Doctrine of Unconditional Election

  • 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.
Dec 21, 2020
1,825
474
83
Choice is not a factor in salvation - it is a free gift. If choice is a requirement, then without question, salvation couldn't be/wouldn't be free. Fee means free, entirely, and in all aspects - he refused salvation because he wasn't saved.
It absolutely is. Without question. Anyone has the capacity and ability to decide to believe the gospel.
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
939
113
It absolutely is. Without question. Anyone has the capacity and ability to decide to believe the gospel.
Yup exactly....... A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. ...Paul Simon
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,673
571
113
You have a non-biblical answer for everything. The following is about the present as well.

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Everything I post is biblical - I always include supporting verses to substantiate my point. And you have an uncanny ability to not be able to realize the significance of what you're reading in the Bible.

As an example of what I'm saying, look at this verse you've included above.
In v10 it says "For with the heart man believeth" but what you seem not to understand is that God must first change the heart to
be able to truly "believeth". Unless that first occurs, a man will retain the heart of natural man and will never truly believe. Here:

[Jer 17:9 KJV] 9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? And here:

[Eze 36:26 KJV] 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Without that change first, none of the other verses can occur either. It's not complicated.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,673
571
113
It absolutely is. Without question. Anyone has the capacity and ability to decide to believe the gospel.
Not! Can a dead person choose?

[2Co 4:3-4 KJV]
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
 

brightfame52

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2020
6,336
557
113
First off, you selected a verse to prove election and the verse does not contain the word election.🤦‍♂️

Second, what the word is teaching here is that God chose to save the Gentile world through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. You failed to highlight the context.
Its about election, being chosen, they are synonyms.
 

brightfame52

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2020
6,336
557
113
My words in bold

1 Timothy 2
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. All men includes kings and all that are in authority
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. God will have all men to be saved, same words as verse 1 that include kings and all that are in authority...all men.
Thats about the elect. 2 Tim 2:10

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
 
Dec 21, 2020
1,825
474
83
Yup exactly....... A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. ...Paul Simon
lol.. I'm not sure if you're agreeing with my sig, or using it as a slam against me. :)

Apologies if I'm wrong, but based on your previous posts, I think you meant the latter...
 

brightfame52

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2020
6,336
557
113
Yes, back from the balloon. I should have been clearer in my answer perhaps. I believe in predestination, that God knows who will be saved. Of course, God knows all. What I do not believe is that God created some to be elected and some to be damned. I do not believe that a person cannot respond to the Gospel if they are not "elected". I do not believe in reading the Bible that that is Gods character.
Then you dont believe the Truth friend.
 

ThereRoseaLamb

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2023
4,785
2,068
113
I don't think a "not divorce them completely" is logically possible - one is either divorced or they are not. The verse
as I read it, says divorced in its totality, period.
Yes, I agree that would normally be the case. But God continued to tell them to repent and return. Had he divorced them completely He would not still be calling to them. In spite of their sin God had an unending love for Israel.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
I dont think i made myself clear in a post back a ways .. I was dispensational for the first 40 or so years of my life i am now 76 and look to see what is Written not what is 'written about'

Would you bear with me for a question or two? So as a dispy how did you believe God related to Israel/ the Jews. How does that differ from your belief now? The verses above show you believe God created an elect and others for destruction. So where would the chosen Jews stand? The OT says they are the apple of His eye. The Bible says salvation is to the Jew first. We were grafted in. So you say the elect are assured of salvation, whether they slip and fail or not they "always saved". Would that not even be more so to the Jews whom the covenants were made? How can the elect be always in Gods grace and the chosen Jews outside His grace. Hosea in the end is calling Israel to repent and return to God. Once you divorce a spouse do you keep calling them to return? No, you don't, and you certainly don't make a new covenant with them.

Now as far as the verses you post I believe they are about the elect, mainly God choosing to use one over another. But I don't believe God chooses individuals for salvation or damnation. Otherwise God is just creating human being and arbitrarily choosing this one for salvation and that one for damnation. We know God is just, so why would he look at two humans and say one gets salvation the other does not. That is not the character of God. God could flat out decide at 10:00 pm He's going to kill everyone in the northern hemisphere. But He doesn't and He won't because He is a just God.
 

ThereRoseaLamb

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2023
4,785
2,068
113
Then you dont believe the Truth friend.
I think if I said what I really believe about election I would upset a lot of people, so I keep that to myself. Let me say this. I have worked with many unsaved people over many years. And I 100% believe and tell them that God is able to save them, take them out of bondage, heal their marriages and save them completely. One preacher once said "God is able to save from the guttermost to the uttermost" And I believe and have preached it whatever God has given me the opportunity to do so. Jesus Saves, He said it and I believe it!!!

