deprived of the free will to believe in Christ!
I'm praying hard that I don't have to leave my church over this, but I cannot ignore the fact that Christ died for all. Ephesians 2 makes it plain, because of grace and by faith. I'm hurting and heart broken.
I can relate
Before I ever saw this video I prayed before reading Ephesians 1… I prayed that the Holy Spirit would teach me, and within the first 2 minutes of this video it’s EXACTLY what I learned reading Ephesians 1… without any commentary or help from anybody else, the first verse jumped out at me like so clearly… to the faithful in Christ Jesus, the “us” being referred to is the faithful in Christ Jesus. It’s actually so simply displayed in front of you if you don’t have calvinist lenses on.
Very similarly to you I prayed for God to show me the truths in his Word and when I read Ephesians, I see the sovereign choice of God who chose "Us" before the foundations of the world. There are 2 distinctions between our beliefs here. When we boil it down, free-will Armenians believe that man is the center of God's plan and Calvinist believe God is the center of God's plan. God's plan hinges on the decisions and actions of man according to your belief.
@@caleb4015 “Gods plan hinges on the decisions and actions of man according to your belief.”
First of all you’re putting words in my mouth and misrepresenting my view. No I don’t believe Gods plan hinges on man… God provides a way of salvation and it is our responsibility to respond.
Are you just assuming I’m a free will Arminian? I’m not.
If you’re holding to the “sovereign choice” of God. He chooses to give some people no ability to accept the truth of the gospel and then punishes them in eternal hell for doing what he decreed them to do. Absolute nonsense.
We have a free will, but it’s not some super power… think about Jonah. He resisted God’s call but God chastened him for his disobedience and he ended up doing God’s will, what do you see here besides two opposing wills? Did God decree Jonah to resist Him and then punish him for doing it?
“and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command OR DECREE, nor did it come into my mind-”
Jeremiah 19:5
Is it part of God’s secret will to meticulously determine His people to burn their children in the fire or was it their free choice to do it? Looks to me God said He didn’t decree it…
@@platinum1781 In that instance, man's will is left in the default state of rebellion and sin, which means in that state, man will do all manner of wickedness because he is a slave to sin. When regenerated by God, man is made a slave to Christ "doulos" instead of a slave to sin.
My intent is not meant to be hostile to you. Simply making an observation as to how I see our views.
What do you do with the fact that there are many who never hear the gospel in their whole life. They die and go to Hell. Case in point, the natives of Sentinel Island or a close comparison of such a people. What about how God made the Assyrians attack Israel, even though it never entered their mind to do so, but still punished them for the act? At the end of the day, this is God's plan and ultimately everything is to the glory of God.
@@caleb4015 I apologize if I came across as rude…
So if a man is a slave to sin (which I agree we are outside of Christ), does that therefore mean he can’t call upon Jesus to free him unless God picked him? Because a man is a slave he cannot respond to God’s appeals to be reconciled? You can try to make this palatable all you want, but ultimately (in the calvinist view) God creates most people for the purpose of eternal torment in hell. For what, his own glory.. really?
Who is more blame worthy objectively, the man hated by his maker from the womb created to be destroyed, or the man that hates God and won’t respond to Him despite God’s love for him?
I think God is more glorified in displaying His love for His enemies on the cross than creating them to squash them under His finger.
Was God using wicked Assyrians for His purpose, or did He decree them to be wicked so as to use them?
Something to think about.
It's not by chance that we stumble across such videoes
Ten minutes well spent. Dr Flowers has given us the key to a proper understanding of Ephesians 1. Thank you for a scriptural explanation of predestination.
@@reynaldodavid2913Jo
Please... just stop it ....
Nobody was chosen for salvation from before the foundation of the world.
If that were the case, you'd present the scripture that says such instead of having to dance around trying to prove something that scripture doesn't say.
Calvinism 101
4:47 - “The DESTINATION of those IN HIM is set beforehand. That is predestination.”
8:05 - “And just as the airline has predetermined the destination of all those who board the plane, so too God has determined beforehand the destination of all of those who enter Christ through faith.
But we must not lose the fact that it’s your responsibility to get on board.
… It is your responsibility to put your trust in Christ.”
no he is saying that, God has predetermined the destination of those who CHOSE Christ, not that God has predetermined who will be in him
@@fishandbike v4 God who chose the believers in Christ before the foundation of the world, (it’s God choice) that we should be….( because of God election we were United to Christ through our faith )
( because of Christ we are holy, blameless, and loved by God )scripture is clear on that.
V5 God who predestined us, it’s a past act of God. Not present act of God when we believe. LF put it as it’s God set the destination, but He did know who will be in Christ, it’s a open election motherhood, Scripture did not say that. V4 clarified God who chose us in Christ from the foundation of the world.
Read it as it is. And give glory to God. ❤
@@suganemmenaul brother read the whole verse. It is saying that God chose the faithful to be adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven before the foundation of the world. So Paul is saying that God has already predetermined that those who are faithful will be made holy, blameless and be adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul tells us in verse 1 that "in Him" means the faithful in Christ Jesus. So Paul is not saying that God chose who will be adopted, but rather that God chose that those who are in Him (faithful in Christ Jesus) to be adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven.
@@AnthonyHamamjiLeighton Flowers says God choose all. That’s i don’t agree. But I agree with you that God choosen the faithful. That is the Church. so you became faithful by your own choice (will)or God’s choice that you should be faithful in Christ from the foundation of the world?
@@fishandbikeAnd when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed also no one comes to the Son unless they are first drawn by the father. How do you reconcile these verses
Thank you for clearing that up Dr. Flowers! Much appreciated!
Really awesome explanation. I have always believed in Arminianism but in truth I’ve had trouble in the last couple of years being solidly in one camp or the other mostly because of your debates with Dr White which made me contemplate my position. Ty and God bless you Dr for this message. I feel a real sense of peace and assurance on this much debated topic and I’m all the way in
Kevin Thompson at Beyond The Fundamentals does a amazing job explaining this in detail.
Thank you Leighton !
AMEN, Thank you Leighton Flowers for taking the time to put this together. Praise God for the gift of the Holy Spirit that obviously dwells in you. It brings such joy to my heart to hear this message and to know that He first loved us to do what He did for the whole of His creation in order to bring Salvation to those who put their faith and trust in Him. All Glory Honour and Praise be to you Lord Jesus.
The word for "predestined" is the greek word "proorizo" which means:
to predetermine, decide beforehand, in the NT of God decreeing from eternity
to foreordain, appoint beforehand.
Now where in the definition does it mean or even imply "destination?" It doesn't.
So the question "what is predestined" and the answer found in this definition. The word does not give that answer. The answer is in the rest of the text. People are predestined not a place.
