Witness to History - Revision history

Kathyyee: Protected "Witness to History" ([edit=sysop] (indefinite) [move=sysop] (indefinite))

Kathyyee — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:01:59 GMT

Protected "Witness to History" ([edit=sysop] (indefinite) [move=sysop] (indefinite))

← Older revision

Revision as of 17:01, 1 March 2012

Bhkauflin at 16:40, 9 July 2008

Bhkauflin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:40:37 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:40, 9 July 2008
Line 1:		Line 1:
-	{{MasterHeader\|author= Rev. Iain D. Campbell \|partnerurl= http://www.Ligonier.org \|partner= Ligonier Ministries \|other=\|mediatype= article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a\|levels= 0\|reviewed= Not Reviewed\|newtitle= Witness to History\|series=Tabletalk \|topic=Salvation \|subtopic=Predestination \|month=March \|day= \|year=2001}}The promise of Romans 8:28 — that God will work all things together for the good of His people — stands as a remarkable verse in a remarkable chapter of a remarkable book. Everything in the believer’s past and present has a place in God’s great scheme. What good news for those who love Him!	+	{{info}}The promise of Romans 8:28 — that God will work all things together for the good of His people — stands as a remarkable verse in a remarkable chapter of a remarkable book. Everything in the believer’s past and present has a place in God’s great scheme. What good news for those who love Him!

	But what exactly does Paul mean when, in the next verse, he places foreknowledge behind predestination? Does he mean that God’s election of sinners in Christ was on the basis of something He foresaw them doing? Did He choose His people because He saw that they first would choose Him? This view virtually equates foreknowledge and predestination by making God’s eternal decree of election contingent upon what God foreknew about us and His electing love conditional on our having chosen Christ.		But what exactly does Paul mean when, in the next verse, he places foreknowledge behind predestination? Does he mean that God’s election of sinners in Christ was on the basis of something He foresaw them doing? Did He choose His people because He saw that they first would choose Him? This view virtually equates foreknowledge and predestination by making God’s eternal decree of election contingent upon what God foreknew about us and His electing love conditional on our having chosen Christ.

Bhkauflin at 15:01, 20 June 2008

Bhkauflin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:01:22 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:01, 20 June 2008
Line 1:		Line 1:
-	{{MasterHeader\|author= Rev. Iain D. Campbell \|partnerurl= http://www.Ligonier.org \|partner= Ligonier Ministries ~~\|date= March 2001~~\|other= ~~\|series= \|categorytopic= No topic~~ \|mediatype= article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a\|levels= 0\|reviewed= Not Reviewed\|newtitle= Witness to History}}The promise of Romans 8:28 — that God will work all things together for the good of His people — stands as a remarkable verse in a remarkable chapter of a remarkable book. Everything in the believer’s past and present has a place in God’s great scheme. What good news for those who love Him!	+	{{MasterHeader\|author= Rev. Iain D. Campbell \|partnerurl= http://www.Ligonier.org \|partner= Ligonier Ministries \|other=\|mediatype= article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a\|levels= 0\|reviewed= Not Reviewed\|newtitle= Witness to History\|series=Tabletalk \|topic=Salvation \|subtopic=Predestination \|month=March \|day= \|year=2001}}The promise of Romans 8:28 — that God will work all things together for the good of His people — stands as a remarkable verse in a remarkable chapter of a remarkable book. Everything in the believer’s past and present has a place in God’s great scheme. What good news for those who love Him!

	But what exactly does Paul mean when, in the next verse, he places foreknowledge behind predestination? Does he mean that God’s election of sinners in Christ was on the basis of something He foresaw them doing? Did He choose His people because He saw that they first would choose Him? This view virtually equates foreknowledge and predestination by making God’s eternal decree of election contingent upon what God foreknew about us and His electing love conditional on our having chosen Christ.		But what exactly does Paul mean when, in the next verse, he places foreknowledge behind predestination? Does he mean that God’s election of sinners in Christ was on the basis of something He foresaw them doing? Did He choose His people because He saw that they first would choose Him? This view virtually equates foreknowledge and predestination by making God’s eternal decree of election contingent upon what God foreknew about us and His electing love conditional on our having chosen Christ.

