Cheryl Schatz

Welcome to my blog, Bill. Thanks for your comments. Looking at Ephesians 4:8, it doesn’t say that gifts were “purchased” at the cross. In fact, verse 8 is about the resurrection of Jesus, and the gifts given to the church after the resurrection are listed in verse 11. Ephesians 4:11 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, There is nothing in the passage that says faith is purchased on the cross and given to unbelievers who have been picked from eternity past. Rather, the gifts are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The reason is also given: Ephesians 4:12 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; The reason is for the building up of the body of Christ. It isn’t faith given as a gift or salvation, but gifted people to grow the church in faith so that we come to maturity and unity (verse 13). So, Calvinism is not correct because of Eph. 4:8. My article stands as written and I welcome any challenge to that position. Purchased faith isn’t biblical.