Understanding God’s election

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Feb 14, 2022
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Y’all would get a lot farther in this discussion if you would realize that grace means gift so you should use those terms synonymously, which means faith must refer to willingness to accept God’s grace/gift.
I wholly agree. The promise of grace and faith of Jesus Christ, is the gift of God.

Eph{2:8} For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

It is the good news of the gospel promised to all that repent of deeds against Him. Those who do not repent, do not recieve His grace and faith to do His righteousness.

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The unrepentant by definition do no want any help from God or man, not do their own sinful pleasures.
 
Feb 14, 2022
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Do Calvinists have anything else they can discuss?

It's a one topic denomination.
Thaty pretty much applies to all separatist groups within Christianity. The only thing they have to talk about with 'outsiders' is their special little rule of doctrine that separates them from the common faith and body of Christ.

The Bible record of such divisional sects began with circumcisionists, and continues with created christ believers, water baptism saviors, sabbath commanders, predeterminists, pentecostal holiness ordinances, etc... And they all have whole volumes of scholarship to prove themselves, because Scripture does not say it plainly, and in some cases plainly speaks against them.
 
Jul 3, 2015
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The question becomes what does one do with something that contradicts what they have been taught? :unsure:
You ignore it. Like literally, YOU ignore it... and/or claim it doesn't mean what it plainly says.


1 Corinthians 4:7b; John 3:27; Romans 9:15-16 What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did also receive it, why do you boast as not having received it? John replied, "A man can receive only that which is given him from heaven." "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then, it does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
:)
 
Nov 17, 2015
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Ephesians 1:13 is the sealing of the Holy Spirit and not the indwelling of the Spirit. There's a big difference.
I have to admit that I just failed to see your counterpoint. Obviously, vv 1-4 presents the unregenerate state of man or describes the past manner of life of the Ephesian believers being dead on trespassses and sins vv1, 4 and were before the children of disobedience or wrath.vv 2-3 Yet, despite that, God' mercy and his great love flow down amidist the condition of man. Now v5 stated that " Even when we dead in sins, hath quickened ( made alive)" which you concluded it as regeneration before faith. The fact is you exclude what Paul is saying on the same verse 5 clarifying the matter that it is by grace they are saved which connects the dots in v8 particularly. Your argument that vv1-5 places before v8 makes no sense as he is addressing how one gets saved from sin, to which i have countered that with Ephesians 1:13 which places before Ephesians 2:1-5 using your argument. Again, you have merely understood this Ephesians. 1:13 as merely sealing and not indwelling of the Spìrit by which you ignored the first part, speaking of salvation which connects Ephesians 2:5. While you may be good doing word gymnasts, you are unaware the first thing Ephesians 1: 12 is all about. Similarly, Paul wrote to his son in the faith Timothy that in 1:16, indeed, destroys your regeneration before faith view. Simply, the verse is saying that belief is demanded before life everlasting.
 
Feb 14, 2022
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I have not swamped the OP with a lot of Scripture quotations,
but hopefully you will recall the NT verses which confirm the following …


Man is doubly incapable of believing in Jesus and the Gospel
1 – Because of the disobedience (sin) of Adam and Eve,
all humans are born with an inherited sin nature,
and are bent on sinning instead of following God (Romans 3:9-18).
Having a saving faith is against their very nature!
2 - All unsaved humans are captive prisoners of Satan,
and are bent on doing whatever he wants them to do (2 Timothy 2:26).
Jesus came to set the captives of Satan free (Luke 4:18).
Having a saving faith is against our enemy’s plans for them,
which, of course, is spending eternity with Satan and his demons in hell.
If the God-worshipping Lydia (Acts 16:14) needs God to give her the necessary
faith to believe in Jesus and the Gospel, surely everyone does also!
Similarly, the “anyones” who believe in Jesus in verses such as John 3:16
are the ones whom God has given saving faith!


