I will start with a short summery of what predestination is and where it came from. I will then attempt to address it point by point to show that it is not biblically sound. I will finish by addressing the main passages that seem to be most frequently used to support the doctrine and attempt to show that the Calvinist view point was not what the author was trying to get across in scripture. I will finish by summarizing the main understanding of the plan of salvation.
Predestination – Where doe sit come from?
Predestination is a shorthand term to describe the overall theological viewpoint called Calvinism. Calvinism was developed by John Calvin. He and his group condensed the understanding to 5 points. This theology was countered by another group of theologians under Jacobus Arminius. The main distinction, from my understanding, was based in the tension between the authority and power of God and free will of man. The following is a brief summary of the 5 points of Calvinism.
The firstpoint of Calvinism is Total Depravity. Total depravity, or total inability,claims that because man is polluted by sin in all aspects of his being, he iscompletely unable to seek God. This goes beyond the understanding that all havefallen short of God’s standard of perfection. This claims that man isphysically incapable of even wanting salvation. So it is irrelevant for God toeven provide a path to salvation because man would not even care to take thatpath if it was presented.
The secondpoint of Calvinism is Unconditional Election. It claims that God has selectedfrom eternity whom he will bring to salvation. This decision is made without regardto the individual’s choice, desire, or attempt to seek salvation. God’sdecision is based completely on God’s arbetray mercy alone.
The thirdpoint of Calvinism is Limited atonement. It says that Jesus substitutionary atonementwas definite and certain in its purpose. The claim is that only the sins of theelect were atoned for by Jesus death. So Christ’s sacrifice completely coveredthe blood of those whom God chose to be saved from the beginning of time.
The fourthis irresistible grace. It claims that God’s grace effectively brings the electto salvation. This means that the Spirit moves the elect to a saving faith in Christwith absolute certainty of success. This means that God absolutely manages to magicallyguarantee a person will both come to salvation and will chose to come to God oftheir own free will. It is a bit confusing how this process is supposed towork. God both makes the elect come to salvation no matter what. They alsochose it of their own free will even though the decision was made from the beginningof time.
The finalpoint of Calvinism is titled the perseverance of the saints. This doctrineholds that God’s sovereign will to bring salvation to the elect cannot becountered or fail in anyway. Human resistance, rejection, or intention cannotremove a person from their salvation if that is God’s will. Those who come toGod and then leave are either going to return to the faith or were neverbelievers to begin with.
Calvinism – point by point
I will nowgo through the five points one by one. I will attempt to prove they are not biblicallysound. I am going to go through this with my logic based on the premise thatthe bible is what it claims to be. This means that there are no truecontradictions and that apparent contradictions are simply that. EitherChristianity is true or it is not. Either the bible is the inspired word of Godor it is full of lies and garbage. If it is false, then there is no point instudying it. If it is true, then the premise that it agrees with itself isenforced by God’s guarantee.
Total depravity
One of themajor passages used to support this doctrine is Romans 3:10. All scriptures inthe bible must be understood absolutely in context. You can’t just take asingle line of text out of the chapter and build a doctrine on top of it. Hereis the verse with some context.
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous,no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there isnone that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they aretogether become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom 3:13 Their throat isan open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of aspsis under their lips:
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth isfull of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15 Their feet areswift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
This passageis interpreted under the Calvinist understanding to mean that people are unableto choose salvation. These set of versesare in a passage explaining the difference between the law and grace. Just afew verses before this Paul says:
Rom 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thoukeep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is madeuncircumcision.
Rom 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep therighteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted forcircumcision?
Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is bynature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcisiondost transgress the law?
And
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but everyman a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings,and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
And after
Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the lawsaith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped,and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore bythe deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by thelaw is the knowledge of sin.
This part ofthe letter is addressing the claim made by the Jewdieseers that Christians mustcontinue to follow the law. Paul is trying to pound home the fact that we areunder a new covenant and a new law. As he says, those under the law must bejustified by their own power to follow the law. This is impossible. Everyonehas sinned and fallen short of the standard set by God. Everyone has at onetime or another sought after something that did not bring glory to God in someway. This passage is not claiming that mankind is unable to accept salvationbut that everyone has failed to uphold God’s set of standards.
