tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714467202914835968.post4679275778971034206..comments2023-06-30T04:16:00.076-07:00Comments on Equipping Catholics -- An Online Bible Study: Ephesians 1:4-5Rich Maffeohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499633873603333492noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714467202914835968.post-16053767672357646412010-03-10T13:57:09.148-08:002010-03-10T13:57:09.148-08:00Anonymous asks a good question . . . the same ques...Anonymous asks a good question . . . the same question that has been asked for thousands of years. John Calvin articulated the position in his century . . . but in our day R. C. Sproul also takes the position of predestination to similar degree as Calvin.<br /><br />Which, by the way, is one major reason I so appreciate the Lord Jesus having given the authority of authentic interpretation of Scripture to the Church through Peter (see Matthew 16:16-18 and 1 Timothy 3:15). So, when good questions such as this come up, questions about which godly theologians have debated for milennia, I go to the Church leadership in Rome -- Peter's successor and the Church Council (the Magisterium) for direction. In this case I find these paragraphs:<br /><br /><br /><br />(599) Jesus' violent death was not the result of chance in an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, but is part of the mystery of God's plan, as St. Peter explains to the Jews of Jerusalem in his first sermon on Pentecost: "This Jesus [was] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God." This Biblical language does not mean that those who handed him over were merely passive players in a scenario written in advance by God. <br /><br />(600) To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of "predestination", he includes in it each person's free response to his grace: "In this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness.<br /><br />"He died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures" <br /><br />Hope that at least somewhat answers your question.<br /><br />richRich Maffeohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07499633873603333492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714467202914835968.post-8061462665321617232010-03-10T12:35:54.822-08:002010-03-10T12:35:54.822-08:00Does not this passage have a meaning of predestina...Does not this passage have a meaning of predestination? God already knows the outcome of all events given He is 'timeless'. Does that not strip free will from us? How is one to justify humanity in its current form of free will and thought yet know that He has already predetermined where our soul is to proceed in the afterlife?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714467202914835968.post-1772396921208668902009-04-05T20:20:00.000-07:002009-04-05T20:20:00.000-07:00I consider this blog a true gift from God.It comes...I consider this blog a true gift from God.It comes just as I've been searching for a way to dedicate part of each day to prayer. I needed a vehicle to guide me and I've bookmarked this site to do just that. Thank you Rich for all you do in helping those of us who lag behind you in this journey of life.heidinoreply@blogger.com