Is unconditional election biblical?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Is unconditional election biblical?

  • Yes, unconditional election is biblical.

    Votes: 23 43.4%
  • No , unconditional election is not biblical.

    Votes: 27 50.9%
  • I don't know.

    Votes: 3 5.7%

  • Total voters
    53
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
113
I’m ok with that. Evil things happen all the time, what counts is the response to these occurrences.

Are you an “everything happens for a reason” guy?
Everything happens for a reason and that reason is God’s decreed will. I asked the question on twitter did God decree the holocaust and a Brother posted this...”Everything God does is right, just, and for His glory, regardless of whether or not I understand or appreciate it, from the standpoint of a finite man carrying a sin nature in a fallen world. I cannot fathom a world in which an absolutely omniscient and omnipotent God does...”

You’re okay with the Jews suffering for nothing? Wow! That’s anti-Semitism. :cry:(n):eek:
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
113
I’m ok with that. Evil things happen all the time, what counts is the response to these occurrences.

Are you an “everything happens for a reason” guy?
So, do you think random things happen that God had no idea would come about? That they caught Him by surprise?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
Everything happens for a reason and that reason is God’s decreed will. I asked the question on twitter did God decree the holocaust and a Brother posted this...”Everything God does is right, just, and for His glory, regardless of whether or not I understand or appreciate it, from the standpoint of a finite man carrying a sin nature in a fallen world. I cannot fathom a world in which an absolutely omniscient and omnipotent God does...”

You’re okay with the Jews suffering for nothing? Wow! That’s anti-Semitism. :cry:(n):eek:
You hear that folks, every rape, child molesting, murder, etc. is the decree of God. That’s a sick, unbiblical view of God.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
So, do you think random things happen that God had no idea would come about? That they caught Him by surprise?
I believe, since we live in a fallen, sin filled world, bad things naturally happen. Murder happens. Disease happens. Of course, God knows about it. He’s just not the one causing it. God knowing and God causing are not the same things.

This is why Paul states that we groan within ourselves waiting for the day of adoption, the redemption of our bodies and will no longer live in this world.
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
113
You hear that folks, every rape, child molesting, murder, etc. is the decree of God. That’s a sick, unbiblical view of God.
Well I guess Job was afflicted for nothing right?

God decrees all that comes to pass. A pagan king could see it. A pagan king accepted it. God uses primary and secondary causes to fulfill His will.

You are the one with the sick unbiblical view of God my friend. All this evil in the world that God could stop if He chose to, He allows it for no apparent reason whatsoever. That’s sick.

Good bye. Our convo is over.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
Well I guess Job was afflicted for nothing right?

God decrees all that comes to pass. A pagan king could see it. A pagan king accepted it. God uses primary and secondary causes to fulfill His will.

You are the one with the sick unbiblical view of God my friend. All this evil in the world that God could stop if He chose to, He allows it for no apparent reason whatsoever. That’s sick.

Good bye. Our convo is over.
God allows things to happen because we live in a fallen world and we suffer the consequences thereof instead of the blessings we could be enjoying.

It is obvious you do not believe in the power of prayer. Why pray? If God’s decreed everything to happen then our prayers are for nothing.
 
7

7seasrekeyed

Guest
When James White sets the tone for it by saying these are rebels in a burning house that the King can choose to save, he doesn't stop to think about why are they rebels? Because they choose according to their nature he would say. But wait a minute, there is more: Who gave them that nature to be unable to search and find God? That would be God. So in the final analysis, its God's fault these guys are rebels and they cannot "undo" their nature.

We know what the Scriptures say:


Acts 17:26-27
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

exactly

unreasonable and untenable beliefs that are not found in scripture

not to mention accusatory and not open to discussion

much like what we see here

I do not get responses from the op because he does not allow women to be present when he 'teaches' (I think that was the excuse or some other ridiculous thing)

women are scum as we all know :rolleyes:
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
4,110
960
113
God allows things to happen because we live in a fallen world and we suffer the consequences thereof instead of the blessings we could be enjoying.

It is obvious you do not believe in the power of prayer. Why pray? If God’s decreed everything to happen then our prayers are for nothing.
and perhaps has no desire.

Romans 10:1

“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
God allows things to happen because we live in a fallen world and we suffer the consequences thereof instead of the blessings we could be enjoying.

It is obvious you do not believe in the power of prayer. Why pray? If God’s decreed everything to happen then our prayers are for nothing.
I would say your remarks presume we do not enjoy blessings. This is of course not the case.
Though I do agree with you about the question to the Calvinist, or TULIP defender; why pray when all things are predestined for only those God predetermined He would save, and those He predetermined unto damnation.

