On Accepting all the Doctrines of Grace

[singlecandle]

In the WCF, Chapter III, no. 3

III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.

Is it common for one to struggle with this part of the confession-
to not understand why all are not chosen? Coming from a former
Armenian's perspective, does it not take some time to accept?

 

[Epiphoskei]

It's very common. It's virtually impossible as long as one holds to the idea that everyone deserves a chance to be saved. Of course, if we were still in a state where we could deserve any good thing, we wouldn't need saving, but treating fallen men like sympathetic characters is a systemic problem in that theology.

 

[St_Worm2]

In the WCF, Chapter III, no. 3

III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.

Is it common for one to struggle with this part of the confession-
to not understand why all are not chosen? Coming from a former
Armenian's perspective, does it not take some time to accept?

Hi SC, I agree, it is very common.

Of course, in Election, the only difference between the Reformed and the Arminian views is who (or Who) does the choosing, right? For the Calvinist, why God chooses some and not all is a mystery.

On the other hand, according to Arminianism, ALL are said to be able to choose, or choose to refuse, God's gracious offer of salvation. The Arminian reason for the fact that only some will choose eternal bliss in Heaven, while most will choose everlasting pain and suffering in Hell, has never been made clear to me. If we have all been given those two choices, why would any rational person freely choose "door #2" ..

This is the very question that drove me nuts when I believed what Arminians do. I would always find myself thinking, "why me and not my neighbor"? It was this question that made it easy for me to embrace Calvinism when it was finally presented to me in a coherent manner (which I pretty much credit RC Sproul's little book called "Chosen By God" with, a book, interestingly enough, that I picked up by accident in my church's book store).

Obviously, considering the subject of this thread, if you've not read that book, you should do so (IMHO). I can promise you that you won't be able to put it down ..

Yours and His,
David

"As many as had been appointed
to eternal life believed"
Acts 13:48b​