CHOSEN / ELECTED IN CHRIST BEFORE THE FALL
The Dilemma
Many centuries of writing and debates we can now read in books or watch on video between Calvinists and Armenians. I have done both in my search for truth: are we chosen to glory, i.e. we who are Born Again or regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Is T-U-L-I-P true or an error? Are the ones not Chosen doomed to eternal flames, and cannot repent, for the Lord did not grant them repentance?
I have been saved for 48 years. In my younger days as a believer I never really thought on these historic differences on Salvation. I would read Eph. 1, Rom. 8 and 9, etc., but never saw the Calvinist teachings. If the word said' " chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestined to glory," I just naturally assumed that you believed by your own Free Will the gospel and were saved. One day watching Pastor James Kennedy give a message on Limited Atonement, that my Lord did not die for the Whole world, but a selected people only, it did not sink in at first. When I understood what he was teaching, I remember Cringing, almost physically sick.
After being confronted with the doctrines of Grace, I tried to be a Calvinist (because it seemed to be a Higher understanding of God, His eternal plan and our redemption), but could never get past the people doomed to hell for something they are not able to repent of. In my search to reconcile this seeming contradiction of Culpability
( blameworthiness ) imputed to sinners because the Lord chose them to damnation before they were born was most unsatisfactory to say the least.
The message from the top Calvinist Theologians was it is a Great Mystery. So I left it alone for years. It turns out ( in my opinion ) the work of the Lord moves on much more smoothly without these Doctrines of Grace. Evangelism, preaching, teaching the scriptures for what they say at Face Value brings peace and clarity I could not find from John Calvin's teaching. Even fallen man knows the basics of justice. If a child burns down a building playing with matches, there is a reason we do not take him to court for Arson, or even Negligence.
It may be argued that Lost Mankind knows he does evil, therefore chosen or not, he is Blameworthy before a Holy God, and the Justice of God must act accordingly. In other words, our Lord could have righteously Condemned the Whole Adamic race, not offering salvation, and be absolutely Just in doing so. Why would the LORD GOD after six Days of Creation, where he says, "It was very good", then destroy His greatest creation; Mankind, made in His own Image? Gen.1:27. Could it be there was a much Deeper Plan hidden in the consuls of our Omniscient God?
We see now in 6,000 plus years of man's history the Lord indeed has a plan. As we near the Lord's return we see the unbelievable evil of mankind. Where, or from whom cometh this Iniquity? When asking the top theologians of Calvin's doctrine, again we are told," it is a mystery." Yet many High Calvinists will say evil originates from God.
One of the teachings of Calvinism is that Lucifer and Adam were Programmed by God to sin. For what purpose you may ask? So that the Lord may have mercy on the ones' He chooses to salvation. According to these Calvinists ( and Calvin himself ), the Lord is the author of Evil so that He may do good. Rom.8:28,29. How is it that such a teaching can hold the minds of intelligent men in such absurdity? The only possible answer is, "an Enemy has done this."
There are numerous scriptures that the Lord does not tempt man to do evil. God is Love. To even suggest this is an affront to our Lord. Yet the Calvinist must teach this if he is to uphold " The Doctrinal Model of Calvin."
Deu 29:29
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
The things which are secret the Lord has kept from us, but those which are revealed belong to us so we may know them and do them. We know that our LORD has chosen some to salvation. Even if you use the class or cooperate/group view, individuals must still believe the gospel. However, if the Lord is speaking of saints who are already regenerant, i.e. them whom by their "free will" believed the gospel and thereby are in Christ, it means that after they believed they were saved.
[Eph 1:1-14 KJV] 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace [be] to you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: Here we see Paul addresses the Faithfull saints in Christ Jesus.
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Here we see The Father has chosen the Faithful saints "in Christ" before the foundation of the world according to His foreknowledge.
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.