Election, that most contentious doctrine.

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Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#21
Should you ever experience the Indwelling Spirit yourself, you would certainly change your teaching.
Do you commonly insert yourself to make such asinine comments about strangers?
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#22
Election is unto becoming that instrument and means by which God has chosen to call ALL men unto repentance. It is election to become a member of Christ's Body the Church. It excludes nobody from being saved.
I agree but there are many who believe that we who are saved were predestined while others are predestined to suffer hell. True enough they show scripture to support it but anyone can quote scripture but to understand it and to understand the person God is requires more than knowing bible verses.

A good example is the analogy I spoke of, God fashioned us in his image so if you have two children and you knew a certain event was going to happen would you tell both of them how to escape it hoping they would listen or would you simply destine one to death while the other life.

Anyone who is a parent could never argue this because no parent in their right minds would do such a horrible thing yet they think God being the original parent would.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#23
I may have worded that poorly. I guess "resistance is futile!" is more the message I was going for. One can resist, but God will break you down eventually.
I understand; however...

You are correct that my personal experience proves NO universal rule... but I think it's pretty obvious from the Scriptures that if God the Father has given someone into Christ's hands, they cannot resist the pull of grace forever, because Christ said that He would lose NOT ONE of those entrusted to Him.
The verses you cited don't say that Jesus would lose none of those called, but those whom the Father had given to Him. I don't buy the 'Calvinist' view that 'called' = 'elected' = 'chosen' = 'saved'.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
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London
christianchat.com
#24
I agree but there are many who believe that we who are saved were predestined while others are predestined to suffer hell. True enough they show scripture to support it but anyone can quote scripture but to understand it and to understand the person God is requires more than knowing bible verses.

A good example is the analogy I spoke of, God fashioned us in his image so if you have two children and you knew a certain event was going to happen would you tell both of them how to escape it hoping they would listen or would you simply destine one to death while the other life.

Anyone who is a parent could never argue this because no parent in their right minds would do such a horrible thing yet they think God being the original parent would.
That is what my thread is all about.
 
Jan 5, 2022
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"A higher plane," hehe
www.youtube.com
#25
I understand; however...


The verses you cited don't say that Jesus would lose none of those called, but those whom the Father had given to Him. I don't buy the 'Calvinist' view that 'called' = 'elected' = 'chosen' = 'saved'.
Now THAT'S an interesting view that we can discuss!

I would answer with a question: does it make sense to say that God would begin drawing someone to Himself but then fail at that effort?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,595
13,858
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#26
Now THAT'S an interesting view that we can discuss!

I would answer with a question: does it make sense to say that God would begin drawing someone to Himself but then fail at that effort?
I have heard that question from a Calvinist. Jesus said, "When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself" (John 12:32). Clearly, not all people have actually come to Jesus. So... has He failed?

No. He has invited, but in His wisdom, He has not forced.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,502
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#27
Now THAT'S an interesting view that we can discuss!

I would answer with a question: does it make sense to say that God would begin drawing someone to Himself but then fail at that effort?
It does if you take free will into consideration
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,883
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#28
Do you commonly insert yourself to make such asinine comments about strangers?
Would you dare to say such remarkable words, to me, in front of your church and pastor? I doubt it.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
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#29
ELECTION IS NOT UNTO SALVATION PER SE.
That is correct. We need to carefully look at the context of those passages which have "election" and "predestination" in order to see that in the foreknowledge of God, those who believe are predestined to be perfected and glorified. That is the ultimate purpose of salvation. That the children of God will be totally conformed to the image of Christ (who is both perfect and glorious).

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Rom 8:29,30)
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#30
Your personal experience is not evidence that none can resist the drawing of the Holy Spirit.
In fact Stephen accused the unbelieving Jews of ALWAYS resisting the Holy Ghost: Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Acts 7:51) Stephen took them all the way back to the unbelieving Israelites ("your fathers").
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,112
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#31
Election is the golden thread which runs all the way through the bible, God chooses who will serve Him, who will be His people on the earth, who will be His witnesses.

ELECTION IS NOT UNTO SALVATION PER SE.

THAT is where the mistake lies, the mistake both Augustine and Calvin made which has turned the glorious, the most comforting, joyful doctrine from being sweet ointment poured forth into the most contentious, most odious doctrine in the church. The fly that maketh the apothecary stinketh.

The Jews were [and are] chosen of God and each member of the church has been chosen of God. We didn't love God He loved us, we did not choose Him He chose us. Not to be saved per se [although we must be first saved] but to be His instrument of salvation and blessing to everybody else. We are chosen [elected] to be a city set upon the hill so that men stumbling around in their darkness and woe can look up and see us and through us find their way to God.

Far, far from excluding anyone from salvation, we are elected to be God's instrument upon earth for the blessing and salvation of everyone who will.


If the evangelical church understood this they would stop forever with the hell fire and damnation "gospel" they love so much. Stop condemning everybody, stop banging on about sin ... show everybody the wonderful Saviour He has sent into the world and the way they may get rid of their sins and be saved.