I believe it was Catherine Booth who had a dream about the lost. She said that she saw many people beside the ocean. They were walking and talking, children were playing, it was a beautiful day and the people on the land were enjoying every second. But as she looked across the vast amount of people enjoying and indulging themselves in lifes pleasures she looked toward the water. And to her horror the people in the water were trying to get up on the land. They couldn't quite reach and some were beginning to drown. They were trying with all their might to get up on land and called out to the people passing by. But the people either ignored them or just shook their heads and kept talking and laughing with their friends. The people going down under the water began to cry and scream for help but no one came to their aid. Now this picture was supposed to be about ministry and reaching the lost. But I apply that to the belief that God chose some for salvation and others for destruction and I see this picture. The "elect" on the land and the others lost in the sea of life with nothing but darkness, fear, no one to turn to, not even God. Is that what you believe?! Wouldn't it be better to kill yourself and have it over with? I do not understand this POV. Not in the least. Not one person is more worthy of God's grace than another.
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
939
113
lol.. I'm not sure if you're agreeing with my sig, or using it as a slam against me. :)

Apologies if I'm wrong, but based on your previous posts, I think you meant the latter...
good guess :) it truly shows what you believe, sadly Paul Simon is way to often correct.
 
Dec 21, 2020
1,825
474
83
good guess :) it truly shows what you believe, sadly Paul Simon is way to often correct.
Calvinists misunderstand 1 Cor 2:14 and base the foundation of their belief on it. Look how many times Forest, BF52, and Roger have quoted it. They ignore verses like 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9; Acts 16:30-31; Rom 10:9; and more, or else they say the “all” applies only to the “elect,” the jailer was already saved, if you confess Jesus as Lord it means you’re already saved, the “world” means the world of the elect, etc.

Whether people believe it or not, they play a part in their salvation.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,673
571
113
Yes, I agree that would normally be the case. But God continued to tell them to repent and return. Had he divorced them completely He would not still be calling to them. In spite of their sin God had an unending love for Israel.
Disagree. Notice in the below, that God tells the Jews, not that He would take earthly Israel back, but instead that He would
take Jews "one of a city", "two of a family". By that, He is symbolically informing that only Jews that were elected to salvation would return to hm, not that earthly Israel would to Him nor be remarried to Him. Given as God cannot have two wives, and He became married to spiritual Israel, a divorced earthly Israel cannot again become His wife. So, earthly Israel has been given a final divorce decree from which as a nation, there is no return.
Don't forget there are two Israels, and sometimes it is difficult to immediately distinguish which one is in view if we're not considering that as a possibility - one can easily be mistaken for the other.


[Jer 3:11-12, 14-15 KJV]
11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever. ...
14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Would you bear with me for a question or two? So as a dispy how did you believe God related to Israel/ the Jews. How does that differ from your belief now? The verses above show you believe God created an elect and others for destruction. So where would the chosen Jews stand? The OT says they are the apple of His eye. The Bible says salvation is to the Jew first. We were grafted in. So you say the elect are assured of salvation, whether they slip and fail or not they "always saved". Would that not even be more so to the Jews whom the covenants were made? How can the elect be always in Gods grace and the chosen Jews outside His grace. Hosea in the end is calling Israel to repent and return to God. Once you divorce a spouse do you keep calling them to return? No, you don't, and you certainly don't make a new covenant with them.
"Would you bear with me for a question or two? So as a dispy how did you believe God related to Israel/ the Jews. How does that differ from your belief now?"

The Jews of Moses's time, as a nation, rejected the gospel of Christ because most had not been given faith and were not of those chosen to be saved (as it happens today too) - they trusted in their own righteousness. That is why, I believe, that God tells us in the below that He purposefully gave to them laws and statutes whereby they should not live. Just my opinion, but because of their rejection of Christ, the die was cast as to where they would end-up (as with all of the unsaved)- it being inevitable even though God had given them frequent warnings and opportunities before He divorced them - but the responsibility for that was upon them. Everyone saved is saved(or not) the same way including the OT/NT Jews - salvation is only given as a gift to some, the others are under judgement -there is no middle ground. Scary, huh?

[Eze 20:24-25 KJV]
24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes [that were] not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

"The verses above show you believe God created an elect and others for destruction. So where would the chosen Jews stand?"

First, I'm not sure that I believe that God created anyone for destruction. I believe that judgment came about by Adam, Eve, and Satan, not by God. However, I do believe that God in His mercy and grace had chosen from before the before foundation of the world only certain people whom He intended to save- Jews included - even though they (and we) are completely underserving of it. Since no one deserves it, it is then rightly His prerogative to bequeath to it whomever He so chose for it, which is what He did.
Regarding the Jews, I believe they stand on exactly the same spiritual ground as everyone else does - they were either individually chosen as elect, or they were not - they are either justified by Christ or they're not - no middle ground. I do not believe that a national identity is any factor in it.

"The OT says they are the apple of His eye"

The apple of His eye is the elect. Why? Because God sees them as though He were seeing Christ.

"The Bible says salvation is to the Jew first. We were grafted in."

Certain Jews were the first to become saved/born again(the early rain). Other Jews and non-Jews came afterwards (the latter rain), but the Jews came first. Nevertheless, as it is for one, so it is for the other.

"So you say the elect are assured of salvation, whether they slip and fail or not they "always saved". Would that not even be more so to the Jews whom the covenants were made? How can the elect be always in Gods grace and the chosen Jews outside His grace."