Kryndontpay at 01:53, 3 June 2008

Kryndontpay — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:53:36 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:53, 3 June 2008
Line 1:		Line 1:
-	{{MasterHeader\|author= Rev. Iain D. Campbell \|partnerurl=~~  [~~http://www.Ligonier.org ~~http://www.Ligonier.org]~~ \|partner= Ligonier Ministries \|date=~~ ~~March 2001\|other= \|series= \|categorytopic= No topic \|mediatype= article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a\|levels= 0\|reviewed= Not Reviewed\|newtitle= Witness to History}}The promise of Romans 8:28 — that God will work all things together for the good of His people — stands as a remarkable verse in a remarkable chapter of a remarkable book. Everything in the believer’s past and present has a place in God’s great scheme. What good news for those who love Him!	+	{{MasterHeader\|author= Rev. Iain D. Campbell \|partnerurl= http://www.Ligonier.org \|partner= Ligonier Ministries \|date= March 2001\|other= \|series= \|categorytopic= No topic \|mediatype= article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a\|levels= 0\|reviewed= Not Reviewed\|newtitle= Witness to History}}The promise of Romans 8:28 — that God will work all things together for the good of His people — stands as a remarkable verse in a remarkable chapter of a remarkable book. Everything in the believer’s past and present has a place in God’s great scheme. What good news for those who love Him!

	But what exactly does Paul mean when, in the next verse, he places foreknowledge behind predestination? Does he mean that God’s election of sinners in Christ was on the basis of something He foresaw them doing? Did He choose His people because He saw that they first would choose Him? This view virtually equates foreknowledge and predestination by making God’s eternal decree of election contingent upon what God foreknew about us and His electing love conditional on our having chosen Christ.		But what exactly does Paul mean when, in the next verse, he places foreknowledge behind predestination? Does he mean that God’s election of sinners in Christ was on the basis of something He foresaw them doing? Did He choose His people because He saw that they first would choose Him? This view virtually equates foreknowledge and predestination by making God’s eternal decree of election contingent upon what God foreknew about us and His electing love conditional on our having chosen Christ.

-	This idea falls on five counts.	+	This idea falls on five counts.

	'''First''': ''It fails to appreciate the primacy of election in God’s purposes of salvation''.		'''First''': ''It fails to appreciate the primacy of election in God’s purposes of salvation''.
Line 19:		Line 19:
	Far from teaching that God elects because He sees people choosing Him, Paul’s teaching is that God elects sinners whom He sees rejecting Him!		Far from teaching that God elects because He sees people choosing Him, Paul’s teaching is that God elects sinners whom He sees rejecting Him!

-	'''Third''': ''It fails to reckon with the power of sin in human life.''	+	'''Third''': ''It fails to reckon with the power of sin in human life.''

	Jesus made it clear in His preaching of the Gospel that all men are invited to come to Him, and if they do come to Him, He will satisfy them with His salvation. But He also said, “‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him’” (John 6:44). Thus, while a Gospel opportunity affords men the possibility of coming to Him, a moral incapability prevents them from doing so.		Jesus made it clear in His preaching of the Gospel that all men are invited to come to Him, and if they do come to Him, He will satisfy them with His salvation. But He also said, “‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him’” (John 6:44). Thus, while a Gospel opportunity affords men the possibility of coming to Him, a moral incapability prevents them from doing so.

