Featured Dr. D. Wallace's View of Election

Hank, I have presented 5 verses that cleanly say God elects individuals for salvation through faith in the truth. Therefore our individual election for salvation occurs during our lifetime, after we believe in Christ. Did you say you accept that basic truth?

I can answer any question, as I have answered that one time and time again, but you guys never address my questions.

Does scripture tell us mankind was created? Yes. What existed before mankind was created, according to scripture? Did we exist as predestined individuals in the mind of God? What scripture supports that invention. You want to create mankind before God did to support your unbiblical view.

So by the numbers:
1) God and God alone existed before creation, in the form of the Trinity.
2) Before creation God chose the second person of the Trinity to be His Redeemer, His "Lamb of God."
3) His Redeemer was chosen to redeem those of God's choosing, therefore God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world corporately. If that election was of us as individuals, then the verse would read God chose us as predestined individuals rather than in Him. But that is not how it reads. Bottom line, my view is consistent with all scripture, yours ignores scripture.

Consider James 2:5, we were chosen (1) as poor to the world, (2) rich in faith, and (3) heirs to the kingdom promised to those who love God. It does not say foreseen to be poor to the world, foreseen to be rich in faith, and foreseen to love God.

 

Hi Hank, the problem with your response is that the alternative view presented in posts 1 & 2 is neither A nor C.

 

Hi JameL. 2 Thessalonians 2:13, James 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9-10, 1 Cor. 1:26-30, John 3:16.

Charging me with no understanding the topic is a ploy to derail the thread. I have presented the three aspects of salvation time and time again. Note how the responders offer questions and not scripture?

 

It is an obvious fact, one that you see intent on avoiding. When do the "C's" say we were individually elected? Before the foundation of the world! When do the "A's" say we were individually elected? Before the foundation of the world. When does the alternate view presented in posts 1 & 2 say we were individually elected? During our lifetime, from creation to the end of the age.
Totally different, but you would need to actually read the posts.

 

From the beginning refers to the beginning or since the beginning, but does not refer to before the beginning. I believe the beginning in view here (2 Thess. 2:13) is the beginning of the New Covenant, but even if it refers to creation, it conflicts with the A & C claim we were chosen "before" the beginning individually. And note the verse says we are chosen through belief in the truth, therefore during our lifetime, after we have trusted in Christ.

You say you believe we were chosen as poor to the world, rich in faith, and heirs to the kingdom promised to those who love God, James 2:5. Thus again a conditional election during our lifetime, not before creation. Again, both A & C hold another view, one that conflicts with the view stated here.

1 Peter 2:9-10 says once we were not a people, once we had not received mercy, once we lived without mercy. Thus again this says when each of us were conceived, we had not yet been chosen for salvation. But now we are a chosen generation, therefore our individual election occurs during our lifetime, when we are called out of darkness into His light.

The truth is obvious, both C & A are wrong, our individual election for salvation is (1) conditional based on God crediting our faith as righteousness (Romans 4:4-5, 24) and (2) occurs during our lifetime after we believe in Him, John 3:16.

No need to be a mugwump, just trust in the plain truth of scripture. The hard part is facing the fact that for 400 years the "name" theologians have missed the obvious.

 

Note the denial and nullification of 2 Thessalonians 2:13 which says we were chosen [according to the will of God] through faith in the truth. There will be no actual rebuttal, just endless "taint so" posts ignoring scripture.

 

Notice the absence of any support for the bogus view. If God does not block us (harden our heart so to speak) then we can respond to the gospel and put our faith in Christ.

Three separate lines of scriptural evidence demonstrate this truth. Will anyone even address them? Nope. Ask yourself why Matthew 13 says Jesus spoke in parables? Or why did God need to harden the hearts in Romans 11. Or how did the men of Matthew 23:13 start to enter heaven, if they had no spiritual ability? The answer once again is obvious.

The view of Election espoused by Dr. Wallace is in error.

 

Yet another question. Can all sinners respond to the gospel? No. Read Matthew 13. The first soil was unable to understand the gospel. But the other three soils could.

Note the reference to "saving faith." As if we can believe the right things with sufficient fervor it will result in salvation. Again no scripture will be offered. Saving faith is our faith, as worthless as it might be, that God credits to us as righteousness. He knows our heart, so even if our understanding is flawed, God can credit genuine love and trust as righteousness.

Study Romans 4:4-5; and 4:23-24. Salvation does not come from us believing all the right things, but from God knowing we believe in Him. Everyone believing into Him shall not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16.