Even a thoroughexamination of the word meanings does not convey the extreme understandingclaimed by Calvinist interpretation.
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous(G1349: innocent, holy [absolutely or relatively] absolutely in this casebecause it is in comparison to God’s holiness) no, not one:
Nonehave met God’s standards of absolute innocence or holiness.
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth (G4862: to puttogether, that is, (mentally) tocomprehend), there is none thatseeketh (G1567: to search out, that is, (figuratively)investigate,crave, demand) after God.
Thereis none that mentally comprehends. Comprehends what? God’s absolute holiness.
There are none who crave after God. Who are not craving after God? thosethat follow the law (because that is the subject of this part of the letter).Why are they not seeking after God? Because those that follow the law arerequired to meet the standards by their own strength, not by seeking God’sholiness. The focus under the law is on the self and one’s own holiness, notseeking to replace one’s holiness with God’s holiness.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they aretogether become unprofitable (G889: to render useless, that is, spoil);there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
All are spoiled by thesin in their lives.
Rom 3:13 Their throat isan open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of aspsis under their lips:
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth isfull of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15 Their feet areswift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
This is adescription of the sinful state of man. This never attempts to imply that manis unable to want God’s salvation. This is explaining why man cannot justify orsave himself because he can never be good enough. Once this is explained topeople they are able to choose to receive salvation but they are not able tosave themselves from their own sin.
To furtherdrive the point home, here is the passage from which Paul quoted. As a side note, I would like to point out thatthe psalms are songs and poems. We have to be very careful about drawingdoctrinal statements from it. As you know, poems tend to use exaggeration andsymbolism to convey their ideas and messages.
David is talking of fools/atheists in this passage. Of this group Davidsays they are corrupt.
Corrupt: H7843 - to decay, that is,(causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively). There is none(fool/atheist) who does good. This passage does not refer to all mankind. It isspecifically about the wicked people who are assaulting and causing trouble forthe tribes of Israel and King David in particular.
Psa 14:1 To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool saysin his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominabledeeds, there is none who does good.
Psa 14:2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if thereare any who understand
(H7919 - to be (causeatively make or act)circumspect and hence intelligent: - consider, expert, instruct,prosper),who seek (to tread orfrequent; usually to follow) after God.
Psa14:3 They have all turned aside; together theyhave become corrupt (H444: to muddle,become filthy); there is none who doesgood, not even one.
Psa 14:4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as theyeat bread and do not call upon the LORD?
Psa 14:5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of therighteous.
Psa 14:6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.
Psa 14:7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORDrestores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
A final note.Even if this idea of total depravity were initially true. After the salvationbought by Jesus’ blood, God equally calls all men to Himself and gives everyoneenough freedom from the corruption in their minds to make a decision.
Unconditional election
I am noteven sure how much I should address this claim. Never once is salvation mentionedwithout the conditions of trusting Christ or some similar idea mentioned also.I include some verses that get across the idea that conditions apply. Granted,this point is somewhat dependant on the idea that God is “forcing” and“allowing the free will of the subject”. If God is predestining salvation thenthe subjects will auto fulfill these conditions and the non-elect will autofail these conditions. So the conditional aspect of this point is almost a nonissue. The real issue is whether God is forcing salvation or not. I will startwith offering some verses that address this aspect. I will then deal with theelection part of the point.
2 John 1:9 Whoevertransgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. Hewho abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
Romans 4:25 Who was deliveredfor our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (KJV)
Romans 5:10 For if when wewere enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more,having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 10:9-10 That if youconfess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God hasraised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believesunto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 3:16-18 For God so lovedthe world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Himshould not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son intothe world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe iscondemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begottenSon of God.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who isrich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when wewere dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you havebeen saved), 6 and raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in theheavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show theexceeding riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;[it] [is] the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
John 1:12 But as many asreceived Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those whobelieve in His name.
