Why is such a "big deal" if God decided to use either His direct ordaining Will to base Election on, or by His Foreknowledge of what we would choose to do?
Wouldn't both "acts" result in one becoming a Christian?
What is biig difference between these 2 views than?
Here is where "election" for us, the Gentiles comes in. The Jews of the OT were God's chosen(elected) people. But even in their "election", many died by the "way side" due to their unbelief. The atonement, when it was made, was made for ALL of Israel, and not just some. And though the atonement was for ALL of Israel, some died due to unbelief.
Now here is a passage I read the other evening, that will
seal the deal, or at least it does for me.
Matt. 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which
the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you,
The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables,
they perceived that he spake of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
According to this passage, the
Kingdom of God shall be taken from them. Well, if it was taken from them, then these very same Pharisees must have been included in it, until they reject Him. These very ones that Jesus told them this:
John 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
So "election" for us occurred when the Jews openly rejected Jesus, and God then "chose"(elected) us, the Gentiles, corparately. Election isn't on an individual basis, but the Gentiles were "elected"(chosen) due solely to the Jews unbelief.
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said,
It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and
judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo,
we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath
the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit,
and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6 And when they opposed themselves,
and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them,
Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth
I will go unto the Gentiles.
7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
God gave the unbelieving Jews MANY chances to believe in Jesus, and they chose not to believe. And due to their rejection of Jesus, we were "chosen"(elected) corporately, as a "Gentile nation".
i am I AM's!!
Willis