Father God elects (chooses) and calls whomever He wishes
Jesus says to the elect, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you ….” (John 16:15).
Surely, here is a strong hint that we should investigate this matter further.
Romans chapter 9 is the most famous proponent of God’s election …

“… that the purpose of election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls.
… So then, it is not of him who wills (to be elected, chosen, and called),
nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” (Romans 9:11-16)

God gives grace to whomever He chooses, but no one deserves grace (unmerited favor)!
God gives justice to whomever He chooses, and everyone deserves justice!
God wishes that all could be saved, but it is not possible because He insists on His justice.

“You love justice and hate evil.” (Hebrews 1”9)
God is not willing that any (of us) should perish, but that all (of us) should repent …
… the “us” referring to His elect, who are promised salvation.
Christians are called to confess and repent of their on-going sins,
and the blood of Jesus will cleanse them of all their unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9).


The reason why Father God chooses some, but not others
Father God chooses to elect some people for His great pleasure.
He chooses to elect some to demonstrate to the whole world
His great love, mercy, grace, etc. (Romans 9:23).
He chooses to elect some to be companions for His Son throughout eternity (Scriptural?).
Those not chosen are given justice, which sadly is what they deserve.

Those whom Father God gives to Jesus are guaranteed salvation
This is all about the unconditional security of the born-again believer.
Multitudes of NT verses are God’s promises of salvation given to His elect.
Surely, those of us who are born again should be continually praising God and
thanking Him for choosing us … and for the Holy Spirit sanctifying us unto holiness
… and for Jesus interceding for us before Father God in heaven.

Without agreeing with the inherited sin part, it is true corrupt hearts of lust, cannot have the faith of our Lord toward God, that is necessary to do His righteousness. We must first repent of our deeds, so that He removes the lust and gives us His grace and faith in a pure heart.

Lusting sinners cannot believe their way to God by their own will alone. Nor choose to be His servant of righteousness.

God calls all sinners to repent of sinful deeds, and He only chooses them who do so for His sake.

It's possible for God to save all men from our sins, because His Son is the propititation for all sins of the world, and so calls on all men to repent, but not all men do repent of sinning to be saved by Him.

Acts 17:30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Acts 3:19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Cor {7:10} For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:

His call to repent is unconditional. The promise of eternal salvation in Jesus Christ, is to them that unconditionally surrender to Him, and unconditionally obey Him in all things, even as He does the Father.

Psa 110:1The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Heb{5:8} Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; {5:9} And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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I have to admit that I just failed to see your counterpoint. Obviously, vv 1-4 presents the unregenerate state of man or describes the past manner of life of the Ephesian believers being dead on trespassses and sins vv1, 4 and were before the children of disobedience or wrath.vv 2-3 Yet, despite that, God' mercy and his great love flow down amidist the condition of man. Now v5 stated that " Even when we dead in sins, hath quickened ( made alive)" which you concluded it as regeneration before faith. The fact is you exclude what Paul is saying on the same verse 5 clarifying the matter that it is by grace they are saved which connects the dots in v8 particularly. Your argument that vv1-5 places before v8 makes no sense as he is addressing how one gets saved from sin, to which i have countered that with Ephesians 1:13 which places before Ephesians 2:1-5 using your argument. Again, you have merely understood this Ephesians. 1:13 as merely sealing and not indwelling of the Spìrit by which you ignored the first part, speaking of salvation which connects Ephesians 2:5. While you may be good doing word gymnasts, you are unaware the first thing Ephesians 1: 12 is all about. Similarly, Paul wrote to his son in the faith Timothy that in 1:16, indeed, destroys your regeneration before faith view. Simply, the verse is saying that belief is demanded before life everlasting.
Ephesians 1:13 isn't about salvation. It is a sealing of the Spirit. Seals go on the outside; not the inside. But they do authenticate what is on the inside.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
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Thaty pretty much applies to all separatist groups within Christianity. The only thing they have to talk about with 'outsiders' is their special little rule of doctrine that separates them from the common faith and body of Christ.

The Bible record of such divisional sects began with circumcisionists, and continues with created christ believers, water baptism saviors, sabbath commanders, predeterminists, pentecostal holiness ordinances, etc... And they all have whole volumes of scholarship to prove themselves, because Scripture does not say it plainly, and in some cases plainly speaks against them.
On target.
 
