Is unconditional election biblical?

  • 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.

Is unconditional election biblical?

  • Yes, unconditional election is biblical.

    Votes: 23 43.4%
  • No , unconditional election is not biblical.

    Votes: 27 50.9%
  • I don't know.

    Votes: 3 5.7%

  • Total voters
    53

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,577
9,094
113
Actually Adam said she is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. They had immortal, incorruptible bodies until they ate of the forbidden fruit. The forbidden fruit was the grape, the blood of the grape as Scripture describes it. Blood entered their bodies, corrupting their bodies and making their bodies mortal, therefore, the life is in the blood because of mortality. Take the blood out, the body ceases to live.
This is intriguing to me.

Can you show me in Scripture where the fruit Adam and Eve ate was grapes? Do you think Jesus' resurrected body had Blood?
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,190
113
If you think Romans 11:32 is best understood in context why don't you talk about that scripture instead of all that stuff you wrote?

I asked you what you thought a verse means and you wrote a couple hundred words about how much you hate Calvinism instead of even one word about the Bible

:(
How can you logically continue to disagree with Total Depravity when Romans 11:32 shows that its true?

You can't. But what you can do is create an emotional argument about how God isn't fair, according to Calvinism, and how He is mean, according to Calvinism...

Its not even according to Calvinism. Its according to someones imagination that Calvinism comes against.


According to Calvinism it is Gods Mercy that ANY are saved.

Romans 9:14 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Isn't this case closed on the whole argument?


What about when the Lord Jesus says there are none good but God? Wouldn't that be total depravity if there are NONE good?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,109
3,686
113
This is intriguing to me.

Can you show me in Scripture where the fruit Adam and Eve ate was grapes? Do you think Jesus' resurrected body had Blood?
The resurrected body of Jesus was flesh and bone but no blood.

The only fruit that we know of in scripture is the grape to the one taking the nazarite vow to be separated unto God.

Numbers 6
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord:
3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
4 All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.

Notice the grape is from a tree, a vine tree.

Comparison, Adam ate of the forbidden fruit was naked and ashamed. Noah drank of the forbidden fruit was naked and ashamed. They both had thre named boys, one was a rebel. They both were commanded to replenish the earth.

Genesis 49:11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

The juice from a grape represents blood.

Their bodies had no blood until they ate of the vine tree. Blood represents sin. Jesus bled out representing getting rid of sin. We are born in Adam, we have his blood. Jesus was not born of Adam, He had God’s blood. He was begotten by the Father.

So much more to add...
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
4,110
960
113
Well, if it hasn't been able to be disproved, what's the problem? ;)

"But man, being endowed with reason, and in this respect similar to God, having been made free in his will, and with power over himself, is himself his own cause that sometimes he becomes wheat, and sometimes chaff." -Ireneus (130-202 A.D.).

BING search criteria: has science proven we have free will

  • Study Tackles Neuroscience Claims to Have Disproved ‘Free ...
    https://news.ncsu.edu/2018/03/free-will-review-2018
    Some researchers have argued neuroscience studies prove that free will is an illusion. But a new analysis of these studies shows that many contained methodological inconsistencies and …
  • Free Will Exists and Is Measurable - The Atlantic
    https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/06/free-will-exists-and-is-measurable/486551
    Jun 10, 2016 · Free Will Exists and Is Measurable. The physical brain does not produce consciousness, so much as serve as a filter that allows primordial consciousness to trickle into our awareness in a very limited fashion, which is the “here-and-now” that we experience in normal waking reality. As I have argued elsewhere,...
    • Author: Stephen Cave
  • The Creativity Post | A Scientist's Defense of Free Will
    https://www.creativitypost.com/article/has_neuro_science_buried_free_will
    Jan 27, 2015 · Since the cause-effect relationship is the fundamental tenet of science, if you are in one fashion or another defending free will, then you are wasting your time and giving in to this anti-scientific nonsense, saying that here is something which has not been caused. When talking about free will, the one thing that is almost invariably brought up by free will deniers is the famous Libet experiment.
    • Author: Mahir S. Ozdemir, Ph.D.
Good stuff about free will. Nevertheless, let say what Christ says.

John 16:7-15 King James Version (KJV)

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The work of the Holy Spirit is very crucial to understand whether it is a conditional or unconditional thing. The context shows that the Holy Spirit as Christ says is that ‘he will guide’, he shall testify of Christ. His will is to guide which is to lead or shew. IOW, to reveal, to make it plain, allowed to be seen, to make evident clear. This indicates the Holy Spirit only shows, leads sinners into believing for salvation. The sinner, on the other hand, has his ‘will’ to choose either to reject or accept it. If he believes, he is not condemned but if not the wrath of God is still in him. That harmonizes the scripture in John 3:16-18
 
7

7seasrekeyed

Guest
Actually Adam said she is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. They had immortal, incorruptible bodies until they ate of the forbidden fruit. The forbidden fruit was the grape, the blood of the grape as Scripture describes it. Blood entered their bodies, corrupting their bodies and making their bodies mortal, therefore, the life is in the blood because of mortality. Take the blood out, the body ceases to live.

