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Kathy said:
Thanks for commenting on these verses. And I do understand them in the context you presented... BUT I cannot help but consider them appropriate.
Well, then you have a problem submitting to biblical CONTEXT! :sad: The passage is NOT "appropriate", i.e., it doesnt' speak to the matter of predestination. You cannot inject your own preconceived ideas into God's inspired infallible Word and hope to arrive at the truth. We've already spent days going over this with an individual here who is adamant in practicing "eisogesis" rather than "exegesis"! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/drop.gif" alt="" />

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You then ask:
I have heard that in the past one might have prayed "Lord, thank you that I was born a Jew"... or "Lord, thank you that I wasn't born a woman"... when we know that Jesus said he can 'raise these stones' to be children of Abraham.

At what point might one thank the Lord that one was born chosen looking around the room. Yes, I know the response is we should always be thankful for every gift. I don't know where I'm going with this.
You aren't going to look around the room and see who was "born chosen"! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/nono.gif" alt="" /> Applying this to oneself, when one is given assurance based upon biblical guidelines that a radical change has taken place within your soul, that sin is most offensive to you; both your own and that which is perceived in the world, that Jesus Christ is most lovely and your only hope in being able to appear before the thrice holy God, that your own personal holiness is a virtue to be most treasured, that all that you have and all that you look forward to you confess is a gracious and most undeserved gift of God's mercy, then..... your heart will most naturally offer up thanksgiving and adoration to God.

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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