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Chapter 6
Man's words
Article 7
Election is the unchangeable pupose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, He has out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of His own will, chosen from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault from their primitive state of rectitude into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom He from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect and the foundation of salvation. This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than others, but with them involved in one common misery, God has decreed to give to Christ to be saved by Him, and effectually to call and draw them to His communion by His Word and Spirit; to bestow upon them true faith, justification, and sanctification; and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of His Son, finally to glorify them for the demonstration of His mercy, and for the praise of the riches of His glorious grace.
And as God Himself is the most wise, unchangeable, omniscient, and omnipotent, so the election made by Him can neither be interrupted nor changed, recalled, or annulled; neither can the elect be cast away, nor their number diminished.
What peculiarly tends to illustrate and recommend to us the eternal and unmerited grace of election is the express testimony of sacred Scripture that not all, but some only, are elected, while others are passed by in the eternal decree; whom God, out of His sovereign, most just, irreprehensible, and unchangeable good pleasure, has decreed to leave in the common misery into which they have wilfully plunged themselves, and not to bestow upon them saving faith and the grace of conversion; but, permitting them in His just judgment to follow their own ways, at last, for the declaration of His justice, to condemn and punish them forever, not only on account of their unbelief, but also for all their other sins. And this is the decree of reprobation, which by no means makes God the Author of sin (the very thought of which is blasphemy), but declares Him to be an awful, irreprehensible, and righteous Judge and Avenger thereof.
Since we are to judge the will of God from His Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature, but in virtue of the covenant of grace, in which they together with the parents are comprehended, godly parents ought not to doubt the election and salvation of their children whom it pleases God to call out of this life in their infancy.
"By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God by which he
determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to
every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation;
and accordingly, as each has been created for one or the other of these
ends, we say that we have been predestinated to life or to death"
3:21:5
"We say, then, that the scripture clearly proves this much, that God
by his eternal and immutable counsel determined once for all those whom
it was his good pleasure one day to admit to salvation, and those whom,
on the other hand, it was his good pleasure to doom to destruction.
We maintain that this counsel, as regards the elect, is founded on his
free mercy, without respect of human worth, while those whom he dooms to
destruction are excluded from access to life by a just and blameless
but at the same time, incomprehensible, judgment." 3:21:7
Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin, translated by Henry Beveridge
"Predestination, therefore, means that God has previously planned the final destinies of all his rational creatures, including both angels and human beings. Predestination, further, is subdivided into election and reprobation. If we think of these terms only as they apply to men, we mean by election God's planning from eternity to save some of the human race in and through Jesus Christ, his choosing of the specific individuals that are to be saved, and his determination of the manner in which they are to be saved and of the type of lives they are to live. By reprobation we mean God's planning not to save certain members of the human race, and his resolve to condemn them on account of their sins." —"Predestination as Taught by the Christian Reformed Church", Tract No. 196, pages 3-4, Anthony A. Hoekema
Q. Is Calvinism's "Unconditional Election" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that God is no respecter of persons?
..."There is no respect of persons with God." Rom. 2:11
"For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons." Col. 3:25
"And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear." I Pet. 1:17
"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him." Rom. 10:12
"And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him." Acts 10:34-35
..."There is no respect of persons with him (God)." Eph. 6:9
Q. Is Calvinism's "Unconditional Election" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that election is conditional on being "in Christ"?
..."Even as he chose us in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world." Eph. 1:4
"Salute Rufus the chosen in the Lord." Rom. 16:13
"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they (the elect) also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." II Tim. 2:10
"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; ...Nay, in all these things we (the elect) are more than conquerors through him (Christ) that loved us.... nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us (the elect) from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 8:33, 37, 39
"Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new." II Cor. 5:17
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, how does a believing, repentant sinner get "into Christ"?
"But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12
"For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." Gal. 3:26-27
"Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life." Rom. 6:3-4
"They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41
Q. Is Calvinism's "Unconditional Election" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that God chose those who are in Christ, and that to get into Christ man must hear, believe, and obey the call of the Gospel?
"...Even as he chose us in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world..." Eph 1:4
"But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation
(On what conditions?)
through sanctification of the Spirit
and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." II Thess. 2:13-14 AV
"...Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..." Titus 3:5
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!" John 3:5
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." Mark 16:15-16
"He (Jesus) became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation." Heb. 5:9
Q. Is Calvinism's "Unconditional Election" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that before the foundation of the world God gave us his grace in Christ, chose us in Christ, and chose us unto salvation on the conditions shown man in the call of the gospel, which when obeyed puts man "in Christ"?
