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.

Cranberry

Active member
Dec 7, 2024
122
41
28
It is a difficult situation for a sentient being with supposed free will to have to deal with. Job cursed the day he was born. Many times I have wished for a ctrl-z
I've often thought there's a gap in the Old Testament narrative. Parts missing that could otherwise afford a more complete tapestry that brings all the stories together in a more complete picture.

I recently found my way to the Cepher. I've never heard of this before so I did a little digging.

Please share your thoughts if you read this link.
http://www.cepher.net/what-is-the-e...rTnBwi-uaDyBBuFYyEh7mNvqqKvDTnJjLpZm9b33Gpa7w
 

Cranberry

Active member
Dec 7, 2024
122
41
28
I would say Adam knew good in knowing God. The evil he came to know after disobeying God was within himself.

Trying to hide and cover the fact that he lost God's covering was definitely not up to God's standard.
He only knew the one reality in Eden. He wasn't conscious of anything to exist other than his present state prior to eating.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,096
30,223
113
He only knew the one reality in Eden. He wasn't conscious of anything to exist other than his present state prior to eating.
Not conscious of anything to exist? What do you mean by that? He knew God. He named all the animals. He knew Eve.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
3,376
1,002
113
Please give me chapter and verse on God's "unconditional" love.

And I'm also still waiting for an answer to my question re Romans: Did Paul write to Jewish believers or unbelievers or both?

Secondly, I'm still waiting on your interpretation of Rom 1:13, as well.

Thanks.
The eternal atonement that Jesus provided cannot be anything but unconditional love.

Romans 5:8-10
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having
been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Paul stated that we were enemies and Christ gave His life for us.

That is unconditional love for His creation.

Paul wrote Romans primarily to the Jews in Rome (2-11) and secondly to the Gentiles in Rome (12-16).

You can't possibly be quoting Romans 1:13 as a basis for supporting, Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion?

Even AI identified the context in Romans and AI has a superior comprehension to us.

Still you dig your heels in.

Some people state that AI does not understand the spiritual?

Context and the literal reading of Romans is not a spiritual matter.

The argument is about Calvin ignoring the context and generating an erroneous theology.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
3,376
1,002
113
He only knew the one reality in Eden. He wasn't conscious of anything to exist other than his present state prior to eating.
We do not know what Adam may have known.

Adam had open discourse with God Himself and unhindered discourse at that.

It is pure speculation to assume what Adam may have known.
 
Nov 1, 2024
1,143
372
83
I've often thought there's a gap in the Old Testament narrative. Parts missing that could otherwise afford a more complete tapestry that brings all the stories together in a more complete picture.

I recently found my way to the Cepher. I've never heard of this before so I did a little digging.

Please share your thoughts if you read this link.
http://www.cepher.net/what-is-the-e...rTnBwi-uaDyBBuFYyEh7mNvqqKvDTnJjLpZm9b33Gpa7w
It appears to be associated with the Hebrew Roots movement. The fact that it's promoted and sold on WND by Joseph Farah is enough for me to know to stay away from it.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,740
441
83
I believe he took great care in crafting each and every soul within the womb and every person is special I am not sure I understand what you mean by what you said condemning them to hell? when have I ever said such a thing or even implied that?
What do you say happens to those whom God does not specially elect?

I believe God took great care in crafting His POS that graces all people with the opportunity to become elect/saved by means of faith, not miracles/proof.
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
2,978
397
83
I guess both of you are special, so the question becomes: Why do you believe God does not love everyone enough to make them special, too, instead of condemning them to hell?
The very question you ask reveals your misconception about God's love. Can a good, holy and righteous God actually love evil in the same way he loves good? Your question implies (at least to me) that you think God unconditionally loves all his moral agents regardless of their standing with him or their sins. Yet, one would be very hard-pressed to find this notion of unconditional love in scripture. God's love is many things, but "unconditional" isn't one of them. For one thing, God's love toward his elect is a very personal, intimate, familial and sacrificial kind of love. It's the kind of love that motivates God to adopt sons and daughters into his royal and holy family; whereas God's general disposition toward the world is one of benevolence, which is manifested to all mankind every day by his common grace, i.e. grace by which most often both saints and sinners and, in fact, all living creatures benefit.