Kryndontpay at 01:52, 3 June 2008

Kryndontpay — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:52:18 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:52, 3 June 2008
Line 1:		Line 1:
-	{{MasterHeader\|author= Rev. Iain D. Campbell \|partnerurl=  [http://www.Ligonier.org http://www.Ligonier.org] \|partner= Ligonier Ministries \|date= March 2001\|other= \|series= \|categorytopic= No topic \|mediatype= article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a\|levels= 0\|reviewed= Not Reviewed\|newtitle= Witness to History}}The promise of Romans 8:28 — that God will work all things together for the good of His people — stands as a remarkable verse in a remarkable chapter of a remarkable book. Everything in the believer’s past and present has a place in God’s great scheme. What good news for those who love Him!	+	{{MasterHeader\|author= Rev. Iain D. Campbell \|partnerurl=  [http://www.Ligonier.org http://www.Ligonier.org] \|partner= Ligonier Ministries \|date= March 2001\|other= \|series= \|categorytopic= No topic \|mediatype= article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a\|levels= 0\|reviewed= Not Reviewed\|newtitle= Witness to History}}The promise of Romans 8:28 — that God will work all things together for the good of His people — stands as a remarkable verse in a remarkable chapter of a remarkable book. Everything in the believer’s past and present has a place in God’s great scheme. What good news for those who love Him!

-	But what exactly does Paul mean when, in the next verse, he places foreknowledge behind predestination? Does he mean that God’s election of sinners in Christ was on the basis of something He foresaw them doing? Did He choose His people because He saw that they first would choose Him? This view virtually equates foreknowledge and predestination by making God’s eternal decree of election contingent upon what God foreknew about us and His electing love conditional on our having chosen Christ.	+	But what exactly does Paul mean when, in the next verse, he places foreknowledge behind predestination? Does he mean that God’s election of sinners in Christ was on the basis of something He foresaw them doing? Did He choose His people because He saw that they first would choose Him? This view virtually equates foreknowledge and predestination by making God’s eternal decree of election contingent upon what God foreknew about us and His electing love conditional on our having chosen Christ.

-	This idea falls on five counts~~. First: It fails to appreciate the primacy of election in God’s purposes of salvation~~.	+	This idea falls on five counts.

-	~~If election is conditional, it means that it is on~~ the ~~basis~~ of ~~and flows from our choice~~ of ~~Jesus. God foresaw us believing in Christ and placing our trust in Him, the argument goes, so He sealed our redemption by electing us in Christ~~.	+	'''First''': ''It fails to appreciate the primacy of election in God’s purposes of salvation''.

-	~~But in the New Testament,~~ election is ~~always to something in us~~, ~~not~~ on the basis of ~~something in us~~. ~~In Ephesians 1:4, Paul says that~~ God ~~chose~~ us ~~“that [indicating purpose, design,~~ and ~~consequence] we should be holy. . . . ” In Ephesians 2:10~~, ~~we discover that all that God did beforehand, in a plan of salvation stretching into~~ the ~~depths of eternity~~, ~~was “for [again indicating purpose and end] good works.” Election is primary and foundational in salvation; it cannot be secondary and conditional. God did not choose us because~~ He ~~foreknew that we would do good things; we do good things because God elected~~ us ~~for that very purpose~~.	+	If election is conditional, it means that it is on the basis of and flows from our choice of Jesus. God foresaw us believing in Christ and placing our trust in Him, the argument goes, so He sealed our redemption by electing us in Christ.

-	~~Second: It fails to appreciate~~ the ~~relationship between~~ election and ~~foreknowledge~~.	+	But in the New Testament, election is always to something in us, not ''on the basis of something in us''. In Ephesians 1:4, Paul says that God chose us “that [indicating purpose, design, and consequence] we should be holy. . . . ” In Ephesians 2:10, we discover that all that God did beforehand, in a plan of salvation stretching into the depths of eternity, was “for [again indicating purpose and end] good works.” Election is primary and foundational in salvation; it cannot be secondary and conditional. God did not choose us because He foreknew that we would do good things; we do good things because God elected us for that very purpose.

