Understanding God’s 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.

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
22,549
8,105
113
Salvation is consummated in space and time. So while it was in one regard accomplished before the foundation of the world, it was not implemented or consummated before the world was formed.
Which is why FREE WILL and CHOICE are inherently weaved into the warp and woof of all creation.

Including Satan, angels, men and animals.

And BTW @Magenta you have failed to answer me this:

And what was Satan? A "natural Cherub"?
And I will add, were the yet to fall Angels "natural Angels"?

Your "natural man" premise is absurd, and Biblically unsound.
There is OVERWHELMING evidence available that casts this Calvinist rubbish into the dumpster.
And then lets set fire to this dumpster while we are at it.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,729
6,437
113
62
Honesty, yes, but more so harmonization of Scripture, comparable to Einstein's goal in physics, but this is not rocket science, so I expect you will be able to understand as long as your heart is not calloused. The problem is your wording: God casts people into hell, which sounds like an evil God tortures innocent people for eternity.

However, evil people punish/torture themselves by experiencing delayed karma, just as those who experience appropriate justice during this earthly existence also punish themselves or reap what they have sown and send themselves to jail. This view makes souls responsible for breaking the rules rather than blaming evil on the judges (or Judge) who enforce the rules. The purpose of earthly punishment is to promote repentance, but the reason for retribution in hell is to attain justice. It is difficult to imagine, but somehow even someone as evil as Hitler will receive perfect justice, perhaps experiencing the agony of the millions of deaths he caused in accordance with the principal of “eye for eye” (MT 5:38), after which their souls are destroyed forever (per JN 17:12, RM 9:22, GL 6:8, PHP 3:19, 2THS 1:9 & 2PT 3:7).
I'm not talking about justice. I'm talking about love. I know it's difficult to conceive of God as love and reconcile the end of unrepentant man. But what happens is not a manifestation of love, but justice. And regardless of what one believes their final destiny to be, the punishment God meets out does not meet any biblical definition of love...a record of wrongs has been kept.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,729
6,437
113
62
This could not be true if you were in Christ from the foundation of the world. This would be a lie.

Ephesians 2:
2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
This seems to be a concept larger than your grasp. When God decides something, because He is sovereign, it will come to pass. Because of this, God can speak of things that haven't happened as though they have. Because God chose those in Christ when He covenanted with Jesus before time as we know it began, they are spoken of as chosen at that time.

I get that people don't understand this. It rankles the minds of those who understand God and His word to be different than their understanding. And it is often difficult to to replace deeply held beliefs concerning God because one belief tends to be related to many other beliefs.

It's not a salvific issue, so it's not worth the upset that it often causes. So I'm glad we have been able to discuss the matter in a civil tone. Grace and peace.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,729
6,437
113
62
Which is why FREE WILL and CHOICE are inherently weaved into the warp and woof of all creation.

Including Satan, angels, men and animals.

And BTW @Magenta you have failed to answer me this:

And what was Satan? A "natural Cherub"?
And I will add, were the yet to fall Angels "natural Angels"?

Your "natural man" premise is absurd, and Biblically unsound.
There is OVERWHELMING evidence available that casts this Calvinist rubbish into the dumpster.
And then lets set fire to this dumpster while we are at it.
Good thing were not Calvinists.
 
Oct 19, 2024
495
149
43
I'm not talking about justice. I'm talking about love. I know it's difficult to conceive of God as love and reconcile the end of unrepentant man. But what happens is not a manifestation of love, but justice. And regardless of what one believes their final destiny to be, the punishment God meets out does not meet any biblical definition of love...a record of wrongs has been kept.
What part of reconciling divine love and justice do you find difficult? Why do you view God's justice as contradicting His love?
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,878
5,622
113
Adam was not only free to sin but he was definitely going to, because Jesus was not plan B. Not that you said he was (LOL) but you know, he was of the natural world and as much in need of being born again as we are. Except for him it would not be again, would it? But you get the point, right? The Tree of Life was right there but Adam chose death by putting himself on the throne, just as God knew he would. Some say it was out of his love for Eve and in this way Adam is a type of Christ because he gave his life for her... and that may all sound fine and dandy and even a little romantic but we are not told that in Scripture, so I would not hang my hat on it, and we can't say for sure why he listened to his wife and not God, but I contend it was because he was of the natural world, and Scripture does actually have an awful lot to say about the condition of the natural man... and yes, that is post fall. Some even say Adam and Eve already ate from the Tree of Life but Scripture does not make that plain and actually more plainly rather speaks against it. I was looking at a verse earlier today, this one:


