To "elect" means to select or choose. According to the Bible, before creation God selected from the human race those whom He would redeem, justify, sanctify, and glorify in Jesus Christ.
The divine choice is an expression of free and sovereign grace. It is not merited by anything in those who are chosen. God owes sinners no mercy of any kind, only condemnation: so it is a wonder that He should chose to save any of us. Like every truth about God, the doctrine of election involves mystery, and it sometimes stirs controversy. But in Scripture it is a pastoral doctrine, helping Christians to see how great is the grace that saves them, and moving them to respond with humility, confidence, and praise. We do not know what others God has chosen among those who do not yet believe, nor do we know why He chose us in particular. We do know that we believe now only because we were chosen, and we know that as believers we can rely on God to finish the good work He has begun
(1 Cor.1:8,9: Phil.1:6; 1Thess.5:23:,24: 2Tim.1:12: 4:18). For these reasons the knowledge of election is a source of gratitude and confidence.
Peter tells us we should be "diligent to make our calling and election sure." (2Pet.1:10)-
That is, certain to us. Election is known by its fruits. Paul knew that the thessalonians had been chosen because he saw their faith, hope, and love. The transformation of their lives brought about by the gospel
(1 Thess.1:3-6).
Reprobation is the name given to God's eternal decision regarding those sinners whom He has not chosen for life. In not choosing them for life, God has determined not to change them. They will continue in sin, and finally will be judged for what they have done. In some cases God may further remove the restraining influences that keep a person from extremes of disobediance. This abandonment, called "hardening" is itself a penalty for sins (Rom.9:18: 11:25: Ps.81:12: Rom.1:24,26,28).
Reprobation is taught in the Bible (Rom.9:14-24: 1Pet.2:8), but as a doctrine its bearing on Christian behavior is indirect. God's decree of election is secret; which persons are elect and which are reprobate will not be revealed before the judgment. Until that time, God's command is that the call to repent and believe be preached to everyone.
From: the study notes in the Reformation Study Bible
Thank you for sharing James. Yes I have seen the Reformation Study Bible in the Bble book store, funny thing is; it was not displayed with the other Bibles. But look on the bright side; I guess you should be happy they sell it at all , as I didn't see the New World Translation nor the Mormon King James being sold at all.
Yeap it just a observation that Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and the Reformed have their own Bibles, I guess it keeps the flock from straying.
I have numerous Bibles, eight of which are 'Study' Bibles, oddly enough they seem to express a different view than the Reformation Study Bible, Hmmm...I can't imagine why? :goofball:
Yes, it is true, the Refrmation Study Bible was not displayed with the rest of the Bibles, not even on the same wall but was in a section down a different isle of oddities or exotics.
Although some of the other Study Bibles will sometimes express a number of views in the notes on a given passage, sometimes, but rarely the reformed view is included among the others.
I have a Study Qur'an, Book of Mormon and the New World Translation, I briefly considered adding the Reformation Study Bible to the collection, but didn't.
I think it is probably like anything else, where there is only a handful of people who really study this stuff and the rest are clueless, just showing up on Sundays.
When faced with overwhelming evidence on a doctrine you are currently rejecting, just change the subject.
Pretend the whole thing is about Where a shopkeeper places a Bible on a shelf.
As for me, I just plan to present the historic Christian faith, with the facts being the plain words of Scripture.
You can specialize in all the tricks and sleight of hand moves,
"oddities and exotics"? You certainly can turn a phrase.
The Fact remains though, that GOD chooses whom He will save.
2 Tim.1:9
" who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,"
2 Thess. 2:13,14
"But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 8:28-39
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
God�s Everlasting Love
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God�s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died�more than that, who was raised� who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
There are never any battles without two parties at least being involved. One party being the other party's enemy.
In the kingdom of God there is one truth and only one truth and that is him, and he is without all falsehood The Truth.
In the kingdom of Darkness the opponent of the kingdom of God, there is also an author he is the God of this world the father of all lies, and his weapon is deception, thoughts that he plants in the mind of man to turn man from the truth, the word of God. He loves to present himself in his lies as Mr. Justification, in otherwords he is right and all else is the lie.
The word of God tells mankind if he believes in the lord Jesus that he should be saved, this is the truth.
Now the enemy of truth Satan has come forth to attack his enemy The Truth with his lies and the fight is now on, and the battle is won by man by man learning the truth and resisting the lies against the truth, If the beareth of truth does not walk in the truth he will not be equipped with the sword of the spirit, that he is to use against the enemy of truth and will lose the fight of faith, so pick up your sword and fight the good fight of faith and overcome the enemy of your soul
The victory has already been won in Christ Jesus!!
If you were going to post this in here, why did you make a completely new thread? I see that a lot on this board. Instead of answering people or scriptures in the threads already there, many people start threads on the same topic, but just take it in a completely different direction. I shall call it hiding
You tell me? Let's see.. Scriptures are presented. You have no answer so you make a thread saying that those who disagree with you are in darkness all the while criticizing those who disagree by saying they think their way is the only way. You still don't see the hypocrisy in that. Yes when you consistently dodge the clear teachings in scripture, you are hiding. Now why you are hiding... that's what we need to get to the bottom of. Then, progress can be made.