-	~~What does foreknowledge mean?~~ It ~~does not mean that God gazes into some crystal ball that enables Him~~ to ~~read~~ the ~~future. God can see the end from the beginning, because to Him one day is as a thousand years,~~ and ~~a thousand years as one day (Isa. 46:10; Ps. 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8). John Calvin defines God’s~~ foreknowledge ~~as the fact that all things are under God’s “immediate inspection” (Institutes, III.21.5)~~.	+	'''Second''': ''It fails to appreciate the relationship between election and foreknowledge''.

-	~~When Paul talks of~~ God ~~“foreknowing,” he means~~ that ~~those whom God predestinates and chooses in Christ are known to~~ Him~~. Their whole lives are known~~ to ~~Him~~. ~~Their sins~~, ~~shortcomings, and failings are known~~ to Him~~. And in grace, mercy~~, and ~~love, He makes them~~ the ~~object of His electing~~, ~~predestinating decree~~. ~~Romans 8:29 does not mean “those whose acts He foreknew, He predestined” but “those whose persons He foreknew, He predestined~~.”	+	What does foreknowledge mean? It does not mean that God gazes into some crystal ball that enables Him to read the future. God can see the end from the beginning, because to Him one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (Isa. 46:10; Ps. 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8). John Calvin defines God’s foreknowledge as the fact that all things are under God’s “immediate inspection” (Institutes, III.21.5).

-	~~Far from teaching that~~ God ~~elects because He sees people choosing Him~~, ~~Paul’s teaching is~~ that ~~God elects sinners~~ whom ~~He sees rejecting~~ Him!	+	When Paul talks of God “foreknowing,” he means that those whom God predestinates and chooses in Christ are known to Him. Their whole lives are known to Him. Their sins, shortcomings, and failings are known to Him. And in grace, mercy, and love, He makes them the object of His electing, predestinating decree. Romans 8:29 does not mean “those whose acts He foreknew, He predestined” but “those whose persons He foreknew, He predestined.”

-	~~Third: It fails to reckon with the power of sin in human life.~~	+	Far from teaching that God elects because He sees people choosing Him, Paul’s teaching is that God elects sinners whom He sees rejecting Him!

-	~~Jesus made it clear in His preaching of the Gospel that all men are invited~~ to ~~come to Him, and if they do come to Him, He will satisfy them~~ with ~~His salvation. But He also said, “‘No one can come to Me unless~~ the ~~Father who sent Me draws him’” (John 6:44). Thus, while a Gospel opportunity affords men the possibility~~ of ~~coming to Him, a moral incapability prevents them from doing so~~.	+	'''Third''': ''It fails to reckon with the power of sin in human life.''

-	~~This is exactly what Paul registers when he says that “the natural man does not receive the things~~ of the ~~Spirit of God~~ . ~~. . nor~~ can ~~he know them”~~ (~~1 Cor. 2~~:14). ~~Without~~ the ~~power~~ of ~~God in human life, man not only does not come~~ to ~~Christ~~, ~~he cannot come to Christ~~.	+	Jesus made it clear in His preaching of the Gospel that all men are invited to come to Him, and if they do come to Him, He will satisfy them with His salvation. But He also said, “‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him’” (John 6:44). Thus, while a Gospel opportunity affords men the possibility of coming to Him, a moral incapability prevents them from doing so.

-	~~Precisely for these reasons,~~ the ~~whole notion~~ of ~~conditional election is an absurdity~~. ~~It requires us to believe that men who are spiritually dead~~ can ~~make spiritual decisions, that they can choose Christ by their own volition, and that they can have faith in Jesus~~. ~~The glory~~ of ~~election lies precisely~~ in ~~the fact that those whom God ordained to eternal~~ life ~~are made willing by His power (Ps. 110:3a~~, ~~KJV) to~~ come to Christ, ~~their faith in Him the result, not the cause or condition, of God’s divine decree. It is those whom the Father gives to the Son who~~ come to ~~Him (John 6:37)~~.	+	This is exactly what Paul registers when he says that “the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God . . . nor can he know them” (1 Cor. 2:14). Without the power of God in human life, man not only does not come to Christ, he cannot come to Christ.