Romans 3:21 But now therighteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Lawand the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in JesusChrist, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for allhave sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely byHis grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth[as] a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate Hisrighteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins thatwere previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time Hisrighteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faithin Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover,brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also youreceived and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you holdfast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For Idelivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died forour sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He roseagain the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen byCephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundredbrethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some havefallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
1 Corinthians15:13 Butif there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And ifChrist is not risen, then our preaching [is] empty and your faith [is] alsoempty.
1 Corinthians15:20 Butnow Christ is risen from the dead, [and] has become the firstfruits of thosewho have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man [came] death, by Man also [came]the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ allshall be made alive.
Luke 23:42 Then he said toJesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 AndJesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me inParadise."
Revelation 20:15 And anyone notfound written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heartthat God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with theheart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is madeunto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him willnot be put to shame."
Every one of theseverses mention the condition of Jesus and belief, faith, acceptance, etc. as acondition of salvation. As I mentioned above, these conditions are a mutepoint. What matters is whether God is forcing or “electing” people tosalvation, or is salvation open to all who meet the conditions of accepting Christ.This requires an examination of election and what that actually is.
The mostimportant point is that election is never for an individual’s salvation. Thisis left to the individual’s free will. Now, election covers several things.Elect in the Hebrew means: H972 – בּחיר - bâchı̂yr: select:- choose, chosen one, elect.
CorporateElection of the Nation of Israel in the Old Testament
There are several types or forms of election. One of the most frequentlymentioned is the election of the nation of Israel. God does elect groups andnations to certain actions or roles. The following is a set of verses dealingwith the election of Israel as a group.
Isaiah 45:3 I will give youthe treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may knowthat I, the Lord, Who call [you] by your name, [Am] the God of Israel. 4 ForJacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you byyour name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. 5 I [am] the Lord,and [there] [is] no other; [There] [is] no God besides Me. I will gird you,though you have not known Me, 6 That they may know from the rising of the sunto its setting That [there] [is] none besides Me.
Isaiah 65:8 Thus says theLord: "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and [one] says, `Do notdestroy it, For a blessing [is] in it,' So will I do for My servants' sake,That I may not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,And from Judah an heir of My mountains; My elect shall inherit it, AndMy servants shall dwell there. 10 Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, And theValley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, For My people who have soughtMe.
Isaiah 65:21 They shall buildhouses and inhabit [them]; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat;For as the days of a tree, [so] [shall] [be] the days of My people, And My electshall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain,Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they [shall] [be] the descendants ofthe blessed of the Lord, And their offspring with them. 24 "It shall cometo pass that before they call, I will answer; And while they are stillspeaking, I will hear."
Romans 11:26 And so all Israelwill be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, AndHe will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this [is] My covenant withthem, When I take away their sins." 28 Concerning the gospel [they] [are]enemies for your sake, but concerning the election [they] [are] belovedfor the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God [are]irrevocable
1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostleof Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia,Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledgeof God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience andsprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to Hisabundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrectionof Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiledand that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by thepower of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Dispersion wasa common term for the Israelites who were scattered throughout the RomanEmpire. This is referring both to the nation of Israel, as well as, the groupof saved Jews.
Corporate Electionof the Gentiles in the New Testament
God has alsoelected or chosen the gentiles who will be saved. No one gentile would beforced or prevented from salvation as an individual. This simply means that Godchose to offer salvation to the group as a whole.
Jeremiah 3:6 The Lord saidalso to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what backslidingIsrael has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every greentree, and there played the harlot. 7 "And I said, after she had done allthese [things], `Return to Me.' But she did not return. And her treacheroussister Judah saw it. "Then I saw that for all the causes for whichbacksliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her acertificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but wentand played the harlot also."
Acts 13:43 Now when thecongregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followedPaul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in thegrace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together tohear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filledwith envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken byPaul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary thatthe word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, andjudge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.47 "For so the Lord has commanded us: `I have set you as a light to theGentiles that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 48Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of theLord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Romans 11:17 And if some ofthe branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted inamong them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of theolive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast,[remember] [that] you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be graftedin." 20 Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and youstand by faith.
