Unconditional Election
Published by Andrew Esping under on Friday, November 16, 2007
Man, I haven't written since May First, talk about Neglect!
Well I'm going to continue my Theological rant and go on to the next doctrine of the Reformed faith, Unconditional Election. Here is a brief over-view of the Arminian Doctrine and the Calvinistic Doctrine.
Well I'm going to continue my Theological rant and go on to the next doctrine of the Reformed faith, Unconditional Election. Here is a brief over-view of the Arminian Doctrine and the Calvinistic Doctrine.
Arminian View
Conditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world was based upon His foreseeing that they would respond to His call. He selected only those whom He knew would of themselves freely believe the gospel. Election therefore was determined by or conditioned upon what man would do. The faith which God foresaw and upon which He based His choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted solely from man's will. It was left entirely up to man as to who would believe and therefore as to who would be elected unto salvation. God chose those whom He knew would, of their own free will, choose Christ. Thus the sinner's choice of Christ, not God's choice of the sinner, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world was based upon His foreseeing that they would respond to His call. He selected only those whom He knew would of themselves freely believe the gospel. Election therefore was determined by or conditioned upon what man would do. The faith which God foresaw and upon which He based His choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted solely from man's will. It was left entirely up to man as to who would believe and therefore as to who would be elected unto salvation. God chose those whom He knew would, of their own free will, choose Christ. Thus the sinner's choice of Christ, not God's choice of the sinner, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Calvinistic View
Unconditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
These where taken from http://www.the-highway.com/compare.html.
OK lets look at the Arminian View for a second, maybe longer. First thing I notice when I read it is this; "We see man, wow, mans a pretty good guy. He may be hurtin from sin but its nothing he can't recover from. Seriously, man has the ability to choose God, wow, lets give man a hand. Sure Jesus died to provide the salvation but man calls the shots, he decides, he's the head honcho. Sure God tugs at the hearts of man but He obviously wouldn't interfere in a man's life, I mean that's like ummmm wrong." Sorry for the satire but that's what its saying in the long shot.
Now lets cut to the chase. Why can't God be in charge? Why does God have to leave it up to man? WHY???? The average Arminian would say it would be un-fair for God to meddle in the affairs of someones life. What about Romans 9:17-23?
17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
19You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory -Romans 9:17-23
19You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory -Romans 9:17-23
Looks to me like God is in control not man. Man is God's creation and God can very well do what He pleases with what belongs to Him. Besides, where is the Scripture support for this heretical idea that man chooses God? Well if someone ever finds it I'm would really like to see it.
Side note here, I'm a firm believer in Sola Scriptura or in English the infallibility of Scripture. I'll make a case for this in a later post.
Also, something else I noticed was that God is portrayed as a bratty spoiled rotten child. A God who basically says *crosses arms, stamps foot, and speaks in a prideful voice* "Well, unless YOU choose me first I won't choose you Hmpf!" Is that the God of the Bible? I think not very strongly! So basically what I calculate is this: The all powerful God looks down the corridors of time and saw that Geoff chose Him so God chose Geoff and so on and so on. The all powerful God who created everything submitting to the will of His own creation? The will of a wicked and totally corrupt people. Truth is if God left Salvation up to man no one would choose it. Why? Their to busy sinning and being part of the world, they have no good in them to choose God. They can't, there is no good left in man, not one drop. We all sinned through Adam and by the sin of one man we are all made corrupt. Look here in Jeremiah 13:23
Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil -Jeremiah 13:23
So how does corrupt man choose God? If God left it all up to man, man would rather keep sinning. There is no way around it, unless you deny the infallibility of Scripture.
Also this view requires a work to be saved! Is accepting Christ a work? Of-course it is! Think about it. Our flesh hates God and loves sin. So basically accepting God would be choosing what we hate over what we love. Some of you might say "Is it a work to accept a gift?" Well look at it this way. In the Arminian view man is sick, suffering from sin but still alive. Man is given the choice to die or to accept the medicine that will save him from certain death. The medicine is provided but the man will have to accept the medicine and work to digest it. So I would definitely say that accepting Christ is a work.
Lets review what we have talked about.
Arminian doctrine in a nut-shell
1. God has nothing to with salvation except for the fact that He provided it
2. Man makes the choice for his salvation upon man's own free will and has nothing to do with God
3. God is a child who won't choose you unless you choose Him
4. Choosing Christ over sin is definitely a work
In closing Man deserves 80% of the glory for making the choice for God over sin. While God can have 20% for providing the salvation.
Sound like the God of the Bible? I don't think so, here's the Calvinistic view
1. God has everything to do with our salvation. He provided it, He decided who would have it and who wouldn't before the foundation of the world.
2. God chose whom will have salvation according to HIS will and pleasure.
3. We do no work for our salvation, God does it all
In closing God deserves 100% of the glory and humans deserve nothing since they did nothing.
You make the decision which sounds more like the God of Scripture?
2 Comments:
Where did you get your sarcasm??? It wouldn't by change be from somebody who is currently in India?
Don't forget about this verse in which Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you (John 15:16).
We don't choose Jesus, He chooses us, so that we may choose Him. He loved us first, so that we may love Him.
Solus Christus and Soli Deo Gloria
Very well said anomymous, or should I say Father! Ya I've always wanted to speak Latin ;).
Andrew
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