Again Leighton has redefined "predestined" to an improper word that Paul is not saying here.
@@darryld.8616
The word "predestined" in Ephesians is not talking about individuals being predestined. It's talking about people being predestined for something. And that something is not salvation, which is not mentioned in Ephesians. We are chosen in Him to be holy and blameless, we are predestined for adoption. It doesn't say that anyone is predestined to be in Him. Only what those who are in Him are predestined for.
This epistle is written to those who are already in Christ by the same author who has previously explained how to be in Christ. This same author said "that IF you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved". Notice Paul said "IF"?
No where does the Bible say that anyone is predestined to be saved. It only speaks of what BELIEVERS are predestined to become.
@@djohnson3093a particular people are predestined not a end. The definition of the word "predestination" again has zero to do with a destination. The bible is clear that there is an "Elect" of God chosen before the foundation of the world, individuals of whom Paul surely is talking to and is talking about.
Paul writes about the church as the "Elect" of God, chosen of whom Christ intercedes for in so many places in his epistles that its undeniable that Paul is talking about individuals who are chosen.
Christ did not intercede for all mankind on the cross, then stop interceding for those who reject Him.
Paul says,...
Romans 8:32-34 NASB95 - 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
The "us" Paul is talking about is the "elect" of whom Christ will freely give all things to because Christ intercedes for "us."
Not only this but Christ will never stop interceding for "us" showing He only does intercede for us here in Hebrews....
Hebrews 7:25 NASB95 - 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
It says in the above verse Christ intercedes for those who drawn near to God which begins with Christ's death on the cross. So thus Christ did and does not intercede for those who will not be drawn near to God.
This theology all ties together perfectly when looked at consistantly. In too many instances Paul expresses people are chosen. Just like here in Eph. where Paul says we were chosen for adoption.
Exactly! At the moment of salvation the imputed righteousness is given to us whereby we can call the Father Abba because we at that moment of salvation instantly become children of God. We are people whom the LORD chose to whom He gives us all things....justification, adoption, salvation, glorification, sanctification, a seat in heaven, mercy, grace and so much more.
So as individuals, we were given all these things because He graciously predestined us to receive them not by our will, but by His will from eternity past.
@@djohnson3093 oh and just for the case of simple logic regarding this.
Adoption equals being a Child of God. If we are "in Him" then we are adopted.
We dont choose to be saved then God adopts us.
No. God chooses to save us thats why we are adopted. That is what grace is...giving us what we dont deserve
Us being "in Christ" was from eternity past always in the mind of God as surely as Paul says now we are citizens of heaven.
Yeah cause though it hasnt happened yet, since God ordaines it to be so, it is thus guaranteed to happen.
@@darryld.8616
I didn't say a word about predestination meaning a place or destination.
I actually said it means "for" something. I also named exactly what Ephesians says believers (the audience being addressed) are predestined and chosen for.
Here's the problem with your interpretation. It cannot coincide with the whole of scripture. The majority of the Bible must be explained away. This is what calvinism does (like all false doctrines). Definitions are changed. Explanations are created that are unbiblical. Smooth, convincing language is used.
For example, according to Calvinism, ALL doesn't actually mean ALL (not in scripture). Whosoever doesn't mean Whosoever (not in scripture). Everyone doesn't really mean Everyone. (Also not in scripture).
The biblical doctrine of the believers assurance is done away with because you nor anyone else can know if you are among the chosen unless you have a list of names.
The end times judgement becomes nothing more than show by a judge who passes judgement on those for what the judge made them do. This destroys the definition of "Righteous Judge".
The message of the cross cannot coexist with calvinism. No where does the Word of God even hint that God only had intentions of reconciling these He had chosen from before the foundation of the world. It's just the opposite.
I can go on forever with this. I can list verse after verse that is in direct contradiction to the calvinist interpretation of predestination.
I'm guessing that you would only come back with more proof texts which implies "Oh yeah? I know what John 3:16 says but Ephesians 1:4 says..." which is nothing more than claiming the word of God has contradictions.
On the other hand, the interpretation I believe to be right causes zero controversy with the whole of scripture.
The believers assurance remains in tact. I can present the gospel to the lost without turning the good news into bad or hiding what I truly believe. All means All. Whosoever means Whosoever. Not only for our sins but for the sins of the whole world means what it says.
Again, I can go on forever. The point is, is that I don't have to explain away anything. It all fits together so beautifully. I don't believe that all will be saved because many will not come. Many will choose to remain unbelieving. This is also biblical.
I don't have to limit my doctrinal arguments to 10 - 15 proof texts that support my beliefs. I can use every single word without contradiction.
You used explanations in your comment that aren't found in scripture. Which forces you to avoid my comment about the Bible NEVER saying that some were chosen before the foundation of the world for salvation. Where is it?
The words saved and salvation are used regularly. Why not while talking about predestination?
I've heard your exact response from every calvinist I've talked to. They never go outside the proof texts. They all say practically the same thing almost word for word. I understand why.
I can give you 100 verses that are in direct contradiction to the calvinist interpretation and 9 out of 10 times they will be ignored and the response will be the same proof texts over and over.
Tell me where you find a passage in the Bible that says some were predestined from before the foundation of the world to be saved while the others are condemned to eternal damnation from before the foundation of the world. At least something remotely related. But I am going to need the words saved, salvation, chosen, elect or predestined in the same passage.
Thanks
What an excellent explination. I have always known the Calvanist Doctrine was off but it was difficult to explain. This was perfect.
It was purposefully made difficult to explain.
It was purposefully made difficult to explain.
Oh my gosh it's hard to explain but it's so wrong Jesus please help me and my brothers and sisters in you spread the true Gospel to the world
Incredibly well done. I knew all of this intuitively, but it was disjointed in my mind. Not any more. Thank you.
Same here!
I absolutely loved your video I thought that you explained the scripture in great detail I'm a pastor myself And we'll be using your analogy Thank you so much
I’m so blessed to listen to this video. God is really the God of truth. This affirmed my understanding of these passages, and you explained it simply and clearly. Thank you so much for explaining this that we may understand the context. Praise the Lord for the leading and enlightenment!
Thank you . Your analysis of predestination is the first time in 40 years that I have got some light on this topic. And I found it by searching UA-cam. Thank you . Bless you. Let’s end the sin of sectarian behaviour 🙏👍
Thank you so much for this. I was rereading the New Testament, very slowly and deliberately, to make sure that my theology was intact, and began looking for teachings like this after finishing seemingly difficult books of chapters. I was looking for something long and in-depth, but instead found something concise and succinct. And, unbelievably, I was concentrating my study on "soteriological" issues. God is Good ✝️🕊!
