No, worshiping God in vain is exactly that, worshiping HIM in vain, NOT worshiping a false god. That assertion on your part is eisegesis; you're groping. In both Mat. 15:9 and Mk. 7:7 Christ is quoting Isa. 29:13; what saith the Scriptures?
Isa. 29:13: ""Wherefore THE LORD said, Forasmuch as this people draw near ME with their mouth, and with their lips do honour ME, but have removed their heart far from ME, and their fear toward ME is taught by the precept of men."
Mat. 15:9: "But IN VAIN they do worship (σέβω) ME, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Mk. 7:7: "Howbeit IN VAIN do they worship (σέβω) ME, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Acts 16:14: " And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped (σέβω) GOD, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."
Again, you're evading. Your argument is predicated on Lydia's having been saved before Acts 16:14, that because she worshiped (σέβω) God, that that proves she was a believer. What saith the Scriptures?
Mt. 15:9: "But IN VAIN they do worship (σέβω) me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Mk. 7:7: "Howbeit IN VAIN do they worship (σέβω) me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Jn. 8:43, 47: "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot HEAR (ἀκούω) my word. He that is of God HEARETH (ἀκούω) God's words: ye therefore HEAR (ἀκούω) them not, because ye are not of God."
Jn. 1:13: "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, but of God."
II Cor. 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new CREATURE (κτίσις, "CREATION"): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Acts 13:48: "And when the Gentiles HEARD THIS (ἀκούω), they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and AS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED to eternal life BELIEVED."
Mk. 4:9: "And he said unto them, He that hath ears TO HEAR (ἀκούω), LET HIM HEAR (ἀκούω)."
Jn. 6:44-45: "No man CAN (δύναμαι) come to me, except the Father which hath sent me DRAW (ἕλκω) him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore THAT HATH HEARD (ἀκούω), and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."
Acts 16:14: "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped (σέβω) God, HEARD (ἀκούω) us: whose heart THE LORD opened (διανοίγω, "to open thoroughly"), THAT SHE ATTENDED (προσέχω) unto the things which were spoken of Paul."
Your position is that Lydia was saved before Acts 16:14, that because she worshiped (σέβω) God, that that worship proves she was a believer; the Word of God says that is NOT SO. And no, Paul didn't say anything there at all; Luke wrote the Book of Acts.
God opened (διανοίγω) her heart, He regenerated her, thus producing the effectual response (προσέχω) to the Gospel, faith and repentance; such was the case in Acts 13:48. Lydia was baptized immediately, showing that this was her salvation experience, just as the Philippian jailor was baptized immediately upon his salvation experience (Acts 16:30-33). You wrote, "God has His part of opening. She has her part in accepting." That comment shows Arminianism to be the man-centered theology, the HERESY, that it is.
You still deny total inability? Again, the Greek word δύναμαι, "to be able", is found in Jn. 3:27, Jn. 6:44, and Jn. 6:65. What saith the Scriptures?
Jn. 3:27 (George Ricker Berry Interlinear Greek-English New Testament translation): "A man IS ABLE to receive NOTHING unless it be given to him from the heaven."
Jn. 3:27 (Young's Literal Translation): "A man IS NOT ABLE to receive ANYTHING, if it may not have been given him from the heaven."
Jn. 3:27 (Philip W. Comfort New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament): "A man IS NOT ABLE to receive ANYTHING unless it has been given to him from Heaven."
Jn. 6:44 (George Ricker Berry Interlinear Greek-English New Testament translation): "NO one IS ABLE to come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise up him at the last day."
Jn. 6:44 (Young's Literal Translation): "NO one IS ABLE to come unto me, if the Father who sent me may not draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day."
Jn. 6:44 (Philip W. Comfort New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament): "NO one IS ABLE to come to me unless the Father having sent me should draw him, and I will raise up him in the last day."
Jn. 6:65 (George Ricker Berry Interlinear Greek-English New Testament translation): "NO one IS ABLE to come to me unless it be given to him from my Father."
Jn. 6:65 (Young's Literal Translation): "NO one IS ABLE to come unto me, if it may not have been given him from my Father."
