Understanding God’s election

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studier

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My responsibility is to raise my kids in the fear and the admonition of the Lord. I do that according to Deuteronomy 6...we talk about the Bible when we rise up and lie down, when we sit in the house and walk by the way. It's my job to teach about God. It's God's job to save.
Try as you might, you will never save anyone. I don't waste my time trying. What I try to do, though, is see what God is doing and join Him in it.
All of my children have been instructed in the ways of the Lord. Some God has engaged with and wonderfully saved. Some have not been so engaged.
I'm not sure you know what it is to really fellowship with God and be led of Him. I'm not talking about simply doing the things the Bible instructs us to do. Rather, I'm referring to doing the things in the Bible as God is personally directing you. There is more to a relationship with God than you have come to know.
Would you call this evangelism? Do they know who Jesus Christ is? Have you told them that God commands all human beings to believe in His Son meaning to submit to Him as the one with all authority in the universe? Just interested in how you approach all this Scripture.
 

HeIsHere

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So, in that mentality......Don't be telling your kids......
Cameron143 said:
I tell my kids I believe they are children of promise, and that God will come to them at some point and save them.
Well @Kroogz I must say this approach regarding the Gospel message and one's children is probably the most depressing thing I have read on this thread.
 

Cameron143

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Would you call this evangelism? Do they know who Jesus Christ is? Have you told them that God commands all human beings to believe in His Son meaning to submit to Him as the one with all authority in the universe? Just interested in how you approach all this Scripture.
Sure it's evangelism. And they are aware of Jesus and what He has done to allow them to be reconciled to God through Him.
Christianity is taught, but it is also caught. That is, it is best understood when it has practical application. I've been fortunate to be employed where I can have my kids work with me. Because of this and homeschooling, I have spent a lot of time with my kids. So as opportunity presents itself, I have been able to teach biblical lessons in the warp and woof of life. My kids have seen biblical doctrine translated into real life circumstances. I have noticed far greater understanding and progression in their walks concerning faith as a result. And I believe this is what God imagined parents would do in training their children.
I certainly am not a perfect father, but all my kids still attend church and none are openly hostile towards God
 

studier

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ProginOskO simple means to know someone before the later time implied by the context.
I'd like to go through more of the proginOskO verses with you as we have time.
You've already explained Acts:26:25 so I added that info.

I bullet pointed 2Pet3:17.

Any preference on which of the other 3 to interpret?

(Acts 26:5 NKJ) "They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

Here, Paul is claiming that his contemporary Jews foreknew him, knew him before his conversion to Christ.
Act 26:4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;​
Act 26:5 Which knew (προγινώσκοντές, present active participle) me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.​
(Rom. 8:29 NKJ) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

(Rom. 11:2 NKJ) God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

(1 Pet. 1:20 NKJ) He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

(2 Pet. 3:17 NKJ) You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
  • This seems pretty simple. 2Pet3:1 says Peter is reminding them of things they'd been taught by the Prophets and the Apostles.
  • 2Pet3:1-13 provides some specifics
  • 2Pet3:14 speaks of looking forward to these things.
  • 2Pet3:17 looks back and says they know these things beforehand - before they happen
 
Jul 3, 2015
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Sure it's evangelism. And they are aware of Jesus and what He has done to allow them to be reconciled to God through Him.
Christianity is taught, but it is also caught. That is, it is best understood when it has practical application. I've been fortunate to be employed where I can have my kids work with me. Because of this and homeschooling, I have spent a lot of time with my kids. So as opportunity presents itself, I have been able to teach biblical lessons in the warp and woof of life. My kids have seen biblical doctrine translated into real life circumstances. I have noticed far greater understanding and progression in their walks concerning faith as a result. And I believe this is what God imagined parents would do in training their children.
I certainly am not a perfect father, but all my kids still attend church and none are openly hostile towards God
How depressing that you are doing just as God desires you to with your children! Shame on you. :rolleyes:

Raising your children in the way they should go. Harumph!