This gives the glory to God! Christ Jesus is the destination! He is the everything in Ephesians 1, in the scriptures, in the gospel! Everything is IN HIM!!!!
This is so helpful. Thank you for teaching this so good. Praise God
Once again a very well thought out and well done presentation of the truth. Thank you for what you are doing and in the loving manner in which you do it.
The word for "predestined" is the greek word "proorizo" which means:
to predetermine, decide beforehand, in the NT of God decreeing from eternity
to foreordain, appoint beforehand.
Now where in the definition does it mean or even imply "destination?" It doesn't.
So the question "what is predestined" and the answer found in this definition. The word does not give that answer. The answer is in the rest of the text. People are predestined not a place.
Again Leighton has redefined "predestined" to an improper word that Paul is not saying here.
@@darryld.8616
What does the text say people are predestined for? (Specifically the Saints/believers that this epistle is addressed to. Not just people.)
Does the text say people are predestined to be saved from before the foundation of the world?
Or does the text say what those who are in Him are predestined for (to be holy and without blame, for redemption through His blood and forgiveness of sins, inheritance, adoption, etc)?
Is predestined for salvation in this text somewhere?
@@djohnson3093 people are predestined not outcomes.
@@djohnson3093 please dont believe Flowers..."The Choice Meats" guy.
@@darryld.8616
Predestined for what?
Do you see salvation in the text?
I'm talking the word of God... Not Flowers.
What does the text actually say?
The Bible also say that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Yes the Bible absolutely says that which is such a relief after finding out that some Christian’s believe God creates people he hates and will send them to Hell whether they want to believe the Gospel or not.
Thanking God for this ministry!! I started going to a church that doesn’t make it clear up front that they are Reformed. I started to hear some different things & questioned the pastor. It led to more confusion, but then led to a fervent study of scripture and the discovery of this channel! I am now more clear on what the scripture says and have since left that church after praying about it and have found a biblically sound church.
Praise God!
Starting a Bible study on Ephesians with my small group tonight and I’m showing this because I want to avoid having to spend hours on predestination. Thank you, Leighton!
This actually makes a lot of sense. And this interpretation coincides with
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
John 15:16 KJV
And
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Titus 2:11-14 KJV
Your ministry is very important, thank you for putting this much time and effort in to bring glory to God with the truth.
God has chosen those in Him to be blameless in his sight. The passage is a list of blessings for those in Him. Not a choosing of who will become believers. Great baseball coach analogy.
Jc Thomas, God has chosen the Elect since the foundation of the world to be saved because the Elect are His True Children... The Elect lost their fellowship with their Father God after they inherited the 'Sinful Nature' of Adam and Eve... So God sent Jesus Christ to Redeem them... REDEEM means to take back by paying... Jesus indeed Redeem the elect by paying His Own Blood.... This means the Elect already belongs to God thousands of years before they were even born...
@@josephdurraz8574 You're so right. John 3:16 says it so well: "For God so loved the Elect that he gave his one and only Son, so that the Elect, who were already predetermined to believe in him and saved anyway, shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (Calvinist Edition)
@Followerofchrist 247 Well done!
@@josephdurraz8574
Where is that passage in the Bible?
Actually... where do you find the words chosen, elect and salvation in the same verse?
Maybe you added a few words to support a false doctrine?
@@djohnson30932 thes. 2:13
Amazing Dr Flowers Wow! This explanation is truly led by the Holy Spirit thank you 🙏🏻 keep it up brother.
The problem is we want to add our opinions and explain things that need no explanation so they fit our biases or so that they make sense. The Word is Spiritual and the moment you want to analyse it with your mind so it makes sense to you, you will loose it. That is why many Churches today are full of theories but lack the Power of the Gospel for they have explained the potency of the Gospel away in order to make sense of it. The Gospel was not made to make sense or appeal to the senses, it is Spiritual and only the spiritual can understand it, it needs to be revealed to you by God, not analysed. Just because this video makes sense doesn't mean its true, when you believe something because it makes sense to you and is logical, you have moved away from the Spirit realm to the sense realm. The Gospel Jesus preached never appealed to the senses or made sense, the message of the cross was and is foolishness to many but is life to the spiritual. A lot of times the Bible just means what it says no need for explanations, dont try to make it fit your opinion, rather seek God till you conform to the scripture and deeper mystries are revealed to you concerning whatever scripture. God is Sovereign, He left nothing to chance.
We are to do all things in the Spirit, that includes reading God's Word.
@@clsmithent Amen to that for the New Convenant is a Spiritual reality.
Excellent! Imagine how helpful it would be if every pastoral candidate was asked to preach on Ephesians 1 before an offer of position was made? In this way, the church, elders would know exactly where the candidate landed on the theology of Calvinism vs. non-Calvinism.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." Phil 2:13
It seems both 100% choice yet 100% in the Lord's control
@jkpow93 Amen, that's why God put it in the heart of Dr. Flowers to leave Calvinism and stablish a fruitful ministry.
Thank you for this excellent presentation. God bless your ministry!
This is really helpful. Thank you. I am preaching on Ephesians 1:1-14 and couldn't get my head around predestination. And this really helped and made sense.
I have just been studying "once saved always saved." I just left a Calvinist church and my head is spinning. Well, right after I left, I started searching a lot of my own, and I discovered just a few weeks ago that tribulation rapture is actually post and not pre-and that just started all kinds of studying that I wasn’t expecting. God does these things you know.
Well then it led to once saved always saved, and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop seeing that that is absolutely a false doctrine. And when I tried to present that to my best friend, who is the pastor’s wife in that church, she pushed me to Ephesians 1. Thank you so much for this very clear teaching really resonates in my heart.
Hi Darla, there is a very big difference between the P in tulip and the doctrine of eternal security.
The first relies on who they supposedly are, the elect, and that the elect can never be lost bc they are predestined for heaven.(Calvin)
The latter relies and the faithfulness of God to save to the utter most those who place their faith in Jesus. (Hebrews)
We receive eternal life the moment we are justified through faith, not temporary life. It's instant and without us having to do anything to earn it. In ephesians we read we are sealed with the Holy Spirit until our day of redemption. There are no verses that speak to us becoming unsealed, or sealed people going to hell.
Our sanctification is a life long process and how we live matter a whole lot, and it can deeply affect our fellowhip with God. Thus we are admonished to repent to be restored. But our unity with Christ is forever. If we didnt work to get it, why work to keep it? Makes no sense to me.
May I suggest the late pastor Jack Kelly's teachings on the subject. His website is called grace thru faith.
Blessings!
