Posted on 02/29/2008 3:00:12 AM PST by Manfred the Wonder Dawg
ELECTION
"Election is God's eternal choice of PERSONS unto everlasting life -- NOT BECAUSE OF FORESEEN MERIT IN THEM, but of His mere mercy in Christ - in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified."
How Important is the Doctrine
of Election?????
This Important
IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE DOCTRINE
OF ELECTION,
NO ONE WOULD BE SAVED ! ! !
WHAT ELECTION IS NOT:
* Not salvation, but unto salvation. 11 Thes. 2:13, 14; Eph. 1:4; Rom. 8:29, 30.
* Not exclusive of means. II Thes. 2:14; Eph. 1:5, 13; II Tim. 2:10; I Pet. 1:2.
* Not a respecter of persons. Rom. 9:18-24.
* Fame, wealth, wisdom, position, etc., did not cause God to have respect for some and elect them (Job 34:19).
* All being ungodly, none could have been saved had He not shown grace to some.
* Not "salvation regardless," but unto salvation through the redemption of Christ, applied by the Spirit through the gospel. John 6:37; Rom. 10:17; I Thes. 1:4, 5; II Thes. 2:13, 14; Acts 13:48.
* Not opposed to the Gospel, but the Gospel is a means in accomplishing election's purpose. (See scriptures already cited).
* Not an enemy of righteousness, but through its appointed means causes those once ungodly to live godly. Eph. 1:4; I Thes. 1:4-10.
* Not based on foreseen faith or works, but it produces faith and works. Rom. 9:11-16; 11:5, 6; Phil. 1:6; II Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:8-10; Acts 13:48; I Cor. 3:5; Rom. 12:3; Eph. 4:7; Acts 5:31; II Tim. 2:25.
* Does not shut the door of salvation, but opens that door for all those who come to Christ. John 6:37, 44, 63, 65; 10:9; 14:6.
* Not a hindrance to gospel preaching, but assures the gospel of success. Isa. 55:11; John 10:27; 6:37, 45; 17:20, 21;A cts 15:14; 16:14; 18:27; II Tim. 2:9, 10.
* Not of the Jews only. Rom. 9:24; 11:5-8, 11, 12, 25; John 11:52.
* Not merely to service, but to salvation. II Thes. 2:13, 14; II Tim. 2:10.
* Not fatalism, but is the work of God. I Thes. 1:4; Rom. 8:28, 30.
* Does not destroy man's so-called "free will." The will of man is his desire, wish or choice. His choice is sin. John 3:19, 20; 5:40; 3:11; 2:2, 3; 4:17-19; Jer. 17-9; 13:23; etc. Man "freely" chooses sin and by God's grace the elect freely choose Christ --Ps. 65:4; 110:3; John 6:44, 65; Acts 13:48. Lazarus "freely" rotted, but at the word of Christ he "freely" came forth (John 11). So do the elect of God.
* Not anti-missionary, but gives the foundation for missions. John 6:37; 17:20,21; II Tim. 2:10; Isa. 55:11; II Pet. 3:9, 15.
* Does not destroy the responsibility of man. Men are responsible for whatever light they have, be it conscience (Rom. 2:15), nature (Rom. 1:19, 20), written law (Rom. 2:1727), or the gospel (Mark 16:15, 16). Man's inability to do righteousness no more frees him from responsibility than does Satan's inability to do righteousness.
* Does not make God unjust. His blessing of a great number of unworthy sinners with salvation is no injustice to the rest of the unworthy sinners. If a governor pardons one convict, is it injustice to the rest? I Thes. 5:9.
* Does not discourage convicted sinners, but welcomes them to Christ. "Let him that is athirst come " (Rev. 17:17). The God who convicts is the God who saves. The God who saves is the God who has elected men unto salvation. He is the same God who invites.
* Does not discourage prayer. To the contrary, it drives us to God, for He it is who alone can save. True prayer is the Spirit's prompting; and thus will be in harmony with God's will. Rom. 8:26.
