THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT ON OUR OWN WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO CHANGE:
The Old Testament is consistent with the New.
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. (Job 14:4)
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (Matt 7)
Belief in Christ, God the incarnate, is a good thing…is it not? If what the Bible teaches about our fallen nature in Adam we cannot bring forth any
“good fruit” including belief.
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. (Matt 12:33)
Again, Christ supports what is called “Calvinism.” NO MAN can come, that means no one is able, to come to Christ for salvation.
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. (John 6:44)
All that are drawn are drawn to Christ for salvation and not just a chance for salvation. In John 6 Christ tells us that He will raise up all those who are drawn and the context is unto salvation.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. (John 6:65)
Only through Christ’s drawing can we find salvation. There is nothing good in us, no good fruit, and no prevenient grace offered. Only the goodness of God in the salvation of sinners.
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Ro 11)
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. (1 Cor 2:14)
It is the pure grace of God alone that makes one differ from another. We cannot discern spiritual matters without God making a change, a difference in us, and this change allows us to believe. Ask yourself,
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Cor 4:7)
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (2 Cor 4:7)
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT GOD’S CHOICE IN SALVATION:
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. (Deut 10)
If Israel was chosen under the old covenant of works to be a special people unto God why would God not operate the same way in the new? Let’s be consistent folks. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His will shall be done, not ours.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. (Psa 33:12)
God chooses.
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. (Psa 65:4)
That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. (Psa 106:5)
In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts. (Hag 2:23)
The Son must reveal Himself to be known.
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Matt 11)
Many are called through the preaching of the Gospel but the Son only reveals Himself to the chosen. This teaching should shatter any spiritual pride a person might hold to, it should make us burry our faces in the dust and weep with joy for what Christ has done for us. Even though we are desperately wicked and deserve Hell God has chosen some for salvation. Isn’t that mind blowing? That should make you drop to your knees in prayer and thanksgiving.
For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matt 22)
The flesh finds this teaching repugnant and people will reject this idea just as they did when Christ preached it. Keep reading…
When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. (Matt 22)
More scripture from the Epistles about being chosen or elect.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Ro 8)
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. (Ro 8)
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes. (Ro 11:28)
Speaking to the chosen:
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Col 3:12)
Those whom were chosen, elect, those who the Son revealed Himself to were not appointed to wrath but salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Thes 5:9)
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; (Tit 1:1)
The Triune God of scripture is free from all limitations. God does not learn, God’s knowledge is not limited by the creatures free will, God does what He likes freely. That is without compulsion or without outside determinative influence.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 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. (1 Pet 1:1-2)
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; (1 Pet 2:8-9)
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Rev 17:4)
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT ELECTION, IT’S NOT BASED ON FORESEEN RESPONSES:
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. (Ma 13:20)
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (Jo 15:16)
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48)
The following video was created a few years ago to help explain Acts 13.
A very powerful example of how God choses can be found in Romans 9.
Notice;
1) it is before
“having done any good or evil”
2) it is based on the purpose of God and not the create
3) not based on what we do but God who calls us
4) that Jacob was loved and Esau hated
The Arminian or free will tradition tries to avoid the plain interpretation by claiming
“loved” mentioned in point 4 means “loved less” but the point still stands and that is, Jacob was loved more and elect, Esau was not. Jacob’s election was based on God’s love. Another free will argument to avoid this conclusion is to claim Jacob means the nation of Israel while Esau represents the gentile nation. The logic if faulty. Without conceding any ground, nations are made up of individuals so we are back to the main point, one was elect the other not.
(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
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Ro 9)
The elect get it…those who are not were blinded.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (Ro 11:7)
Being a chosen nation or elect is based on God’s will and not ours.
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. (Ro 9:16)
If you are not a Christian it should be clear by now that I am not up to the task of changing your mind, I can’t change that which is flesh into that which is spiritual, all I can do is tell you what the Bible teaches and trust in Jesus Christ alone to accomplish His will. The Christian on the other hand must consider the copious amounts of scripture I provided, take time to reflect, pray about it and decide for or against the Doctrines of Grace. By God’s grace through Jesus Christ alone, I pray,
I am one of those foolish things, used for His good purpose.
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Cor 1:27-29)
Belief in Christ is given to us and not something we generate within ourselves.
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Phi 1:29)
The inclinations of our hearts after we are born again are
God’s will working in us for His pleasure.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Phi 2:12-13)
God is eternal. His choice in election is eternal, not based in time for God is not subject to time, or limited by anything. The eternality of God disallows the notion or prevents us from entertaining any ideas about God having a succession of thoughts since He is not affected by time itself.
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: (Eph 1:4)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)
The following verse has been misused by Arminian free will traditionalists to teach that in the preaching of the word brings prevenient grace or preparing grace. It is true that we see the Holy Spirit working through the preaching of the word and sacraments, however, any ideas of prevenient grace cannot be entertained. I hope to address the idea in post at a latter date. Setting aside the Arminian notion of prevenient grace, look at the text, notice the beginning of the verse where we see it is address to
“brethren” who were
“elect.” The power of the Holy Spirit were given to the elect through the preaching of the word. As I have demonstrated from scripture, election is God’s choice to save and not ours. The power in the preaching of the word comes to the elect alone, those whom the Son choices to reveal Himself.
Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 The 1:4-5)
God’s choice, not ours…from the beginning.
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: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 The 2:13-14)
We are called according to
“his own purpose and grace” not because of something foreseen in us.
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Tim 1:9)
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (Jam 2:5)
Because God is not subject to time
“the Lamb” was said to be
“slain from the foundation of the world” meaning that in God’s mind there are no sequences of time. He knows all because He creates all and is not subject to it.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev 13:8)
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT ELECTION:
The Bible is one BIG document…consistent in all it’s parts. A wonderful document with many difficult passages, and each passage works to clear up misunderstandings about another, allowing us to see a consistent theological theme presented. Election unto salvation must proceed salvation for God is the one who chooses.
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48)
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (Ro 11)
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: (Eph 1:4)
Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. (1 The 1:4)
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: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 The 2:13-14)
The Apostle Paul endured much trial and tribulation in reaching the elect with the Gospel. He did not strive to reach people who could hypothetically be saved, rather, he took comfort in the knowledge that in his preaching and ministry God would call His elect. I’m not here to brow beat anyone into believing what I believe but following Paul’s example I proclaim the truth knowing God’s will be done in all things.
Therefore I endure all things for the elects sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Tim 2:10)
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT ELECTION IS BASED ON GOD’S MERCY AND NOT OUR ACTIONS:
It is God’s prerogative in salvation to save those whom He will.
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. (Ex 33:19)
For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: (Deu 7:6-7)
A rhetorical question and the answer is “yes.” If Jesus Christ is God your will is subservient to His divine will.
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? (Matt 20:15)
Our election is based on God’s mercy alone and is the reason why Christ died to save sinners. It’s not Christ + anything = salvation. It’s mercy through Christ alone that results in our salvation.
Emphasis added: And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (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
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Ro 9)
At this point the free will traditionalist will object, “but, but…that’s not fair! Why does God find fault in me if I can’t help it!” Paul replies to this objection with,
“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” Those are the words of Paul given to him by the Holy Spirit. Read. Ruminate deeply.
The Bible teaches we are saved because of God’s mercy given us in Christ! If not
“then it is no more grace:”
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Ro 11)
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Ro 11)
God’s mercy displayed in predestination.
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (Eph 1:5)
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT JESUS ACTUALLY SAVES:
The free will proponent doesn’t believe that Christ’s death actually saves but that Christ died to make salvation possible. This is ridiculous. Christ dying in the place of “many” (not all Mat 24) is not a hypothetical answer to the problem of sin. Jesus Christ saves and saves completely. He is the “author and finisher of our faith.” When dealing with passages about the atonement we see that Christ will definitively save all those for whom He died.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Mat 1:21)
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luk 19:10)
Notice how repentance is given by God for our salvation. This is another reason why Christ’s death will always result in the salvation from whom it was offered.
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)
The Gospel is about our free redemption by His grace and mercy alone accomplished by Him.
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Rom 3:24-25)
The
“us” is in direct relation to
“being justified.” If you believe
“us” includes all of mankind, with consistent handling of the text, you side with the universalist.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Rom 5:8-9)
Christ our covenant head brings us into a saving relationship with the Triune God of scripture.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Rom 5:10)
Christ alone is our redemption. No cooperation needed.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Cor 1:30)
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:18-19)
Christ was crucified as sin for us. US, the church, not the world. For this reason the underlying principles of Arminian free will tradition on previent grace are false. It is impossible that Christ took the sins of every single person in the world and the wrath of the Father not be appeased for Christ’s death brings salvation…not the promise of salvation…
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Cor 5:21)
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Gal 1:3)
The work of Christ on the cross results in salvation. Notice that
“Christ hath redeemed us”, past tense.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Gal 3:13)
…chosen to be without blame.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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: (Eph 1:3-4)
What Christ did on the cross was effectual. (meaning: successful in producing a desired or intended result) That means Christ accomplished what He set out to do which was to abolish
in his flesh the enmity that existed between God and man, reconciling both to God in one body.
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Eph 2:15-16)
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Eph 5:25-26)
Faith is given by God and therefore effectual.
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Phil 1:29)
The Bible tells us that Christ delivered us, moved us from a state of spiritual death and decay into His spiritual Kingdom of His dear son. It’s a done deal.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Col 1:13-14)
Christ’s death results in us being reconciled back to God.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Col 1:21-22)
We are redeemed for a purpose. That means our redemption is based on God’s will for it is His purpose we are being redeemed.
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Tit 2:14)
Righteousness comes by faith and this righteousness is brought to us in
“the washing of regeneration.” It’s effectual.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (Tit 3)
The Bible teaches that Christ obtained our salvation for us. Salvation is said to be
“finished” in Him.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Heb 9:12)
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb 9:14)
His blood results in the sanctification for whom it was offered. If Christ died for all than all will be sanctified.
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (Heb 13:12)
Peter is speaking to believers and tells them Christ took our sins to cross and His death results in our healing.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Pet 2)
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Pet 3:18)