Paidion wrote:
Now here's a doozer!
Galatians 1:4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil eternity, according to the will of our God and Father.
“Doozer” must be Canadian speak. Paidion please define the term for us in the U.S.
This is Barnes’ commentary on Galatians 1:4, specifically the phrase “this present evil world” (KJV).
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<b>This present evil world</b> - See Joh_17:15-16. Locke supposes, that by this phrase is intended the Jewish institutions, or the Mosaical age, in contradistinction from the age of the Messiah. Bloomfield supposes, that it means “the present state of being, this life, filled as it is with calamity, sin, and sorrow; or, rather, the sin itself, and the misery consequent upon it.” Rosenmuller understands by it, “the men of this age, Jews, who reject the Messiah; and pagans, who are devoted to idolatry and crime.” The word rendered “world” (a???`? aio¯n), means properly “age,” an indefinitely long period of time; then eternity, forever. It then comes to mean the world, either present or future; and then the present world, as it is, with its cares, temptations, and desires; the idea of evil, physical and moral, being everywhere implied - Robinson, Lexicon; Mat_13:22; Luk_16:8; Luk_20:34; Rom_12:2. Here it means the world as it is, without religion, a world of bad passions, false opinions, corrupt desires; a world full of ambition, and of the love of pleasure, and of gold; a world where God is not loved or obeyed; a world where people are regardless of right, and truth, and duty; where they live for themselves, and not for God; in short, that great community, which in the Scriptures is called the world, in contradistinction from the kingdom of God. That world, that evil world, is fall of sin; and the object of the Redeemer was to “deliver” us from that; that is, to effect a separation between his followers and that. It follows, therefore, that his followers constitute a unique community, not governed by the prevailing maxims, or influenced by the special feelings of the people of this world. And it follows, also, that if there is not in fact such a separation, then the purpose of the Redeemer’s death, in regard to us, has not been effected, and we are still a part of that great and ungodly community, the world.
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This “eternity” implies a finite length of time purely because it has a beginning point. It simply goes on and on because God goes on and on.
Steve7150 wrote:
One of the definitions of sin is "missing the mark" even unintentially. As Paidion said in another post less then 1% of the world will become disciples of Christ in this life. Yet Jesus accepted the task to be the "savior of the world" and "saving us from our sins"which was the task given to him by God the Father. And when Jesus walked the earth he actually made it difficult to follow him so most people dropped away.
Therefore if his task , which he accepted from Yahweh was to be the "savior of the world" and so few are really saved in this life did'nt he miss the mark if this is the only day or age of salvation?
That logic is faulty is several areas.
1 – Let’s have God define sin for us, shall we? “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” – Romans 14:23; “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” – James 4:17. So, if someone knows to do something that is good (Remember the Law is on our hearts), and doesn’t do it, it is sin. And whatever is not of God is sin.
2 – Jesus made it possible for everyone to be saved. But He never says everyone will. Jesus lays down many conditions in order to be His disciple. Jesus said that the servant of sin shall not abide in the house forever. John 8:35. In addition, those who reject the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this world or the world to come.
3 – Steve7150, please explain the following verse from your perspective: “whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, <u>it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come</u>” – John 12:32