The GreatTribulation Saints, those Jews and Gentiles saved during the Tribulation, arealso described as the elect with the term elect referring to the group. Themembers of the group are not individually elected but the role played by thegroup was elected.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones,and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I] [saw] thesouls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for theword of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received[his] mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reignedwith Christ for a thousand years.
Matthew 24:21 "For thenthere will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning ofthe world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 "And unless thosedays were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sakethose days will be shortened. 23 "Then if anyone says to you, `Look, here[is] the Christ!' or `There!' do not believe [it]. 24 "For false christsand false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, ifpossible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:31 "And He willsend His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather togetherHis elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mark 13:20 "And unlessthe Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect'ssake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 21 "Then if anyonesays to you, `Look, here [is] the Christ!' or, `Look, [He] [is] there!' do notbelieve it. 22 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and showsigns and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 "Buttake heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand. 24 "But in thosedays, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will notgive its light; 25 "the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in theheavens will be shaken. 26 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming inthe clouds with great power and glory. 27 "And then He will send Hisangels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from thefarthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
Luke 18:7 "And shallGod not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though Hebears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on theearth?"
Romans 11:9 And David says:"Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompenseto them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow downtheir back always." 11 I say then, have they stumbled that they shouldfall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy,salvation [has] [come] to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall [is] riches forthe world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more theirfullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to theGentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy[those] [who] [are] my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being castaway [is] the reconciling of the world, what [will] their acceptance [be] butlife from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit [is] holy, the lump [is] also[holy]; and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches. 17 And if some of thebranches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted inamong them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of theolive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast,[remember] [that] you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be graftedin." 20 Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and youstand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare thenatural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider thegoodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you,goodness, if you continue in [His] goodness. Otherwise you also will be cutoff. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in,for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olivetree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into acultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who [are] natural [branches],be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, thatyou should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your ownopinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness ofthe Gentiles has come in.
I am not sure ifPaul is speaking on individual terms or group terms in this passage. God doesdeal with church locations on a group level with the main example being Hisletters to the churches in Revelation. Either way, the decision is left to thepeople, not ordained by God.
Romans 16:25 Now to Him who isable to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been madeknown to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, forobedience to the faith-- 27 to God, alone wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christforever.
Romans 8:31 What then shallwe say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [can] [be] against us? 32 Hewho did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall Henot with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a chargeagainst God's elect? [It] [is] God who justifies. 34 Who [is] he whocondemns? [It] [is] Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is evenat the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shallseparate us from the love of Christ? [Shall] tribulation, or distress, orpersecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Romans 11:3 "Lord, theyhave killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, andthey seek my life"? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "Ihave reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee toBaal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant accordingto the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then [it] [is] no longer ofworks; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if [it] [is] of works, it is nolonger grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 7 What then? Israel has notobtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the restwere blinded.
Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to oneanother, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put onthe new [man] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him whocreated him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised noruncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave [nor] free, but Christ [is] all andin all. 12 Therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, put ontender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing withone another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another;even as Christ forgave you, so you also [must] [do]. 14 But above all thesethings put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
1 Thessalonians1:2 Wegive thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience ofhope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing,beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come toyou in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in muchassurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 Andyou became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in muchaffliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to allin Macedonia and Achaia who believe.
Titus 1:1 Paul, abondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith ofGod's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords withgodliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised beforetime began, 3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, whichwas committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4 To Titus,a true son in [our] common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace from God the Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
1 Peter 2:9 But you [are] a chosengeneration, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, thatyou may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into Hismarvelous light; 10 who once [were] not a people but [are] now the people ofGod, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Corporate Electionof the Body of Christ in the New Testament
Salvation by thegrace of God through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was hiddenor a mystery before the event. The plan of salvation by grace was planned orpredestined by God. Now the plan is revealed for all to see.
