For [God] says to Moses, �I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.� It does not, therefore, depend on man�s desire or effort, but on God�s mercy. ROMANS 9:15-16
The verb elect means �to select, or choose out.� The biblical doctrine of election is that before Creation God selected out of the human race, foreseen as fallen, those whom he would redeem, bring to faith, justify, and glorify in and through Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:28-39; Eph. 1:3-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:9-10). This divine choice is an expression of free and sovereign grace, for it is unconstrained and unconditional, not merited by anything in those who are its subjects. God owes sinners no mercy of any kind, only condemnation; so it is a wonder, and matter for endless praise, that he should choose to save any of us; and doubly so when his choice involved the giving of his own Son to suffer as sin-bearer for the elect (Rom. 8:32).
The doctrine of election, like every truth about God, involves mystery and sometimes stirs controversy. But in Scripture it is a pastoral doctrine, brought in to help Christians see how great is the grace that saves them, and to move them to humility, confidence, joy, praise, faithfulness, and holiness in response. It is the family secret of the children of God. We do not know who else he has chosen among those who do not yet believe, nor why it was his good pleasure to choose us in particular. What we do know is, first, that had we not been chosen for life we would not be believers now (for only the elect are brought to faith), and, second, that as elect believers we may rely on God to finish in us the good work that he started (1 Cor. 1:8-9; Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18). Knowledge of one�s election thus brings comfort and joy.
Peter tells us we should be �eager to make [our] calling and election sure� (2 Pet. 1:10)�that is, certain to us. Election is known by its fruits. Paul knew the election of the Thessalonians from their faith, hope, and love, the inward and outward transformation of their lives that the gospel had brought about (1 Thess. 1:3-6). The more that the qualities to which Peter has been exhorting his readers appear in our lives (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love: 2 Pet. 1:5-7), the surer of our own election we are entitled to be.
The elect are, from one standpoint, the Father�s gift to the Son (John 6:39; 10:29; 17:2, 24). Jesus testifies that he came into this world specifically to save them (John 6:37-40; 10:14-16, 26-29; 15:16; 17:6-26; Eph. 5:25-27), and any account of his mission must emphasize this.
Reprobation is the name given to God�s eternal decision regarding those sinners whom he has not chosen for life. His decision is in essence a decision not to change them, as the elect are destined to be changed, but to leave them to sin as in their hearts they already want to do, and finally to judge them as they deserve for what they have done. When in particular instances God gives them over to their sins (i.e., removes restraints on their doing the disobedient things they desire), this is itself the beginning of judgment. It is called �hardening� (Rom. 9:18; 11:25; cf. Ps. 81:12; Rom. 1:24, 26, 28), and it inevitably leads to greater guilt.
Reprobation is a biblical reality (Rom. 9:14-24; 1 Pet. 2:8), but not one that bears directly on Christian behavior. The reprobates are faceless so far as Christians are concerned, and it is not for us to try to identify them. Rather, we should live in light of the certainty that anyone may be saved if he or she will but repent and put faith in Christ.
We should view all persons that we meet as possibly being numbered among the elect.
I is His will that NONE should perish.... NONE!!!!!!!!!!!:applause: salvation is availible to everyone but those who love not the truth choose not to except this great salvation....because of unbelief and doubt and the lust of the flesh I agree that God calls us but some will heed and some will not, I think that possibly and this is just my opinion that the spirit calls some people stronger than others and I think this is a result of someone elses prayers for God to save a certain person me personaly God just broke in on me one sunday morning it was like I was litarly being physicaly led or pushed to get dressed and go to church I cant explain it this I believe was a result of 25 years of my Daddy crying out for God to save me, but God knew when the time was right and he just broke in on me and I submited to his call, however I didnt have to I could most definatly resisted the call and eventualy I would have lost the ability to be sensitive to the precious spirit of God.. But praise God I submited to him and his burden is easy and his yoke is light...
But like I said EVERYONE HAS THEIR CHANCE... ITS HIS WILL THAT NONE SHOULD PERISH
PEEjay,You call yourslef a Christian,yet you speak as an unbeliever.
PEEjay says:
James it does not matter who it was written to, it is the will of God for the lost.
Luk 11:42 But woe to you, Pharisees, for you pay tithes of the mint, and the rue, and every plant, and pass by the judgment and the love of God. It was right to do these things, but not to leave aside those.
Luk 11:43 Woe to you, Pharisees! For you love the chief seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
Luk 11:44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you are as the unseen tombs, and the men walking above do not know.
Luk 11:45 And answering, one of the lawyers said to Him, Teacher, saying these things you also insult us.
Luk 11:46 And He said, Woe to you also, lawyers! Because you burden men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
Luk 11:47 Woe to you! Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
Luk 11:48 So you bear witness and consent to the works of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.
for God so loved the WORLD he sent his only begotteen son that WHOSOEVER believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life..For God sent not his Son into the WORLD to condem the WORLD but that the WORLD through him might be saved John 3:16 & 17
Now it doesnt say some of the world, My God is a Just God salvation is availible to WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON IN HIM:applause::applause: WHOSOEVER THAT MEANS ME AND YOU AND EVERYBODY very,very sad thought that God would just choose favirots.. He wouldnt because he is JUST and that wouldnt be Just , anyone that chooses him can have salvation .. and people can choose as the word of God proves when Elijah was on my carmel he said CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WIL SERVE IF BAAL BE GOD THRN SERVE HIM BUT IF GOD BE THEN SERVE HIM >>>LET THE GOD THAT ANSWERS BY FIRE LET HIM BE GOD... so there is a choice to be made by the WHOLE WORLD..
James it does not matter who it was written to, it is the will of God for the lost.
Luk 11:42 But woe to you,PEEjay, for you pay tithes of the mint, and the rue, and every plant, and pass by the judgment and the love of God. It was right to do these things, but not to leave aside those.
Luk 11:43 Woe to you, Health and wealthers For you love the chief seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
Luk 11:44 Woe to you, Arminians, Hypocrites! For you are as the unseen tombs, and the men walking above do not know.
Luk 11:45 And answering, one of the Pentecostals said to Him, Teacher, saying these things you also insult us.
Luk 11:46 And He said, Woe to you also, Pentecostals Because you burden men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
Luk 11:47 Woe to all of you! Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
Luk 11:48 So you bear witness and consent to the works of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.
PEEjay,since it does not matter to whom Yesuha is speaking,I thought i would put the Word of Yeshua according to your beliefs.
Does not look to good for you and a lot of your friends.
@James that is not what the scripture says it says any noy any chosen you cant add to the word of God and we are all well aware that no man comes unless the soirit draws but is not an almighty God abale to draw the whole world??? anything other than that is a contridiction its clear that he wil draw everyone in time and then they have a choice to make, yes he knows who will choose him and who wont because he knows all things but he will give every man the chance to choose him. If not then why the great commision?
George your validity is in your words they speak for them selves.
Basis English lesson A sentence is a declaration.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us�ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