"...God; who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." II Tim. 1:8-10
"Even as he chose us in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world." Eph. 1:4
"But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation
(On what conditions?)
through sanctification of the Spirit
and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." II Thess. 2:13-14 AV
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Matt. 17:5
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. Mark 16:15-16
"For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." Gal. 3:26-27
Q. Since Eph. 1:4 says, "He chose us in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world", and Gal. 3:27 says that baptism puts us "into Christ", does our individual election take place after we are called by and obey the gospel?
"For many are called, but few chosen." Matt. 22:14
"These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful." Rev. 17:14
"Salute Rufus the chosen in the Lord..." Rom. 16:13
Q. Is Calvinism's "Unconditional Election" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that election is conditional on the elect or Christians "making it sure"?
"Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble." II Pet. 1:10
"...Continue ye in my love." John 15:9 AV
"...Keep yourselves in the love of God..." Jude 21
"And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard..." Col. 1:21-23
"Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." Rom. 11:22
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, who are those chosen and given to the Son by the Father?
"They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:28-29
"And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:39-40
"...For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father." John 16:27
"He that hath my (Jesus') commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him." John 14:21
"...If any man serve me (Jesus), him will the Father honor." John 12:26
"...For the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine." John 17:8-9
"And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good,... Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" Rom. 8:28, 33
Q. According to GOD'S WORD in Matthew 24, were the elect to be severely tried, and was the love of many of them to become cold?
"...For then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be....Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." Matt. 24:21, 23-24
"And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray. And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold. But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." Matt. 24:11-13
Q. Were the elect warned beforehand to take heed lest their love become cold and they be led astray?
"...For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have told you all things beforehand." Mark 13:22-23
"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" Rom. 8:33
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, who are the "elect" mentioned in Rom. 8:33 and the verses that follow it?
"...Them that love God..." Rom. 8:28
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, when Paul preached in Antioch of Pisidia, what were the two results of his preaching?
"But when the Jews saw the multitudes,
they were filled with jealousy,
and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul,
and blasphemed."
"ye thrust it from you,
and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life..."
"And as the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad,
and glorified the word of God:
and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." Acts 13:45-46, 48
Q. Does Acts 13:48 teach "Unconditional Election"?
Q. If Paul believed in "Unconditional Election" and all in Antioch who were ordained to eteral life believed when he preached there the first time, why did he return to Antioch at least three times to increase their number?
Q. If Paul believed in "Perseverance of the Saints", why did he waste his time returning to Antioch at least three times to exhort the disciples to continue in the faith?
"They returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 14:21-22
"And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare."
"And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches."
"So the churches were strengthened in
the faith, and increased in number daily. And they went through the
region of Phrygia and Galatia..." Acts 15:36, 41, 16:5-6
"...He departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples." Acts 18:23
Q. Did God say, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" (Rom. 9:13) before they were born, OR did He say this fourteen-hundred years after they had lived and died?
"...Was not Esau Jacob's brother, saith Jehovah: yet I loved Jacob; but Esau I hated..." Malachi 1:2-3
"For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel: neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed." Rom. 9:6-8
Q. What was the spiritual promise that God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the nation of Israel, and which is mentioned in Rom. 9:7-8?
"Now Jehovah said unto Abram... in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Gen 12:1, 3
"...All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him (Abraham)." Gen. 18:18
"...In thy seed (Abraham's) shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Gen. 22:18
"And Jehovah appeared unto him (Isaac), and said..."
"...in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Gen. 26:2, 4
"...In thee (Jacob) and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." ... "for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." Gen. 28:14-15
"...The covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Acts 3:25
"And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed. So then they that are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." Gal. 3:8-9
Q. In addition to the scriptures listed above, did the Old Testament teach the Jews (and men today) what God's real purpose was in choosing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the nation of Israel?
"...He saith also in Hosea..."
"And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel..."
"...as it is written..." Rom. 9:25-33
Q. Did it happen as the Old Testament said?
"...It is not as though the word of God hath come to nought." Rom. 9:6
Q. Does Romans 9 teach Calvinism's Unconditional Election of individuals to eternal salvation, OR does it teach that God's purpose from the beginning was to save all nations in Christ and that He chose and called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the nation of Israel as the means by which He would bring this about?
Q. What was the real purpose of God in choosing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the nation of Israel?
"...That he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles? As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, that was not beloved. And it shall be, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God." Rom. 9:23-26
Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)
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