They don't need to be told they are sinners, they need to be told they have been sent a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.
What I find interesting is from some of those who are Calvinists will tell you the jews are not the "elect" I guess they lost their salvation BUT a Calvinist does lose their LOL.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#32
Do you commonly insert yourself to make such asinine comments about strangers?
This remark was uncalled for I expected better from you.
 
Dec 29, 2021
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#34
I do think there is enough scriptural evidence to support the notion of “Election”. This has been a point of contention for centuries within the Christianity. Calvinism or Arminianism. Truth is God can do whatever He chooses. No one deserves salvation, and if God pre-destined certainly individuals or through a coming to faith for salvation, that’s His prerogative.
But, if you would break down every election Verse found in the English Version of the KJV, New KJV, and Others, they are very different from the Tanakh, the Hebrew to which these English Versions should be following.

And you would discover that Predestination is about All of humanity, because God created humanity to Serve Him, not a few, but every Human was created to Worship and Serve God.

Every single person who hears the Word of God preached, will be given a chance to follow, by God's Personal Invitation. Unfortunately, not every human being that hears the Word, receives the Invitation from God, will Accept. And that is called FREE WILL!

FREE WILL means exactly that, we are FREE to Accept or Deny God's Invitation!

FREE WILL trumps every Doctrine that suggests otherwise!

FREE WILL was found in the Garden where we see 2 Believers in God, CHOOSE by their FREE WILL, to Disobey God!

That Same Condition of FREE WILL applies to Every Human Being ever born afterwards.

Nothing can Refute God's Condition of FREE WILL!


John 3:16 not only claims the Son was sent to die for the world, but then specifies that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES will be Saved.

WHOSOEVER BELIEVES = FREE WILL!
 
Dec 29, 2021
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#35
Even though we know before the Flood of Noah, those that died were considered OFFSPRING of the Fallen Angels, GOD still had NOAH preach to them and OFFER them to board the Ark.

But, FREE WILL, is why those who heard Noah's preaching [refused] and mocked him!

But they still WERE OFFERED a chance to be Saved!
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,502
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#36
I'm laughing out loud, as I'd say that whatever comment you're reacting to [may] be about myself. :p
Yes it was about you his rudeness towards you was uncalled for if one has a problem with another user there is right way and a wrong way to deal with it he chose the latter.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,883
1,954
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#37
Yes it was about you his rudeness towards you was uncalled for if one has a problem with another user there is right way and a wrong way to deal with it he chose the latter.
LOL - And so you see, he was blocklisted and knew it, yet chose to show the rest of you who he/she is and what he/she is actually made of. BTW: This is the exact, exact kind of person that I suggested that we avoid like Covid-19. Try, make attempts . . . yes. But after a while, we must turn and walk away. Dino was on my BL long ago, but during Christmas I took all parties off of that list, not because it's a Christmas gift of some kind, but because God forgave me, thus I choose that time to give all others a chance, too.

So, this is nothing new, and quite frankly, I'm amazed that I lasted this long before I placed them back on the BL.

Thanks for the support, Blain! :D
 

Aerials1978

Well-known member
Dec 10, 2019
1,707
987
113
#38
But, if you would break down every election Verse found in the English Version of the KJV, New KJV, and Others, they are very different from the Tanakh, the Hebrew to which these English Versions should be following.

And you would discover that Predestination is about All of humanity, because God created humanity to Serve Him, not a few, but every Human was created to Worship and Serve God.

Every single person who hears the Word of God preached, will be given a chance to follow, by God's Personal Invitation. Unfortunately, not every human being that hears the Word, receives the Invitation from God, will Accept. And that is called FREE WILL!

FREE WILL means exactly that, we are FREE to Accept or Deny God's Invitation!

FREE WILL trumps every Doctrine that suggests otherwise!

FREE WILL was found in the Garden where we see 2 Believers in God, CHOOSE by their FREE WILL, to Disobey God!

That Same Condition of FREE WILL applies to Every Human Being ever born afterwards.

Nothing can Refute God's Condition of FREE WILL!


John 3:16 not only claims the Son was sent to die for the world, but then specifies that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES will be Saved.

WHOSOEVER BELIEVES = FREE WILL!
There is a continuous narrative of the notion of election though out the OT/NT. That certainly is apparent. I didn’t always post verses as I think people should validate the claims based on their merit and not what my opinion may be. Of course there are verses that seem contrary to that. How do we reconcile this dichotomy? I don’t have an answer that is sufficient. What it comes down to is, does God choose us or do we choose him? I guess it depends on who you ask.
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
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#39
To say that God chooses some to save and then chooses others to destroy just because... without even giving them a chance.

Is a lie straight out of the pits of Hell.
 

Aerials1978

Well-known member
Dec 10, 2019
1,707
987
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#40
To say that God chooses some to save and then chooses others to destroy just because... without even giving them a chance.

Is a lie straight out of the pits of Hell.
Jacob I love, but Essau