2007-09-25 15:43:54 · 16 answers · asked by Kidd! 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Bible (God) doesn't give a basis on why He chooses the elect. Scripture tells us He will have mercy on whom he choses....in his own will and pleasure. God does not own anyone a reason for doing what he does or how he does it. He is not bound by man's desire to know. He has chosen the elect before time. He tells us this. That is all we need to know. No man sits in council with God or judges the decisions he has made.
2007-09-25 16:19:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
The Characteristics of: Eternal Ephesians 1:4, Personal Acts 9:15, Soverign Romans 9:9-11, Unmerited Romans 9:11. God's forknowledge 2 Peter 1:3&4, OF grace Romans 11:5&6, Through faith 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Recorded in heaven Luke 10:20, Knowable 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Of high esteem 2 Timothy 2:4.
2007-09-26 03:07:27 · answer #2 · answered by salvation 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The elect are not chosen for salvation. They are "foreknown". Freewill meets Sovereignty at the moment that a man gives up on his own will and nothing is left but the desire to know God. Even still, without God's provision, salvation is impossible at this moment. Sovereignty is intact.
The Scripture reveals to us the only valid sinners prayer in several places...Paul is a good example.
Who are you Lord?
The thief on the cross is similar.
Lord, (will you) remember me when you come into your Kingdom.
Both examples above are absent of work, repentence as is so commonly taught (especiallly Paul in light of his grievous transgressions), great resolve and conviction, effort, philosophy, and most important absent of "will". They are actually quite bare and empty...I can do nothing...are you real?
You see, our will was corrupted when we chose the knowledge of good and evil over a relationship with God. We continue to make the same choice today because it is our nature to do so. The problem is that God cannot be found by the action of our corrupted will. Man is enslaved to the idea that by his own will he can certainly figure out and/or work out a correct salvation plan.
It is only when man gives up on that which is absolutely corrupted (our will) and still desires God that God's provision kicks in and He blesses the elect who are foreknown.
The mystery is why do some of us give up on ourselves and some of us don't. Jesus gives us a clue...
I did not come for the righteous...what need have they of me...I came for sinners.
You won't often hear a Reformed Theologian acknowledging the elect as rank and file sinners, will you?
Think about it.
agapefromnc
2007-09-25 16:05:11 · answer #3 · answered by harry killwater 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If God is omniscient, I believe that He is, then He already knows
who will respond favorably to the call of salvation. Hense he can declare in advance that the elect are chose for salvation. Remember God exists outside of time. He can see both now, in the past and in the future. In the now.
I Cr 13;8
2007-09-25 20:19:10 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is by God's choice that the elect are chosen and they were chosen from the foundation of the earth. This is a hard thing to understand and I have to admit that I still struggle with it.
2007-09-25 16:05:56 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. E 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
cooperation with grace.
There is no real basis in Scripture for double predestination,predeterminism,irresistible grace,limited atonement,impossiblity of rejecting salvation once accepted,absolute depravity of all humanity or divine choice by caprice
" Warning! Warning! Danger,Will Robinson, Danger!"
2007-09-26 05:58:52 · answer #6 · answered by James O 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
palms 33:12, haggai 2:23, matt. 11:27, matt 22:14, matt. 24 22,24, 31, luke 18:7 romans 18:28-30, and 33, 1 theo. 5:9, titus 1:1, 1 peter 1:1,2, rev. 17:14
2007-09-26 03:00:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the elect are the saints.
they are those born again according to acts 2:38 & john 3... & who continue to live holy unto God.
they are the church, born again & now w/o spot.
they are the righteous that will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air at His 2nd coming.
they are those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
they are those who will accompany Jesus to Jerusalem's Mount of Olives & on to fight in the battle of armageddon.
they are those who will be kings & priests with Him during the 1000 years of peace.
yes, God foreknew His elect, as He foreknew all things. He has the ability to see the end from the beginning. though He foreknew His elect b/c of our choice, He did not predestinate us individually. yet He did predestinate the born-again church to be His chosen... His elect.
2007-09-25 16:54:08 · answer #8 · answered by t d 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No answer here.
Robert S (above) said it perfectly. He has chosen not to tell us the "basis".
We know that it was "according to His foreknowledge".
But we do NOT know according to WHAT in His foreknowledge.
Which leaves the question; Since HE has decided NOT to tell us, WHY are we asking these questions?
Why not (if you know Him as savior) just be grateful that you WERE chosen?
....theBerean
2007-09-26 06:02:53 · answer #9 · answered by theBerean 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Romans 3,6,10
Acts 2:21
John 3:15-21
Eph 2:8-9
2007-09-25 18:10:27 · answer #10 · answered by robert p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