But another aspect of common grace are the temporal, earthly blessings that God can bestow even upon his non-covenant people. (Ishmael is a great example of this.) Even the wicked, God often allows to prosper for a season.
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
2,978
397
83
Did he though?
Adam did not know either good or evil prior to eating of the tree.
How could he wilfully disobey God consciously knowing the consequences he faced should he eat if he didn't know right from wrong?
But Adam knew God and his goodness since he was indwelt by the Holy Spirit and actually had empirical evidence of God, as well. Not only did Adam know the goodness of God but he was very aware of His wisdom which was clearly manifested through everything He created. There's a reason why Adam's sin is categorized as "transgression", which denotes a willful, deliberate choice to sin.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,491
2,697
113
What do you say happens to those whom God does not specially elect?

I believe God took great care in crafting His POS that graces all people with the opportunity to become elect/saved by means of faith, not miracles/proof.
I wouldn't call it being an elect rather those who accept his gift of grace given to all to recieve and those who reject it or are evil in heart.
The ones who reject him and live evil lives do go to hell I know because I have been to hell before I saw the lake of fire I saw the tortured souls there
Some believe he doesn't send anyone to hell this is something I deeply wish was true I mourn for the people there especially this one man I met there I pray to this day that he might have mercy on this man and bring him home.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,628
5,897
113
Is being born again heart circumcision? Or is heart circumcision being born again? I see them as two separate things.
The circumcision of Christ is baptism in his name for remission of sins

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism,

wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. ( born again having no sins they’ve been remitted )

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, ( it’s our flesh that’s the issue )

hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:9-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Born again “ isn’t literal it’s a concept . Where our sins are all taken away and it’s like we’re born anew without the weight of our sins also we take on a new identity in this process

When we believe the gospel and get baptized in his name our new man is identified or “ born in Christ “

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:26-29‬ ‭

Those phrases like “ circumcision of the flesh “ have doctrine tbat explains what the phrases actually mean “ born again “ happens when you hear the word of God and respond to it the word of zgod is the gospel . There’s no other hidden secret ways or things to save us it’s just the gospel Jesus accomplished and sent to us all for salvstion

If we don’t believe the gospel we cannot be saved but if we do believe the gospel we shall be saved. Part of the process involved is being “ born again “ of the spirit or “quickened by the spirit “


It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That’s why we have to listen to his word it quickens us changes our mind from the state of rebellion man has fallen into. There’s no one left like this

“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Everyone became over time like this

“The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, And seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: There is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭14:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This hasn’t been the case always

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭

job didn’t need his flesh circumcised he was an upright perfect man in Gods eyes . There’s even a witness tbat job could deliver his own soul with his own righteousness thisbof course being before God looked down and saw there was no man left that was worthy .

The circumcision your speaking of comes out of the law and Gods observations of Israels rebellion I can show you what I mean if you wish
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
2,978
397
83
The eternal atonement that Jesus provided cannot be anything but unconditional love.

Romans 5:8-10
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having
been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Paul stated that we were enemies and Christ gave His life for us.

That is unconditional love for His creation.

Paul wrote Romans primarily to the Jews in Rome (2-11) and secondly to the Gentiles in Rome (12-16).

You can't possibly be quoting Romans 1:13 as a basis for supporting, Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion?

Even AI identified the context in Romans and AI has a superior comprehension to us.

Still you dig your heels in.

Some people state that AI does not understand the spiritual?

Context and the literal reading of Romans is not a spiritual matter.

The argument is about Calvin ignoring the context and generating an erroneous theology.
Who do you think the "we" and "us" are in Rom 5:8-10? Each and every person in the world? Was that to whom Paul was writing his letter -- to everyone under the sun? But how can that be since the unrepentant sinners in the world ARE (i.e. currently, right now, presently) enemies of God and not reconciled to Him!? But note in the passage the past tense of the verb "were"!

Rom 1:13 identifies Paul's original audience.

And, yet, I'm the one ignoring context!? Oy, vey! Yet, you ignore entire words and phrases in passages so that you can support your unbiblical presuppositions.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,733
8,603
113
Still, Scripture is pretty clear about the natural man
It is. But you are not.
The Calvinites have made this passage some kind of shibboleth.

The entire Bible is self-referential, and the ENTIRE BIBLE must agree with itself. And does.
But it does not agree with what the Calvinites are declaring.