@@AnniEast thank you, but my teacher is the Holy Spirit. I have peace that I must work out my salvation with fear and trembling. And my love for God will create obedience in me. I must pick up my cross daily. He won't forsake His promises, but He's righteous and just. If I fall away, He will keep those promises also. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding, my sister. No consequences, no fear. It's a relationship and obedience that He wants from us. Be blessed in truth and love.
@@Ambassador4Christ2022 i understand where you are coming from, especially if one comes from some form of deception, but learning from godly men is absolutely biblical. I also have a deep understanding of the doctrine as I held your view and tried my utmost to disprove people like me. And it is worth mentioning that knowing I am secure in Christ creates nothing but referential fear of the Lord in me. I am ever aware of who I am and where I came from, and it is by God's grace and mercy alone that I am considered righteous in His sight.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a NEW creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come.
If regeneration is done by the hands of God, how can we undo His work by human hands? We have to believe that God gives us a new heart and He is the author and FINISHER of our faith.(have you ever heard of someone who had a heart transplant and then goes back to the doctor and says they want their old heart back?)we have to believe That He has placed a seal of ownership on us and that the Holy Spirit is our token of our inheritance. The Holy Spirit is given to us as a gift, to lead us and guide us. And to give is assurance that we are indeed children of God, and that even while we groan in these bodies, eager to be set free, we can know for certain that we will be redeemed. Once someone is regenerated it is for life. Nothing you can ever do or not do after that point can make God love you less or send you to hell. You are not going through on your own merit anyway. You go based on your faith in the works and character of Christ alone, not based on your performance.
Be blessed and rest in the sweet salvation of Christ. And as romans 12 reads, our reasonable response to this truth and reality is to present our bodies a living sacrifice. A true believer lives for God every day bc they love God and respect God so deeply, but they also know they are a work in progress and when they fall Jesus will be right there to pick them up again, and often this looks like discipline/some might say punishment...Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25)
I'll end off with one of my favorite passages in the bible...
Now it is God who establishes and confirms us with you in Christ, and who has anointed us; it is He who has also put His seal on us and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 AMP
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. ESV
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. KjV
Another excellent teaching that clearly explained the true meaning of predestination.
All I can say after watching this is PRAISE THE LORD !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so so much for explaining, teaching in truth on this Calvinism/reformed issue.
So important.
So true. It's the use of the word predestination.
God predestined many things.
He predestined a PLAN for salvation, that all that accepted the gift of salvation would receive it, not an assign few.
Thank you! I was struggling with this passage and this makes a lot of sense. I love the explanation of Romans as a bonus :D
Thank you very much for this!
When I first heard the doctrine of predestination, I cried. It hurt my heart to think of all my family & friends that I wanted to believe in Jesus, might not be able too. And so why should we go out & preach the gospel since God already had His chosen. It didn't make sense.
Calvinism reminds me of Jehovah's witnesses teaching, it only looks at one view of how to read the scriptures.
Are there any other preachers that give bible teaching that are from a non-Calvinistic view point?
@@reynaldodavid2913Jo Yes, I can believe SOME are predestined or elected or chosen, but what verses back that up.
I wish I could copy your response so I could read it more for understanding. Ty for your response.
Cheryl - Check out Pastor Mike Winger (the Bible Thinker) for some great content as well.
I always felt it wasn’t right but battled that as well ! But I know the Love of Christ indeed !! 💯☝🏼🙏🏼
@@reynaldodavid2913Jo to assume that before or after have any bearing on eternity outside of our relativistic time and causal structure is a fallacy. Acts 13:48 is just a strange English translation. It is tantamount to saying that they ordained themselves from the context of verse 46 by choice
@@reynaldodavid2913Jo no in verse 48 it talks about being "pre-ordained." This is a misinterpretation. It more accurately translated as being disposed or weakly (grammatically) ordaining oneself. Ordering to line up with something in a military sense. Choice actions as displayed by the context of verse 46
This makes so much sense to me. when you listen to others try to make this about predestination for salvation it leads to confusion, (1 Cor 14:33) "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." this explanation gives me peace.
Well said! Thank you Dr. Leighton!
Seems like adoption got completely ignored?
Please explain
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 5-6
Thank you for helping me understand better the doctrine of predestination. I needed a good explanation.
I'm so grateful for these de-Calvinizing scripture series. For many years, I had no idea how scripture was being frame for me through a Calvanistic lens.
As a member of a reformed church for many years, I am very familiar with the calvinistic interpretation. Often, the key problem is that iyes you determine who the author of a passages and who their audience Is. So often, This changes the entire understanding of a passage. You showed an excellent explanation of that here. Thank you.
If Flowers stood on a debate stage opposing a Calvinist, this presentation would dismantle the Calvinist.
Evidence, in the words of scripture.
I wonder if there’s a better name than “De-Calvinized” for these series. I get what is meant (that we are so ingrained to think a particular way about certain passages that we need to be reprogrammed) but it may unintentionally communicate that the Bible sounds like Calvinism/determinism is true but it actually isn’t. It’s more of a defensive posture than a positive case. My 2 cents 😊 Looking forward to listening in when I wake up in the morning!
"Recovered" might be better than "De-Calvinised"?
How about "Revisited?"
@Drew McLeod --- YOU >>> "but it may unintentionally communicate that the Bible sounds like Calvinism/determinism is true but it actually isn’t." ME >>> *That is exactly what it is supposed to convey.*
@@JohnQPublic11 Yep yep. The video title is on point.
Drew McLeod, Calvinism's main doctrines are Biblically true but John Calvin did not understand the entirety of the Beautiful Biblical Doctrine of 'Election and Predestination', So he added his own understanding without Scriptural Support and even contradicts to the character of God... =>>> It is biblically true that God predestined the elect to be saved since the foundation of the world...=>>>> It is biblically true that Jesus died only for the elect...=>>> and it is biblically true that none of the elect will lost their salvation....
Such a clear BIBLICAL explanation. Thank you Dr. Flowers! I just sent it to 3 Brothers, who I know will appreciate it.
Thank you brother Leighton!
Absolutely fantastic!! Thank you for sharing.