^ The attitude of these free willers is appalling.
 

studier

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Apr 18, 2024
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Sure it's evangelism. And they are aware of Jesus and what He has done to allow them to be reconciled to God through Him.
Christianity is taught, but it is also caught. That is, it is best understood when it has practical application. I've been fortunate to be employed where I can have my kids work with me. Because of this and homeschooling, I have spent a lot of time with my kids. So as opportunity presents itself, I have been able to teach biblical lessons in the warp and woof of life. My kids have seen biblical doctrine translated into real life circumstances. I have noticed far greater understanding and progression in their walks concerning faith as a result. And I believe this is what God imagined parents would do in training their children.
I certainly am not a perfect father, but all my kids still attend church and none are openly hostile towards God
I hope you're not taking my questions defensively. They're not intended as such. Having discussed your thinking on how God saves, it's interesting to see how that has worked out in your parenting and evangelizing approach.

I'm not much for the kind of pithy statements I've underlined but I understand your explanation.

I note you didn't answer my questions about Jesus Christ and God's command to believe in Him. Reason?

Did I read that not all of your kids have believed in Christ? What are their ages or range?
 

HeIsHere

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May 21, 2022
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That's either hyperbole or quite a statement after the content of this thread.
One's children need to be told the full gospel, not wait for God to act on them.

I do find this very sad.....but I do agree the content of this thread is sad.... so yes you raise a good point.

The discussion on one's children, once again like that little boy who came up a while ago waiting to be selected, just makes this "false soteriology" more real, less abstract, if you know what I mean.
 

Cameron143

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How depressing that you are doing just as God desires you to with your children! Shame on you. :rolleyes:

^ The attitude of these free willers is appalling.
I'm very thankful to God for the exceedingly great grace He has shown both to me and my kids. He made ways where there seemed no ways, and given strength when I was without. I do wonder what people make of faith sometimes. Which actually pictures faith: rushing a child to an altar to say a sinner's prayer, or patiently training a child and expecting God will honor your commitment?
 

Cameron143

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One's children need to be told the full gospel, not wait for God to act on them.

I do find this very sad.....but I do agree the content of this thread is sad.... so yes you raise a good point.

The discussion on one's children, once again like that little boy who came up a while ago waiting to be selected, just makes this "false soteriology" more real, less abstract, if you know what I mean.
My children know the gospel as much as you do. And they actually understand that election is not selection, and that God chooses His words very purposefully. You, however, do not.
 

Cameron143

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I hope you're not taking my questions defensively. They're not intended as such. Having discussed your thinking on how God saves, it's interesting to see how that has worked out in your parenting and evangelizing approach.

I'm not much for the kind of pithy statements I've underlined but I understand your explanation.

I note you didn't answer my questions about Jesus Christ and God's command to believe in Him. Reason?

Did I read that not all of your kids have believed in Christ? What are their ages or range?
I did answer your question concerning God's command to believe indirectly, but so there is no confusion...yes. And I appreciate your questions and do not take offense.
My kids are between the ages of 16 and 29. Of the 7, 3 have made professions of faith and been baptized.
And got it...no more pithy statements for you.
 
Jul 3, 2015
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Election is to WHOM God foreknew...
Romans 8:29. Again, words are important.

Romans 8 verse 29-30; Ephesians 1 verse 5 ~ Those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will.
 
Jul 3, 2015
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Election is to WHOM God foreknew...
Romans 8:29. Again, words are important.
Just more Scripture truth for them to ignore, contradict, and outright deny...


From 1 Peter 1 verses 3-5 ~ The elect are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood. By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
 
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From Ephesians 1 According to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, God has made known to us the mystery of His will, which He purposed in Christ before the foundation of the world. In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him Who works out everything by the counsel of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
 

studier

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My kids are between the ages of 16 and 29. Of the 7, 3 have made professions of faith and been baptized.
Based upon what I recall re: your beliefs, what are your thoughts re: why God has not changed their hearts so they can believe?

Can you see things in their lives or thinking that seem to make some sense out of why they don't believe? IOW, you seem close to them, so you must have some sense or thoughts about their thinking - maybe even knowledge by their explaining it to you.

Are you concerned that God won't change their hearts?

As I recall, it's not an election issue for you, so this isn't a question as to whether or not they're elect per the Calvinist view, correct?