We are His workmanship

[Hammster]

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

If God hasn't prepared good works for those He knows won't believe, how can it be said that the offer of salvation is legitimate?

 

[AndOne]

I'm not sure I know the answer to that one - or maybe I don't understand the question.

 

[Hammster]

It's the type of argument that some of our brothers make. They'll take a verse and read so much into it, even things that are in view, and then run with it until you can't make heads or tails of it. Like saying that God loves everyone and died for everyone (see John 3:16). So I figured I give it a shot.

So, if God loves everyone the same, and died for everyone, why didn't He prepare good works for everyone, just in case they exercised their free will and did something different?

 

[Skala]

Just add that to the list of questions I have for Arminians, that they can't answer.

 

[AndOne]

Just add that to the list of questions I have for Arminians, that they can't answer.

Same here - the lack of response from them here is telling...

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

It's the type of argument that some of our brothers make. They'll take a verse and read so much into it, even things that are in view, and then run with it until you can't make heads or tails of it. Like saying that God loves everyone and died for everyone (see John 3:16). So I figured I give it a shot.

So, if God loves everyone the same, and died for everyone, why didn't He prepare good works for everyone, just in case they exercised their free will and did something different?

here's 2 answers , both , well...

1) He did. (then if they turn to believe in Yahshua, they have their job/good works all set out scheduled to do.

2) He prepared for every man what the man worked for. Since He knew before creating earth what every man would do and think and smell,
He is certainly well able to create exactly what each man deserves, at His Good Pleasure and in Perfect Justice.

 

[EmSw]

It's the type of argument that some of our brothers make. They'll take a verse and read so much into it, even things that are in view, and then run with it until you can't make heads or tails of it. Like saying that God loves everyone and died for everyone (see John 3:16). So I figured I give it a shot.

So, if God loves everyone the same, and died for everyone, why didn't He prepare good works for everyone, just in case they exercised their free will and did something different?

Still doesn't make any sense.

Do you not know an unbeliever can choose between adultery or fidelity?

Do you not know an unbeliever can choose between honesty and deceit?

 

[Hammster]

Still doesn't make any sense.

Do you not know an unbeliever can choose between adultery or fidelity?

Do you not know an unbeliever can choose between honesty and deceit?

Thanks for your completely unrelated response.

 

[EmSw]

Thanks for your completely unrelated response.

Do you even know what you are trying to say?

Have you gone to God in genuine prayer and asked for the answer?

 

[Hammster]

Do you even know what you are trying to say?

Have you gone to God in genuine prayer and asked for the answer?

I know what the answer is.

 

[EmSw]

I know what the answer is.

Then why are you asking?

 

[sdowney717]

Paul begins in chapter 2 with this
Eph 2:1

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins

And ends with this

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

So obviously, God creates good works beforehand only for those predestined by Him to know Him.

Which is what Paul tells us about in Ephesians chapter 1.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

So then it is His choice, and what he wanted to do He did and does.

Paul is not writing any of this letter of teaching to unbelievers. They are not and never will have any salvation and will die in their sins because they do not believe in Jesus, who is the express image of God, they are not sealed by the Holy Spirit destined for salvation. They simply get wrath.

Their destruction is due to their refusal to love the TRUTH, they take pleasure in sin and they follow and worship the beast, Satan and not Jesus the Creator of all the ages and worlds.

For the lost ones of the world, this is their fate. God holds them accountable personally, as it also says in Romans 1, they choose to believe the lie and so their deception reaches and foretells an ever more terrible destiny.

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.