Understanding God’s election

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Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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Not sure what you think I don’t understand because you just agreed with me: People have a choice to respond or to reject. This is how God can be both all-loving and omnipotent.
I have never said man does not have a choice. Man chooses out of their nature. The natural
man is evil. Scripture says so and people scream about it and say man is not that bad.
The natural man is a slave to sin, blinded by the god of this world.
I do not agree that people are forced, try being honest.


It is a wicked God indeed who forces some sinners to be saved and the majority to suffer.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
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And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee. But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

………..But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭3:4-7, 10, 17-21, 27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; And seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes have they closed; Lest they should see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should be converted, And I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭28:24-31‬ ‭

Who wasn’t given to Jesus?

“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭2:8, 12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:32-33‬ ‭
Your not making a distinction between what he said tonisrsel specifically about that people and what is said of everyone not under that covenant which blinded them
Calvinites:

Clueless interpretation of "natural man" = all men are condemned before they were ever born.
Except for them!

Ridiculous, and ultimately blasphemous.
 
Jul 15, 2024
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What difference can prayer make if God has already determined all things that will come to pass?
All things that come to pass includes the answers to our prayers. The Father in His infinite power can traverse His power throughout the history of humanity that includes past, present, and future. He is not limited or stuck in our present life like we are.
 
Jul 15, 2024
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I will focus on your saying that God gives grace to whomever He chooses combined and harmonized with God is not willing that anyone should perish.

I think the key to interpreting these teachings harmoniously is by understanding the "in Christ" of Ephesians 1 to mean that God chooses/elects those who freely respond to His calling by freely accepting Jesus as Christ and Lord. This plan of salvation is what is predestined (EPH 1:4-11)
It is Jesus who died for everyone and it is he that is not willing that anyone should perish, but the Father's will includes His justice which has to be demonstrated to all beings. Rather than condemn everyone, HE displays his grace by saving a few of His choosing, not our choosing. Not only does He choose, but he also fixes by changing the person's motivation for living from love of self first, to love of God first and all others as he loves himself. That is what happens when one is born again, not by the will of the flesh or the will of man, but by the will of God.
 
Jul 15, 2024
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John 6: 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me.
Obviously, the Father and Son have different wills, but it is the will of the Father that the Son obeys.
Notice that the Son obeys the Father's will even while up in heaven.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
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I have never said man does not have a choice. Man chooses out of their nature. The natural
man is evil. Scripture says so and people scream about it and say man is not that bad.
The natural man is a slave to sin, blinded by the god of this world.
I do not agree that people are forced, try being honest.
God is no respecter of men when it comes to dispensing justice.

Yet the Calvinites proclaim Gods EXTREME PREJUDICE in
condemning some and choosing others before the were ever created at a point in time.

The contrary being the fact of the matter utterly destroys the wreckless pretentions of the Calvinites.

Yet there are those who agree with Satan that God is stacking the deck, loading the dice and is the ultimate bad actor and a wicked corrupt judge.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
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John 6: 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me.
Obviously, the Father and Son have different wills, but it is the will of the Father that the Son obeys.
Notice that the Son obeys the Father's will even while up in heaven.
Absolutely correct, the Father and Son DO INDEED have distinct discrete wills.

It's just that they happen to always agree with one another.

Anything less and all of creation would collapse.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
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Calvinites:

Clueless interpretation of "natural man" = all men are condemned before they were ever born.
Except for them!

Ridiculous, and ultimately blasphemous.
[Jhn 12:39-40 KJV]
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

[Mar 4:11-12 KJV]
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.

[1Co 2:14 KJV]
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.

[2Co 4:3-4 KJV]
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
 

Rufus

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Feb 17, 2024
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I disagree it is speculation Adam chose to sin when Adam did not know right from wrong. Good or evil.

Eve persuaded him to eat. Neither of them actually knew the potential consequences of their actions.
So, if Adam didn't choose to sin, who chose on his behalf? And if Adam did not choose to sin, why did God consign him to the Serpent's seed? And if Adam didn't choose to sin, how could God also have justly prescribed temporal punishment for his sin?

And Adam certainly knew what the consequences of his choices would be (cf. Gen 2:17).
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
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Calvinites:

Clueless interpretation of "natural man" = all men are condemned before they were ever born.
Except for them!


Ridiculous, and ultimately blasphemous.
Another lie! Another straw man! Who here said that? I came into this world a condemned man until God had mercy and compassion on me. I was once lost until He found me!
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
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[Jhn 12:39-40 KJV]
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

[Mar 4:11-12 KJV]
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.

[1Co 2:14 KJV]
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.

[2Co 4:3-4 KJV]
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Calvinite cluelessness on display.

You literally have no idea of the meaning in context of these passages.
Mostly OT stuff that is waaaaay past your pay grade.
Which is why you are a Calvinite.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
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I can't really see it that way especially since now you are saying being born again is not a real thing.

Being indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit is not euphemistic. Here again your definition of what flesh means varies quite widely from Scripture, and my understanding.

“The very thing that is indestructible and incorruptible about us is the Living Word of God indwelling us. “

Yeah I agree mankind was created for and had Gods word with them in the beginning as well

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-2, 4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That’s why a man like Enoch lived and didn’t die who walked with god then Jesus was the creator and was always able to give life he gave it to Adam Adam sinned and Brought death

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;

and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18:4‬ ‭

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5:22‬ ‭

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; But he that despiseth his ways shall die.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:22-28‬ ‭

A gods word has always existed and some men. Relieved just like now some believe . Jesus created mankind he’s always been speaking life and also death before mankind. he created mankind alive and warned them of death. They chose death.