1 John 3:8
And wondering what implications it held if any for Adam. I am aware that some go way out on
that line of thinking to the serpent seed doctrines, but I am not going there. And I do wonder
how much the fear of death played into their decision, for that is spoken of in Scripture also, but
then, again, there was the Tree of Life! Man is not the smartest beast, tho he may like to think he is...
sister did God plan this ? This is Gods plan ?

“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.

( this is what he planned out ? )


And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

( Gods plan was to repent because he created us and made us wicked and grieve his own heart ?)


And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; ( didn’t he just create them and give them doninion on earth and call everything very good ?)

both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I’m not sure that I believe Gods plan was for man to become wicked and grieve his heart so much that he decided to destroy mankind and the earth whicch he himself said man was responsible for corrupting things in earth

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. ( God didn’t fill it with violence man did )

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

(he’s blaming the creation for the corruption )


And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:11-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬


I’m not sure what you are hearing me say but would you say that this was Gods plan all along ? For man to become corrupt and eat the fruit of good and evil and corrupt creation to the point they envoke Gods wrath ?


I don’t look at genesis 6 as Gods plan going as intended sister to me his grieved heart and his repentance for ver creating mankind shows it

He didn’t ordain Adam and Eve to sin and die he told them how to live and not die they chose death like people still do today.

God gave them the world and it was good and then they defiled and corrupted it

much of what your saying I agree with I’m not really sure what you think I’ve said but what I’m saying is man’s behavior constently affects Gods dealings with man it’s evident from genesis forward

It’s an interaction it’s been so from the start from this point everyone should see man’s thoughts involvement in creations course

Adam and Eve were made good and later corrupted not by God

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:26-28, 31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And just ten generations later look what man did to earth

“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. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5-6, 12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

i hope this clarifies what I’m saying God created a good creation satan corrupted its rulers and they then corrupted everything that he gave then that was good

thisbisnt just God amusing himself he destroyed earth then because he hadn’t intended to create a world filled with violence and sin and everything wicked he created good for man man made it wicked

a at some point man needs to see our place in creations design what we do affects our whole entire being God doesn’t take our dominion away he’s trying to restore it so we can rule over sin rether than being ruled by it restoring us to what we’re meant to be

reconciling us to the purpose of man
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,729
6,437
113
62
What part of reconciling divine love and justice do you find difficult? Why do you view God's justice as contradicting His love?
I don't have any problems reconciling the two. Each expresses an attribute of God and displays His glory. I just don't buy that casting someone into hell is a manifestation of love, so I don't believe God is manifesting love to all people at all times.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,682
29,023
113
Yes friend. I am the average person and I cant wrap my head around it. It all stops at the commands for me, if God tells us to declare His wonderful works, spread the Gospel, turn away from our sins, live righteous and holy lives................ buuuuut, its God that has to enable us to do it. Then the only conclusion I can come to is: The reason Christians arent doing what they are supposed to is cause GOD isnt enabling them to do it. So its God's fault, not man's fault. Thats where I get on guard dog mode for my Lord and say "it aint so, its our fault, not the Lord's fault!"
Did you circumcise your own heart? And raise yourself from death? To hear some speak, they believe they did...
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,682
29,023
113
sister did God plan this ? This is Gods plan ?
He certainly knew it beforehand.

