Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

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selahsays

Well-known member
May 31, 2023
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At least when I present the subject matter of "Free Will," I do so knowing that it was God who brought me to a place to understand Who He is in order to believe in Him. But to say I believe or that I do not believe, that is my only choice in the matter. He does the rest.
So could it be that anyone who comes to Jesus is elect?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,927
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I honestly believe that I was made a new creature before I became a believer and put my trust in the work of Christ. In other words, the Spirit first renewed my heart – to enable me to hear and believe.

Others will argue – No, that cannot happen. You must hear the word and believe, then you will be made a new creature. (faith comes by hearing). I would agree that hearing is required, but the heart must first be made ready to receive the message.
I marvel at how similar our experiences of God have been, although I cannot say I was made a new person having profound divine interventions... until after I finally laid down my opposition to God and turned my will and my life over to Him. That He drew me, called me, pursued me, I would not quibble with. Some would say I was already saved just because I experienced God, even though I was devoid of faith at the time. I believe faith is a requirement for salvation...
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
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Because you preach that God chooses who will be saved and who will not so it makes sense then you would believe God made Esau do that to ensure he was not saved.

God knew what Esau would do. If you think God did not know that Esau would choose to reject God that's a whole other set of paradigms.
No it does not make any logical sense whatsoever. How could God be just if he was the author of sin and condemned anyone for any sin he "made them commit"? Esau's own sin nature, which he was powerless to overcome, ensured that he would sin -- just like all mankind's sin nature would have guaranteed their condemnation, if it weren't for the sovereign, effectual, intervening grace of God. Esau is a great example of Jesus' teaching in Mat 8:36-37. But Esau sold himself very short -- for a bowlful of soup, was it? And in return God allowed him to father a rebellious, God-hating nation. (Talk about short-sightedness!) BUT I DIGRESS...because I humored you by momentarily responding to your distraction and deflection to show you how absurd your reasoning is.

You didn't address my questions that I asked regarding Rom 9:10-13, so let's set the passage before us for all to see:

Rom 9:10-13
10 Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad — in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls — she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
NIV

God election of Jacob and his rejection of Esau has nothing to do with foreknowledge for three reasons: A) Paul makes it abundantly clear that God's election was not based on any good or bad acts of the twins. Therefore, there were no good or bad acts for God to "foresee".

And B), as explained on previous occasions "foreknowledge" is an anthropomorphism, designed to accommodate our finite minds, since an omniscient God never acquires knowledge by peering "into the future", for example, to see how things will shake out. Since this eternal, omniscient God knows all things innately, instantaneously and spontaneously in eternity, there is no such thing as a future in his eternal realm or existence. He transcends his creation of Time.

And C) Scripture teaches that God's will is not contingent on any of his free moral agents' decisions or acts; for God works out all things according to the purpose and sovereign counsel of his own will (Eph 1:11)

Therefore, what election has everything to do with is God's own sovereign decrees.

So, this brings us back to my earlier question which you have until now evaded with your distractions and deflections from the above text: Do you believe Paul, who was informed by Christ himself (Jn 16:12-15), when he said that divine election took place in eternity and that God's decree to elect (unto salvation or reprobation) was not contingent on anything good or bad that either of the twins would do in temporal reality?

Simple question. Try addressing it head-on for once. Cease and desist from your "misinformation" strategy.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
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So could it be that anyone who comes to Jesus is elect?
I believe God reveals Himself to everyone. And when they get to that point of thinking they know, that's when they decide what to believe.

Most atheists even say, they thought about it, but Science seems more legit.
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
2,381
255
83
why is the sky blue?

why is water able to manifest in 3 distinct forms?

why didn't God send Jesus in another time frame?

why are cats and dogs usually enemies?

why do I like spaghetti so much?

why why why

why can't you discuss the op instead of the people here. notice that was not actually a question. reformers have to score points to convince themselves how right they are

Calvin happily killed and persecuted those who were not enthralled with his opinions and doctrine.


