Featured Calvinism: What Have We Been Elected To?

No clear definition there especially one the supports the particular view.

 

pt2;
There are several types of the election of persons revealed in Scripture:
national, messianic, ministerial and salvific: first, there is the Divine choice of
Israel to be the chosen people of God in a national sense, although only a
small remnant of that nation was truly the spiritual people of God (Cf. Deut.
4:37; 7:6–7; 10:14–15; Psa. 135:4; Isa. 41:8–9; 44:1; 45:4; Rom. 4:11–17;
9:6–9, 23–24; 11:1–6). Israel in its national election was typical of God’s elect
spiritually chosen under the New or Gospel Covenant.

Second, there is the election of the Lord Jesus Christ as the “Elect” of God
and true “Seed of Abraham.” In the choice of Abraham, God chose a nation,
and in that nation, he chose an individual—the Messiah—and in that
individual, he chose a true covenant people—believers (Isa. 42:1–7; Jer.
31:31–34; Luke 23:35; Gal. 3:15–16; Eph. 1:4–5; Heb. 8:8–13; 1 Pet. 2:4–9).

Third, there is also an election unto service, as revealed in the choice of
Moses, the Levites, various kings, etc. (Deut. 21:5; 2 Sam. 6:21; 1 Chron.
28:5; Psa. 78:67–68; 105:26; 106:23). This principle is retained in the New
Testament with the Divine call to the gospel ministry (Acts 9:10–16; 13:2–4).

Finally, there is an eternal, personal election unto holiness, which includes
the totality of salvation and derives from the eternal Covenant of Redemption
and Grace, or the believer’s eternal union with Christ (Rom. 8:29–31; 11:5–6;
Acts 13:48; Eph. 1:4–5, 11; 1 Pet. 1:1–2; 2 Pet. 1:10)

 

pt3;
There are two possible bases or foundations for Divine election: foreseen
faith based on a bare foreknowledge [prescience], or a covenant love
grounded in the Divine prerogative and expressed in free and sovereign grace.
The Scriptures reveal that the ultimate cause of Divine election rests in the
depths of Divine love and prerogative. God is never moved or motivated
externally to himself. He is ever motivated from within his own self–
consistency. Should he be mutable due to external causes, he would cease to
be God, and be relative to his creation and subject to some nebulous, external
absolute force such as chance or some impersonal fatalistic principle. The
Scriptures reveal that the Divine choice of sinners to salvation rests in God
alone. This is for the assurance and encouragement of the believer in his
present experience—that he might be assured of the certain and infallible
nature of his salvation, especially in the context of present trials and
opposition (Deut. 4:37; 7:6–7; 10:14–15; Eph. 1:4–5; Rom. 8:28–39; 9:13–
14; 11:33–36).
What of foreknowledge? Divine election based on foreseen faith would be
election by mere foreknowledge [prescience]. The biblical usage must
determine the exact significance of the term. What is the biblical teaching
concerning the foreknowledge of God? Foreknowledge is not synonymous
with omniscience. It is concerned, not with contingency, but with certainty
(Acts 2:23; 15:18; Rom. 8:29–30), and thus implies a knowledge of what has
been rendered certain. Acts 2:23 would make foreknowledge dependent upon
God’s “determinate counsel” by the grammatical construction which
combines both together as one thought with “foreknowledge” referring to and
enforcing the previous term. Foreknowledge is related to the Old Testament
term “to know,” implying an intimate knowledge of and relation to its object
(Cf. Gen. 4:1; Amos 3:2). The passages in the New Testament (Rom. 8:29;
11:2; 1 Pet. 1:2) all speak of persons who are foreknown, implying much
more than mere prescience or omniscience—a relationship that is absolutely
certain, personal and intimate. The only example of things being foreknown is
clearly based on Divine determination (Acts 15:18).
Because Divine election or foreordination to eternal life is grounded in the
immutable character of God, it is infallible. Were it based upon foreseen faith,
mere prescience, or human ability, it would remain fallible and mutable.
Because of its infallible and immutable character, Divine election or
foreordination to eternal life is the source of the greatest comfort
encouragement and perseverance to the believer. This is exactly the way in
which and the reason why this truth is revealed in Scripture! Note especially
the great and glorious statement of the Apostle in Romans 8:28–39. Under
inspiration, he puts this truth in the context of the present promise (v. 28), the
eternal redemptive purpose (v. 29–34), the very worst that believers can
experience (v. 35–36), the redemptive, covenant love of the Lord Jesus Christ
(v. 37) and the infallibility of the Covenant of Grace (v. 38–39).
God has ordained the preaching of the gospel as the means to bring the
elect to faith in Christ in time and experience (Rom. 10:14–15, 17; 1 Thess.
1:4–10; 2:13). He has ordained the means as well as the end. To glory in the
end without fulfilling the means would be inconsistent and sinful by
disobedience. See Questions 139–140. Can you say that you are included in
this number by Divine grace?

