On the criterion of "election"

As you can see in the above posts, George, even those who consider themselves to be "Baptists" cannot agree among themselves as to what what the words actually say.

 

There's not a doubt in my mind that every saint that's ever lived were "in Him" before the foundation of the world.

 

Nothing.

In order to satisfy the good pleasure of His will, one must do something to satisfy it.
In the light of Romans 1:18-32, Romans 3:10-18, John 3:19-20, Psalms 10:2-4 and others...
Do you think that man is capable and willing to do that which would satisfy it?

The only thing that can, is perfect obedience to the Law... which is still in effect, and which only one Man could ever obey...

Jesus Christ.

Faith and belief in His work do not supplant the Law.
The Law is the only thing that applies to men.

Its purpose was to function as the "schoolmaster" to bring the elect to Christ ( Galatians 3:24 ).
It has no other purpose but to condemn men for their failure to obey God's commands ( Romans 7:1-12 ), and to point them to the only One who did.

Making faith and belief into works of the flesh that a spiritually dead man can do, does in no way satisfy God.

Given.
See Ephesians 1:3-6, and post # 20.

This is my last reply in this thread.

I bid you a good day, sir.

 

Your question makes no sense, other than you're questioning the mind of God. Read this real slow:

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:
5 having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Eph 1

criterion

NOUN

1. a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided.
   "the launch came too close to violating safety criteria"
   synonyms:
   basis · point of reference · standard · norm · yardstick · benchmark · touchstone · test · formula · measure · gauge · scale · barometer · indicator · litmus test · specification · guide · guideline · guiding principle · principle · rule · law · canon · convention

'The good pleasure of His will' is the criterion of election.

 

Absolutely not!

Election occurred before we were even born, before the world began. My faith had diddly squat to do with His election.

 

Then the elect were not born in sin. Is this what you are claiming?
MB

 

If 'faith', to George Antonios, equates to 'your faith', 'your will', 'your choice', 'your decision', then George Antonios indeed has great occasion to glory, because it is of George Antonios that George Antonios is in Christ Jesus!

26 For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
28 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:
29 that no flesh should glory before God.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor 1

 

The elect at birth:

29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: Ro 8

 

The OP @George Antonios is trying to make election and salvation synonyms. They are not. Election is part of salvation. We are still saved by grace through faith. But for the elect, the Father draws them to himself so that they necessarily put their faith in Christ.

 

He already gave Ephesians 1.

 

And if God doesn't tell us the criteria how are we supposed to know it?