Doctrine of Unconditional Election

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ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
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All scripture is written FOR us, but not all scripture is written TO us. No need to harmonize all scripture to fit the body of Christ, simply, rightly divide the word of truth.
Contradicting scriptures will not reveal the truths of the doctrine that Jesus preached.

It is not surprising by not harmonizing the scriptures, is where you glean your false theology.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,675
29,016
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Not if it is Jesus who makes that happen. He Himself, picks us up from where we were spiritually, and puts us in a new
place. We do nothing.
I only ask because truly this idea that nothing at all is required of us baffles me.

As does the idea that those with no faith are saved already.

I have asked a couple of questions a few times to see if this was your experience,
that you did nothing, made no choice, but those questions go unanswered.


If that was your experience, then I could understand why you hold to this view.
 

brightfame52

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2020
6,259
547
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John 6:40 - For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and
believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
But in order to Look to the Son, we must first have eyes to see, that comes by the new birth, only the born again will be able to look to the Son and Believe, because they are His Sheep.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,721
6,437
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I only ask because truly this idea that nothing at all is required of us baffles me.

As does the idea that those with no faith are saved already.

I have asked a couple of questions a few times to see if this was your experience,
that you did nothing, made no choice, but those questions go unanswered.


If that was your experience, then I could understand why you hold to this view.
I believe what he means is that the impetus is all of God and the response does not originate with us.
Real faith always elicits a response otherwise it is not faith. This is the argument of James...faith without works...response...is dead.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,626
560
113
I only ask because truly this idea that nothing at all is required of us baffles me.

As does the idea that those with no faith are saved already.

I have asked a couple of questions a few times to see if this was your experience,
that you did nothing, made no choice, but those questions go unanswered.


If that was your experience, then I could understand why you hold to this view.
If I remember correctly, I thought I had answered you but maybe not or maybe not well enough.
The answer is that I did nothing. I might have not immediately realized at the time what was
happening, but in retrospect, I believe that my understanding was being drawn to Christ.
Fortunately, our understanding is not what make us born-again - Christ does at a time of His choosing - our
understanding catches up with that through-out the remainder of our lives.
Look at Saul/Paul as an example - not that I am comparing myself to him in any way but only to illustrate my point.
The last thing Saul wanted at that time was Christ - just the opposite if fact -
it was his intention to imprison and torture Christians - but look how he changed
from the one moment to the next. He did nothing to bring it about - he was only the recipient of it.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,626
560
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Real faith always elicits a response otherwise it is not faith. This is the argument of James...faith without works...response...is dead.
Nope. The faith mentioned in James was Christ's faith not ours. He alone perfectly demonstrated both faith AND works.
In fact, symbolically, He was the one speaking when He said:

[Jas 2:18 KJV] 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Christ's works, Christ's faith - His faith had within it also works and righteousness, otherwise, it would be a dead faith.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,721
6,437
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Nope. The faith mentioned in James was Christ's faith not ours. He alone perfectly demonstrated both faith and works.
In fact, symbolically, He was the one speaking when He said:

[Jas 2:18 KJV] 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Christ's works, Christ's faith - His faith had within it also works and righteousness, otherwise, it would be a dead faith.
Read carefully. I don't deny it's the faith of Christ. I believe it is. The faith we live by now is also His faith...Galatians 2:20.
 

HeIsHere

Well-known member
May 21, 2022
5,715
2,223
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Man cant believe and cannot repent.
There is some truth to this, for those who have been programmed into certain belief system, the mind is very susceptible to indoctrination by repetition

When logic and reason have been damaged by this programming it does take much prayer and a move of God to break the chains that bind.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,675
29,016
113
I believe what he means is that the impetus is all of God and the response does not originate with us.
Real faith always elicits a response otherwise it is not faith. This is the argument of James...faith without works...response...is dead.
The ability to respond does not originate with us, but we do respond, one way or another, yes? Yes :)
 

HeIsHere

Well-known member
May 21, 2022
5,715
2,223
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Do you agree then with bf52 that men cannot believe and men cannot repent?

That seems a very odd thing for anyone to say, to me.
I was affirming your reaction...that yes, it is surprising, but I find it more shocking than surprising, but the emoji is close.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,626
560
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Read carefully. I don't deny it's the faith of Christ. I believe it is. The faith we live by now is also His faith...Galatians 2:20.
Okay, sorry about that, my fault then - based upon your statement above, I guess I misunderstood your point.
 

Ted01

Well-known member
May 14, 2022
1,055
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Mark 1:14-15 (ESV) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

What are we to make of this then?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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The ability to respond does not originate with us, but we do respond, one way or another, yes? Yes :)
We are given eyes to see and ears to hear. We now are able to see and perceive and hear and understand. So we now can respond.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,626
560
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We are given eyes to see and ears to hear. We now are able to see and perceive and hear and understand. So we now can respond.
Wait - now I'm confused. You seem in the above to contradict what you said previously. Just so as I
understand, who do you mean by the "we"?