Mike

You said:
Quote
Eph 1:4 is not talking about salvation, but being holy and blameless. The way I tell this, is that the verse says "holy and blameless" and it doesn't use the word "salvation." To make it say "salvation", you have to add something to the verse, I'm sure it's called CONTEXT. But as I look around at other verses, I don't see the word their, either. In which case, if you want to see salvation there, you have to impose a meaning on the text that isn't there. And the other side of the coin - damnation - isn't anywhere to be found at all. That's another meaning you have to put into the text to make it work there.

I must say that I am a little taken back that you don’t see salvation in the context of Ephesians chapter one. However, I shouldn’t be at all surprised, since your understanding of the passage is consistent with another person I recently talked to.


Eph. 1:4 says "Accordingly as he hath chosen us in him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and with out blame before him in love." KJV


The words "Accordingly as he hath chosen us in him before the foundations of the world," indicate people God has chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the world."

The words "that we should be holy and with out blame before him in love." Indicate that the people whom God has chosen should be holy and with out blame before him in love.

It should be fairly clear from this verse and many others, that it is people whom God chooses, not their actions.
The second part of the verse starts with the word "that".
The word "that" indicates something following salvation; which is their sanctification. This is a life long process.

As for your claim that there is nothing in the context of the passage to indicate salvation. Verse 5 should put that claim to rest. “Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to his good pleasure and will.”

What do the words “adoption of children…” mean?

By the way, just in case you are interested in knowing a little bit more about the conversation I had with another Arminian about Eph. 1:4, you can do so in the following thread .

Tom