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The Sovereign will of God

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37818

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I think you left quite a few out... There is interpretation and also misinterpretation!... Few chosen for Heaven?... Think again?... Brother Glen
Missinterpretations are nevertheless interpretations.

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
The term translatable as "elect" is not always used.
 

Van

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Let me say upfront that I believe in God's election for the saved. However, that is not this discussion. My question is this. In Gen. 2 we read the following;
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

My question is focused on verse 17. It reads "for in the day that thou eatest there of thou shalt surely die." Was election involved in the eating of that tree since based on that passage it is pre-supposed.

1) When we are individually chosen for salvation through faith in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13) we are transferred from being in Adam (spiritually dead meaning separated due to our unholiness from God) into Christ's spiritual body, Colossians 1:13.

2) Once placed in (or given to) Christ, Christ has promised to not cast us out, thus scripture teaches our election for salvation will never be revoked.

3) Adam was not elected (chosen) to compel Adam to sin. Scripture teaches Adam's sin was volitional, he chose to eat knowing his act violated God's will.

4) Was Adam's sin expected? Yes. Why? Because God designated the Second Person of the Trinity to be the Lamb of God before creation, and therefore before Adam sinned. A. W. Pink concluded God arranged for Adam to sin, but did not compel his choice to sin.
 

Eternally Grateful

Active Member
Again, the new birth is something that God does to us and for us -with nothing in nor of ourselves motivating God. It is of His free love and mercy.

after our hearts have been changed, we respond in faith and repentance (again, they are Grace Gifts from God).
This still take a free will choice. God comes to offer salvation to all. Not everyone will change their heart. And God will not force anyone to change their heart.

as to the last comment - “and fail to benefit both sides”. There is absolutely nothing man can do to benefit God.
God created mankind to love, and for them to love him back.

He created them that way. When we get to heaven, we will be restored to that pure love relationship.

In the meantime. When we are saved and our fellowship restored. We can love him back. And show gratitude for his love.

Believe it or not. That pleases God.
 
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Aaron

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Let me say upfront that I believe in God's election for the saved. However, that is not this discussion. My question is this. In Gen. 2 we read the following;
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

My question is focused on verse 17. It reads "for in the day that thou eatest there of thou shalt surely die." Was election involved in the eating of that tree since based on that passage it is pre-supposed.
You're going to get a lot of weirdo stuff in response to this question. But let's just take it as it is.

Did God let the Devil into the Garden? Yes.

Did He know what the outcome would be? Yes.

How could this not have been according to God's purposes in election?
 

tyndale1946

Well-Known Member
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As he was then corrupted by the lie of the Serpent, he could not bring forth good fruit.

God is sovereign. Actually God is SO FAR beyond our understanding that we could truly have no concept of Him other than what He has revealed. To presume on that Revelation as to question Him is beyond the pale... Brother Glen:)

Btw... I got this quote from another site but this believer is correct!
 

atpollard

Well-Known Member
This still take a free will choice. God comes to offer salvation to all. Not everyone will change their heart. And God will not force anyone to change their heart.
I do not think that this is what scripture teaches.

  • [Proverbs 21:1 NASB95] 1 The king's heart is [like] channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.
  • [Ezekiel 36:26 NASB95] 26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
  • [Romans 9:15-16 NASB95] 15 For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." 16 So then it [does] not [depend] on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.
 

Lodic

Well-Known Member
Marooncat79 Thank you for the reply. I have to agree with your answer at least in part. I would only add or clarify with the following. I realize that election/predestination is VERY difficult subject to receive by most. The problem is that scripture clearly teaches it. We either have to outright reject the idea, reject scripture, or we have to change the meaning of the term(s) elect/predestination to mean something they do not.

The word elect means to be chosen, determined by another. In this case it is God doing the choosing and He does it totally apart from anything we do, and he does it before or as some would like from the foundation of the world.