-	~~Perhaps~~ these ~~three points are not enough~~ to ~~convince you~~. ~~Let me give two final points~~ that ~~demonstrate~~ the ~~failure~~ of ~~this doctrine~~ to ~~conform~~ to ~~Scripture~~.	+	Precisely for these reasons, the whole notion of conditional election is an absurdity. It requires us to believe that men who are spiritually dead can make spiritual decisions, that they can choose Christ by their own volition, and that they can have faith in Jesus. The glory of election lies precisely in the fact that those whom God ordained to eternal life are made willing by His power (Ps. 110:3a, KJV) to come to Christ, their faith in Him the result, not the cause or condition, of God’s divine decree. It is those whom the Father gives to the Son who come to Him (John 6:37).

-	~~Fourth: It fails~~ to ~~appreciate~~ the ~~close relationship between election and grace~~.	+	Perhaps these three points are not enough to convince you. Let me give two final points that demonstrate the failure of this doctrine to conform to Scripture.

-	When men reject Jesus, they do so willingly and freely, because of the power of sin in their lives. When men accept Jesus, they do so willingly and freely, because of the power of grace in their lives. And that grace is of the essence of election. In Romans 11:~~5, it is because of “the election of grace” that a “remnant” serves Christ. Grace lies behind election, is at~~ the ~~heart of~~ election, and ~~is praised in election (Eph. 1:5–6). God’s sovereign, electing decree flows out of His unmerited love and undeserved favor~~.	+	'''Fourth''': ''It fails to appreciate the close relationship between election and grace''.

-	~~The moment we make such a decree conditional~~, ~~we rob salvation~~ of ~~grace~~. ~~We make it dependent on our works~~, and ~~“if it~~ is of ~~works~~, it is ~~no longer~~ grace” ~~(Rom. 11:6). The faith~~ that ~~saves~~ is ~~itself~~ the ~~gift~~ of ~~God~~ (Eph. 2:8). ~~God commands us to believe and gives us the grace to believe! Election humbles us and causes us to marvel~~, ~~because it shows us with abundant clarity that our salvation has God, and not ourselves, as its cause. Grace, not foreknowledge, is the spring~~ out of ~~whichelection flows~~.	+	When men reject Jesus, they do so willingly and freely, because of the power of sin in their lives. When men accept Jesus, they do so willingly and freely, because of the power of grace in their lives. And that grace is of the essence of election. In Romans 11:5, it is because of “the election of grace” that a “remnant” serves Christ. Grace lies behind election, is at the heart of election, and is praised in election (Eph. 1:5–6). God’s sovereign, electing decree flows out of His unmerited love and undeserved favor.

-	~~Finally~~: ~~Conditional election robs~~ God of ~~His sovereignty~~.	+	The moment we make such a decree conditional, we rob salvation of grace. We make it dependent on our works, and “if it is of works, it is no longer grace” (Rom. 11:6). The faith that saves is itself the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). God commands us to believe and gives us the grace to believe! Election humbles us and causes us to marvel, because it shows us with abundant clarity that our salvation has God, and not ourselves, as its cause. Grace, not foreknowledge, is the spring out of whichelection flows.

-	God created the world so that He might rule over it in love and grace. Man was designed to honor, fear, and serve the Creator. Instead, man rebelled against God and set himself up as master of his own life and creator of his own destiny. But in sovereign, electing love, God provided a salvation and a Savior. He remains sovereign at every point of the salvation process and throughout redemptive history, preparing the world for Christ, offering Christ up as a sacrifice, drawing men by the Spirit to follow and serve the Lord, and working in us the willing and the doing of His ~~pleasure (Phil. 2:13)~~.	+	'''Finally''': ''Conditional election robs God of His sovereignty''.