Ephesians 3:8 To me, who amless than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I shouldpreach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make allsee what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of theages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 tothe intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by thechurch to the principalities and powers in the heavenly [places], 11 accordingto the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 inwhom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak thewisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden [wisdom] which God ordained before theages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had theyknown, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Election ofIndividual Persons for Duties According to God's Will
God does electcertain individuals to His will. This does not include salvation. He choosesthe purposes or duties of His followers. Whether or not the person followsthrough on God’s plan (I cover whether or not God’s plans or will can failunder the irrestability of grace), depends on the individual acceptingsalvation and also obeying God’s will.
God elected Saulto be King over Israel to save His people from the Philistines, but King Saulturned against God in disobedience. God’s plan was to make Saul’s Kingdomforever. However because of Saul rejecting God or resisting God’s will, God’splan or will for Saul failed and a replacement for Saul had to be found.
1 Samuel 9:15 Now the Lord hadtold Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, 16 "Tomorrowabout this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shallanoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from thehand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cryhas come to me." 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him,"There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over Mypeople."
1 Samuel 10:24 And Samuel saidto all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that [there][is] no one like him among all the people?" So all the people shouted andsaid, "Long live the king!"
1 Samuel 13:9 So Saul said,"Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And heoffered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finishedpresenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him,that he might greet him. 11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?"And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and[that] you did not come within the days appointed, and [that] the Philistinesgathered together at Michmash, 12 "then I said, `The Philistines will nowcome down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.'Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering." 13 And Samuelsaid to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandmentof the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would haveestablished your kingdom over Israel forever."
“God elected Paul(Saul of Tarsus prior to God's changing his name) to be the Apostle to theGentiles. God, in a special miracle, urged Paul to accept divine election.First, He blinded Paul with a bright light then Christ personally spoke toPaul. The Scripture clearly says that Paul was resisting the call of God(kicking against the goad), and the harsh measure by God was required to winPaul's cooperation. Paul's response was immediate and complete submission toJesus. This section of Scripture clearly shows man's free will to accept orreject God's calling. This Scripture clearly shows the errors of the doctrinecalled Irresistible Grace.” – copied from http://www.biblelife.org/election.htm
Acts 9:1 Then Saul, stillbreathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to thehigh priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so thatif he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring thembound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly alight shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard avoice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 Andhe said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus,whom you are persecuting. It [is] hard for you to kick against the goads."6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me todo?" Then the Lord [said] to him, "Arise and go into the city, andyou will be told what you must do."
Election of JesusChrist to Take Away the Sin of the World
Jesus Christ waselected by God to take away the sin of the world.
John 1:29 The next day Johnsaw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takesaway the sin of the world!"
Isaiah 42:1 "Behold! MyServant whom I uphold, My Elect One [in] [whom] My soul delights! I haveput My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He willnot cry out, nor raise [His] [voice], Nor cause His voice to be heard in thestreet. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will notquench; He will bring forth justice for truth. 4 He will not fail nor bediscouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlandsshall wait for His law."
1 Peter 2:4 Coming to Him[as] [to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and]precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, aholy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God throughJesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold,I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believeson Him will by no means be put to shame." 7 Therefore, to you who believe,[He] [is] precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which thebuilders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," 8 and "A stoneof stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient tothe word, to which they also were appointed.
Election Does NotDetermine Individual Salvation
“Although Israelwas the elect of God as shown above, individuals within Israel rejected Him. Therefore,the entire nation was considered by God to have rejected Him because of therejection by the majority. Election, as shown in these verses, is not aguarantee of salvation, and election can be resisted. These verses are incontradictory to the erroneous Calvinistic doctrine of Irresistible Grace.”Copied from - http://www.biblelife.org/election.htm
Numbers 14:11 Then the Lordsaid to Moses: "How long will these people reject Me? And how long willthey not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed amongthem?"
Numbers 16:30 "But if theLord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them upwith all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then youwill understand that these men have rejected the Lord."
1 Samuel 8:7 And the Lord saidto Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; forthey have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reignover them."
1 Samuel 10:19 "But youhave today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversitiesand your tribulations; and you have said to Him, `No, set a king over us!'"
