As Many as Were Appointed Believed, Acts

Bob Wilkin of the Grace Evangelical Society addresses the question:
"What does it mean in Acts 13:48 that "as many as were appointed believed"?

[@acolchad83]

Keep these vids coming! Love them.

[@coolkidjj72298]

Bob i love you man can't wait to see u in the millennial Kingdom ❤💪🙏

[@kendellbise8875]

I come from a Southern Baptist family, that sent my to Sunday school, vacation bible school, Royal ambassadors, and when I was 8 yrs old I went forward in church to be saved, but I didn't really understand exactly what I was doing however, train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it! I don't know for sure the exact moment I believed the gospel by faith, but am absolutely sure I have. I listen to radio preachers, and some television preachers, but it's obvious that most television preachers, are in it for money. What I have observed, and was almost lead astray by was the fact that the Calvinist, have become more and more prominent, and they sound doctrinally correct, if you are not very soundly grounded in your belief and understanding of the bible. I'm dismayed to see so many preachers iv trusted, fellowship, and sit on the same stage with them, this seems to suggest they are brothers in the faith! And they are not!!! Why do good men like Ravi Zacharias and others do this? Don't they know the harm they may be doing to some weaker brothers ? I have not lead a good Christian life, but have gained some wisdom with age by the grace of God. When I speak to some people who believe in works salvation, I point out Gods amazing grace, and when they point out my sin I agree with them, that I have sin, and that because of it, I will probably be handed a mop and bucket when I get to heaven, but will mop the streets of gold singing praise to Jesus for all eternity! I showed my father you videos, he is in his 80's he told my you give the right answers, to refute all these men who lead people astray! Mankind seems to have a built in arrogance, that makes them want to do it themselves, when they can not! Love and peace brother, look for me in heaven I'll have a mop in my hand!

[@mikegreene9137]

A "calvinist" is someone who simply points people to God's amazing grace as our sufficient source of salvation.

[@sneediusrexius]

Holiness or hell

[@sneediusrexius]

Sinning christians wont be mopping floors, they will be burning in hell

[@webgold3408]

The reason that the people of verse 48 believed was that God's grace was working in their lives. It is God who makes us to differ one from another not we ourselves (1 Cor.4;7).

[@RexWee]

Acts 16:48?

[@webgold3408]

Do you think it is possible that the people of Acts 13:46 rejected the Gospel was because they loved darkness rather than light as Jesus talks about in John 3:19 and that the people of verse 48 believed was because they were hearts were changed by the Holy Spirit as Jesus talks about in John 3:3 ?

[@GESvids]

Excerpt from Bob Wilkin's "A Review of “Repentance Found? The Concept of Repentance in the Fourth Gospel” by David A. Croteau" faithalone.org/grace-in-focus-articles/a-review-of-repentance-found-the-concept-of-repentance-in-the-fourth-gospel-by-david-a-croteau/ Croteau thinks the call to step into the light in John 3:19-21 a call to repentance. Zane Hodges wrote a journal article on this passage, showing that coming to the light in this context refers to openly confessing Jesus, something Nicodemus did not do, but something that John the Baptist (discussed in the verses which immediately follow, John 3:22-26) did quite well (see BibSac, Oct-Dec 1978: 314-22). There is no call to turn from sins in these verses. Instead, there is a call to confess Christ. It is true that in v 19 the Lord says, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” But this is not a call to repentance. This is a statement of fact. Men’s evil deeds often, but not always, keep them from faith in Christ. Of course, since some come to faith in Christ and all are sinners, some clearly do overcome this hindrance and listen to and believe the message of life. Nicodemus is one such person. And in the very next chapter John tells of the woman at the well coming to faith in Christ. Yet her deeds were especially evil. And there is no indication that she repented before or after coming to faith.

[@webgold3408]

You speak of a lack of faith being a hindrance that some are able to overcome. However, Paul tells us in Rom. 5:6 that natural man is "without strength". Natural man has no strength to bring himself to faith in Christ. Those who do come to faith do so by the grace of God (Acts 18: 27). The woman at the well gave evidence that she was a changed lady. After Christ revealed himself to her she began to share the message of Christ with others. Salvation comes to sinners by revelation (Gal. 1:6). Christ went to Samaria to get one of his lost sheep (John 10:16).

[@kendellbise8875]

One?

[@mpmattson]

Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

[@jsong1974]

What made them open to believe in the first place? Doesn't He open the eyes and make a dead man alive?

