Why do Calvinists think THEY are the elect?

billwald · Nov 7, 2007

Why do Calvinists think THEY are the elect? The Bible doesn't specify God's criteria for election. If he had a sense of humor he might have only elected Pelagians and existentionalists.

nill · Nov 7, 2007

Maybe for the same reason any Christian would think that he or she is loved by God?

mlqurgw · Nov 7, 2007

Actually the Bible describes the elect as ungodly sinners. If you are one you can have hope that you are elect.

wnwall · Nov 7, 2007

Election isn't based on anything in man but is completely at the sovereign, free will of God.

To say God would only elect Pelagians is to say God would keep everyone he elected from becoming Calvinists, since nothing about God's election has anything to do with anything about a person.

To say God would only elect Pelagians is to say God would actively conceal truth which he has spoken in scripture from his elect.

While being a Calvinist is neither a criterion for election (because there are no criterion for election) nor a criterion for faith (because regeneration is the only criterion for faith) it would certainly be expected that God would reveal what he has already spoken in scripture concerning his electing purpose to many of his elect.

And as mlqurgw pointed out, we were all certainly much worse off than mere semi-Pelagians when God called us out of our sin and gave us new life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLZV9aajAYE

bradfordl · Nov 7, 2007

That "sense of humor" would entail God lying to accomplish this joke. That is a blasphemous conjecture. God is holy, and therefore it is impossible that He would lie. Even for your warped idea of "fun".

Paleoconservatarian · Nov 8, 2007

We don't believe that we, by virtue of being Calvinists, are the elect.

You're right, the Bible doesn't really give us any criteria for election. That's because it's not for us. That's for God. Election, while important, isn't all that central in our theology. It's mostly explanatory. We use it to explain why things are the way they are, why some come to faith and others don't, and also as a source of comfort for the saints. It just happens to be (for whatever odd reason) the doctrine that others seem to focus on in their gripes with us.

Most importantly, election is never to be considered alone and in itself. The only way we can know it is in how it works out; thus, we can see the results of God's election in those who receive Christ by faith and proceed in a life of continual repentance and sanctification. There's no such thing as an elect unbeliever who does not eventually receive Christ. Thus, God doesn't elect Pelagians and existentialists to be Pelagians and existentialists. Unbelievers don't get, apart from Christ, a free ticket to heaven. Election doesn't work that way. God doesn't simply zap people into glory.

nasa1 · Nov 9, 2007

I don't think that a Calvinist believes that everyone calling themselves a Calvinist is of the elect, just as they probably would not automatically believe a person is a Christian just because they call themselves a Christian.

The Bible says to make your calling and election sure. This is how one knows they are of the elect.

NASA

heymikey80 · Nov 9, 2007

Thanks, NASA. And exactly. There are plenty of Arminians that I'm quite sure are of the elect. In fact they're better, humbler Calvinists than many nominal Calvinists I know. They don't recognize the distinctions between themselves and God very well, but no matter.

They profess to rely on Christ alone for their salvation. And they show it.

And that is the indicator we are given to affirm that someone is saved by Christ Jesus.

Terrence_Theodore · May 28, 2009

We can be sure of our election if we have believed upon the Savior, Jesus. Worthy of mentioning is this fact: A true faith in Jesus is proceeded by a lifestyle of repentance; a turning away from sins, and a continual turning to and trusting in God. If you exist as one who trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, the Apostle John has something to say to you:

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:13

peace4ever · Jun 5, 2009

Once someone receives the indwelling Holy Spirit, he will never disagree with or contradict scripture. So as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:19, "No doubt there have to be divisions among you to show which of you has Gods approval."

So divisions exist between true and false teachers. People who disagree with: Romans 9:11-25, Romans 8:20, Romans 11:32, Ezekiel 36:27, John 6:44, Romans 3:11, and many, many more scriptures are false teachers.

But there are Arminians out there who have not read the whole bible so they are on milk. After those on milk have read the whole bible and reconciled it together, they will see that TULIP is correct and thus are not false teachers.

LiturgyInDMinor · Jun 5, 2009

WHY DO PEOPLE IGNORANTLY think that Calvinists think they are the elect??
We do not presume to know whow the elect are....I do know that I have confidence in my Lord that I am saved.

Missionary Joshua · Jul 31, 2009

The problem with this question is that they misunderstand the mind and heart of the reformed. The Reformed, it is often joked, "Pride themselves in the fact that they are depraved sinners deserving God's wrath."

The only difference is that we acknowledge that we impotent in being able to earn our salvation. No Calvinist that I know would pride themselves in the fact that in order to be pushed off God's Anvil, Christ had to get hit with the Hammer of God's Wrath.

LST 1154 · Aug 24, 2009

Peace4ever,

Wow, your posting above is some good stuff! Nice to know one can be a Calvinist and believe in the indwelling Holy Spirit!

LST 1154

itisdeliciouscake · Aug 25, 2009

when will people stop assuming the elect are some mysterious group of people who we will never find out until the end times.

the elect are simply all those who have true saving faith while on earth.

marlowe007 · Aug 27, 2009

Firstly, I dunno for certain that I'm part of the elect; there's no sound reason to complacently assume that I will remain Christian until death. Secondly, election does not discriminate on a denominational basis; there are elect Catholics, Presbyterians, Mormons, etc.

LST 1154 · Aug 27, 2009

Elect Mormons? I'm beginning to believe there are about as many demon worshippers on this site as Christians (maybe more). Mormons are not Christians, they are cultists that teach Jesus Christ and Satan are "spiritual brothers."

LST 1154

marlowe007 · Aug 27, 2009

Mormons are definitely Christian by my reckoning because they acknowledge the divinity of Christ. At any rate, I've demonstrated that some Calvinists can be free of sectarian prejudice.

ReformedChapin · Aug 27, 2009

Mormons are not part of the elect and their concept of God is not the same as ours. They are polytheists not theists.

nill · Aug 27, 2009

To say the least. Im pretty sure they believe that God was first a human and became a god at some point. Scriptures gotta say something against that

LST 1154 · Aug 27, 2009

In June of 1840 LDS President Lorenzo Snow declared, "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become."

Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, that he should lie..."

The LDS (Mormons) are a false religion. They should be known as LDFP, Latter Day False Prophets.

LST 1154

Why do Calvinists think THEY are the elect?

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