Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR
- Thread starter MerSee
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Not true, brother. God's sovereign will is not contingent on any of his moral, rational creatures. He works ALL things after the counsel of his own will (Eph 1:11) and in accordance with his own purpose (2Tim 1:9). And these truths are further collaborated with Paul's famous exposition of God's Sovereign Grace in Romans 9.
And we should never lose the reason behind that exposition which is stated very clearly in the first 9 verses of the above chapter. In spite of what many Arminian commentators say, Paul is most definitely laying out the reason why God's word has not failed with respect to Israel's salvation (v.6). He's telling us that it hasn't failed because it was never the natural descendants (i.e. "children of the flesh" who were God's children, rather it was always the children of promise (children born supernaturally and chosen from above)! And who are these "children of promise"? None other than God's elect! And so Paul next begins to prove his premise from the historical accounts of Ishmael and Issac, to which he's alluding (v.9) and then again with Issac's twins Jacob and Esau (vv.10-13.)
Here is what is so fascinating with these two historical examples: In the case of Hagar and Ishmael we have a graphic spiritual picture of what all unregenerate sinners look like -- "born of and only of the flesh". In the case of Issac, we have just the opposite. We have the spiritual picture of God supernaturally intervening by opening Sarah's womb so that she could conceive. What is emphasized in this example is the omnipotent power of God.
But the picture is even more profound in the case of Jacob and Esau since the twins came out of the same womb. Yet even so, it was God's sovereign will that the younger twin Issac be heir to the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant, and conversely that Esau be excluded from participating in those covenant promises. So what is being strongly emphasized with these twins is the sovereignty of God's eternal decrees. And to drive home this point even harder so that the sovereignty of God's decrees (grace) cannot be missed (even though it often is intentionally!) is that this decree of God occurred in eternity and without any regard whatsoever to the future conduct or behavior of either of the twins, proving conclusively that our election is not contingent upon us! It's no wonder, then, that Paul could write what he did in vv. 14-16, is it!? It truly does not depend on man's choice as to whether we want to become children of God or not [through faith]! None of God's sovereign, eternal decrees are contingent on anyone's else's choices.
And then finally, to drive the last nail in his argument Paul proves what he said earlier in this epistle which was that all men are sinners! Pual went on to say that God took from one sinful, depraved, corrupt lump of clay and he made two lumps -- one lump he set aside for noble purposes (his elect) and the other lump (unsaved) remained for "common use". And Paul said, God has a right to do with his creation as he sees fit!
You may erroneously conclude from all this that God's decrees are arbitrary if uncondtional electon is true, but this is not the case. The reason anyone would conclude this is because none of us are privy to the Big Picture -- of how all God's decrees are weaved into his eternal Redemptive Mosaic. So, because we finite creatures can only see and appreciate an infinitesimally smaller picture, many of us are prone to conclude that God acts arbitrarily. But it's impossible for a loving, just, omniscient, all-wise God to act in such a manner. God acts not only according to the counsel of his own will, but also according to his good pleasure and to accomplish his eternal purposes as the Soverign King of this Universe.
Conclusion: The only reason any of us came to saving faith in Jesus Christ because we were predestined to do so in eternity. Therefore, God himself, apart from our knowledge for most of our lives largely, was working in each of our lives day by day, moment by moment, to bring us to the place of faith and repenatance in temporal reality. This is why I marvel at his incomprehensible grace every day of my existence.
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Erm... the disciples didn't understand the parables. They needed to have Jesus explain them...
Ah! Yes
Ah! Yes
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Very well stated! What invariably happens is that labels result in stereotyping.
We have a lot in common. While I'm "familiar" with the works of Calvin and Augustine, I have studied neither per se. I came to the Five Doctrines on Grace solely by the Word and Holy Spirit giving me understanding.
We have a lot in common. While I'm "familiar" with the works of Calvin and Augustine, I have studied neither per se. I came to the Five Doctrines on Grace solely by the Word and Holy Spirit giving me understanding.
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