The gracious and free act of God by which He calls those who become part of His kingdom and special beneficiaries of His love and blessings refers to Elect or Election. Election sometimes refers to the election of Israel and the Church as a people for special service and privileges. It may also refer to the election of a specific individual to some office or to perform some special service. Still others passages of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible refer to the election of individuals to be children of God and heirs of eternal life.
Throughout the history of redemption election has characterized God's saving activity. He chose and called Abraham from Ur to Canaan making an everlasting covenant with him and his offspring. - Gen.11:31-12:7; Neh. 9:7; Is. 41:8 - God also called Moses to lead His people out of bondage. He chose Israel from among the nations of the world to be His special covenant people. - Ex. 2:24-3:10; Deut. 6:21-23; Ps. 105; Duet. 4:37, 7:6-7; Is. 44:1-2 -
Election to salvation take place in Christ as part of God's purpose for the human race. Before the world was made he chose us, chose us in Christ - Eph. 1:4 - We are God's work of art created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it. - Eph. 2:10 - As part of His eternal plan God allowed man to use his freedom to rebel against Him. Thus, it is gracious of God to save those who find salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not unjust of Him not to saved everyone since no one deserves to be saved.
Does it follow that God is unjust? Of course not. Take what God said to Moses: I have mercy on whom I will, and I show pity to whom I please. In other words, the only thing that counts is not what human beings want or try to do but the mercy of God. For in scripture he says to Pharaoh: it was for this I raised you up to use you as a means of showing my power and to make my name known throughout the world. In other words, when God wants to show mercy he does and when he wants to harden someone heart he does so.
You will ask me, In that case, how can God ever blame anyone since no one can oppose his will? But what right have you, a human being to cross examine God? The pot has no right to say to the potter. Why did you make me this shape? Surely a potter can do what he likes with the clay? It is surely for him to decide whether he will use a particular lump of clay to make a special pot or an ordinary one?
Or else imagine that although God is ready to show his anger and display his power, yet he patiently puts up with the people who make him angry however, much they deserve to be destroyed. He puts up with them for the sake of those other people; to whom he wants to be merciful, to whom he wants to reveal the richness of his glory, people he had prepared for this glory long ago. Well, we are those people: whether we were Jews or pagans we are the ones he has called. - Rom. 9:14-24 -
Election is gracious; it is also unconditional and unmerited It is an expression of the eternal, sovereign will of God who cannot change. Therefore, the salvation of the elect is certain.
In order to stress that God's choice is free since it depends on the one who calls, not on human merit. - Rom. 9:11 -
They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. - Rom. 8:29 -
My brothers, never grow tired of doing what is right. If anyone refuses to obey what I have written in this letter, take note of him and have nothing to do with him, so that he will feel that he is wrong; though you are not to regard him as an enemy but as a brother in need of correction. - 2Thes. 2:13-15 -
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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