Election @ Bible Study

[Croooz]

Well I've been away for a bit. Come back with some great news. My Pear-sta wants me to give a teaching on Election! He's gone so far as to begin to introduce TULIP into his sermons. Nothing flagrant but enough for the 2-3 Reformed folk to grin. He's really encouraging me to attend RTS. Says I've been gifted with intelligence and a hunger for the word. I told him he's only saying that because my tithing has gone up recently.

Anyhow....any direction on election would be great!

 

[StAnselm]

It looks to me like - before he created the world - God decided to put this on your pastor's heart. The doctrine of election gets a lot of bad press, but it can provide the believer with much comfort and encouragement. Not to mention that it's biblical!

 

[CoffeeSwirls]

Rev 13:8
and all who dwell on earth will worship it (the beast), everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.

The names of the elect were written in the book of life before the foundation of the world.

2Ti 1:9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Again, we were elected before we could do anything good or bad.

Eph 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Eph 1:5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Eph 1:6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Election is found all over the place. You can find it in many books of the Bible. I haven't searched the Bible thouroughally, but I imagine you would find evidence for it in most, if not all of the books. I would begin at Ephesians 1 for the clearest description, then branch out.

 

[Croooz]

Thanks! I've got that nervous excitement about the whole thing. I pray that since people know Pastor isn't teaching they still show up.....even if it's out of curiosity of what I could possibly have to say about the Bible.

 

[StAnselm]

Have you started yet? Are they sermons, then?

 

[Croooz]

Have you started yet? Are they sermons, then?

No. It's in 2 weeks. It's a 1 time gig. I believe it's a way for the congregation to get to hear about a controversial theological topic from someone other than clergy. This way, after the study people can come up to the Pastor asking questions or giving their opinion. It seems topics such as this presented by the Pastor don't evoke the kind of feedback he would like. It's either accepted, rejected or ignored but without dialogue. He would like dialogue and this will open the doors.

Can anyone say cannon fodder.....

 

[StAnselm]

Yes, I see.

 

[CoffeeSwirls]

I realize that everyone wants feedback, but why has your pastor chosen this strategy? God placed him over the church to feed His sheep. That doesn't mean that everyone will like the meal placed before them, but that's the duty of a pastor. I don't see a problem with the pastor taking a week off to let a trusted member of the congregation speak, but to ask you to carry raw meat into shark infested waters comes across to me as irresponsible. Had you chosen this topic without his suggestion or his revealed motives I wouldn't be saying this, but the whole thing just doesn't sound right.

Is there anything I haven't seen in your earlier posts? The way I'm reading this, your pastor wants you to potentially take a fall for him, testing the waters before he determines his public stance. I don't want to think this of your pastor, so please tell me that I don't have the whole story!

Also, if there is anything we can do to help, you know you can come here. I'll offer my own assistance in the matter as well as a showing that I mean no harm in my response. Feel free to PM me if you need any suggestions for presenting the Biblical response to this controversial topic.

For now, remember that grace is defined as the UNEARNED FAVOR of God. For grace to be grace, it must be offered before one has done anything and cannot be granted due to any good on the part of the recipiant, including forseen future good. Legalism would be the only possible outcome from that stance.

Also look to Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve hid from God and tried to cover their own nakedness. We have been trying to sew our own coverings from the beginning and have only taken the provision of God when He has presented them to us. And like our first parents, we did not approach Him for this. The natural way for sinful man to travel is away from the holiness of God. That is only one reason why election must be of God and not man. There is no one who seeks God.

Use as much scripture as possible for this. If anyone doesn't like what you are saying, they can (and will) take it up with the author. And be sure to come to us for any assistance that you need. We want you to be successful in this venture and are willing to help in any way we can.