* Not of man. Some say, "God votes, the devil votes, and man votes. " The Bible teaches that election is not of the devil and man, but "of God." I Thes. 1:4; John 10:16; I John 4:10, 19.
* Not of reason, but of Revelation. At first, it does not appeal to man's reason, but when man accepts God's Word, it is seen to be the only thing that could be "reasonable." Matt. 20:15.
I am shocked that many people do not know that ELECTION is in the Bible. I am more shocked that the biblical teaching on the subject has not been discussed, taught or preached. Someone, back along the line, must have thought it important because it is in our Baptist Faith and Message.
"Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners.. ."( Baptist Faith and Message, p. 12)
It is not only in our ARTICLES of FAITH, but we sing it in many of our hymns.... "The Church's One Foundation"- the second stanza "Elect from every nation.... "
More importantly, it is in the Bible and in this chapter on the subject I wish to make one point only, that is, EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES THE BIBLE MUST BELIEVE IN ELECTION. They may not understand what the Bible teaches about it. They may not agree as to what the Bible teaches about it, BUT, they must believe that it is in the Bible.
The words Elect - Election - Foreordination - Chosen - Foreknow and Foreknowledge demand that we believe the Bible teaches a doctrine of election, of some kind.
Scriptures where we find it:
Matthew 24:22 "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the ELECT'S sake those days shall be shortened."
Matthew 24:24 ". . . insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very ELECT."
Matthew 24:31 ". . . and they shall gather together HIS ELECT from the four winds . . . "
Mark 13.20, 22, 27
Romans 8.28-33 N.B. V 33 "Who shall lay anything to the charge of GOD'S ELECT? It is God that justifieth."
Romans 9:11 "For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to ELECTION might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. "
Romans 11:5, 7 "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but THE ELECTION hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. "
Romans 11:28 ". . . but as touching the ELECTION, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. "
Col. 3.12 "Put on therefore, as the ELECT of God. . ."
I Thes. 1:4 "Knowing, brethren beloved, YOUR ELECTION OF GOD."
II Thes. 2:13 ". . . because God hath from the beginning CHOSEN you to salvation . . . "
II Tim. 2:10 "Therefore I endure all things for the ELECT'S SAKES, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."
Titus 1 ". . . according to the faith of God's ELECT. . . "
II Peter 1:10 ". . . give diligence to make your calling and ELECTION sure . . ."
See also Isa. 42:1; 45:4; 65:9; 65:22.
These passages establish the fact that ELECTION is in the Bible. We could do the same thing with the word "chosen." Eph. 1:4; Ps. 65:4.
My only point in this chapter is to establish the fact that the Bible is full of the blessed doctrine of election.
In future chapters on this subject we will consider:
The benefits and blessings of this truth.
The encouragement it gives to evangelism.
How it insures the success of the gospel.
How it honors God and humbles man.
WARNING:
1. Don't make derogatory remarks about what is in the Bible whether you understand it or not.
2. Don't reject what the Bible teaches on any subject, especially if you have not studied what the Bible says about it.
3. Don't make a hobby out of any one doctrine. Although this doctrine is of vital importance, it is only one doctrine end must not be separated from all Christian truth.
4. Don't reject any doctrine because it has been abused and misused. All the key doctrines have been perverted.
Dawg, this almost is sounding like a systematic theology! You cannot do that! You gotta have someone else standing over your shoulder telling you how to put it together, you can’t do it all yourself! Where is the infallibility? Where is the revelation?
(Oh yeah, that is in the Word of God...)
Thanks for the barbarian Baptist article. :o)
Otto
“Don’t be put off that this is from a Baptist site.”
What is that?
Quite an odd statement for someone who mentions elect 114 times in this essay. At least Reisinger did mention God 115 times, so I guess He does take preeminence.
LOLOLOL...
Lazarus "freely" rotted, but at the word of Christ he "freely" came forth (John 11). So do the elect of God...
