I've come to the point where it is necessary for me to place a disclaimer at the top of each page on my site. I work tirelessly to maintain a professional website so the information it contains is easy to read and understand. For whatever reason, Weebly has ceased to function as it should and often disregards the corrections I make, not to content, but to presentation. This includes, but is not limited to, font size and spacing. I apologize for any inconvenience or unappealing aesthetics, but I do not have the time or patience to battle these irregularities ad nauseum. Weebly, itself, is of no help. My sincere apologies. God bless you, Madison.
Unconditional Election is the doctrine which states that God, in His sovereignty, chooses who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, and mankind has NOTHING to say about it.
This starts with the notion that because God chose Israel, God chooses the fate of individuals. No. Just No. God chose Israel as a people through whom to BRING the Messiah. Jesus, as a flesh and blood human (Hebrews 2:14), had to have a human lineage. This was necessary if He were to be a kinsman Redeemer (Acts 17:26)! God chose Israel for SERVICE just like Paul explains in Romans 9 with God's choice of Jacob over Esau. He did NOT choose Israel for salvation! There will be countless Jews who go to hell. In fact, any Jew who refuses Jesus as Savior will be condemned to hell, just like any Gentile who refuses Jesus as Savior.
In Genesis 1:26 God tells us that He made 'man' in His image. This was BEFORE Adam and Eve were made and placed in the garden of Eden. God was speaking about ALL of mankind. The word 'man' is defined as 'a species' NOT a select few! In James 1:18, God tells us that out of everything He created, man is His choice, first fruit possession. God did NOT say that SOME men, chosen by Him were special. No, He said ALL men were special in the scope of creation. Why? Because man is made in God's image. These two verses work seamlessly together. Now, when you understand the term 'elected' in that God 'elected' man over trees, squirrels and Yaks, then the rest of the doctrine of 'election' is true. The 'elect,' as used in scripture, are those people who respond to the Holy Spirit and choose Jesus as Savior. These people are the bride of Christ. While Jesus died for ALL people, only some accept his sacrifice through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10 and Acts 16:31).
It is a false doctrine to believe that God shows favoritism to some people! These scriptures make it very clear that God does not play favorites:
James 2:9: But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
James 2:1: ...believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
1 Tim 5:21: I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.
Acts 10:34: Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.
Romans 2:11: For God does not show favoritism.
Deuteronomy 10:17: For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed.
Colossians 3:25: For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Job 34:19: ...who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.
John 9:31: We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if ANYONE is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
God does not, nor will He ever, 'elect' certain people to heaven, while condemning others to hell! To do so means He must act contrary to His nature which is impossible for His nature is unchanging (Psalms 55:19; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17, among others).
Thanks, Falco, for the pic!
Unconditional Election is the doctrine which states that God, in His sovereignty, chooses who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, and mankind has NOTHING to say about it.
This starts with the notion that because God chose Israel, God chooses the fate of individuals. No. Just No. God chose Israel as a people through whom to BRING the Messiah. Jesus, as a flesh and blood human (Hebrews 2:14), had to have a human lineage. This was necessary if He were to be a kinsman Redeemer (Acts 17:26)! God chose Israel for SERVICE just like Paul explains in Romans 9 with God's choice of Jacob over Esau. He did NOT choose Israel for salvation! There will be countless Jews who go to hell. In fact, any Jew who refuses Jesus as Savior will be condemned to hell, just like any Gentile who refuses Jesus as Savior.
In Genesis 1:26 God tells us that He made 'man' in His image. This was BEFORE Adam and Eve were made and placed in the garden of Eden. God was speaking about ALL of mankind. The word 'man' is defined as 'a species' NOT a select few! In James 1:18, God tells us that out of everything He created, man is His choice, first fruit possession. God did NOT say that SOME men, chosen by Him were special. No, He said ALL men were special in the scope of creation. Why? Because man is made in God's image. These two verses work seamlessly together. Now, when you understand the term 'elected' in that God 'elected' man over trees, squirrels and Yaks, then the rest of the doctrine of 'election' is true. The 'elect,' as used in scripture, are those people who respond to the Holy Spirit and choose Jesus as Savior. These people are the bride of Christ. While Jesus died for ALL people, only some accept his sacrifice through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10 and Acts 16:31).
It is a false doctrine to believe that God shows favoritism to some people! These scriptures make it very clear that God does not play favorites:
James 2:9: But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
James 2:1: ...believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
1 Tim 5:21: I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.
Acts 10:34: Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.
Romans 2:11: For God does not show favoritism.
Deuteronomy 10:17: For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed.
Colossians 3:25: For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Job 34:19: ...who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.
John 9:31: We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if ANYONE is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
God does not, nor will He ever, 'elect' certain people to heaven, while condemning others to hell! To do so means He must act contrary to His nature which is impossible for His nature is unchanging (Psalms 55:19; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17, among others).
Thanks, Falco, for the pic!