Calvinism, TULIP, is not supported by the Gospel. That's the bad news.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
exactly

unreasonable and untenable beliefs that are not found in scripture

not to mention accusatory and not open to discussion

much like what we see here

I do not get responses from the op because he does not allow women to be present when he 'teaches' (I think that was the excuse or some other ridiculous thing)

women are scum as we all know :rolleyes:
Oh yes, that's why God in His grand design made it possible that only women would be able to give life to the future. ;)
Bigoted preaching is not preaching. It's damnable egocentrism and pride in a pulpit.
The Saint Apostle Paul had women Apostles whom he credited in his epistles.
The nonsense that is fostered from Paul's instruction that women should be quiet in the church and that means women are not fit to teach or preach, a great surprise for all the Christian women in the world that do just that with God's leading, was an instruction pertaining to the women who wished clarification during the sermon to wait until it was over. To not interrupt the service with those questions.
Otherwise, Paul having women Apostles in his churches and with his blessing would be contradicting himself. Which didn't happen.

Misogynists are unrepentant sinners. And when presuming to be in the pulpit are there as wolves in sheep's wool who do not fool those who know them by the words they speak.
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,921
113
While the picture of the old dude looks more like Scrooge, not really showing a Christian like attitude and appearance. I could be alright with the first part of the quote there. I'm not Calvinist so I really don't get all their beliefs, even though I have tried...I could agree with the God has foresight of those that will choose him and that is why they are the elect. In order to be able to choose though there has to be a choice. So are you saying that the ones that will Choose to Serve God are saved and the ones that will not choose God are not saved and God knows who they are. If so then I am on board with that....If you are saying that some people never have a choice either way, then well I can't be on board with that because the Bible teaches us differently.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,776
113
If you are saying that some people never have a choice either way, then well I can't be on board with that because the Bible teaches us differently.
This is exactly what he is saying. Reformed Theology teaches that God elects some for salvation and others for damnation.
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,921
113
This is exactly what he is saying. Reformed Theology teaches that God elects some for salvation and others for damnation.
Well, I can't be on board with that then...:rolleyes: That would be contrary to the Word of God....:(
 

UnitedWithChrist

Well-known member
Aug 12, 2019
3,739
1,928
113
While the picture of the old dude looks more like Scrooge, not really showing a Christian like attitude and appearance. I could be alright with the first part of the quote there. I'm not Calvinist so I really don't get all their beliefs, even though I have tried...I could agree with the God has foresight of those that will choose him and that is why they are the elect. In order to be able to choose though there has to be a choice. So are you saying that the ones that will Choose to Serve God are saved and the ones that will not choose God are not saved and God knows who they are. If so then I am on board with that....If you are saying that some people never have a choice either way, then well I can't be on board with that because the Bible teaches us differently.
What I'm saying is all mankind deserves eternal punishment, as a result of being a descendant of Adam. Their minds and hearts are radically corrupted by the Fall. They do not desire spiritual things, including a relationship with God, unless God regenerates them. And, everyone who is regenerated responds in faith and repentance. There is a choice, but the choice is for God, because the heart has been changed by heart. The person no longer has the nature of the fallen man, which is to follow his spiritual father Adam, but has a new nature like Christ's that wants to love and please God.

All mankind willfully rejects God, unless a change of heart occurs. They need this heart of flesh.

God changes the heart of some people, as an act of grace, and doesn't change the heart of other people. He passes over them, and they suffer the justice they deserve. He is not obligated to extend mercy to anyone, but out of grace, he extends it to some individuals, who are the elect.

All mankind rejects God by default until they experience this new birth.

The concept of corporate guilt is another one of the teachings that free-willers deny. They cannot fathom that God would judge all mankind by Adam's act, and condemn them to eternal punishment. But, the reality is that all mankind was condemned through Adam's sin. This is clearly taught in Romans 5.

God elects to save some, and gives them a heart of flesh that causes them to desire Him. The only reason they desire him is due to this heart of flesh. Faith and repentance flows from it. They are joined to Jesus Christ, and become one with him, and start to produce spiritual fruit due to this union.

Just like Adam's sin was credited to all mankind, Jesus' righteousness is credited to the elect. This state is referred to as being "in Christ". The rest are not in Christ. They are still in Adam, until (and if) God regenerates them, giving them new life. Until then, they are spiritually dead due to Adam's sin.

I suggest reading Ephesians 2:1-10.

No, I do not believe God simply knows who will choose him, and saves those individuals based solely on their decision. God does know those individuals, but their election is unconditional, ie, not based on foreknowledge of their decision. Their decision would be to reject Him, unless he regenerates them.