Grapes are grouped together botanically into the genus Vitis, which comprises 65 species native to woodlands and thickets across temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. They are woody, deciduous vines or climbing shrubs, but often attached themselves to trees.

they are not growing on trees

never heard this explanation before :unsure:
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
Good stuff about free will. Nevertheless, let say what Christ says.

John 16:7-15 King James Version (KJV)

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The work of the Holy Spirit is very crucial to understand whether it is a conditional or unconditional thing. The context shows that the Holy Spirit as Christ says is that ‘he will guide’, he shall testify of Christ. His will is to guide which is to lead or shew. IOW, to reveal, to make it plain, allowed to be seen, to make evident clear. This indicates the Holy Spirit only shows, leads sinners into believing for salvation. The sinner, on the other hand, has his ‘will’ to choose either to reject or accept it. If he believes, he is not condemned but if not the wrath of God is still in him. That harmonizes the scripture in John 3:16-18
Good stuff there. :)
Really, free will cannot be proven to not exist. The old aphorism, "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence,"
People exercise free will which includes choice, and they also exercise personal discretion.


Free will. Probably the most common definition of free will is the "ability to make choices without any prior prejudice, inclination, or disposition,"^[1]^ and specifically that these "free will" choices are not ultimately predestined by God. " Theopedia, Free Will
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
If you think Romans 11:32 is best understood in context why don't you talk about that scripture instead of all that stuff you wrote?


I asked you what you thought a verse means and you wrote a couple hundred words about how much you hate Calvinism instead of even one word about the Bible

:(

I am not responsible for your thoughts.
You introduced the verse from Romans. It is your responsibility to show how it applies to the subject you're responding to, the quoted member you're responding to.
Cherry picking verses because they contain a word you think defends Calvinism doesn't actually demonstrate good exegesis on the topic. And all that stuff I wrote is Biblical. As are the many posts where I've cited scripture that firmly refutes Calvinism.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
Actually Adam said she is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. They had immortal, incorruptible bodies until they ate of the forbidden fruit. The forbidden fruit was the grape, the blood of the grape as Scripture describes it. Blood entered their bodies, corrupting their bodies and making their bodies mortal, therefore, the life is in the blood because of mortality. Take the blood out, the body ceases to live.
Those are Adam's words in, the Book of Genesis chapter 2 and verses 23 through 25. You just missed God's words in verse 22.
The Book of Genesis chapter 2 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong, but I can't. If a thing is free to be good it's also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will?​
Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata -of creatures that worked like machines- would hardly be worth creating. The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they've got to be free.​
Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently, He thought it worth the risk. (...) If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will -that is, for making a real world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings- then we may take it it is worth paying.​
C.S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity
I think the argument that says man has not free will forgets the fall in the garden. Adam exercised free will, choice, when he was persuaded to eat of the fruit, which is never identified in scripture but is commonly thought to be an apple, which Eve offered him.
And Eve made a free will choice when she was persuaded by the serpent to eat of that tree first, knowing God had forbidden it to them, and after hearing the serpents argument for eating thereof, which countered God's command, the first law of God, not to eat.

Sadly, it appears only Calvinists and certain , if not all, of the Reformed Doctrinaires believe they have no free will.
Which can be understood when they accept the tenets in the TULIP formula. All five points of TULIP refute man having free will. And all things that happen to man, under TULIP, is God's doing.
So really, it is a part of their agreement with the doctrine they've accepted as truth, when they state they have no free will.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
So what I hear you saying is that you believe that Jesus Christ is who He said He is, the Son Of God, and did what he said He did, die for our sin, and was resurrected to life, because of your intellect and wisdom in figuring out that the Bible was true, and other religions were false.

So is it fair to say you came to Christ because you were smart enough to realize that the Word is true?

And if that is true, isn't it also fair to say that you could boast because of that intellect? And others who are not as smart as you can't figure it out?

And if that is not true, then the question remains. Why do YOU believe?
Is that argument suppose to sustain or prove the validity of the "I" in TULIP, Irresistible Grace?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,109
3,686
113
Grapes are grouped together botanically into the genus Vitis, which comprises 65 species native to woodlands and thickets across temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. They are woody, deciduous vines or climbing shrubs, but often attached themselves to trees.

they are not growing on trees

never heard this explanation before :unsure:
Scripture says a vine tree. Google images, you’ll see.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,109
3,686
113
Those are Adam's words in, the Book of Genesis chapter 2 and verses 23 through 25. You just missed God's words in verse 22.
The Book of Genesis chapter 2 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Ok, still no blood. Btw, ribs are bones...
 
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
If you think Romans 11:32 is best understood in context why don't you talk about that scripture instead of all that stuff you wrote?

