FreeGrace2 said:
Every verse either plainly linked election to service or demonstrated that those elected, like Paul, were appointed to service, etc.
Well, okay then it should be easy enough for you resolve.
There is nothing to resolve. Each verse is clear.
Please clarify and demonstrate, due to my lack of intelligence, a verse (for simplicity and clarity) that directly and specifically ties-in (not implies) that election is to service (but not one of service being a result of election) - something similar to the following. It is possible I missed it so please repost.
Well, I've done that repeatedly, and gladly will do so again. Hoping to increase a bit of your IQ, since you note your lack of it.
I'll take just one of the examples of election: Jesus Christ Himself
Elected to Serve
Jesus is described as The Elect (Chosen) One
Isa 42:1 - “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.
Isa 43:10 - “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom
I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
Luke 9:35 - A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is
my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
Luke 23:35 - The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself
if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
1 Pet 2:6 - For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Now, consider what Jesus Christ was chosen for:
Matt 20:28 - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Luke 22:27 - For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
Romans 15:8 - For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs
So, the Bible plainly states that Jesus Christ is God’s Chosen One, and that He came to serve.
Now, let's see what the Bible says about angels.
Angels were elected to service:
1 Tim 5:21 - I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and
the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
Heb 1:7 - In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes
his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”
This verse plainly describes angels as spirits and "His servants".
Heb 1:14 - Are not
all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
If this verse isn't crystal clear, you just don't want to know.
Rev 19:10 - At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that!
I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
Rev 22:8,9
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.
9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that!
I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
These 3 verses are clear; an angel of God describes himself as a "fellow servant WITH" John.
OK, that's 2 different examples of who has been elected. Nothing about salvationn.
[Rom 9:11, 16, 18 KJV]
11 (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth ...
16 So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. ...
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth.
These verses do not reveal the purpose of election.
But, here are some verses that actually describe the purpose of election:
1 Cor 1-
27 But
God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;
God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28
God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—
to nullify the things that are,
Red words refer to who God has elected. Blue words refer to the actual purpose of that election. If you don't see the blue words as service, you really shouldn't be on this forum.
Acts 10:41 - on the third day and caused him to be seen.
He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead
God specifically chose certain people to be witnesses of the risen Christ. That is service, not salvation.
I did not find any linkage of that kind in your post.
Of course. But then, you have already told me WHY above in your post.
You did demonstrate service, but not directly associated to election, at least, that I could find.
Well, in the verses that did demonstrate service, was about those who were also elected/chosen. And I gave verses that specifically said so.
So, if you can't or won't connect the dots, it's understandable where your issue is.