* (Election) does not destroy the responsibility of man. Men are responsible for whatever light they have, be it conscience (Rom. 2:15), nature (Rom. 1:19, 20), written law (Rom. 2:1727), or the gospel (Mark 16:15, 16). Man's inability to do righteousness no more frees him from responsibility than does Satan's inability to do righteousness.
Amen! Excellent analogy. Would any of us say Satan is not responsible for all his evil actions, and yet do any of us imagine Satan is able to choose righteousness?
Satan never chooses righteousness.
Election is all of and for and through the Creator who named His family from before the foundation of the world...
"For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth" -- Romans 9:11
God graciously decreed that His family would be acquitted of their sins by the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" through nothing in themselves; through the grace of Christ alone. That's why it's called "mercy" and not "debt."
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." -- Ephesians 1:4-6"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:
No one is prevented from believing. All men have beheld Christ, yet not all men see Christ with new eyes given by God, or hear Christ with new ears given by God, or believe Christ with a new heart given by God. We must be born again, and that is by the will and purpose of God alone.
"Be not afraid; only believe." -- Mark 5:36
Hey, somebody's got to thump the Bible.
Excellent insight. Thanks for the PING!
Poppycock.
No doctrine, no matter how spiffy, can save anybody. Only God can do that. Unless you're saying that Doctrine is God? (Hm. Didn't Jesus have a pretty specific complaint about that?)
Moreover, let's look at that claim a different way. Suppose I don't accept that doctrine. Does it make any difference?
If acceptance of the doctrine is a requirement of salvation, then this is salvation by works, and the doctrine is false.
If acceptance of the doctrine is not a requirement of salvation, then it cannot be true that the doctrine is necessary for salvation, and again the doctrine is false.
Two possibilities ... both of which lead to the same conclusion: the loudly-shouted statement is false.
I guess the bottom line conclusion is this: treat skeptically any theology that is shouted out in all caps.
CHRIST RISEN!
Thanks for making me laugh :-)
I am not fond of the use all caps myself, but that does not invalidate the message. The author isn’t saying this doctrine saves; he is pointing out that the Bible reveals that this is doctrine of salvation and if we deny this doctrine, there is nothing left to save anyone. It’s a recognition that God saves as He choses.
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Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.
Hey Dawg, thanks for the ping. BTTT for later.
Oh, man! I thought that Papacy of One stuff was for those jokers on Catholic Answers who jump out on stuff that the Pope has never dared to speak about...
Nope. Its power extends to all heretics...
But that’s not FAIR! (whine whine)
Speaking of Baptists, did you read the article about the SBC complaining that reformed circles within its membership are winning more souls than the arminian bent?
Oh. So the guys at Catholic Answers are heretics?
Are you an adherent of sedevacantism?
Huh? No. As long as they are loyal to Pope and Magisterium, they’re not heretics.
And I detest sedvacantism. I have no time for anyone who is “more Catholic than the Pope”.
It’s possible I misunderstood your comment. If so, I apologize.
>It’s possible I misunderstood your comment. If so, I apologize.
Not a problem. But your misunderstanding sorta brings up a question...
If we have a infallible Dogma laid out by the Magesterium, how do we get to interpret it? We can have ten thousand people reading Vatican II and get ten thousand differing interpretations, which is where the CC is now, in a state of confusion over something which is supposedly a divine revelation.
But what happens in reality is that we have more infallible documents to get interpretations from, and really just a bunch of lawyerly language that does not make anything more clear, but more muddy.
Ask three priests what Vatican II means, and you will get three different answers.
I made a fairly simple statement and you misunderstood it. Vatican II made a fairly complex statement and almost nobody agrees on the actual meaning within the Catholic Church.
I don't believe that a just God will keep a person who sincerely seeks to do His Will from entering Heaven, even if they are acting on wrong advice. (There will be many Protestants and others in Heaven, after all!) However, if we do in good faith commit error or act in contradiction to dogma, it is our duty to correct our actions the moment we discover our fault.
The important thing is that we unite ourselves with the Pope on all matters of faith and morals. He is our Earthly shepherd. That is his office. To follow the teaching of the Pope is to follow the Lord. "My sheep know my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27).
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