Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
For those of you who subscribe to the idea that God elects some to heaven while the rest are consigned to a different fate, how do you know for sure that you, yourselves are part of the elect?
The way that I understand election is that, God chose His elect before world was created. He, being a just and merciful God, provided the means for all of us to become part of that elect by offering his only begotten Son as a ransom sacrifice. Thus, the moment a person accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, he or she become instantly part of that elect that God chose.
I think the confusion comes from people who think that God looked into the future and saw who would become saved, thus electing them then since God knows and foreknows everything. The problem with that argument is that you are saying that it was because of what the person did, instead of what Jesus did for all of us on the cross that made God decide to elect us, and that type of reasoning says that we some how helped Jesus save us. Jesus is the only person who can take credit for saving all of us--it not of our works or our being good that earns our salvation.
Those who chose Christ are the elect under the new covenant.
Exactly! This is the body of Christ.... the CHURCH. Not a denomination... or christianity.... not a temple of sticks or stones... or as Peter put it, those born not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed.
The way that I understand election is that, God chose His elect before world was created. He, being a just and merciful God, provided the means for all of us to become part of that elect by offering his only begotten Son as a ransom sacrifice. Thus, the moment a person accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, he or she become instantly part of that elect that God chose.
The only problem is understanding what that means and HOW it is accomplished . . . intellectual choice is not involved. We cannot choose what we TRULY believe. Intellectual choice is always between alternatives we do not actually "believe IN." It is an inner acceptance of the guidance of His Holy Spirit that reveals what we truly "believe ON."
Quote:
I think the confusion comes from people who think that God looked into the future and saw who would become saved, thus electing them then since God knows and foreknows everything. The problem with that argument is that you are saying that it was because of what the person did, instead of what Jesus did for all of us on the cross that made God decide to elect us, and that type of reasoning says that we some how helped Jesus save us. Jesus is the only person who can take credit for saving all of us--it not of our works or our being good that earns our salvation.
The bold is true . . . but it is our works and being good that determines our sanctification and what we build on Christ's foundation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by migol84
Exactly! This is the body of Christ.... the CHURCH. Not a denomination... or christianity.... not a temple of sticks or stones... or as Peter put it, those born not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed.
This is not an all or nothing situation. Christ abides with us all and His Holy Spirit is available to all of us in our consciousness. We can accept or reject His guidance . . . and we do. But it is never all or nothing. We are a composite of acceptance and rejection which impacts our sanctification . . . but we are ALL saved by Christ.
God gives HIS 'Born Again' ...saved by the Faith in and of Jesus, through The Blood of Jesus....sons and daughters.....assurance of HIS care and protection....as 'they' seek HIM.
But, ONLY God Almighty KNOWS who are HIS 'elect'.....and HE doesn't puff up HIS children by making them feel 'special'....or 'selected' elite. Through Faith and Trust in HIM ....is the only TRUE COMFORT.
We are all elect. If only a few select ones are, then the rest of us wouldn't have been created. Duh! C'mon. God is bigger than all of us and to say that only some of us are the elect, is degraading God. He isn't small like us. He loves all of us whether we know it or not. No one is held above or below another. God elected ALL of us. We are His love made manifest. Even the "sinners".
We are all elect. If only a few select ones are, then the rest of us wouldn't have been created. Duh! C'mon. God is bigger than all of us and to say that only some of us are the elect, is degraading God. He isn't small like us. He loves all of us whether we know it or not. No one is held above or below another. God elected ALL of us. We are His love made manifest. Even the "sinners".
Just as satan said, eat of the tree , you will not die.. God did say if you eat of the tree you will surely die. Satan called God a liar.
Those who follow satan will follow him into the lake of fire.
Just as some of God's angels followed satan.. not all will chose Christ.
God gives HIS 'Born Again' ...saved by the Faith in and of Jesus, through The Blood of Jesus....sons and daughters.....assurance of HIS care and protection....as 'they' seek HIM.
But, ONLY God Almighty KNOWS who are HIS 'elect'.....and HE doesn't puff up HIS children by making them feel 'special'....or 'selected' elite. Through Faith and Trust in HIM ....is the only TRUE COMFORT.
QUOTE:
''We are all elect. If only a few select ones are, then the rest of us wouldn't have been created. Duh! C'mon. God is bigger than all of us and to say that only some of us are the elect, is degraading God. He isn't small like us. He loves all of us whether we know it or not. No one is held above or below another. God elected ALL of us. We are His love made manifest. Even the "sinners".
You are wrong....and in grave error. All are NOT 'the elect.' Not many are the 'elect' but there are 'the elect'
King James Bible - Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
An example of the 'elect' would probably be Apostles Paul, Peter and the others. But clearly....there are 'the elect'....or God would not have said so.
QUOTE:
''We are all elect. If only a few select ones are, then the rest of us wouldn't have been created. Duh! C'mon. God is bigger than all of us and to say that only some of us are the elect, is degraading God. He isn't small like us. He loves all of us whether we know it or not. No one is held above or below another. God elected ALL of us. We are His love made manifest. Even the "sinners".
You are wrong....and in grave error. All are NOT 'the elect.' Not many are the 'elect' but there are 'the elect'
King James Bible - Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
An example of the 'elect' would probably be Apostles Paul, Peter and the others. But clearly....there are 'the elect'....or God would not have said so.
Sorry bub. It's a man made ideathat only some are "elected". Men don't get to decide who is or isn't a child of God. If you have children, would you tell one of them that they are not yours and you don't love them anymore just because they went against something that you had forbidden them to do? No, you wouldn't. You would love them no matter what choices they made in their lives. God doesn't pick and choose who He loves and who He chooses to be with Him. It's men who do that. We either Love God and others or we don't. It's that simple. You can quote a book all you want but it's still doesn't make it right or true. God isn't petty like man and his ideas. God is absolute UNCONDITIONAL Love. Maybe you can't comprehend that yet so you choose to believe that only the "elected" get to either heaven. When you can fathom God's love for each and every one, saint and sinner, then tell me that I'm wrong. Until then, I'm pretty sure that I'm right.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