The words DO NOT mean we are elect because we get saved. The words mean we get saved because we are elect, chosen to do so.

Also, part of my take on this is a little different than some others who accept God's election. Often times it is taught that Adam and Eve had free will, but we do not. I do not agree with that, but I am open for correction if a reasonable argument can be made.

I certainly do agree that Adam and Eve had free will, but I disagree that we do not. I believe that everyone has free will, but because we are born lost, spiritually dead, we will only exercise it in one direction, away from God.

On the other hand, the elect are given the ability through regeneration to exercise it toward God unto salvation and everyone that is elect will exercise that ability unto salvation.

Some feel that the idea of election forces man to surrender thus they reject election. I do not believe that. I do not believe that in election God violates man's volition. I believe that He simply gives the sinner the ability to make the correct choice and because of the draw towards God we always choose salvation. Like a blind starving man who cannot smell he never finds food, but if given the ability to smell he finds it and takes it. He is not forced, but he is drawn by his hunger if given the ability to smell. I believe God calling/draw works something like that. We are not forced. We are simply given the ability to find and receive what we are craving.

So as I said I do believe that we all have free will at birth, but because of our fallen nature it always will lead to eternal death (hell) for the non-elect and those who are regenerated will accept so that they can accept the truth and become sons and daughters of God by exercising their free will.

lastly, I would add this. I hear some use the term "born again" as a precursor to salvation. I believe that is incorrect. I believe the proper term should be regeneration, not the new birth. I believe that they are two separate and different events. Regeneration being the given ability to respond to the call/draw of God, the ability to exercise our free will to that call/draw, and new birth being that which happens at salvation due to our repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. I see that as the new birth.

I do not believe that we are made alive in the sense of the indwelling Spirit before we are saved. If we are it would mean some lost, yet to be saved, elect, are walking around with the indwelling Spirit who are still in our sin until we are actually saved, and I do not believe that.

As I said I am open to correction, but at this point this is where I stand. Thank you for the reply. God bless
I changed my views to that of Reformed Theology (aka Calvinism) a few years ago, but I still have trouble wrapping my mind around some concepts. Your explanation helps me understand the concepts of free will vs predestination. Thank you for expounding on regeneration vs the new birth. Still a lot of un-learning to go through, and some questions to figure out.
 

Eternally Grateful

Active Member
I do not think that this is what scripture teaches.

  • [Proverbs 21:1 NASB95] 1 The king's heart is [like] channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.
  • [Ezekiel 36:26 NASB95] 26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
  • [Romans 9:15-16 NASB95] 15 For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." 16 So then it [does] not [depend] on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.
es, God can effect free will choices, look how he effected Jonah’s. Jonah freely kept wanting to run, God put a roadblock. Jonah eventually relented and freely chose to do what God asked him to do.

Ezekiel is talking about Israel. He will give them a new heart and new spirit. AFTER they repent. Israels restoration is dependent on them repenting (See lev 26)

Yes He did tell moses that. Yet he also did what Moses asked. And showed mercy on Israel. And did nt do what he had planned to do and start over

Sorry Bro. Fatalism is not supported

Jesus said whoever believes. He did not say when the elect believes
 

percho

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Let me say upfront that I believe in God's election for the saved. However, that is not this discussion. My question is this. In Gen. 2 we read the following;
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

My question is focused on verse 17. It reads "for in the day that thou eatest there of thou shalt surely die." Was election involved in the eating of that tree since based on that passage it is pre-supposed.


My thoughts.

Hebrews 2:14 Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through (the) death he might destroy him having the power of (the) death -- that is, the devil --

Where was, the devil, on day six of creation week? On day six of creation week, did the devil have the power of the death?
Why was Adam made a little lower than the angels?

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Rom 5:14 KJV --- Was Adam the figure of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Lamb of God, without blemish and without spot?

for the soul of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul. Lev 17:11 Darby
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Gen 2:7 KJV --- Why? Why did form man from soil of the earth?

