Understanding God’s election

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Rufus

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Feb 17, 2024
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Because the Inquisitor read Galatians.
That still doesn't answer my question. If the Jews under the OC could NOT keep ALL the requirements of the Law ALL the Time under ALL circumstances, then what has changed from the OC period to the NC economy? Were people different under the Old dispensation from those under the New? If the OC people could not keep the demands of the Law, then what makes you think that those in the flesh today can obey the demands of the Gospel in order to be saved? In FWT, is it not MAN who makes all the difference in deciding his eternal destiny?
 

Cameron143

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Mar 1, 2022
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Since when is FREEDOM from the Calvinite doctrinal dungeon not a greater gift? Because it is.....very great indeed.
Call it somewhere in the top five gifts.
Let's see...you could have asked for wisdom, and pure heart, peace that passes understanding, to have rivers of living water flowing in and from you, to know the fulness of the love of God. But I guess my 5th prayer would be a worldly selfish gift. Makes sense.
 

cv5

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Let's see...you could have asked for wisdom, and pure heart, peace that passes understanding, to have rivers of living water flowing in and from you, to know the fulness of the love of God. But I guess my 5th prayer would be a worldly selfish gift. Makes sense.
I already have all of those gifts. But thanks for asking.
And the Cavinite-proof armor is there to protect these gifts don't you know.
 

Aaron56

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Jul 12, 2021
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If I may...

The reason man cannot take credit for his own eternal salvation is because the part of man that can respond to God was given by God: his spirit.

In the Ephesians passage above, Paul eludes to this: "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed."

We should ask "Sensitivity to what?" Also, notice that man has lost something that they originally had. That thing is the leading of the Spirit.

The heart of a man's soul is wicked and unable to choose goodness BUT he may choose to NOT resist the Spirit of the Lord.

If anyone wishes I can add much more to this brief post.
 

Kroogz

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Dec 5, 2023
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Not at all. No one knows who the elect are before they become saved, and it is our responsibility as Christians to distribute the
gospel regardless of whether or not we believe they will become saved. If elect, they will eventually become saved and respond to the gospel and demonstrate a belief in Christ which accompanies salvation. But salvation comes first, with it being from/by God not man. Otherwise, it would be by our works and not by grace.
So........What do you tell that man on the street?

The lost man on the Street...."@rogerg, what must I do to be saved?"
 

cv5

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Nov 20, 2018
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If I may...

The reason man cannot take credit for his own eternal salvation is because the part of man that can respond to God was given by God: his spirit.

In the Ephesians passage above, Paul eludes to this: "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed."

We should ask "Sensitivity to what?" Also, notice that man has lost something that they originally had. That thing is the leading of the Spirit.

The heart of a man's soul is wicked and unable to choose goodness BUT he may choose to NOT resist the Spirit of the Lord.

If anyone wishes I can add much more to this brief post.
Men do not take credit for their salvation for the same reasons the Israelites in Egypt could not take credit for the Passover.

EXACT - SAME - REASONS
 

HeIsHere

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May 21, 2022
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I already have all of those gifts. But thanks for asking.
And the Cavinite-proof armor is there to protect these gifts don't you know.

This is from a anecdotal personal perspective but Calvinist theology certainly chipped away at those gifts, especially peace and joy, so I can really relate to your view on this.
 

HeIsHere

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May 21, 2022
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If I may...

The reason man cannot take credit for his own eternal salvation is because the part of man that can respond to God was given by God: his spirit.

In the Ephesians passage above, Paul eludes to this: "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed."

We should ask "Sensitivity to what?" Also, notice that man has lost something that they originally had. That thing is the leading of the Spirit.

The heart of a man's soul is wicked and unable to choose goodness BUT he may choose to NOT resist the Spirit of the Lord.

If anyone wishes I can add much more to this brief post.

I find no scripture that connects/links man's fallen nature to an inability (born that way) to believe in/trust in the gift Christ offers.
 

