Rippon said:
I have a lot of catching up to do on this thread . BB, no one is saved before the foundation of the world . Your 'box of chocolates' illustration needs to be jettisoned . That's absurd . Look at John 20:31 : "But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah , the Son of God , and by believing you may have life in His name ." Or 1 John 5:13 :" I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God , so that you may know that you have eternal life ."
I have to keep saying this because many just don't get it . Calvinists are not the only elect folks out there . We just believe in the biblical understanding of it . Non-Cals repudiate the scriptural doctrine of election -- but many of their names are inscribed in the Lamb's Book of Life .
I will just highlight for my answer to you. You must of overlooked the part of "believing".
I just came in from fixing my entrance lights and my back is about broken. I will answer you better later.
How many times have I said this, the elect comes from believing and you don't have to be a Calvinist to believe that Jesus is the Christ.
post #52 Rippon; The Messiah elected all of His own before the foundation of the world . None 'become' elect ,
they already are . They enter the world under the wrath of God as does everyone . However , the elect will be effectually called and savingly united to the Messiah in their lifetime .The Lord makes it happen .
Now if you are already saved the why all the scripture on you must believe in order to be saved???
You can start Rip by answering these scripture:
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins:
and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world.
2 Peter 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.
1 Timothy 2:3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have
all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for
all, to be testified in due time.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
1 John 5:1
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
You make faith void by saying all that are saved were already chosen and the rest don't have a chance. If the rest have a chance please tell me what it is and are they able to do what you say they must do.
Scripture says "by Grace, through faith are you saved."
You are saying "by Grace, through elect are you saved."
How were you saved Rippon'; By Grace through faith, or because God chose you before the foundation of the world??
BBob,