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. 1 John 3:8 ---

Questions;
The Son of God, the Son of Man manifested like his figure, Adam?
Why as stated in the verse from so taken?
And exactly how was that going to be accomplished? See again Heb 2:14
Through what?
How was, the death, going to come into the world?
How long had God been planning to destroy the devil and his works through, the death and thus redeem man under law?
Thou shall not eat of it.

1 Peter 1:18-20 KJV Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest (like Adam, Son of Man, Son of God) in these last times for you,
Gal 4:4,5 YLT and when the fulness of time did come, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under law, (IMHO Virgin shall conceive and bring forth) that those under law (IMHO Thou shall not eat of it) he may redeem, that the adoption of sons we may receive;

BTW Was foreordained before the foundation of the world to be manifested like Adam going to require a woman?

I have been told the woman wasn't necessary in the Word being made flesh.
 

percho

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For we know that the law is spiritual, --- Thou shall not eat of it.
but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

We report, You decide!
 

Marooncat79

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
This still take a free will choice. God comes to offer salvation to all. Not everyone will change their heart. And God will not force anyone to change their heart.


God created mankind to love, and for them to love him back.

He created them that way. When we get to heaven, we will be restored to that pure love relationship.

In the meantime. When we are saved and our fellowship restored. We can love him back. And show gratitude for his love.

Believe it or not. That pleases God.


God gives us a clean heart which allows us to truly call upon the name of the Lord Romans 10:14?

how can man call upon a God in whom they do not believe?

we must believe God and all of His promises before we can call upon Him (this changed of heart is the New Birth or regeneration in John 3 et Al)
 

Eternally Grateful

Active Member
God gives us a clean heart which allows us to truly call upon the name of the Lord Romans 10:14?

how can man call upon a God in whom they do not believe?

we must believe God and all of His promises before we can call upon Him (this changed of heart is the New Birth or regeneration in John 3 et Al)

This is why this discussion topic is so painful. And why no one on either side of the discussion will change. They are set in their ways. And will continue whether what they say makes sense or not

One is not justified (forgiven sin and declared righteous) UNTIL they believe.

One can not be born again (regenerated) until sin is removed.

Sin is not removed UNTIL one is justified. Until then a person is DEAD in their sin.

Hence, by definition, One can not be regenerated, or born again UNTIL they are justified.

This having people born again while still dead in sin stuff is nonsensical. More so even than saying God choses to send people to hell without even giving them a change to repent.

Jhn 3 is simple. As moses lifted the serpent. So must the son of man be lifted. That WHOEVER believes will not perish but have Eternal life (born again)

People in moses day had to CHOSE to look up. If they did not they perished. Those who CHOSE to look up. Lived.

God did not prevent those who died from looking up by not giving them life.. He punished them because they lacked faith. Their condemnation was fulfilled.. Those who chose to believe looked up and lived.

Thats the gospel message in a nutshell
 

Marooncat79

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If faith is left up to my own devices and power then it is a work and I do not really need God

I am in bondage to myself and not to sin
 

Eternally Grateful

Active Member
If faith is left up to my own devices and power then it is a work and I do not really need God
This is nonsensical.

It also states Jesus can not through the word change people hearts

Faith comes through hering and hearing through the word. Not through some magical new birth


I am in bondage to myself and not to sin
Your still in bondage to self. Your fear of even thinking something is a work. where the truth is opposite. has you in bondage.

A person who is drowning and rescued did not save himself. He had to trust the rescuer, if he does not and tries t save himself. he will die..He must chose to trust the rescuer

The people saved when they looked up to the serpent did not save themselves THEY CHOSE to place their faith in the words of God. and that is what saved them..
 

Marooncat79

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We are not drowning, we were dead. Not mostly dead, but truly dead. Until God did something to us we had no hope

that something is regeneration.

what can a dead man do? Ephesians 2:1
 
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