A shibboleth (/ˈʃɪbəlɛθ, -ɪθ/ ;[1][2] Biblical Hebrew: שִׁבֹּלֶת, romanized: šībbōleṯ) is any custom or tradition, usually a choice of phrasing or single word, that distinguishes one group of people from another.
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
2,978
397
83
The circumcision of Christ is baptism in his name for remission of sins

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism,

wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. ( born again having no sins they’ve been remitted )

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, ( it’s our flesh that’s the issue )

hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:9-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Born again “ isn’t literal it’s a concept . Where our sins are all taken away and it’s like we’re born anew without the weight of our sins also we take on a new identity in this process

When we believe the gospel and get baptized in his name our new man is identified or “ born in Christ “

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:26-29‬ ‭

Those phrases like “ circumcision of the flesh “ have doctrine tbat explains what the phrases actually mean “ born again “ happens when you hear the word of God and respond to it the word of zgod is the gospel . There’s no other hidden secret ways or things to save us it’s just the gospel Jesus accomplished and sent to us all for salvstion

If we don’t believe the gospel we cannot be saved but if we do believe the gospel we shall be saved. Part of the process involved is being “ born again “ of the spirit or “quickened by the spirit “


It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That’s why we have to listen to his word it quickens us changes our mind from the state of rebellion man has fallen into. There’s no one left like this

“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Everyone became over time like this

“The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, And seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: There is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭14:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This hasn’t been the case always

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭

job didn’t need his flesh circumcised he was an upright perfect man in Gods eyes . There’s even a witness tbat job could deliver his own soul with his own righteousness thisbof course being before God looked down and saw there was no man left that was worthy .

The circumcision your speaking of comes out of the law and Gods observations of Israels rebellion I can show you what I mean if you wish
Don't you know that the "fear of the Lord" that was in Job's heart was also a gift from God? Job didn't "need circumcision of the flesh"? Job was different from the rest of the human race? He was born righteous, was he?

And since "born again" shouldn't be taken literally, then I suppose we shouldn't take literally that the NC people of God are [literally] God's new creation?
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,740
441
83
The very question you ask reveals your misconception about God's love. Can a good, holy and righteous God actually love evil in the same way he loves good? Your question implies (at least to me) that you think God unconditionally loves all his moral agents regardless of their standing with him or their sins. Yet, one would be very hard-pressed to find this notion of unconditional love in scripture. God's love is many things, but "unconditional" isn't one of them. For one thing, God's love toward his elect is a very personal, intimate, familial and sacrificial kind of love. It's the kind of love that motivates God to adopt sons and daughters into his royal and holy family; whereas God's general disposition toward the world is one of benevolence, which is manifested to all mankind every day by his common grace, i.e. grace by which most often both saints and sinners and, in fact, all living creatures benefit.

But another aspect of common grace are the temporal, earthly blessings that God can bestow even upon his non-covenant people. (Ishmael is a great example of this.) Even the wicked, God often allows to prosper for a season.
The part of GW that I don’t see you including in your hermeneutic is hell. It is a wicked God indeed who forces some sinners to be saved and the majority to suffer. No, it is Divine love that is unconditional and forgiveness that is conditional upon sinners willing to accept God’s grace by nonmeritorious faith.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,355
521
113
The part of GW that I don’t see you including in your hermeneutic is hell. It is a wicked God indeed who forces some sinners to be saved and the majority to suffer. No, it is Divine love that is unconditional and forgiveness that is conditional upon sinners willing to accept God’s grace by nonmeritorious faith.
Calvinism is like a drunk standing in the middle of a busy street directing traffic.

How can man be in God's image if there is no freedom of choice?
 

Cranberry

Active member
Dec 7, 2024
122
41
28
But Adam knew God and his goodness since he was indwelt by the Holy Spirit and actually had empirical evidence of God, as well. Not only did Adam know the goodness of God but he was very aware of His wisdom which was clearly manifested through everything He created. There's a reason why Adam's sin is categorized as "transgression", which denotes a willful, deliberate choice to sin.
Did Adam the serpent was lying?
 

Cranberry

Active member
Dec 7, 2024
122
41
28
It appears to be associated with the Hebrew Roots movement. The fact that it's promoted and sold on WND by Joseph Farah is enough for me to know to stay away from it.
I'll look into it some more. I don't know the reputation of WND. There are many on-line references to the work .