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis‬ ‭1:26-28, 31‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Yes... that was before Adam sinned. Everything changed after that. The whole universe.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,878
5,622
113
Again, I don't disagree with anything you said. The point I was trying to establish isn't that we shouldn't pursue God in every way possible. I believe we should. I'm considering at what point this actually becomes true of us and what exists in us that disallows this and what happens to us that changes this. In other words, at what point it is possible for an individual to do all you say.
To do all of what believe the gospel as we hear it ? And believing it follow after our new belief ?

what do you mean by “ do all I say ?”

This is all I’m saying we need to do

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:27-30‬ ‭

that’s all im saying we have to do brother and as we do that Jesus teaches us the gospel it does include however repentance and changing of behavior and effort on our part sometimes hardest thing ever it seems but

It’s about each individual believer coming to the truth in the gospel. The first thing is to hear the lord and what he really said about salvstion and accept it that’s how God changes us through hearing and believing the gospel
 
Oct 19, 2024
495
149
43
I don't have any problems reconciling the two. Each expresses an attribute of God and displays His glory. I just don't buy that casting someone into hell is a manifestation of love, so I don't believe God is manifesting love to all people at all times.
Viewing God as schizophrenic is NOT reconciling love and justness, but I also don't buy that God casts people into hell.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,682
29,023
113
Who’s claimed that ?
I did not say anyone claimed it. I said to hear them speak, you would think they believe they did.
Like man is good enough as he is and there is no need for God to do anything to change the man
so that instead of being hostile in his mind toward God, he is able to love Him. They deny that
there are none righteous and unable to obey God. They mock the idea than man needs God's help.
In their theology, being a lover of darkness and suppressing the truth you are able to surrender to God.
 

HeIsHere

Well-known member
May 21, 2022
5,715
2,223
113
Which is why FREE WILL and CHOICE are inherently weaved into the warp and woof of all creation.

Including Satan, angels, men and animals.

And BTW @Magenta you have failed to answer me this:

And what was Satan? A "natural Cherub"?
And I will add, were the yet to fall Angels "natural Angels"?

Your "natural man" premise is absurd, and Biblically unsound.
There is OVERWHELMING evidence available that casts this Calvinist rubbish into the dumpster.
And then lets set fire to this dumpster while we are at it.
The "natural man" is redefined to fit the criteria of a person being some kind of automaton.
Calvinism is really quite sad, arguing that God only loves the elect.
As been stated so many times Christians are called to love their enemies we have a higher moral calling and duty than God.
Makes perfect sense.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,878
5,622
113
He certainly knew it beforehand.
Yea but that’s not what I’m asking I’m asking did he cause it ? Or did man cause it against his Will ?

remember he told them not to do it expressing his Will

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

they actually obeyed satans deceptive will against Gods good will. I’ve never said God didn’t know I said he certainly knows the end from the beginning what I’m saying is he didn’t cause it he willed differently for man he wanted man to live and live one another his Will has never changed

a man changed and caused a lot of chaos and evil and he is working to restore mankind to reconcile them back to himself through Christ

at his doesn’t have anything to do with whether God knows all of course he does but he doesn’t violate man’s free Will and dominion he gave us it’s irrevocable we have an agency God doesn’t force us to live or die he is forms us of life and death and says choose

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

does he know the people that will choose life ? Absolutely has he always knows yes . This doesn’t affect our position in the unfolding plan we still have our role God onows the outcome that doesn’t change it it just means he already knows

about if a man is lost it’s not because God caused it and gave him no choice if a man’s saved of course it’s because Jesus came to save us but also they believed when he came they looked for a savior they wanted freedom from sin they chose the glory they saw

God knows sister I fully agree , but it doesn’t change man’s interactions and causation in earth
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,878
5,622
113
Man sinned. I thought I already said that everything changed at that point.

I am on my way out the door...

See you soon! :coffee::coffee::coffee::coffee::coffee::coffee:
Man changed at that point Jesus came to change us again. Talk again soon wonderful sister always a pleasure
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,682
29,023
113
Man changed at that point Jesus came to change us again. Talk again soon wonderful sister always a pleasure
The whole universe changed! Yes, Jesus is required. But people talk as if He is not. I am surprised you don't
see it on the boards. all the f=griping about who the natural man is according to Scripture, as if it were not true.