A while back I wrote a post on looking to men and how we needed to examine what we are taught in light of the Scripture. One of the things that I had in mind when I wrote that was the issue of election. As a new Christian, I naturally looked to other, more mature Christians for guidance. And if someone that I respected said that an author or expert was spot on, then I trusted them. I also trusted that any doctrine that they were teaching me was correct. And that’s what happened with the false doctrine of election. If you asked me what I thought about Calvinism or about election I would tell you that both were true and could give you Scripture to support the point, but something didn’t sit right with me. My heart knew that it wasn’t correct. And even more so, I began to wonder “well what if I’m not one of the elect? Am I really saved?” Now some would say that if you get saved then you must be elect, but that doesn’t quite make any sense to me. Instead of studying the Scripture on it, I tried to ignore my heart on the subject and became almost arrogant about defending election. I also mistakenly thought that all Baptist believed in election and were Calvinists, not realizing that Calvinism and election have only recently started creeping into Baptist churches, and that, as a general rule, it probably wasn’t the position held by a fundamental Baptist.
In July of 2007, Chris, kindly went through a post that I had written and pointed out where election was in error. Now I didn’t believe it then and it took a while for me to listen to the Lord’s leading to really look into it. But eventually I did and the Lord showed me just how wrong of a doctrine election is.
To believe that God chose some to be saved is to say that He also chose some to be eternally damned (which is something that the Calvinists never seem to want to talk about). And the Scripture does not say that at all. In face the Bible very clearly states that Jesus came to save all men. Not just some, but all men. Whoesever will can be saved.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32)
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: (Luke 12:8)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:3-6)
The 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. (2 Peter 3:9)
8 Comments:
Hey Michelle - I just wanted to say that while I disagree with you, I do respect your position. I do think that man's will has something to do with what happens but I know that God clearly states in His Word that election is a true doctrine. But I just wanted to point out the idea of 'double predestination" - that God predestines some to hell is not a doctrine of the doctrine of grace. ALL are going to hell. It's not God's choice - it's where all are going. It's just that, for some reason, for God's sovereignty to reign, He chooses to save some. Romans 9 is a great chapter on this.
Yes, without salvation all are going to hell. But if God predestined who is saved, then He also predestined who isn't.
In some cases - but all are predestined to hell. It was not God's choice. In Romans we do see that He chooses some to harden for His glory (Romans 9:18) though, so it's a completely Biblical thought that God chooses to condemn someone. He hardened Pharaoh's heart - but He still held Pharaoh responsible. Why? God is sovereign. I don't claim to understand it but it's a Scriptural teaching so I must accept it.
But none of this proves election.
God Himself has said in His word that Jesus came to save all.
Michelle- AMEN!
We might make a Lutheran out of you yet! ;)
Thursday's Child -
Uhm no. :)
Michelle,
In the end, what truly matters is Faith In Christ. Will you die with Christ's name on your lips when asked to deny him? I fervently hope so, and I pray that this is the case.
Beyond this, everyone will have faults in their Doctrine due to the fallen nature of man. But I have to agree with Mamame that I disagree with your views on election, and I think God's Word disagrees as well.
If the Bible cannot be broken, then the whole Bible has to be used as the lens to look at God's will.
Exodus 33:19 - And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Here God shows that He chooses who will receive mercy from Him.
John 6:44 - No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Again, you have God's will acting upon someone, drawing them to Christ.
Then there is Romans 9.
How do you reconcile God's love for Jacob, but hatred for Esau? When as verse 11 states, neither had done good, nor evil when God chose?
How do you handle verses 21-24, where the vessels of mercy are those God called (elected, cf. Romans 8:30) while the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction are those God suffers the existence of until the time of destruction.
Jesus came to save the world (Greek: kosmos/κόσμον), not all people (John 12:47). Jesus states several times that he is there to save His people. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, there are specific people who are set apart by God to be his people. This is God's election. If all are to be saved, then why are people cast into Hell in Revelation?
Please do not see these words I have typed as an attack on you. I do not want to start any war of words here. I respect you following Christ, but I humbly ask you to remember that there are many things in God's will that we will find hard to accept, but His Word is the final authority.
If you would like to carry on this discussion further please feel free to follow my blogger profile back to my site and comment there or contact me at:
e r u h n o w at g m a i l dot c o m
Sincerely,
A brother in Christ
One should not confuse the promises of God to Israel with the promises of God to Christians. Two totally different things.
You seem to be forgetting the fact that the Bible repeatedly says "Whoseover will"
And while God did not continue the line of the chosen people through Esau, He did give him Mount Seir for his people to dwell in.
The Bible is quite clear on the fact that the doctrine of election is false. Yes, it is still very hard to completely grasp how an all knowing God and man's free will mesh, but they do, and not via election.
Here is a great article for you to read: http://www.learnthebible.org/the-truth-about-predestination.html
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