[@hunterhestekin7420]

I would say it's mutual, James 4:8 Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you!

[@craigs4530]

AMEN BROTHER!

[@caspermapurisa4238]

Matt24:22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short... Luke18:7And will not God give justice to HIS ELECT, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? Romans8:33Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? Romans11:77 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written," God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." 2Timothy2:10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Titus1:11 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; 1Peter1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

[@johnbair4876]

I would also add that the audience who heard Paul's sermon was made up of Jews and God-fearing Gentiles (see vs. 16, 26, 43). The God-fearing Gentiles were proselytes to Judaism, and they believed the revelation that God had given in the Old Testament (see also Acts 10:22, 31-35; also note 19:1-5 about Jewish disciples of John the Baptizer who had not yet heard about the completed work of salvation by Christ). Thus, these God-fearing Gentiles in Paul's audience were open to the gospel because they were already disposed to eternal life as believers up to that point in time. Context matters greatly when interpreting God's Word. Calvinists tend to introduce their theology into other similar verses and passages as well (a practice called eisegesis).

[@SugoiEnglish1]

What’s the significance of τεταγμένοι being a passive voice in Acts 13:48? It isn’t the subjects namely the Gentiles themselves who appointed themselves to eternal life but God. Thus instead of contradicting Reformed theology Acts 13:48 affirms it. Acts 13:48 shows us: Believers’ appointment to salvation are before believers’ belief and trust in Jesus. The appointment to eternal life are not the work or actions of believers. It is the work of God. Thus God takes the initiative in Christian conversion before our belief. Contrary to the anti-Reformed comment cited above, Acts 13:48 does not focus on man decisions as much as it focuses on God’s decisions and intiative. This is not to say that there’s not human responsibility but we must focus on what the verse focus upon and from Acts 13:48 we see who’s work and act must first take place.

[@loganross1861]

Calvinism is not true. Anyone taking a stand for truth will have to break down and reject Calvinism to continue their walk in truth. Another key area of controversial truth is the corruption and deceit of modern English translations. The King James Bible is the blessed word of God in the ENGLISH tongue. English speakers should use it. The other versions are, like Calvinism, corrupt and should be rejected. It can be uncomfortable and disheartening to work through these things. I became a Christian with a love of Truth, and the obligation to adhere to truth is only amplified by Christ and the Gospel. There is a post modernist tendency alive today, to reject objective rigor, which must be rooted out. In Revelation, the Bible says Satan deceives the whole world. The whole world. I personally believe Calvinism is part of that cascade of deception. It is not true, and it is so subtle that the worst things about aren't readily apparent.

[@keithm1689]

The translators of the King James Bible were Calvinists. They were members of the Church of England. Look up their 39 articles of faith. Modern translations are not "calvinist". Please stop spreading your lies.

[@SugoiEnglish1]

What’s the significance of τεταγμένοι being a passive voice in Acts 13:48? It isn’t the subjects namely the Gentiles themselves who appointed themselves to eternal life but God. Thus instead of contradicting Reformed theology Acts 13:48 affirms it. Acts 13:48 shows us: Believers’ appointment to salvation are before believers’ belief and trust in Jesus. The appointment to eternal life are not the work or actions of believers. It is the work of God. Thus God takes the initiative in Christian conversion before our belief. Contrary to the anti-Reformed comment cited above, Acts 13:48 does not focus on man decisions as much as it focuses on God’s decisions and intiative. This is not to say that there’s not human responsibility but we must focus on what the verse focus upon and from Acts 13:48 we see who’s work and act must first take place.

[@jasonreeve280]

Although I tend to affirm Wilkin's interpretation based on the immediate context of v. 46 I can also allow for the idea of 'appointment' because the audience consisted of those who had already been 'appointed' under the old covenant. Believing Jews and God fearing Gentiles who asked for Paul to come back the second week and speak again already belonged to the Father by faith under the old covenant...they were the believing remnant and were already appointed. So, it was these already appointed ones who believed upon hearing the message of Christ. The story of Cornelius was exactly the same. There is no reference in this verse to the appointment of God being before the foundation of the earth and so it is more reasonable to conclude that the prior appointment would be in reference to the faith the Gentiles had already placed in the Father. Luke's narrative here is not about suddenly reaching deep doctrinal truths...rather...he is merely summing up the historical account as it happened.