“We can see fromthe following verse on election that the individual had to be diligent in orderto become one of the elect in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.That diligence is faith and obedience for which the person himself isresponsible.” -http://www.biblelife.org/election.htm
2 Peter 1:10 Therefore,brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, forif you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will besupplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and SaviorJesus Christ.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enochwas taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, becauseGod had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that hepleased God. 6 But without faith [it] [is] impossible to please [Him], for hewho comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He rewards those whodiligently seek Him.
Romans 16:25 Now to Him who isable to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been madeknown to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, forobedience to the faith-- 27 to God, alone wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christforever.
“The followingparable in Matthew 13 shows the free will of man in an analogy to the soil. Thecondition of a man's heart is necessary for the gospel to take root. The soweris someone presenting the Word of God to all he sees. The sower did not electthe soil and force the soil to accept the seed. This parable contradicts thefalse teaching of unconditional election taught by John Calvin. The soil isvery much conditional.” -http://www.biblelife.org/election.htm
Matthew 13:3 Then He spokemany things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.4 "And as he sowed, some [seed] fell by the wayside; and the birds cameand devoured them. 5 "Some fell on stony places, where they did not havemuch earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.6 "But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had noroot they withered away. 7 "And some fell among thorns, and the thornssprang up and choked them. 8 "But others fell on good ground and yielded acrop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 "He who has ears tohear, let him hear!"
“As we have seenin our study above, God elects groups of people to have a particularrelationship with Him in different ages, but God does not elect any oneparticular individual to salvation. There is not one single verse in the Biblethat makes such a statement. We have seen that the Bible calls Israel God'select, but many of the elect rejected God. In this Dispensation of Grace orChurch Age in which we live, God calls us the Body of Christ and the elect. Godturned from Israel because of their rejection of Jesus Christ and elected tooffer salvation to the Gentiles without the previous requirements of keepingthe Mosaic Law and circumcision. He also offers this same method of salvationto each and every person, including the Jew. Everyone has been elected toreceive this offer of salvation, and no one is beyond accepting God's offer ofeternal life by his own free will.http://www.biblelife.org/election.htm
1 Timothy 2:3 For this [is]good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to besaved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For [there] [is] one God andone Mediator between God and men, [the] Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself aransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed apreacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ [and] not lying--ateacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Limited atonement
Does Godplace a limit on who can receive salvation? What does the bible say the scopeof Jesus sacrifice covers?
Romans12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who isamong you, not to think [of] [himself] more highly than he ought to think, butto think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Romans 2:11 For there is nopartiality with God.
John 12:32 "And I, if Iam lifted up from the earth, will draw all [peoples] to Myself."
1 Timothy 2:3 For this [is]good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to besaved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Jesus does drawall people to Himself. Jesus said He will draw all people unto Himself if Hewere to be lifted up and crucified. God desires all mankind to be saved, butmost people resist being drawn. John Calvin's doctrine of "IrresistibleGrace" is clearly shown to be incorrect by Jesus' clear declaration.
John 3:16 "For God soloved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes inHim should not perish but have everlasting life."
1 Timothy 2:3 For this [is]good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to besaved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For [there] [is] one God andone Mediator between God and men, [the] Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himselfa ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1 Timothy 4:10 For to this [end]we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is[the] Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is notslack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsufferingtoward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should cometo repentance.
1 John 2:2 And He Himself isthe propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the wholeworld.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheephave gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lordhas laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Hebrews 10:10 By that will wehave been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once[for] [all].
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love ofChrist compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then alldied; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longerfor themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me,all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly inheart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke [is] easyand My burden is light."
Romans 5:6 For when we werestill without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things[are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
The world, as used in John 1:29; 4:42 and 1 John 4:14, means sinners who are God-hating,Christ-rejecting, and Satan-dominated. Yet, that is the world for which Christ died. In Luke 23:34 Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who were about to crucify Him. These people were not believers nor were they followers of Jesus.Certainly Jesus' prayer was in the will of the Father and answered as Jesus requested.
John 1:29 The next day Johnsaw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takesaway the sin of the world!"
John 4:42 Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard [Him] and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son [as] Savior of the world.
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said,"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
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