Ephesians 2
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Made Alive in Christ
2 And you [a]were dead [b]in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the [c]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, [d]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the [e]mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead [f]in our transgressions, made us alive together [g]with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [h]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
I made an assumption that most of us have read Ephesians 2:1-10. If not, I quote it above. The illusion of free will is what we see from our perspective. James wrote from this perspective in his letter. Paul is writing from God's perspective showing God's sovereignty to us. He even prepared the good works we are to do before the foundation of the world. Paul didn't write this to prove free will or choice, and neither did James. For if free will good works exist that could lead to salvation, we could save ourselves without grace.
Upvote
0