Jn. 6:65: (Philip W. Comfort New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament): "NO one IS ABLE to come to me unless it has been given to him from the Father."
You still say there are no verses for total depravity or irresistible grace? What saith the Scriptures?
Jer. 13:23: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? THEN MAY YE ALSO DO GOOD, that are accustomed to do evil."
Jer. 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately WICKED: who can know it?"
Psa. 9:17: "The wicked shall be turned into HELL...."
Psa. 10:4: "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in ALL HIS THOUGHTS."
"Psa. 58:3: "The wicked are estranged FROM THE WOMB: they go astray AS SOON AS THEY BE BORN, speaking lies."
Eph. 2:1-3: "And you hath he quickened, who were DEAD in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were BY NATURE the children of wrath, even as others."
Job 15:16: "How much more ABOMINABLE and FILTHY is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"
Isa. 1:5-6: "The WHOLE head is sick, and the WHOLE heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is NO soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
Isa. 64:6: "But we are ALL as an UNCLEAN THING, and ALL our RIGHTEOUSNESSES are as FILTHY RAGS."
Rom. 3:10-11: "As it is written, There is none RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understandeth (συνίημι), there is NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD."
Mat. 16:16-17: "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for FLESH AND BLOOD HATH NOT REVEALED IT UNTO THEE, BUT MY FATHER which is in heaven."
Jn. 6:44: "NO man CAN come to me, EXCEPT the Father which hath sent me DRAW (ἕλκω) him."
Jn. 18:10: "Then Simon Peter having a sword DREW (ἕλκω) it...."
Jn. 21:6: "They cast therefore, and now they were not able TO DRAW (ἕλκω) it for the multitude of fishes."
Acts 21:30: "And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and DREW (ἕλκω) him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut."
Eze. 36:26-27: "A NEW HEART also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the STONY HEART out of your flesh, and I will give you an HEART OF FLESH. And I will put my spirit within you, and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."
Acts 16:14: "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart THE LORD opened, THAT SHE ATTENDED(προσέχω)unto the things which were spoken of Paul."
Jn. 3:27: "A man can receive NOTHING, except it be GIVEN (δίδωμι) him from heaven."
Jn. 6:65: "NO MAN can come unto me, except it were GIVEN (δίδωμι) unto him of my Father."
Acts 11:18: "Then HATH GOD...GRANTED (δίδωμι) REPENTANCE unto life."
Acts 13:48: "And AS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED to eternal life believed."
II Tim. 2:25: "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if GOD...WILL GIVE (δίδωμι)...REPENTANCE to the acknowledging of the truth."
"What love is this?", you ask? What saith the Scriptures?
Rom. 9:16-22: "So then IT IS NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH, NOR OF HIM THAT RUNNETH, BUT OF GOD THAT SHEWETH MERCY. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore HATH HE MERCY ON WHOM HE WILL HAVE MERCY, and WHOM HE WILL HE HARDENETH. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O MAN, WHO ART THOU THAT REPLIEST AGAINST GOD? SHALL THE THING FORMED SAY TO HIM THAT FORMED IT, WHY HAST THOU MADE ME THUS? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, WILLING TO SHEW HIS WRATH, AND TO MAKE HIS POWER KNOWN, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath FITTED TO DESTRUCTION."
Again, Dr. A.T. Robertson, the greatest Koine Greek scholar of modern times, says that "fitted to destruction" is in the PASSIVE VOICE, which means that the subject is being ACTED UPON, and has NOTHING to do with the action, other than being on the receiving end of it.
Again, John Piper is NOT the authority; the Scriptures are. NEVER ONCE in the Exodus narrative is it said that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened apart from GOD'S hardening it. As the Hebrew shows, He hardened it by LEAVING IT IN ITS NATURAL STATE, that of a wicked, evil, totally depraved sinner, for what saith the Scriptures?
Dan. 4:35: "And ALL the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as NOTHING: and HE DOETH ACCORDING TO HIS WILL in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and NONE CAN STAY HIS HAND, or say unto him, What doest thou?"