What do you mean by "chosen Jews" ? Do you mean the elect Jews or somehow the Jews of earthly Israel - they can be different sets of Jews? No one is saved because of any earthly affiliation - Israel or otherwise. It is solely dependent upon whether or not God had chosen the individual for salvation.
Slipping and falling has no effect or impact upon one's salvation if of the elect - whether Jews or otherwise - all are under God's grace. Salvation is solely by what Christ achieved, not by what a person might achieve or not.

"Hosea in the end is calling Israel to repent and return to God. Once you divorce a spouse do you keep calling them to return? No, you don't, and you certainly don't make a new covenant with them."

Don't know which verses you have in mind, but generally, the verses having to do with blessing are intended for
spiritual Isarel; the verses having to do with bad things, judgements, etc, for earthly Israel, maybe even for all of the non-elect.
I haven't read that book in quite a while, so it's difficult for me to recall precise details right now.

So, it's kind of late for me and being tired I may not have written everything as I should have.
Therefore, I'll reread maybe tomorrow hopefully with a fresh brain, but might find things that I'll need to revise.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,673
571
113
Calvinists misunderstand 1 Cor 2:14 and base the foundation of their belief on it. Look how many times Forest, BF52, and Roger have quoted it. They ignore verses like 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9; Acts 16:30-31; Rom 10:9; and more, or else they say the “all” applies only to the “elect,” the jailer was already saved, if you confess Jesus as Lord it means you’re already saved, the “world” means the world of the elect, etc.

Whether people believe it or not, they play a part in their salvation.
"play a part in their salvation" - means that whoever believes so remains under law and works and not grace.

We haven't ignored those verses at all, we've explained them repeatedly to you and others - and they do not change our interpretation of 1 Cor 2:14 - in fact, they reinforce it - you are just unable to grasp what those verses are saying. This may be because you don't know how to correctly read the Bible.
The natural man of 1 Cor 2:14 beyond question represents man that has not been born-again.
You should try reading 2:12 and 2:13 too.
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
939
113
Yes, I agree that would normally be the case. But God continued to tell them to repent and return. Had he divorced them completely He would not still be calling to them. In spite of their sin God had an unending love for Israel.



Would you bear with me for a question or two? So as a dispy how did you believe God related to Israel/ the Jews. How does that differ from your belief now? The verses above show you believe God created an elect and others for destruction. So where would the chosen Jews stand? The OT says they are the apple of His eye. The Bible says salvation is to the Jew first. We were grafted in. So you say the elect are assured of salvation, whether they slip and fail or not they "always saved". Would that not even be more so to the Jews whom the covenants were made? How can the elect be always in Gods grace and the chosen Jews outside His grace. Hosea in the end is calling Israel to repent and return to God. Once you divorce a spouse do you keep calling them to return? No, you don't, and you certainly don't make a new covenant with them.

Now as far as the verses you post I believe they are about the elect, mainly God choosing to use one over another. But I don't believe God chooses individuals for salvation or damnation. Otherwise God is just creating human being and arbitrarily choosing this one for salvation and that one for damnation. We know God is just, so why would he look at two humans and say one gets salvation the other does not. That is not the character of God. God could flat out decide at 10:00 pm He's going to kill everyone in the northern hemisphere. But He doesn't and He won't because He is a just God.
My Friend :) you have packed a lot into 2 paragraphs .

The verses above show you believe God created an elect and others for destruction. The Word says what it says Those verses are the Word of God not mine.
So where would the chosen Jews stand?
Doubt my words will be clear but i will try... Things changed with the Birth Death and Resurrection of our Lord.
The old covenant had been broken by man. Do we really need more evidence then the lives of the disciples?
Rom_2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Jew are not an enemy some are Christians saved by Grace.


He is a just God
He can only be Godly

I totally agree. While thinking back some years to the Sunday School lessons . God was just when Jericho collapsed. God was just when creepy Hearod murdered all the 2 year old boys. He was just when the death angel of the passover went through Egypt. Speaking of Egypt , Moses was saved from the same kind of death Hearod used. Yes He is just .

Wrote this a couple hours ago ... had to get dinner on the table... hope to spend time here tomorrow .....
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
Thats about the elect. 2 Tim 2:10

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
In context, this is aisrael God’s elect people elected as the seed of the Messiah. Paul had a heart to see them saved.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
Thats about the elect. 2 Tim 2:10

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Question…do you believe in prayer? Does prayer help in any situation or has God already chosen the outcome?
 

ThereRoseaLamb

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2023
4,785
2,068
113
Biblically, the word elect is in the context of service.

Right. So many convos going on here but I did see this and believe the same. Elect doesn't mean salvation. Not for the chosen Jews or Christian Gentiles.
 

ThereRoseaLamb

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2023
4,785
2,068
113
Question…do you believe in prayer? Does prayer help in any situation or has God already chosen the outcome?

Ahh! Good point! Why pray, or preach or evangelize? If half of us are already secure and the other half can never come why even have a church? Why read the Bible? Why tell anyone that God can forgive your sin? Maybe He won't or can't. We send missions overseas, to what purpose? A waste of time, money and effort. God already choose the outcome.