Calvinism confuses the omniscience of God with the omnipotence / sovereignty of God. It ASSUMES that because God knows all things including the end from the beginning and that He is in ultimate control, that God sanctions all things. Yes, He knows all things and yes, He is in ultimate control but God doesn't approve of the actions of satan and his minions who come to "kill, steal and destroy". God allowing certain actions does not = His approval of them (e.g. Job 1, Luke 22:31-34). When you understand God's love you understand that because He is love and loves us, He gives us all a free will and will not violate our will. But so awesome is the work of redemption at the cross, that when we repent and believe we enter into what God has already mapped out for our lives. Grace is an atmosphere of a divine ability around a person to choose what they otherwise wouldn't due to our sinful nature. It comes to us via the message of the Gospel being preached to us witnessed to our spirit by the Holy Spirit which ignites our faith to believe. But it is still OUR choice to believe or reject it. That said, we shouldn't underestimate God's sovereignty in our lives and His ability to intervene either. Jesus knew Peter would fail - He didn't cause that failure but the hope He gave Peter was His CONFIDENCE / FAITH in Peter's repentance. As believers being "predestined in Christ for good works" means that we can have faith and confidence in God to lead us and guide us and to intervene into our life situations as well. Joseph's life is a great example of this. God foreknew how his brothers would choose to sell him into slavery and all that would follow from it, but He also foreknew how Joseph would respond. That God could maneuver around the free wills of Jacob, his sons, Potiphar and his wife, the Egyptian baker and cup bearer and Pharaoh etc. all to rescue the world from famine, using every last thing that happened as a prophetic foreshadowing of the fulfillment of Romans 11 which is a massive repeat of that story in Genesis in far greater magnitude, is ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING. ALWAYS ALWAYS remember that if God has the very hairs of your head numbered then you can trust Him to lead, guide and direct your life even when you don't understand your circumstances.
I have never understood how people have such a hard time with this. Just takes a little though. First, what is an apostle? It is someone that had an encounter with the Risen Christ. Second, think about you sending a letter to someone. When you say “we” you aren’t talking about the people receiving the letter. If I write to you and say “we look forward to learning more about this situation” I’m talking about myself and whoever is with me. In this case Paul is clearly using “we” to talk about the apostles. When he says “you” he is talking about the believers receiving the letter- and by extension all of us reading it now. Paul is clearly indicating that it was predestined for him to be in the position he is in. He in now way hints that the receivers were predestined to be in their position. They heard and believed, not compelled.
Thank you very much Dr Flowers for this insightful explanation of the text. I've watched your other video on decalvinizing Romans 9, and I'm also equally edified by the insightful approach you took towards the text.
However, my dilemma now would be this: boiled down to the final analysis, is it my RESPONSE to the offer of salvation that "unlocks" salvation for me? If this is true, I can't help but to think it goes against Ephesians 2: 8 - 9 (8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can BOAST.)
If it is indeed (ultimately) my ability to response to God's offer of salvation, my justification to others when being asked why am I a Christian will definitely contain the following element: 1) I'm a sinner; 2) Christ died for my sins; 3) I CHOOSE to believe.
My argument to a non-calvinistic approach to soteriology would mainly be point 3., as I can't help but to think it gives a believer ground to boast, which is not what Ephesians 2:9 says. Perhaps you have address this issue as well in your other videos. If yes maybe someone could recommend me those videos too?
Thank you and have a blessed day
I am new to this channel. Point 3 is something I am unclear on as well.
I can understand your dilemma, truly. However, it is kind of the sinful, proud part of us that could ever consider that it was our response that saved us. And we all get that way from time to time! It's just as foolish as a man grabbing a person's hand to be pulled out of shark infested waters, at first being so very grateful, but as the years pass and the memory dulls he says, "You know it was really I who saved me because he couldn't have done it if I didn't reach out." No one ever says that while staring at the cross with tears in their eyes. It's only after you walk away and consider in our human hearts. We never ever say, "You know, maybe it's the Romans who really saved us because if they never killed Jesus we couldn't be saved." Or "Perhaps Mary saved me because she said yes to God and bore Jesus" We never say these things because it would be ridiculous. I find that when I am in deep worship and I consider the work on the cross, I don't find my heart won't dare give weight to my act accepting Jesus as thought THAT saved me, but rather my soul gives ALL glory to Jesus for dying. So the thought 'Did I actually myself because I accepted Jesus when others didn't?' is just another foolish thought that should be dismissed along with the other foolish thoughts the devil inspires :). That's how I see it anyways. Have a good day!
Great response, delleisha!
I would like to add by pointing out to tge original poster that in Ephesians 2:9 Paul contrasts works with faith, so we can conclude that faith is not a work. And I don't actually see the act of faith as the means by which God saved, but rather the prerequisite. God is not unable to save you unless you believe, like faith in itself has some power, but rather God said He already decided that He will extent His saving grace to those who will place their faith in Christ. Much like an university doesnt need anything to teach you, they are fully able, but yet they require a high school diploma as a prerequisite. That is their sovereign right and will.
In this same manner I see nothing wrong with God, as the Sovereign Creator God, to demand whatever He pleases. He couldve demanded many different things, but He couldnt have made it easier for us. We literally have to do nothing except believe that we can do nothing and Jesus did it all. It's a pretty sweet deal!
One can agree with both statements: that God can decide that whoever is in Him will be holy and blameless and that God chooses who will be in Him. Two issues that I see here: Holiness and blamelessness begin with justification as Christ's holiness and righteousness is imputed unto us. I agree that there is an element of sanctification (especially taking into account Rom. 8:28-29), but that does not take away justification from the process. Secondly, there is a constant repetition that God has not chosen who will join the team, but it seems that V. 5 is conveniently skipped as this point is being made. In that verse, we see that God predestined us for adoption to sonship. This is a privilege only given to those who believe (John 1:12). So the destination of sonship is set beforehand i.e. who joins the team.
The children of Israel are Gods elect and the gentiles have been predestined for the opportunity for salvation. For everyone it boils down to believing, loyalty.
I would love if you made a study bible lol just bought both your books on amazon excited to read them :)
There's a cheap Kindle book called The Arminian Bible Commentary. It compiles different commentary from Arminians on verses central to the debate. It's older writing, but I've found it useful, especially for the cost of a dollar. Also, Flowers' site has a list of resources. I don't know about Provisionist/Traditionalist Bible commentaries specifically, but I assume there will be a fair amount of overlap in interpretation with the Arminians.
The thing that frustrates me is that there’s a comma after “world.” There is no punctuation in Greek, so the translators put it there. This disrupts the passage because putting it after “World” means that the subject of those who are chosen in Christ is before the foundation of the world and not that the choice is to bring us to eternal life after we’ve chosen Christ to be holy and blameless.
A basic rule of Biblical interpretation is that you can't create contradictions by your interpretation.
If Leighton's interpretation of Ephesians 1 holds up, it can't introduce a contradiction in another passage that speaks to the same concept. Let's hop over to Paul's second epistle to the church at Thessalonica.