Ex. 3:19: "And I AM SURE that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand."
Ex. 4:21: "And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I WILL HARDEN HIS HEART, that he shall not let the people go."
Ex. 9:17: "And in very deed FOR THIS CAUSE have I raised thee up, for TO SHEW IN THEE MY POWER; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth."
Rom. 9:22: "What if God, WILLING TO SHEW HIS WRATH, AND TO MAKE HIS POWER KNOWN, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath FITTED TO DESTRUCTION."
Ex. 7:14: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is HARDENED (Heb. "kabed") he refuseth to let the people go."
Ex. 17:12: "But Moses' hands were HEAVY (Heb. "kabed")."
Ex. 18:18: "Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too HEAVY (Heb. "kabed") for thee."
Num. 11:14: "I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too HEAVY (Heb. "kabed") for me."
I Kgs. 12:4: "Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his HEAVY (Heb. "kabed") yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee."
Psa. 38:4: "For mine INIQUITIES are gone over mine head: as an HEAVY (Heb. "kabed") burden they are too heavy for me."
Isa. 1:4: "Ah sinful nation, a people LADEN (Heb. "kabed") WITH INIQUITY..."
You dare to question God's holiness and justice in His sovereign foreordination of sin? What saith the Scriptures?
I Jn. 1:5: "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
Jos. 11:20: "For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses."
I Sam. 16:23: " And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him."
II Sam. 16:8-11: "The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him."
I Kgs. 22:23: "Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee."
II Kgs. 24:2-3: "And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets. Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did."
II Chr. 33:11: "Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon."
II Chr. 36:16-17: "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand."
Isa. 5:25-29: "Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind: Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it."
Isa. 10:5-7, 15: "O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood."
Isa. 29:16: "Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?"
Jer. 25:9-12: "Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations."
Lam. 1:17: "Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them."
Amos 9:9: "For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth."
Isa. 53:4: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
Lk. 22:22: "And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!"
Acts 2:23: "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain."
Acts 3:18: "But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled."
Acts 4:27-28: "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."
Acts 19:9: "But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus."
I Pet. 2:8: "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."
Rev. 17:17: "For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled."
Again, unregenerate people can do charitable things, but what saith the Scriptures?
Isa. 64:6: "But we are ALL as an UNCLEAN THING, and ALL our RIGHTEOUSNESSES are as FILTHY RAGS."
Tit. 1:15-16: "Unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK REPROBATE."
Again, the "filthy rags" in Isa. 64:6 are MENSTRUAL RAGS, what we would call today a SOILED TAMPON. That's the BEST man can do apart from God's grace!
No, Jesus died for the elect only, securing our salvation at Calvary. Again, "all" in II Cor. 5:14-17 refers to God's elect, for what saith the Scriptures?
II Cor. 5:14-17: "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one DIED FOR ALL, then were ALL dead: And that he DIED FOR ALL, that THEY WHICH LIVE should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which DIED FOR THEM, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know WE no man after the flesh: yea, though WE have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know WE him no more. Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Jn. 10:11, 15: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for THE SHEEP. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for THE SHEEP."
Eph. 5:25-28: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved THE CHURCH, and gave himself for IT; That HE MIGHT SANCTIFY (ἁγιάζω) and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
Heb. 2:9-17: ""But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for EVERY MAN. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many SONS unto glory, to make the captain of THEIR salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and THEY WHO ARE SANCTIFIED(ἁγιάζω) are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them BRETHREN, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my BRETHREN, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the CHILDREN which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the CHILDREN are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his BRETHREN, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."
Heb. 10:14: "For by one offering HE HATH PERFECTED (τελειόω) for ever THEM THAT ARE SANCTIFIED (ἁγιάζω)."
I Pet. 1:2: "ELECT according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through SANCTIFICATION (ἁγιασμός) of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
In Rom. 5:15 Paul changes the object of his discussion to BELIEVERS, for what saith the Scriptures (Rom. 5:15-19)?
"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto MANY. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more THEY WHICH RECEIVE ABUNDANCE OF GRACE AND OF THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be MADE RIGHTEOUS."