As did cain . God gave him a choice and explained the consequences

he chose sin and death. “


So very much is said of being born in Adam, the first man, and needing to be reborn, born again of the Spirit, into the second or last Adam, and you say none of it is real.

again this is not at all what I’ve ever said …..


.
“now you are saying being born again is not a real thing.”

you are definately not following me if you’ve reached this conclusion….

“Being indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit is not euphemistic. ( didn’t ever say it was a euphemism )

“Here again your definition of what flesh means varies quite widely from Scripture, and my understanding.”

i disagree I feel like o quoted a lot of scripture explaining the flesh and spirit in conflict from the Bible and agree with it.


“The man of the flesh according to Scripture is incapable of obeying, loves sin, is darkness itself, suppresses the truth in unrighteousness, is blinded, taken captive to the will of the devil, is hostile to God, and the gospel message is foolishness to him, but you say this man can freely choose to believe that which he cannot understand and is hostile towards. I do not agree one iota with that assessment and you thinking we are in accordance is far far far from the truth of the matter also.

okay sister but again this is a bad characterization of anything I’ve said

The heart of the man needs to be changed before he is freed from his sinful nature enough to make the proper response.

I disagree I believe hesring the word of truth sets us free and grants repentance

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:24-26‬ ‭

We aren’t born there , we follow list and sin and become servants of sin . then need to accept the gospel to be saved from sin and death through bekieving the gospel and getting baptized in Jesus name like Paul taught how the flesh is removed which seems to have upset you ?


This is not your belief, but it is mine, and I have stated it many times, and the crux of our disagreeing with each other.

You can agree that the corruption of man started with Adam but then despite Adam's sin which corrupted all of creation you say it took a long time for man to become bad even though the second man murdered the third man!

right being “corrupted “ mesnt they now became as gods knowing good and evil ot didn’t mean they became inheriantly wicked and incapable of choosing correct .

abel was righteous he wasn’t incapable of doing good and choosing ,

cain also was given a choice by God sister “ do good and be accepted ,

or do not do good and sin is waiting to claim you but you must overcome him

There we’re perfect men who walked with God

“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I’ve of course wuoted several for you lol but those never get addressed

How much more corrupt can it get than that?

Corrupt meant now they knew good and evil and had to overcome the evil or die …..before they sinned ot wasn’t like that they were in Eden and given permission to freely eat from the tree of life . Instead they chose to eat from the tree Of good and evil which God told them by his word , was certain death .

The result was this

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:22-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

now what happened a little later sis ?

“And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭4:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭5:21-24,KJV‬‬

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

amen has always been able to do that but we choose evil that’s in the world instead of the good offered in the gospel ….

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭15:5-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Tour telling me this was all impossible for men to believe in and obey God all along since Adam ?
 

Cranberry

Active member
Dec 7, 2024
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So, if Adam didn't choose to sin, who chose on his behalf? And if Adam did not choose to sin, why did God consign him to the Serpent's seed? And if Adam didn't choose to sin, how could God also have justly prescribed temporal punishment for his sin?

And Adam certainly knew what the consequences of his choices would be (cf. Gen 2:17).
Without the knowledge of good and evil,good,bad,how did Adam have the Cognition to comprehend the consequences aligned with choice?
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
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Calvinite cluelessness on display.

You literally have no idea of the meaning in context of these passages.
Mostly OT stuff that is waaaaay past your pay grade.
Which is why you are a Calvinite.
Yeah, I figured you'd say something like that - it's the standard boilerplate evasion tactic you use when unable to refute any verses in disagreement with your incorrect biblical interpretations. By it, you demonstrate your lack of biblical discernment.
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
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Calvinite cluelessness on display.

You literally have no idea of the meaning in context of these passages.
Mostly OT stuff that is waaaaay past your pay grade.
Which is why you are a Calvinite.
For priding yourself to be the smartest man in the room, how did you miss that the first four passages Roger quoted were all from the NT!? Perhaps you're an Arminian because you can't read too swell? Seems to me clueless is as clueless does!

But you do have your childish, condescending, knee-jerk responses down pat...so I give you that...
 

Pilgrimshope

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Sep 2, 2020
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Another lie! Another straw man! Who here said that? I came into this world a condemned man until God had mercy and compassion on me. I was once lost until He found me!
strange Jesus was telling the sinners they needed to become as little children of never enter his kingdom …who would a thought ll those little
Kids were condemned …..

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:14-15‬ ‭

“and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

children aren’t wicked they are drawn towards God until they are corrupted by the world around them later and become sinners like adults are
 

Rufus

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Feb 17, 2024
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Without the knowledge of good and evil,good,bad,how did Adam have the Cognition to comprehend the consequences aligned with choice?
If Adam didn't know he had sinned against God, why did he feel guilt and run and hide from God?
 

Cranberry

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Dec 7, 2024
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They put themselves on the throne where God alone belongs.
They are made in Gods image and likeness.
Knowing right from wrong,good,evil, are cognizant abilities that permit an informed choice.

Which is what God expected of them when giving them the law against eating of that one tree. They had to know consequence first so to understand wilful disobedience and make a choice to wilfully disobey.

They were created in God's image and likeness but could not be intelligent as was God?
 

Pilgrimshope

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Sep 2, 2020
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They put themselves on the throne where God alone belongs.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Or just acknowledge thier place now tbat they have both good and evil in them .