*2 Thessalonians 2:*
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the plain meaning of the text? God chose us from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Who chose us? _God did._
When did He choose us? _From the beginning._
For what were we chosen? _For salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth._
By what means did He do this? _He called you by our gospel._
Why? _For the obtaining of the the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ._
Who is "us" in this passage? _It is anyone who believes in the truth, the gospel; each and every Christian._
If Leighton's exegesis of Ephesians 1 is correct, then 2nd Thessalonians becomes contradictory. Both this passage and Ephesians 1 are explicitly about salvation. But Leighton brushes off the very plain wording of Ephesians 1 to say that God did not choose each individual that is a believer, and that He didn't do that individual choosing before the foundation of the world. In so doing, he runs into direct contradiction with 2nd Thessalonians.
Leighton also runs afoul of John 1, which is explicitly about Christ's saving work.
*John 1:*
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Who became children of God? _As many as received Him, those who believe in His name._
How did they become God's children? _Not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God._
Being born of God's will, being chosen by God, and being predestined for salvation are all cohesive statements; they work together to tell us what God has done. Interjecting human will as the ultimate sovereignty over an individual's salvation introduces obvious contradictions in the very plainly-worded texts in Ephesians, 2nd Thessalonians, and John.
God chose you, by His will! Isn't that great news? He chose you from the beginning! And since He chose you, He will never turn you away! (John 10:27-30)
God is holy, merciful, and good! His name alone is worthy of glory, and honor, and praise!
There is no contradiction. In both passages it says that, in the beginning, God choose to save those who respond to His gospel message.
So are you a Calvinist or not one? Because if you are, I was wondering where it says in the Bible that God creates some people he hates and to just send them to Hell. Because I am under the impression all Calvinist’s believe that and if you don’t that’s good to know but I’m just curious
@@MineStrongth So, God chooses you after you are already saved? That’s not what the text says. It tells us when God made His choice.
@@TheMaineSurveyor
Taylor Swift hosts a concert; tickets are sold out a month prior via Ticketmaster. During ticket purchase, fans are asked to complete a survey and provide the name of their favorite song.
On show night, ticket holders who provided "Lover" as the name of their favorite song were given VIP backstage passes by event staff. This is because, while planning the concert, Taylor decided to select individuals from her fans to gift a VIP pass. She determined that anyone who bought a ticket and picked the song "Lover" should receive the gift.
Taylor prior to the concert ticket sales choose fans for VIP access through Ticketmaster and a survey.
Taylor chose fans before the concert tickets went on sale. Each individual fan also made a choice which resulted in them receiving a free pass. Taylor didn't choose anyone after the fact, her decision was made long beforehand. Those who received a VIP pass were the "elect," those chosen from beforehand to receive a special gift.
This is not intended to be a direct analogy, but it serves to make relatable what the passage is describing concerning God's choice.
From the very start, God determined that everyone who would put their faith in Him should receive the gift of Salvation. And this gift would come through believing the truth and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. God categorically choose to save believers; he didn't choose individuals to force into belief.
@@Psawyer555 It is interesting that you equated God choosing some over others to Him hating them. Since God stands outside of time, we will never fully understand how He reconciles His foreknowledge with His sovereign or permissive wills. If He knows you are going to reject Him and burn in Hell, then wouldn't the loving thing be to use His Holy Spirit to just change your mind? God didn't create us to love or hate us. We were created with the specific purpose of praising and bringing glory to Him. His gift of salvation through Christ is due to His love for us ( John 3:16 ) . From before time, God knew we would sin and He always planned to send Himself in the form of the Son to pay the debt we all owe for that sin. Jesus was not plan B, Eph 1:7-10. It is also hard to hear sometimes, but God created us to serve Him and bring Him pleasure and glory and honor. Romans 9:21. The potter has the right to do whatever He wishes with the lump of clay. God can choose or not choose, hardened or soften whose ever heart He wants. Read Job 38-42 to see God's response to a a righteous man questioning His motives.
Christ alone is our righteousness. It is put into my account and not infused into me. If God had not determined this I would be lost.
Then where does our faith come from? Do we generate faith by ourselves? By no means, it is given to us by the Father. Salvation is a free gift, therefore we cannot choose salvation because if it was up to our own accord we would be giving ourselves glory instead of God. You did nothing to deserve salvation just as it says in Romans: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by HIS grace as a GIFT ." A gift isn't something you choose a gift is given, also we see we are justified by His grace not by giving ourselves grace. Jesus also says Himself in John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." Jesus is saying no one can choose Him unless God the Father Draws us.
Thank you for all you're doing.
Thank you this is an excellent teaching 😊
God’s good pleasure is the body of Christ. Pleasure involves a body. Pleasure means gratify the body. Gratify means to please and satisfy. Please means to cause a good feeling. Satisfy means to pacify by contentment. Pacify means to bring peace to something that is not at peace. Peace means free from disturbance. Content means the expectations of or the needs, wants, desires have been met
okay can someone explain verse 4 when the bible clearly say he chose before the creation of the world?
Great video! Thank you!
Spelling Mistake 4:28 minutes in he's written "in Christ though faith" think it should be "through" faith
Same thing happens at 6:15...not trying to be picky...GREAT video.
It appears to me there is a shift between “those who first believed” in verses 3-12 and “you also” in verse 13 that appears to refer to the Gentiles. Is there a reason in the Greek this would not be the case? This pattern continues through Chapter 4 back and forth between we (us), and you.
Elise Fowler God’s plan is not confined to the Jews: in whom also you, having heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. In the case of the Gentiles also, as Paul here shows in addressing the Ephesian congregation, which consisted largely of Gentile Christians, God’s eternal purpose was realized. They have been brought to faith in Christ by accepting the Word of Truth, the message which testifies of the divine truth, the Gospel which tells them of the salvation gained by the Savior. In this way they have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. When working faith, the Holy Ghost comes into the heart of man, dwells in him, becomes a seal of his faith, gives him the divine certainty that he belongs to God and will remain His own in time and eternity. Preservation in the true faith is a work of the Holy Ghost, who, as Luther has it, called us by the Gospel, enlightened us with His gifts, sanctified and kept us in the true faith.
The result therefore is: Who is the earnest of our inheritance for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory. In Christ we have the redemption in His blood, the forgiveness of sins. This fact the Holy Spirit has impressed upon us by faith. And therefore He Himself is our earnest-money, our guarantee and assurance, that our final redemption from all evils of body and soul, of property and honor, will come, that we, the redeemed of the Lord, His own peculiar people, shall enter upon the possession and enjoyment of our inheritance in heaven. And with this consummation of our hopes the praise of the glory of God will also reach the state of perfection; then we shall exalt Him and all that He has done for us, world without end. Note: The election of grace always refers to the entire plan of God with reference to the chosen. It is not an absolute decree, but was made in Christ and is founded in the divine promises. Its acceptance is done by the certainty of faith.
