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 a sinners whom the Lord chose 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 Doctrine."
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 Simple Solution
The simple solution to Calvin's wrangling of the scripture is to read it as it is. To read the Word of God in its context, both immediate and broader, and compare it to the Whole of scripture.