 

Sorry Yeshua! I'd say the only reason you're saying that is that you have to, in order to have your Calvinistic or your OSAS doctrine to hold. Jesus said however they actually BELIEVED and they did so for some time. We've been told from maybe your side that no one can believe unto salvation unless they're the Elect. This again states as clear as day....they had BELIEVED. Paul used the sower and the seed principal in referring to Salvation as well lest somebody say you can't use it in referring to Salvation.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23

 

Well Dave I'd have to suggest you're forcing that as an interpretation. I get it you need to do that to support your belief BUT the new birth is realized how? By believing! Some of the bad soil were believers and he that believes shall be saved.

 

So then, regeneration precedes one's ability to hear the gospel inwardly?

 

If you make the soil good, self-righteousness, not grace, determines who will be saved.

 

It grants the person the means to hear and respond in faith towards jesus Christ.

 

The soil already had pre existing conditions to them, and the final one was a fertile field, which shows thta God Himself already had prepared them hear and respond!

 

John 6:37. 'All that the Father gives Me will come to Me.........' Here is you Particular Redemption. The Father has given to the Son a vast crowd of people to redeem. This He has done, at measureless cost, and there is no question about it; they will come. Of their own will? Certainly, but it is God who has made them willing.
'.......And the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.' Here is your 'whosoever wills.' Whoever comes to Christ will never be turned away, but the sad fact is that 'the natural man does not receive the things of God for they are foolishness to him.' Unless God does a work on someone's heart, he will always end up rejecting God. 'And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men preferred darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil' (John 3:19).

 

Nope. Jesus in the same passage told ONE and ALL be careful what they hear! Mark 4: 23 Any need to say that if he controls everything? I think not. It'd be automatic.

 

Nope, not what you say He is saying...

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.[Mark 4:23,24]

Not given to one all, but to those who have ears to hear. Not everyone has these ears to hear with.

 

@Rockson...

You have not addressed this. Would you please do so?

 

Yes but enlightenment in contained IN the Gospel itself....it's the power of God to those who believe and is provided for everyone or if you want to put it this way contained within it's message is the capacity to believe...FOR ALL. They can reject the light and refuse to believe or accept it. Why would they reject it? Because God wanted them too? No. For the reason of the verse you quoted above...John 3:19

 

With all due respect I hardly think you can freeze that scripture up as a proof text for Calvinism. We basically use the same way of talking today as in, "Look...if you want to hear what I have to say then hear it. If you don't then do as you please!" Does such signify one is saying you don't have a capacity to embrace what's being said if you chose to? Most certainly not. The heart of Jesus is to encourage all to be of a good and noble heart. Is it not also foolish to suggest then when he said "He that has an ear let him hear" as to mean some of you God has chosen to hear over others BUT...I sure hope you're going to hear and in case you don't I'm going to exhort you to listen? Again if it were like you say it'd all be automatic.It wouldn't even make proper grammar sense to make a point of it.

 

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for those who are able to believe in jesus, and only those whom are enabled to hear and believe by God would get saved by the Good news, and all the rest it is bad news to them!

 

Will you give me the quote and URL of the gospel preacher/teacher who says "say a prayer and live like a sinner".

Thanks in advance.

 

I’ve argued many times that that if Calvinists were transparent about their Deterministic and predestination beliefs while giving the gospel that the Good News would seem more like Bad News for most who heard it, that preaching such would sinfully be putting darkness into the light, but I think this is the first time I’ve actually seen a Calvinist just come out and without shame call the “Gospel”, Bad News.

I have never perceived the Good News message that way! In fact:

1Jn 1:5-6

(5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

(6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

To call the Gospel – “Bad News” appears to be the workings of the wrong team:

1Jn 3:8-11

(8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

(9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

(10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

(11) For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

 

Hmm, Joel Osteen?
He has said that there are many paths to Jesus so do you believe that he is a gospel teacher/preacher? Or is that your disqualifying statement of "non-gospel"
Here is an individual who thinks he is an antichrist (though I wouldn't go that far in an accusation myself).
Joel Osteen is an Antichrist - Todd Tomasella | SafeGuardYourSoul

Even so, does he believe OSAS?

Finally - do you personally believe in sinless perfection - that we are unable to sin after being saved?