Are you worried that God will not fairly judge all of us according to the deeds done in our body? Or do you just consider yourself to be more righteous than Calvin....and by extension other human beings, as well? How long have you been preoccupied with virtue signalling?
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
2,381
255
83
I believe God reveals Himself to everyone. And when they get to that point of thinking they know, that's when they decide what to believe.

Most atheists even say, they thought about it, but Science seems more legit.
You have chapter and verse to justify that belief?
 

BillyBob

Active member
Dec 20, 2023
404
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Texas
I marvel at how similar our experiences of God have been, although I cannot say I was made a new person having profound divine interventions... until after I finally laid down my opposition to God and turned my will and my life over to Him. That He drew me, called me, pursued me, I would not quibble with. Some would say I was already saved just because I experienced God, even though I was devoid of faith at the time. I believe faith is a requirement for salvation...
I agree that faith is a requirement for salvation, I'm just not sure it's a requirement for conversion.
PS, I like you new picture but at the same time miss the childhood photo!:)
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,927
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I agree that faith is a requirement for salvation, I'm just not sure it's a requirement for conversion.
PS, I like you new picture but at the same time miss the childhood photo!:)
Now I must ask - since you have made me curious - what is it a person converts to if they do not have faith?
 

selahsays

Well-known member
May 31, 2023
2,796
1,484
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I believe God reveals Himself to everyone. And when they get to that point of thinking they know, that's when they decide what to believe.

Most atheists even say, they thought about it, but Science seems more legit.
But I believe that those who were elected before the foundation of the world will come. There won’t be any hesitation; they will come.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
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You didn't address my questions that I asked regarding Rom 9:10-13, so let's set the passage before us for all to see:

Rom 9:10-13
10 Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad — in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls — she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
NIV

God election of Jacob and his rejection of Esau has nothing to do with foreknowledge for three reasons: A) Paul makes it abundantly clear that God's election was not based on any good or bad acts of the twins. Therefore, there were no good or bad acts for God to "foresee".

And B), as explained on previous occasions "foreknowledge" is an anthropomorphism, designed to accommodate our finite minds, since an omniscient God never acquires knowledge by peering "into the future", for example, to see how things will shake out. Since this eternal, omniscient God knows all things innately, instantaneously and spontaneously in eternity, there is no such thing as a future in his eternal realm or existence. He transcends his creation of Time.

And C) Scripture teaches that God's will is not contingent on any of his free moral agents' decisions or acts; for God works out all things according to the purpose and sovereign counsel of his own will (Eph 1:11)

Therefore, what election has everything to do with is God's own sovereign decrees.

So, this brings us back to my earlier question which you have until now evaded with your distractions and deflections from the above text: Do you believe Paul, who was informed by Christ himself (Jn 16:12-15), when he said that divine election took place in eternity and that God's decree to elect (unto salvation or reprobation) was not contingent on anything good or bad that either of the twins would do in temporal reality?

Simple question. Try addressing it head-on for once. Cease and desist from your "misinformation" strategy.
I have answered your question why Paul wrote verse 11 the way he did and it says it for itself.

11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad — in order that God's purpose in election might stand:

Paul doesn't say God told me this, he writes it the way he understands it to be.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
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But I believe that those who were elected before the foundation of the world will come. There won’t be any hesitation; they will come.
I've prayed for people at the altar who left and come back a month later and leave and come back several months later before they tell me they're ready to accept God.
 

selahsays

Well-known member
May 31, 2023
2,796
1,484
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I've prayed for people at the altar who left and come back a month later and leave and come back several months later before they tell me they're ready to accept God.
…but not everyone is Elect. …. and it doesn’t mean that the Elect are better, either.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
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Yes, but the Elect were chosen way back when, right?
We only know they are Elect because they ended up believing. It could mean everyone was elected to be the Elect but the ones who become Elect are the ones who believe. There's no scripture that says everyone elected will 100% become elect.