-	On the other hand, conditional election means that God’s sovereignty is not absolute; it is compromised from the beginning, because it is dependent on the will and choice of man.	+	God created the world so that He might rule over it in love and grace. Man was designed to honor, fear, and serve the Creator. Instead, man rebelled against God and set himself up as master of his own life and creator of his own destiny. But in sovereign, electing love, God provided a salvation and a Savior. He remains sovereign at every point of the salvation process and throughout redemptive history, preparing the world for Christ, offering Christ up as a sacrifice, drawing men by the Spirit to follow and serve the Lord, and working in us the willing and the doing of His pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
		+
		+	On the other hand, conditional election means that God’s sovereignty is not absolute; it is compromised from the beginning, because it is dependent on the will and choice of man.

	But if God is not absolutely sovereign in salvation, He is not sovereign anywhere. All things work together for our good, under God’s almighty hand, because He is the electing, purpose-driven God of salvation. Creation and providence are His servants in the execution of that purpose. Take away God’s absolute supremacy in election and you have removed the moral foundation of the whole universe. All of grace!		But if God is not absolutely sovereign in salvation, He is not sovereign anywhere. All things work together for our good, under God’s almighty hand, because He is the electing, purpose-driven God of salvation. Creation and providence are His servants in the execution of that purpose. Take away God’s absolute supremacy in election and you have removed the moral foundation of the whole universe. All of grace!