Elise Fowler provided a nugget of truth and you two trampled on it. She's correct. There are two groups of believers in Eph 1 just as there are two groups of believers in Jn 17. Yes, they come together but they are distinct at first because some things pertained to the "first" group before the second group was included.
Excellent explanation!
This makes a lot of sense actually...
This makes perfect sense!
I gave it a shot, because I simply want to believe and know the Truth for His glory and do NOT claim any 'ist' doctrine. But, alas, while it all made a lot of sense, the end is what killed it for me. "It is YOUR responsibility". I do greatly appreciate your insight though, sir. Exegesis is the only way to study the Bible, and you demonstrated it beautifully. Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ to you.
That’s really interesting, I would call myself a Calvinist, I do believe that God is sovereign over every aspect of salvation, the biggest, sticking point that I have with this passage is the concept of adoption. My take on it so far up until now has been that adoption is dependent in no way on the child being adopted, it’s entirely dependent on the parent doing the adopting, and therefore, I concluded from this passage, quite definitively, that we have nothing to do with our salvation. But to cross reference it with Romans 823, which is written by the same author, adoption appears to be understood, as some thing that we are awaiting, that it has not happened yet. Am I getting that right? Because if that is true, then I need to rethink my understanding of what adoption means.
How about this angle on Ephesians 1?
In vv. 1-12 Paul speaks of 'we', referring to the Apostles. They were 'predestined' (v.5) and became the 'first to hope in Christ' (v.12). So the pull upon the Apostles was so powerful, they had no choice but to become of Christ.
Then in vv. 13, he addresses 'you', the Ephesians, who believed the gospel that the Apostles, the pre-destined ones, preached to them.
So we have two groups, the Apostles, the chosen ones and regular Christians, those who believed the gospel.
Thanks, :)
Ed
M an open minded calvinist.. I agree that Predestination is a real problem if you take the non elect into account.
But The non calvinistic predestination explanation is so weak that it's unconvincing especially when you read the old testament and see gods abolute sovereignty over all things ..
What does sovereignty mean to you? Total control or total power? Does sovereignty have to mean someone meticulously dictates everything? If a owner of a company is considered to be sovereign over his business, can that only be true if he controls and dictates every single decision of every employee? I dont see any real evidence in the Bible that OT believers thought God to be sovereign in this way. Just the fact that they made sacrifices for their sins showed they understood their part in their unrighteousness. If they thought God ultimately caused them to sin by His determination of all things, then I would suspect there would have been some resistance to sin offerings. I do believe they believed, as we should believe, that God has the final say and He has power over all things.
I think that if we ask ourselves why did Jesus have to die,Why didnt God just save people, we might better understand predestination.
As I understand it God created the first humans to walk with Him. He gave them choices and dominion over the earth. They disobeyed Him and sin entered into the world,it already existed outside of the world, which caused God to curse creation. One effect of the curse is our sin nature we inherited from Adam, which causes us to inevitably sin and be seperated from God. Before the law people relied on their conscience and God judged them according to their own understanding of right and wrong, but no one went to heaven when they died, as sins were never forgiven in the true eternal sense, how could it without just punishment? When God gave the law stuff changed a little and there were a set of rules that they had to obey, but no one could just be forgiven and sacrifices were needed to cover sins, and even then it was only a temporary remission. And even when a saint died, they didnt go to heaven, they went to Abrahams Bossom. Sins literally brought a seperation between them and God.
Fast foward to Jesus.
Now obviously God was fully aware of our dilema. No way could we get to heaven as there is no place for a sinner in heaven. And no one was without sin. And since God already knew how all of it would play out, He predetermined a plan, and that plan was Jesus. Someone had to make a way for us to be with God in Heaven when we die. And we had to become sinless. Only way was for someone to be sinless, keep the law perfectly and then pay for all the sins of all mankind past, present and future. And we know that only Jesus could ever be that Someone.
Ok, so know God had the plan, but how does He apply it to us? Can we say when Jesus died all people were saved? Surely we can agree that is not so. In order for God to impute the righteouness of Jesus to our account, effectively making us the righteouness of Christ in His sight, He decided that faith would be the means by which He placed us IN Christ.
He said here is a gift aka Salvation. It is free and even the best things you can think of to do will never he good enough to earn it, but believe that what is said about Jesus is true and I will give it to you. I will baptize you into the Body of Christ and you will be holy and blameless in My sight. And I have already predetermined that whomsoever believes will receive eternal life. They will be justified, sanctified and ultimately glorified.
All of this relies on God's foreknowledge of events. God cannot predestine anything if He doesnt know all things, and Romans 8 is pretty clear on the order. For those He foreknew, He predestined...
So even if you dont believe a single thing I said, i just want you to take away that Calvanism isnt the only reasonable understanding of predestination.
We can never say God doesnt know who will and will not respond to the gospel bc we have free will. Foreknowledge doesnt require determinism. God can know all things without Him determining all things. He can work all things for His purpose without controling all things because He has complete foreknowledge. Imagine what you could accomplish of you had foreknowledge of every person's choices around you. Wouldnt you be able to streamline your life? Now just imagine what God can do with His foreknowledge...He can bring about the salvation of those who would have been otherwise seperated from Him after death, and He did! All the glory to God for this gracious predetermined plan of salvation to all whom are in Christ through faith.
Excellent presentation
Love the airplane analogy
Excellent analysis of Ephesians 1. I like to keep it to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Abraham believed in God, and it was accredited him the righteousness. Also Acts 19:4 makes it clear what repentance John the Baptist was preaching, and the apostle Paul said that it was telling the people to believe in Jesus. Great work on Ephesians 1.
This only makes sense if you’re looking at it through a lens which doesn’t account for tota scriptura.
That said, I enjoy Leighton as a brother. I look forward to spending eternity with Dr. Flowers in heaven!
In my experience, it is so hard for my calvinist brothers/sisters to understand this. I know once it clicks, it clicks like a chemistry equation but I think the issue is the conflation of faith and grace in their minds. Being faithful in Him = adoption, salvation, etc (if he’s chosen us to be saved, he’s chosen us to be faithful). It’s near impossible for me to aid in them mentally separating the two. Where as I understand it, my faith in Christ leads to adoption, salvation, etc. I’d even throw a < symbol up there instead of =. Just rambling.
Very simple and concise! Well presented.
What about the "before the creation of the world"? Thank you, Leighton!
God determined before the foundation of the world that he would do all these things for anyone who believes in Christ. But he didn't determine who would believe.
@@glurp1 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him”
I think this pretty clearly states that the only way we come to saving faith is by something done by the Father to us, not by us believing on our own. We all would reject God if we had the chance but by His grace He called some, that is what Calvinists believe.
