Can one reject their salvation?

[calluknet]

Ezekiel 3:20 "If the righteous turn from their righteousness and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before them, they shall die".

How does one reconcile this portion of scripture with election and predestination? Is this simply there to glorify God, thus 'if it were not for Gods grace this is exactly what would happen to us?'

If this is the case would you be in favour of changing the word 'shall' to 'would'? If not, does it challange the righteous to suggest there is a will based rejection that discredits the doctrine of irresistible grace?

 

[heymikey80]

"The upright" in the Old Testament was often translated "righteous". These are people whose actions support God's righteous instruction in the Law.

Ezekiel is referring to people who are doing things that are generally righteous, who are upright in the community. He does this again at Ezekiel 18, and again at Ezekiel 33. I'm pretty sure he does it elsewhere, too.

God is ultimately complaining about something different -- the fact that the upright are turning to evil. This is not some minor individual infraction: the problem is, it's so pervasive at this point in history that God's witness is eclipsed by this turn to evil.

In fact it's so bad, God indicts the way people are applying the Law in Ezekiel 18 & 33. Repentance is absolutely critical, and people turning to evil need to be convicted and sentenced quickly.

We keep looking at these things individualistically, but they're issued by a prophet to correct the critical problem. That problem will soon destroy Israel, then Judah. And this is God's instruction how to fix such problems.

 

[RisingSpirit]

How does the unsaved reject salvation. It's impossible to reject the gift of Faith that are given to the Elects.

TIP: If the Elects rejects being an Elect, then the Elects won't be the Elects.

There is no such thing as non-Elect.

 

[heymikey80]

How does the unsaved reject salvation. It's impossible to reject the gift of Faith that are given to the Elects.

TIP: If the Elects rejects being an Elect, then the Elects won't be the Elects.

There is no such thing as non-Elect.

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 1 Pt 2:8

So the reprobate do exist because they were destined to do so.

The elect are chosen beforehand (Rom 8:29), not based on what they've willed (Rom 9:16)

 

[Jeffersonian]

Unconditional Election
Romans 9:10-13
10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d] 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[e]

 

[Shulamite]

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 1 Pt 2:8

So the reprobate do exist because they were destined to do so.

The elect are chosen beforehand (Rom 8:29), not based on what they've willed (Rom 9:16)

Also, we cannot be "unborn". To say we can lose our salvation or "willfully" reject it once we know we are elect of God, is impossible. We were appointed to believe before we were born. Just as an earthly child cannot "un-do" his/her physical birth, neither can a child born of the Spirit "un-do" their spiritual birth from the Spirit.

If it were possible for God to go back on His promises, I could do nothing about it, nor could I stop Him. If He decided to change His mind against me and say "Shulamite, you are no longer my elect"... then could I stop Him? could I question Him or stop Him and say, "You can't do that, Lord, I have chosen You, I have already "willed" myself to belong to You, you can't do this!' Do you think all of my protests would be able to prevent Him? No. We are utterly powerless in HIs hand and can do nothing unless He does it first and decrees it. We are powerless either way. It all depends on His mercy. If you are His elect, He will never let you go because you were already chosen by Him, appointed to be His and "sealed with His Spirit unto the day of redemption." You cannot "undo" your own spiritual birth or "unseal" yourself!