Doctrine of Unconditional Election

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brightfame52

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2020
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How did the Thessalonians know they had been chosen.

Your quotation is below.

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

So the question follows.

Did you receive the Holy Spirit (not ghost), with power and full assurance. Because that's how they knew.

Power and assurance!

Is the power of God active in your Christian life and in your church?
How did Paul tell the Thessalonians they were chosen of God 1 Thess 1:4-5

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
 

Beckie

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Feb 15, 2022
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Beckie said:
What condition in fallen sinners makes them electable?


Their decision to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
 
Dec 21, 2020
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Beckie said:
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
I wonder... Was David as the Bible says, a man after God's own heart, a man better than Saul? Or was his throat an open sepulchre, his mouth full of cursing and bitterness, etc, etc?

Even people who have never heard the gospel are without excuse.

Rom 1:
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
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I wonder... Was David as the Bible says, a man after God's own heart, a man better than Saul? Or was his throat an open sepulchre, his mouth full of cursing and bitterness, etc, etc?

Even people who have never heard the gospel are without excuse.

Rom 1:
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Did they have to accept Him or did He choose them?
 
Dec 21, 2020
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Did they have to accept Him or did He choose them?
God chooses people who choose Him. God gave people free will, and anyone has the ability to decide to believe the gospel. That's why we are to teach people about Jesus Christ, to give them an opportunity to hear. Once they hear, it's up to them to decide to believe it or not.

I'm convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Calvinism is false. If it's true, I'll find out on judgment day. Jesus himself will have to tell me.

It's pointless to talk about it. Most people (myself included), especially on Christian forums, already have their mind made up about some doctrines, Calvinism being one of them.
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
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God chooses people who choose Him. God gave people free will, and anyone has the ability to decide to believe the gospel. That's why we are to teach people about Jesus Christ, to give them an opportunity to hear. Once they hear, it's up to them to decide to believe it or not.

I'm convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Calvinism is false. If it's true, I'll find out on judgment day. Jesus himself will have to tell me.

It's pointless to talk about it. Most people (myself included), especially on Christian forums, already have their mind made up about some doctrines, Calvinism being one of them.
God chooses people who choose Him
Do you really believe God is subject to us humans?

Pharaoh had free will? Exo_4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
Is there a Verse that tells us we have free will?

I find the topic to be most interesting.
 
Jun 12, 2021
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Did they have to accept Him or did He choose them?
God chose the elects, than some point in their life, he gives them the Holy Spirit. Sinful nature gets removed and they free from the slavery of sin. Only God has the power to free, people from the slavery of sin.
 

brightfame52

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2020
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God chose the elects, than some point in their life, he gives them the Holy Spirit. Sinful nature gets removed and they free from the slavery of sin. Only God has the power to free, people from the slavery of sin.
I dont believe the sinful nature gets removed, but I do believe a new nature is imparted at quickening. It will be henceforth a warfare between the old nature and the new one Gal 5:17

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Yet I tend to agree with the rest of your comment,

God chose an elect people in Christ before the foundation Eph 1:4, they were redeemed at the cross Eph 1:7, they will be quickened to spiritual life because of it sometime in their life, they will be preserved unto glory.
 
Jun 12, 2021
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I dont believe the sinful nature gets removed, but I do believe a new nature is imparted at quickening. It will be henceforth a warfare between the old nature and the new one Gal 5:17

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Yet I tend to agree with the rest of your comment,

God chose an elect people in Christ before the foundation Eph 1:4, they were redeemed at the cross Eph 1:7, they will be quickened to spiritual life because of it sometime in their life, they will be preserved unto glory.
Genesis 6:5
King James Version


5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Top verse is what is like for everyone which is part of total depravity.

1 John 3:1-10 talks about after being given the Holy Spirit.



https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-nature.html

---------------------------------------------------
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
New King James Version


4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [b]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 John 2:15
New King James Version


Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

So nonelects are impossible to love God? Also God is love. I find that family love can't compare to God's love.

1 John 4
 
Jun 12, 2021
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Did they have to accept Him or did He choose them?
John 15:16-19
New King James Version


16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
The World’s Hatred
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
 
Dec 21, 2020
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You're a Calvinist, and that's how you're going to interpret the Bible.

It's pointless to talk about it. Most people (myself included), especially on Christian forums, already have their mind made up about some doctrines, Calvinism being one of them.
 

brightfame52

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2020
6,334
557
113
Genesis 6:5
King James Version


5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Top verse is what is like for everyone which is part of total depravity.

1 John 3:1-10 talks about after being given the Holy Spirit.



https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-nature.html

---------------------------------------------------
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
New King James Version


4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [b]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 John 2:15
New King James Version


Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

So nonelects are impossible to love God? Also God is love. I find that family love can't compare to God's love.

1 John 4
I see you dont understand what I said, thats fine
 

brightfame52

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2020
6,334
557
113
The Fruit of Unconditional Election,

One of the Blessed Fruits of Gods Election of His People is Sanctification of the Spirit,

1 Pet 1:2

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Cp What the Apostle Paul stated 2 Thess 2:13

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Those who were Chosen in Christ before the foundation Eph 1:4 its a sure thing that one day they will undergo the Sanctifying work of the Spirit. Which leads to Gospel Obedience or Faith/Belief of the Truth 9
 

brightfame52

Well-known member
Nov 21, 2020
6,334
557
113
More on the fruit of unconditional election,

Sanctification of the Spirit is equivalent to New Birth of the Spirit, then Faith follows or its equivalent belief of the Truth, which presupposes a effectual Divine Call, and eventually Glorification.

2 Thess 2:13-14

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ
 
Jun 2, 2023
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I studied Calvanistic election for many years. I was on the fence,you see. Its an interesting subject,but I still dont think I accept it.However,there is no denying the Apostle Paul was not looking for salvation in Christ when our Lord struck him with blindness.