Oct 19, 2024
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Ephesians 1:13 isn't about salvation. It is a sealing of the Spirit. Seals go on the outside; not the inside. But they do authenticate what is on the inside.
Seals also go inside circuses, but if you ain't sealed on the inside, you ain't saved but are outside the body!
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
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Y’all would get a lot farther in this discussion if you would realize that grace means gift so you should use those terms synonymously, which means faith must refer to willingness to accept God’s grace/gift.
Well.....grace definitely is the MEANS ("by grace")
But it seems to me that it is salvation that is the GIFT being pointed to here in these passages.

The thing is, somebody needs to verify whether any rigorous Greek grammatical rules are being broken when doing so.
But the other thing is.....Paul was sloppy with his Greek, and bent the rules quite often.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
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When a Calvinist says tulip is a gospel he/she refers to a written body of teaching of a religious group (reformed faith) and that it should be unquestionable truth. He is not referring to what Christ did on the cross speaking of his death, burial, and resurrection. Sense philosophically but not biblically.
Paul so clearly states the gospel (1 Corinthians 15) below.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4
By which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

How is it possible for anyone to misunderstand the simple gospel.

Romans 10:9-10
That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses,
resulting in salvation.

I have found a number of people on forums that will not accept the gospel above.

That have an inflated version of the gospel.

They do not understand what Paul is saying.
 
Nov 17, 2015
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Ephesians 1:13 isn't about salvation. It is a sealing of the Spirit. Seals go on the outside; not the inside. But they do authenticate what is on the inside.
Again you ignored what Paul is saying about the gospel of salvation in the first part. Then again your wrong about sealing that goes outside.Pauls says it goes inside the heart.

2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV — Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
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If justifying faith depends on man’s own self-determined ”free will” exercise then salvation is neither sure nor all of free grace
Why justification must be of grace alone through faith alone in the righteousness of Christ alone? Because He alone fulfilled all righteousness, and from anyone who desires to enter His Kingdom, God will demand nothing less!
Believing in Jesus is God's will and that is not determinism.

The creation was designed with the ability to believe.

Scientists believe that measuring, observing, experimenting, allows them to understand the universe.

Politicians believe that their political system is worth protecting.

Theologians believe they can understand God's interaction with man.

There are probably billions of people that believe in a God.

There are a lot less than billions that believe in Jesus.

Anyone can believe in Jesus and many are raised in Christian families and believe from a very young age.

Believing is not self determinism or a work.

Believing many things is a daily event for everyone and it's how we are designed.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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Again you ignored what Paul is saying about the gospel of salvation in the first part. Then again your wrong about sealing that goes outside.Pauls says it goes inside the heart.

2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV — Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
The earnest of the Spirit isn't the sealing. It is a confirmation of what has been done inwardly. The earnest is the indwelling Spirit that bears witness with our Spirit that we are indeed the child of God.
When John the Baptist said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit, what was he referring to?
 

Inquisitor

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Mar 17, 2022
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The earnest of the Spirit isn't the sealing. It is a confirmation of what has been done inwardly. The earnest is the indwelling Spirit that bears witness with our Spirit that we are indeed the child of God.
When John the Baptist said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit, what was he referring to?
The fulfillment of the water baptism was with the baptism of the Holy Sprit.

Mark 1:7-8
And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit
to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. I baptized you with water; but He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit
.”
 
Dec 12, 2024
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The Elect of God Defined.

The elect of God are those who God foreknown would, as believers without willful unbelief, ultimately choose to cooperate with His grace within the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The elect of God
Collossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
God foreknown
1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Believers without willful unbelief
2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Romans 4:20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Ultimately choose to cooperate with His grace
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Hebrews 4:11
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Within the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ
Titus 1:9
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Psalms 51:11
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Ephisians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
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You ignore it. Like literally, YOU ignore it... and/or claim it doesn't mean what it plainly says.d
What does this 'plainly' say?

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you have no life in you. " John 6:53

Plainly... your argument needs work.