How do the Scriptures, a JEWISH Book, define the term "all men" in Rom. 5:18 and I Tim. 2:4? How do they define "all" in I Tim. 2:6? What saith the Scriptures?
Acts 9:15: "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before THE GENTILES, and KINGS, and THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL."
Acts 22:15: "For thou shalt be his witness unto ALL MEN of what thou hast seen and heard."
Rom. 2:9-11: "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of THE GENTILE; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to THE GENTILE: For there is NO RESPECT OF PERSONS with God."
Rom. 10:12: "For there is no difference between the Jew and the GREEK: for the same Lord over ALL is rich unto all that call upon him."
I Tim. 2:1-7: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL MEN; For KINGS, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, TO BE TESTIFIED IN DUE TIME. WHEREUNTO I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of THE GENTILES in faith and verity."
Who repents and believes? What saith the Scriptures?
Mat. 16:16-17: "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for FLESH AND BLOOD HATH NOT REVEALED IT UNTO THEE, BUT MY FATHER which is in heaven."
Jn. 3:27: "A man can receive NOTHING, except it be GIVEN (δίδωμι) him from heaven."
Jn. 6:65: "NO MAN can come unto me, except it were GIVEN (δίδωμι) unto him of my Father."
Acts 11:18: "Then HATH GOD...GRANTED (δίδωμι) REPENTANCE unto life."
II Tim. 2:25: "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if GOD...WILL GIVE (δίδωμι)...REPENTANCE to the acknowledging of the truth."
Acts 13:48: "And AS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED to eternal life BELIEVED."
Dr. A.T. Robertson, the greatest Koine Greek scholar of modern times, says that Acts 13:48b is in the PASSIVE VOICE, which means that the subject is being ACTED UPON, and has NOTHING to do with the action, other than being on the receiving end of it.
You continue to try to understand God completely, to deny reprobation because it makes no sense to the carnal mind, your mind. What saith the Scripture (Isa. 55:9)? "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
You wrote, "I am glad I don't have to spend eternity in the New City with any Calvinists. That would be Hell." Again, be careful what you wish for, Arminian; God may give it to you.
The Greek word in Heb. 10:39 is ὑποστολή, a different word than is used in John chapter 6. You wrote, "All that are given in verse 37 do come, but it doesn't say all that are drawn come." You are WRONG, your logic is faulty; ALL those who COME are DRAWN by God irresistibly, and they are ELECT, SAVED, for what saith the Scriptures?
Jn. 6:37: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and HIM THAT COMETH (ἔρχομαι) to me I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT."
Jn. 6:44: "No man can COME (ἔρχομαι) to me, except the Father which hath sent me DRAW (ἕλκω) him: and I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY."
All those who come (ἔρχομαι) are drawn (ἕλκω), and they all are raised up at the last day, SAVED, ELECT.
I am not a King James Only advocate, I merely pointed out that both ᾅδης and γέεννα are translated as "hell" in the King James Bible. They are both places of TORMENT (Lk. 16:23, Mk. 9:43) for the reprobate, and one day ᾅδης will be thrown into γέεννα (Rev. 20:14).
No, sir, that IS the issue. The Greek has shown your Arminian FALSE DOCTRINE to be the HERESY that it is; THAT is why you downplay it. You never responded to the Berry, Young, and Comfort translations of Jn. 3:27, Jn. 6:44, and Jn. 6:65, because they prove total inability.
No, sir, you are NOT an apostle; for you to claim that sacred office is proud, arrogant, and UNSCRIPTURAL. Paul was a legitimate apostle, He was God's replacement for Judas, "the apostle of the Gentiles" (Rom. 11:13), chosen by God Himself (Acts 9:1-15). And no, no woman ever was an apostle, for it is written (I Cor. 14:34), "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law," and it is written again (I Tim. 2:11-12), "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." The Apostle Paul said He had seen Christ (I Cor. 9:1). Have you seen Him? If you say you have, you're a liar, for it is written (I Pet. 1:8), "Whom having not seen, ye love." Yes, Rev. 2:2 indeed does say, "Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars." John must have had YOU in mind.
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