I asked you what you thought a verse means and you wrote a couple hundred words about how much you hate Calvinism instead of even one word about the Bible

:(
Sadly, and I do mean sadly, they do not talk about Scripture, handle Scripture correctly, look at the Scriptural arguments proving our position, glorifying God &c. The continuance of name calling the doctrines, ridicule, malice, shameful responses, ignorance? That's what is concentrated on in the many responses against said biblical truths. That is the fruit I'm seeing.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
According to your idea of the garden and creation. You cannot prove your point with scripture.
And saying the fruit of the forbidden tree was grapes, doesn't actually comport with scripture either. The fruit of that tree is never identified in scripture.
To say it was grapes is an enormous interpolation on your part. I don't think you realize that if that were the fruit, and all that you've said as pertains to the grape, then what of Jesus when, as His first miracle recorded in the Book of John, He turned casks of water into wine during the wedding at caanan?
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
4,110
960
113
How can you logically continue to disagree with Total Depravity when Romans 11:32 shows that its true?

You can't. But what you can do is create an emotional argument about how God isn't fair, according to Calvinism, and how He is mean, according to Calvinism...

Its not even according to Calvinism. Its according to someones imagination that Calvinism comes against.


According to Calvinism it is Gods Mercy that ANY are saved.

Romans 9:14 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Isn't this case closed on the whole argument?


What about when the Lord Jesus says there are none good but God? Wouldn't that be total depravity if there are NONE good?
Whether grace or mercy takes faith "whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed"

Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
Sadly, and I do mean sadly, they do not talk about Scripture, handle Scripture correctly, look at the Scriptural arguments proving our position, glorifying God &c. The continuance of name calling the doctrines, ridicule, malice, shameful responses, ignorance? That's what is concentrated on in the many responses against said biblical truths. That is the fruit I'm seeing.
Tragically, you ignore the verse Posthuman shared that has no particular point in the discussion if we're to attribute right context to an argument concerning Election and all of its points.
Proper exegesis, just so that you are aware, does not cherry pick scriptures in order to extract a word or sentence from said cherry picked verse thinking that sustains the argument.
Ignorance? Oh, yes. Deep, centuries old ignorance. John Calvin is responsible for countless souls going to Hell. As are all the patriarchs of old who promoted TULIP, and made the God of the Christians into the Satan of the totally depraved reformers.

In truth, if you wish to criticize name calling in these discussions, you should first chastise the Calvinists and the Reformed Theology adherents in these threads. Right after you commit to very serious introspection as to your conduct.

To be very clear, calling a Devil a Devil, which is what John Calvin was, is not name calling! We are told to exercise righteous judgment when we judge not appearances but acts. John Calvin's acts are deplorable. He sought to murder those who did not agree, concede, to his theology.
Thou shalt not murder!

A man of God does not see to it that opponents of his theology, those who stand with the scriptures rightly preached, are to be burned alive so as to silence truth. John Calvin was not of God.
And if one of these threads concerning the particulars of his heresy against God's holy teaching reaches one person reading so that they renounce Calvinism, or commit with the knowledge we've parsed out , to searching deeper in the scriptures for the Truth of God in Christ, thank GOD!
That's one less soul to have to answer for following Calvin, while demeaning God, and Jesus' work on the cross.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,787
13,546
113
It's easy to disprove Total Depravity. Firstly, it cannot pertain to an Omni-Benevolent Omniscient God that created man in His image and likeness.
why not?

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all
(Romans 11:32)

is that verse true?
what does it really mean?
Those verses have not a thing to do with my remarks.
here is what Romans 11:32 has to do with "man can't be depraved because an Omni-benevolent & omniscient God created him after His image and likeness"

we'll call that statement A

A presumes that it is not good that man is concluded under sin.
the scripture says, God concluded all under sin.
if A is true then Romans 11:32 either isn't true, or it doesn't mean anything like what it literally says.
that 's what it has to do with your remarks.


the scripture says God concluded us all in sin, in unbelief. and it says why He did so: in order that He might have mercy on us all.

Jesus Christ is the righteousness and the demonstration of the mercy of God:

For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Romans 3:22-26)
scripture says why He concluded all under sin, and it is good: in order that He might show mercy to all. in order demonstrate His righteousness. in order that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Him. in order that boasting be excluded. in order that all things be to His glory.

consider the situation when Adam and the woman became poisoned by sin. He could have destroyed them in condemnation immediately, and be just. but in His mercy He pronounced the judgement of The Seed and cursed the ground for Adam's sake. and Adam understood, and changed her name to Eve.
God allowed you and i to have existence.
in order to have mercy on us.
in order to demonstrate His righteousness.
in order to be just and The Justifier of us whosoever has faith in Him.
in order to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels He created for His mercy.
in order to make His great power and patience known.

in order that boasting be excluded.
in order to work all things together for His good.
because it is His good pleasure.
because everything He does is good.
because He does all His will.
because He knows and declares the end from the beginning.

because His word doesn't go out without accomplishing its purpose.
because He is the Beginning and the End.


i hope that makes sense now?

would you mind telling me what you think Romans 11:32 means?

thanks :)