Doctrine of Unconditional Election
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There is a point in time when God knows you as a son.
Galatians 4
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Galatians 4
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Wait - did you read the verses I included? They clearly say the elect are children of wrath until becoming justified by Christ.
You can't make it say otherwise just because you don't happen to like what they are telling us, or do you think them incorrect, or God didn't mean what He had Paul write?
Here the verses are again - do you see the "and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the others" part? The "even as the others" means, well, it means that however the "as the others" are, so are the elect until salvation, though being of the elect - they were "dead in sins".
[Eph 2:3-5 KJV]
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
You can't make it say otherwise just because you don't happen to like what they are telling us, or do you think them incorrect, or God didn't mean what He had Paul write?
Here the verses are again - do you see the "and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the others" part? The "even as the others" means, well, it means that however the "as the others" are, so are the elect until salvation, though being of the elect - they were "dead in sins".
[Eph 2:3-5 KJV]
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
rogerg
Thats right, called the election of grace Rom 11:5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace
This election isnt confined to the ethnic jews, it includes the gentile nations
Acts 15:14-18
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Correct, their sins are yet charged against them, so they are called the workers of iniquity Ps 5:5 and Christ never knew them, loved them Matt 7:23
23 And then will I profess unto them*, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
But the elect, whom God loved from everlasting, He doesnt impute iniquity to them Ps 32:2
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Thats right, called the election of grace Rom 11:5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace
This election isnt confined to the ethnic jews, it includes the gentile nations
Acts 15:14-18
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Correct, their sins are yet charged against them, so they are called the workers of iniquity Ps 5:5 and Christ never knew them, loved them Matt 7:23
23 And then will I profess unto them*, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
But the elect, whom God loved from everlasting, He doesnt impute iniquity to them Ps 32:2
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
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We should allow Scripture to stand on its own but in doing so only through the following of the instructions God has provided (in the Bible) for its own interpretation - no single verse should/can stand on its own, but instead (and amongst other instructions) that:
[2Pe 1:20 KJV]
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
[1Co 2:12-14 KJV]
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
[2Pe 1:20 KJV]
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
[1Co 2:12-14 KJV]
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
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Article 8: A Single Decree of Election
This election is not of many kinds, but one and the same for all who were to be saved in the Old and the New Testament. For Scripture declares that there is a single good pleasure, purpose, and plan of God’s will, by which he chose us from eternity both to grace and to glory, both to salvation and to the way of salvation, which God prepared in advance for us to walk in. 4
This election is not of many kinds, but one and the same for all who were to be saved in the Old and the New Testament. For Scripture declares that there is a single good pleasure, purpose, and plan of God’s will, by which he chose us from eternity both to grace and to glory, both to salvation and to the way of salvation, which God prepared in advance for us to walk in. 4
Article 9: Election Not Based on Foreseen Faith
This same election took place, not on the basis of foreseen faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, or of any other good quality and disposition, as though it were based on a prerequisite cause or condition in the person to be chosen, but rather for the purpose of faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, and so on. Accordingly, election is the source of every saving good. Faith, holiness, and the other saving gifts, and at last eternal life itself, flow forth from election as its fruits and effects. As the apostle says, “He chose us” (not because we were, but) “so that we should be holy and blameless before him in love” (Eph. 1:4).
This same election took place, not on the basis of foreseen faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, or of any other good quality and disposition, as though it were based on a prerequisite cause or condition in the person to be chosen, but rather for the purpose of faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, and so on. Accordingly, election is the source of every saving good. Faith, holiness, and the other saving gifts, and at last eternal life itself, flow forth from election as its fruits and effects. As the apostle says, “He chose us” (not because we were, but) “so that we should be holy and blameless before him in love” (Eph. 1:4).
Article 10: Election Based on God’s Good Pleasure
But the cause of this undeserved election is exclusively the good pleasure of God. This does not involve God’s choosing certain human qualities or actions from among all those possible as a condition of salvation, but rather involves adopting certain particular persons from among the common mass of sinners as God’s own possession. As Scripture says, “When the children were not yet born, and had done nothing either good or bad . . . , she (Rebecca) was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated’” (Rom. 9:11-13). Also, “All who were appointed for eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). 4
But the cause of this undeserved election is exclusively the good pleasure of God. This does not involve God’s choosing certain human qualities or actions from among all those possible as a condition of salvation, but rather involves adopting certain particular persons from among the common mass of sinners as God’s own possession. As Scripture says, “When the children were not yet born, and had done nothing either good or bad . . . , she (Rebecca) was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated’” (Rom. 9:11-13). Also, “All who were appointed for eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). 4
Article 12: The Assurance of Election
Assurance of their eternal and unchangeable election to salvation is given to the chosen in due time, though by various stages and in differing measure. Such assurance comes not by inquisitive searching into the hidden and deep things of God, but by noticing within themselves, with spiritual joy and holy delight, the unmistakable fruits of election pointed out in God’s Word—such as a true faith in Christ, a childlike fear of God, a godly sorrow for their sins, a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and so on.
Assurance of their eternal and unchangeable election to salvation is given to the chosen in due time, though by various stages and in differing measure. Such assurance comes not by inquisitive searching into the hidden and deep things of God, but by noticing within themselves, with spiritual joy and holy delight, the unmistakable fruits of election pointed out in God’s Word—such as a true faith in Christ, a childlike fear of God, a godly sorrow for their sins, a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and so on.
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But sometimes, terms aren't clearly defined, right? Because of tenses, and perspective, at least in our language. For example, the saved. One needs to believe in Jesus for salvation to be saved. But God foreknew those He would save. So from the beginning of time, from God's perspective, "the saved" might include an unbeliever who has not yet accepted Christ as Lord, because by Judgement Day, God knows this unbeliever will repent and be saved. But some today might describe this man as "unsaved", because He does not (yet) believe on the Lord Jesus for salvation. Both descriptions are correct, from a certain point of view and in the correct context, no?