@@carterborgelt6713 The passages on this topic in John relate to the current hardening during his ministry before the crucifixion and resurrection. After these things, he would draw all people to himself, as he says in chapter 12. Many of the same people who were blinded during Jesus' ministry would become saved later. Also, those who did not know the Father would not recognize Jesus because they relied on works, not faith. After Jesus' ministry, the hardening of unbelieving Jews was meant to save more gentiles AND bring the Jews themselves to faith, as mentioned in Romans 11. Scripture never states that people can't generally respond to the Gospel. They don't seek God, but they can respond.
@@carterborgelt6713 And who was brought to Christ by the Father? John 6:45 "those who have listened and learned from the Father". Which makes reference to the Israelites whom learned from the Prophets, which would then recognize the things the Father taught before but from Jesus. Those who didn't learn from the Prophets and instead rejected and stoned them, were not taken or did not recognize the Son for His teachings were unrecognizable.
@@monkizaki1440 I think that that theory of who would accept the Son or reject Him can be disproven by John 4, where the Samaritan woman had the dialogue with Jesus.
Is there a change in who is being addressed once we hit verse 13? It goes from “we” to “you.” Was wondering if before v 13 this was about possibly Jewish believers, or about the apostles, then the verses after 12 becomes about the Ephesians? Any help or insights appreciated! Trying to make sense of the pronouns. Thanks in advance.
Anyone ever notice that Dr. Flowers has basically made it his life goal to stomp on a particular flower?
You’re doing a very good job btw, to the degree that the calvinists now use as a rebuttal to our points as “you can’t think for yourself so you just quote Leighton Flowers” Lol
Ok. So I'm thinking deeply about the Calvinism vs Armenianism debate. According to Ephesians 2, we are dead in our trespasses and sins.
*And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.*
_Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV_
According to the text, salvation is purely wrought by God. If you're dead, you couldn't possibly react to anything, right? God does the life-giving. That's why we can never boast about our salvation. It's 100% a work of God. *He* gives us life.
Am I wrong about this text?
Yup you got it right! As Charles Spurgeon wrote "If anyone should ask me what I mean by a Calvinist, I should reply, He is one who says 'salvation is of the Lord'. I cannot find in scripture any other doctrine than this." The modern idea that we can be brought to Christ without the help of the Holy Spirit is truly disheartening.
@@AtHomeInvesting There are these two verses that I believe point to God's sovereignty in salvation.
*All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.*
_Matthew 11:27 NKJV_
*And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”*
_John 6:65 NKJV_
Who believes we can be brought to Christ without the help of the Holy Spirit? Surely you cannot believe that is what non calvanist and calvanist disagree on? Of course we believe the Holy Spirit brings us to God. That is literally His job. To convict the world aka us of sin, Righteousness and judgement. It is when we hear the word of truth and believe it, that we are sealed aka regenerated. How can we believe unless we are convicted of the truth of the gospel? That we are sinners in need of a saviour. That surely doesnt have to mean we dont have a responsibility to respond in faith. We have a responsibility that is why it is just for God to punish those who do not take responsibility.
God determined that faith be the means by which He saves, those who are saved chose to comply with His demands. It's not a work, it is a conviction, given by the Holy Spirit. No one can take credit for a conviction, that is just silly.
Nailed it!
This is excellent and I also think it important to mention that God being outside of time and knowing your beginning from your end knew what your decision would be using your free-will before you were even born!
There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
Romans 3:11
He knew your choice before you were born and He made you anyway.
@@guillermodominguez8643 if that was really what the text meant, then there wouldn’t be any Christian’s. I think calvinists fail to understand how God makes known his existence throughout the world which is also mentioned in the Bible so therefore it also says in the Bible whomever the Lord sends the Holy Spirit to intervene in a person’s life, they will either believe or not but the simple fact is that the Lord gives everyone a chance at salvation and I don’t know why calvinists would believe God wanted and created people just to go to Hell. It’s not biblically sound. There would be numerous verses about that if it was true but it’s not. And how calvinists say that Christ didn’t die for everyone’s sins because then that would mean that Jesus died for people that are going to Hell which mean the atonement wasn’t enough which is just confusing to the most genuine believers in Christ it causes division and causes “one of these little ones” to stumble which is very bad according to scripture. Bottom line is, scripture can’t contradict other scriptures so Christ atonement was unlimited for anyone whom will believe which God doesn’t show favoritism and it also says in Ezekiel how God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked which would mean he doesn’t just create people to burn for an eternity while he chose some to be saved…it’s so sad how Calvinists try to make scripture say something that is almost blasphemous in nature such as Jesus didn’t die for everyone’s sins I mean John 3:16 clearly says He did idk how Calvinists still try to justify their doctrine when scripture flat out says what it means…it’s almost like they are just as bad as the false teachers that say LGBT is not a sin…I wonder if they’ll ever realize the error too
Revelation 1:4 Unto Him, that loved Us, and washed Us from our sins, in His Own Blood!
Excellent Pastor Leighton. I only wished you had emphasized “the plan of Him who works out everything” V11 - which only supports your explanation even more! This is such a great video
Calvinism does but make God a moral monster. People today have a sense that they are entitled to forgiveness or mercy or salvation. If God sentenced the entire human race to damnation and sent no messiah then so be it. He would have been perfectly just doing so BECAUSE we are wicked. The fact that sentencing the entire human to damnation would be considered by definition a just and good act, should not provoke you to think God is Injust, but should highlight our depravity.
Who are you Oh mere man to say there is injustice with God!!!
Could it be that Eph 1:3-11 is Paul's way of introducing his Apostolic authority and that the "us" is in reference to the Apostles? It's unlikely that "the mystery of his will..." in 9 was made known to all the believers in Ephesus (see Eph 3:2-3.) Also, "the first to put our hope in Christ..." doesn't seem to mean the church but the Apostles. Finally, in 13 "And you also were included in Christ when..." seems to mean that he is now speaking to the church. If you read his other epistles, you get the same formula of first establishing Apostolic authority and then addressing the church. See Rom 1:5-6. Lastly, the earliest manuscripts don't include "To God's holy people in Ephesus" which leads most scholars to say that this is a general letter to the churches in the region thus prompting Paul to establish authority. Just an honest question...Thanks for your ministry.
So what about " many are called by few are chosen" . At face value it means many are rejected. Like who? The called who respond, ugly people, etc. Who are the ones not " chosen" ?
Paul is clearly writing specifically to the faithful Ephesians, not to all believers or believers to come. So when he’s uses the word “us” it’s not to “whoever is in Christ” its specifically referring to Paul and the faithful in Ephesus. Based off that, I don’t think this interpretation stands strong. Tell me what y’all think.