Kryndontpay at 01:47, 3 June 2008

Kryndontpay — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:47:10 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:47, 3 June 2008
Line 1:		Line 1:
-	~~For Kryne~~	+	{{MasterHeader\|author= Rev. Iain D. Campbell \|partnerurl=  [http://www.Ligonier.org http://www.Ligonier.org] \|partner= Ligonier Ministries \|date= March 2001\|other= \|series= \|categorytopic= No topic \|mediatype= article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a\|levels= 0\|reviewed= Not Reviewed\|newtitle= Witness to History}}The promise of Romans 8:28 — that God will work all things together for the good of His people — stands as a remarkable verse in a remarkable chapter of a remarkable book. Everything in the believer’s past and present has a place in God’s great scheme. What good news for those who love Him!
		+
		+	But what exactly does Paul mean when, in the next verse, he places foreknowledge behind predestination? Does he mean that God’s election of sinners in Christ was on the basis of something He foresaw them doing? Did He choose His people because He saw that they first would choose Him? This view virtually equates foreknowledge and predestination by making God’s eternal decree of election contingent upon what God foreknew about us and His electing love conditional on our having chosen Christ.
		+
		+	This idea falls on five counts. First: It fails to appreciate the primacy of election in God’s purposes of salvation.
		+
		+	If election is conditional, it means that it is on the basis of and flows from our choice of Jesus. God foresaw us believing in Christ and placing our trust in Him, the argument goes, so He sealed our redemption by electing us in Christ.
		+
		+	But in the New Testament, election is always to something in us, not on the basis of something in us. In Ephesians 1:4, Paul says that God chose us “that [indicating purpose, design, and consequence] we should be holy. . . . ” In Ephesians 2:10, we discover that all that God did beforehand, in a plan of salvation stretching into the depths of eternity, was “for [again indicating purpose and end] good works.” Election is primary and foundational in salvation; it cannot be secondary and conditional. God did not choose us because He foreknew that we would do good things; we do good things because God elected us for that very purpose.
		+
		+	Second: It fails to appreciate the relationship between election and foreknowledge.
		+
		+	What does foreknowledge mean? It does not mean that God gazes into some crystal ball that enables Him to read the future. God can see the end from the beginning, because to Him one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (Isa. 46:10; Ps. 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8). John Calvin defines God’s foreknowledge as the fact that all things are under God’s “immediate inspection” (Institutes, III.21.5).
		+
		+	When Paul talks of God “foreknowing,” he means that those whom God predestinates and chooses in Christ are known to Him. Their whole lives are known to Him. Their sins, shortcomings, and failings are known to Him. And in grace, mercy, and love, He makes them the object of His electing, predestinating decree. Romans 8:29 does not mean “those whose acts He foreknew, He predestined” but “those whose persons He foreknew, He predestined.”
		+
		+	Far from teaching that God elects because He sees people choosing Him, Paul’s teaching is that God elects sinners whom He sees rejecting Him!
		+
		+	Third: It fails to reckon with the power of sin in human life.
		+
		+	Jesus made it clear in His preaching of the Gospel that all men are invited to come to Him, and if they do come to Him, He will satisfy them with His salvation. But He also said, “‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him’” (John 6:44). Thus, while a Gospel opportunity affords men the possibility of coming to Him, a moral incapability prevents them from doing so.
		+
		+	This is exactly what Paul registers when he says that “the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God . . . nor can he know them” (1 Cor. 2:14). Without the power of God in human life, man not only does not come to Christ, he cannot come to Christ.
		+
		+	Precisely for these reasons, the whole notion of conditional election is an absurdity. It requires us to believe that men who are spiritually dead can make spiritual decisions, that they can choose Christ by their own volition, and that they can have faith in Jesus. The glory of election lies precisely in the fact that those whom God ordained to eternal life are made willing by His power (Ps. 110:3a, KJV) to come to Christ, their faith in Him the result, not the cause or condition, of God’s divine decree. It is those whom the Father gives to the Son who come to Him (John 6:37).
		+
		+	Perhaps these three points are not enough to convince you. Let me give two final points that demonstrate the failure of this doctrine to conform to Scripture.
		+
		+	Fourth: It fails to appreciate the close relationship between election and grace.
		+
		+	When men reject Jesus, they do so willingly and freely, because of the power of sin in their lives. When men accept Jesus, they do so willingly and freely, because of the power of grace in their lives. And that grace is of the essence of election. In Romans 11:5, it is because of “the election of grace” that a “remnant” serves Christ. Grace lies behind election, is at the heart of election, and is praised in election (Eph. 1:5–6). God’s sovereign, electing decree flows out of His unmerited love and undeserved favor.
		+
		+	The moment we make such a decree conditional, we rob salvation of grace. We make it dependent on our works, and “if it is of works, it is no longer grace” (Rom. 11:6). The faith that saves is itself the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). God commands us to believe and gives us the grace to believe! Election humbles us and causes us to marvel, because it shows us with abundant clarity that our salvation has God, and not ourselves, as its cause. Grace, not foreknowledge, is the spring out of whichelection flows.
		+
		+	Finally: Conditional election robs God of His sovereignty.
		+
		+	God created the world so that He might rule over it in love and grace. Man was designed to honor, fear, and serve the Creator. Instead, man rebelled against God and set himself up as master of his own life and creator of his own destiny. But in sovereign, electing love, God provided a salvation and a Savior. He remains sovereign at every point of the salvation process and throughout redemptive history, preparing the world for Christ, offering Christ up as a sacrifice, drawing men by the Spirit to follow and serve the Lord, and working in us the willing and the doing of His pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
		+
		+	On the other hand, conditional election means that God’s sovereignty is not absolute; it is compromised from the beginning, because it is dependent on the will and choice of man.
		+
		+	But if God is not absolutely sovereign in salvation, He is not sovereign anywhere. All things work together for our good, under God’s almighty hand, because He is the electing, purpose-driven God of salvation. Creation and providence are His servants in the execution of that purpose. Take away God’s absolute supremacy in election and you have removed the moral foundation of the whole universe. All of grace!

Mahra: New page: For Kryne

Mahra — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:34:15 GMT

New page: For Kryne

New page

For Kryne