Reformed theology teaches that God chooses unconditionally. Unconditionally means that he does not choose people according to foreknowledge of their choices. He chooses them based on foreknowledge in the sense that he fore-loves them. He regenerates them, giving them a heart of flesh, which responds to him in faith and repentance.

And, everyone that he gives this new heart to responds in faith and repentance. The rest never receive this new heart. And, they willingly reject God because they hate God. The only thing that changes this is the new birth, which takes the person out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

I realize the idea that God is sovereign over salvation is foreign to the free-willer mentality, and it is something they will not accept. It is especially hard for Westerners to accept this fact. But that is what Scripture teaches. I recommend reading the book of Romans in fine detail. Also, John 6, 10 and Ephesians 1.

Notice, if you read John 10, that Jesus' sheep believe because they are his sheep. They are not his sheep simply because they believe. John is clear in this.

And, you may want to look at the threads I've created in the past regarding unconditional election. I line up the Scriptural proofs in this regard on these threads.
 

UnitedWithChrist

Well-known member
Aug 12, 2019
3,739
1,928
113
While the picture of the old dude looks more like Scrooge, not really showing a Christian like attitude and appearance. I could be alright with the first part of the quote there. I'm not Calvinist so I really don't get all their beliefs, even though I have tried...I could agree with the God has foresight of those that will choose him and that is why they are the elect. In order to be able to choose though there has to be a choice. So are you saying that the ones that will Choose to Serve God are saved and the ones that will not choose God are not saved and God knows who they are. If so then I am on board with that....If you are saying that some people never have a choice either way, then well I can't be on board with that because the Bible teaches us differently.
A better example would be Noah and the Flood.

Only eight people were saved through the Flood.

The rest drown.

God chose eight people. The number "8" is actually symbolic of new beginnings in Scripture.

Notice that only eight were saved. Is it because those eight were better?

Scripture notes that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. His virtue certainly wasn't perfect. After he exited the Ark, he got drunk on wine and some inappropriate sexual act occurred.

In essence, he was the "new Adam" and in fact, similar language was used..he was commanded to go forth and populate the earth like the original Adam. Yet, he gets involved in sin right off the bat.

Anyways, my point is that God extends grace and that is why Noah was saved. It wasn't due to moral virtue...and eight were saved. Why wasn't a single person, of all the men women and children, saved other than Noah and his family?

Because God elected or chose to same THEM.

He could have saved others, and given them grace, but he did not.

And he only saved eight, which is a number of new beginnings. This is beyond mere coincidence.
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,921
113
A better example would be Noah and the Flood.

Only eight people were saved through the Flood.

The rest drown.

God chose eight people. The number "8" is actually symbolic of new beginnings in Scripture.

Notice that only eight were saved. Is it because those eight were better?

Scripture notes that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. His virtue certainly wasn't perfect. After he exited the Ark, he got drunk on wine and some inappropriate sexual act occurred.

In essence, he was the "new Adam" and in fact, similar language was used..he was commanded to go forth and populate the earth like the original Adam. Yet, he gets involved in sin right off the bat.

Anyways, my point is that God extends grace and that is why Noah was saved. It wasn't due to moral virtue...and eight were saved. Why wasn't a single person, of all the men women and children, saved other than Noah and his family?

Because God elected or chose to same THEM.

He could have saved others, and given them grace, but he did not.

And he only saved eight, which is a number of new beginnings. This is beyond mere coincidence.
I'm still reading over your other post, and I am going to try to look at some of your other threads if time permits. Here is one question that I have pertaining to the flood....Didn't God allow the rest a chance to be saved and get on the ark? I mean, Didn't Noah preach to them and try to get them to get on the ark? Seems to me that God gave them all a choice, but all of them, except for the 8 on board the ark, made the wrong choice and drowned. Yet, that was their choice, right.
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,921
113
Hmm, well I'm not sure now about the flood. I'm going to have to study it, now. I've always heard Noah did preach to them about it, but I'm going to have to put some study into it now because I can't find where it specifically says that he did.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
I'm still reading over your other post, and I am going to try to look at some of your other threads if time permits. Here is one question that I have pertaining to the flood....Didn't God allow the rest a chance to be saved and get on the ark? I mean, Didn't Noah preach to them and try to get them to get on the ark? Seems to me that God gave them all a choice, but all of them, except for the 8 on board the ark, made the wrong choice and drowned. Yet, that was their choice, right.
Doesn't the reference to Hebrew numerology and the eight saved on the ark make it sound like Noah's ark is simply allegory, not a true accounting of a historic event?
What if Noah had twelve people in his family? Or ten?