Kroogz

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Dec 5, 2023
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Men do not take credit for their salvation for the same reasons the Israelites in Egypt could not take credit for the Passover.

EXACT - SAME - REASONS
And the serpent on the pole.
And eating the bread of life.
And drinking the water of life.
And BELIEVING on the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

No merit in it. At all.
 

rogerg

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Jul 13, 2021
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So........What do you tell that man on the street?

The lost man on the Street...."@rogerg, what must I do to be saved?"
I tell them there is nothing that they nor anyone can do to become saved - it comes only as a gift from God -that Jesus Christ alone is the Savior sent by God the Father and should they come to a true belief in Him as such, it is only because God had chosen them for salvation and has saved them - in taking them from non-believing to believing as its result. That is what makes Christ the Savior and man not.
 

Aaron56

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Jul 12, 2021
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Men do not take credit for their salvation for the same reasons the Israelites in Egypt could not take credit for the Passover.

EXACT - SAME - REASONS
That's the Sunday School-level understanding of it. If it works for you go with it.
 

cv5

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Nov 20, 2018
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And the serpent on the pole.
And eating the bread of life.
And drinking the water of life.
And BELIEVING on the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

No merit in it. At all.
Too bad my emojis don't work on my workstation.
Everybody deserves medals.
 

Kroogz

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Dec 5, 2023
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I tell them there is nothing that they nor anyone can do to become saved - it comes only as a gift from God -that Jesus Christ alone is the Savior sent by God the Father and should they come to a true belief in Him as such, it is only because God had chosen them for salvation and has saved them - in taking them from non-believing to believing as its result. That is what makes Christ the Savior and man not.
See. No life. No Cross. No resurrection. No Love. Just an immaterial figment.
 

Rufus

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Feb 17, 2024
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Nope. The version you used (probably the NIV) added the word "your" to the verse. It is not in the actual text. The faith of that verse is NOT the faith of those whom Paul was addressing; it is the faith that exists within the working of God, which faith, is the faith of Christ - His faith brought salvation. We cannot be saved by anything we may do, including by our faith. Christ is the Savior, man is not.
It this case, I believe the KJV states it more correctly. Notice there is no "your" in the verse; notice also that faith is singular : "the faith", not plural, meaning there is only one faith pertaining to the operation of God (or "working of God" per the NIV) and salvation. Given that there is only one, it therefore cannot be referring to the faith of those being addressed, which would then have to be plural.

[Col 2:12 KJV] 12 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.
Good catch, brother! The more literal translations read just as you say. The term "your" is not in any of them! The Darby reads:

Col 2:12
12 buried with him in baptism, in which ye have been also raised with [him]
through faith of the working of God who raised him from among the dead.
Darby

This passage harmonizes beautifully with what Jesus taught in Jn 6:29 wherein he clearly stated that faith is a work of God. It must be, since we have another passage that teaches this about faith:

Acts 15:9
9 He made no distinction between us and them,
for He [God] purified their hearts by faith.
NIV

And of course, these passages are consistent with Eph 2:8-9, etc. We don't have to become mental gymnasts to jump through man-made mental hoops in order to avoid passages that we don't like.
 

rogerg

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Jul 13, 2021
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See. No life. No Cross. No resurrection. No Love. Just an immaterial figment.
Did you actually expect me to go through the entire Bible explaining it all in a post? Really? That's absurd!
If you understood what it means that Christ is the Savior, then you should have realized the phrase is all-inclusive
of the gospel message since the gospel is about Him alone. I assumed you already knew that and kept it to basics- my mistake,
I overestimated you.
 

Cameron143

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Mar 1, 2022
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I already have all of those gifts. But thanks for asking.
And the Cavinite-proof armor is there to protect these gifts don't you know.
Since understanding comes from God and God is the One tasked with the protection of Christians, seems your faith is poorly placed.