Am I one of the elect? How can I know? - CompellingTruth.org We look the same and we both sin, though saved Christians try to avoid sin. And if they continue in this rejection, it is Gods prerogative to harden their hearts further to achieve other goals (Rom. As much as Lutzer feels bound by his traditional doctrine of unconditional election and to somehow relate that to the gospel, we can see that Lutzer must, in the end, affirm the universal and conditional elements of the message of salvation for it to be good news. He is going to tell sinners what they must do to be saved. Given unconditional election God does the same thing. Of course the Reformed perspective on salvation (soteriology - study of salvation) is that no one with true faith can fall away. But this makes no sense. According to the biblical gospel, people are told how they can be saved, not that they are either members of a predestined elect group or not. Therefore, it is at the time the sinner humbles himself, gives assent to the message of the gospel, confesses that they are a sinner and trusts in Christs death on their behalf that Gods saving work is applied to them. The key here to finding God is in the sincerity of seeking him. It is they who do not want to humble themselves, trust and believe. Thats the only way you can know is by coming to Christ in humble repentance and receiving, by faith, the gift of eternal life. Lutzer is convinced his doctrine of unconditional election is taught in Scripture. @Narnian can you convert that into an answer, please? But he also injects his unconditional election into the mix. The gospel is not make sure that you are unconditionally elect by trusting in Christ. The Spirit accompanies the message according to its content as good news to sinners. Luke 24:47. Indeed, there is no way of knowing that they are the true explanation of a persons faith and salvation. The non-Calvinist understands God to be speaking to everyone in the same manner with the same purpose in the gospel message. Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Isaiah 1:11 through 15 Q. You must believe to be saved. Since this election is unconditional there is nothing they can do to transfer themselves from the one category of person to the other. The unconditionally elect are those who evidence believing in Jesus when they are invited to believe in Jesus. And those who do not sense the working of the Spirit could be among the elect, but we wont know that at this time. This is a seriously flawed gospel, dont you think? I mean you motor boaters yeah but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but. While the elect gaze into the cauldron of hell, one of the unconditionally elect exclaims God is holy. The possibility that all may repent and believe are essential to the message as good news and therefore repentance and faith are the responsibility of the sinner. [] does the mere act of seeking God mean that the person must be elect? But as I pointed out elsewhere, this experience is untrustworthy, because according to Calvin the Spirit can give such evidences for a time to the non-elect, but remove his presence in the end. For the call to salvation to be sincere, honest and genuine it must apply to all who hear it. On the other hand, some unsaved people are also quite moral, and some may do many good works. While I'm taking a risk by quoting just one verse--and only a portion of a verse at that--to support my contention, I'll venture forth, going where angels fear to tread: "There is none that seeketh after God" (Romans 3:11b). One my go from being unsaved to being saved by faith in Christ, but one could never go from being non-elect to being elect. It is Arminianism that gives people a ground for boasting: God elected me because He knew I would believe.. But inconsistent with his unconditional election, Lutzer believes, Whosoever will may come. Once you have called people to believe on Jesus, stop trusting your goodness, trust wholly in in the work of Christ transfer your trust to Jesus alone, come to Christ in humble repentance and receive by faith the gift of eternal life a doctrine of unconditional election makes no sense or practical difference.
Florida couple charged in death of baby left in hot car overnight after The following is a brief discussion of what I understand the biblical doctrine of election to mean. Rather, when Lutzer calls sinners to believe he should assure them that they can know that they have the gift of eternal life a gift that they receive by faith because God loves them and Christ has died for them. These are the evidences that the person is among the elect and already born-again. According to Lutzers soteriology a person cannot resist the Spirits work. To all people Lutzer says, if the Spirit is working in your heart, you come as if they are responsible for the coming and could do otherwise. He makes them conditional. Therefore, in a very real sense, man's decision is the cause of salvation. Here he seeks to answer the question, Who are the elect? Lutzer states, Finally, I want to zero in on the word elect. Who shall lay anything to the charge of Gods elect? So who are the elect? (LogOut/ In that Lutzer requires the sinner to do something to know that are unconditionally elect, he renders his doctrine inconsistent and irrelevant while making his explanation incoherent and self-refuting when you do this condition, that is, believe you will know you are unconditionally elect and effectually called, which by definition states you cant do anything with respect to your salvation.
My Understanding of the Biblical Doctrine of Election From a Reformed perspective the answer to this question is really easy. Here we see that being humble is and asking is key to prayer. These elect were to include some Jews, but what nation they were from now made no difference. Even sticking to this one passage, we can see that it does not support the Arminian system. If a person truly trusts in Jesus alone for salvation, that person is one of the elect. How confusing is Lutzers gospel? It goes something like this. Sometimes it is referring to certain individuals whom God chose to a certain calling or position, such as that of a priest or a prophet. When we contemplate the urgency of our witness, what we should feel is this: It is absolutely essential for the sake of the elect that I do my evangelism. The Table Of The Lord - The Purpose Of Communion, Pagan Practices, Customs And Roots Of The Catholic Church, Catholicism Versus Gods Word Regarding Idolatry. Grace is not extended to the non-elect. Episode 1720. Psalms 10:17 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. The Elect Are the Jews and/or the People or Nation of Israel I know that I said this article would concern itself with the body of people the New Testament calls "elect" and "chosen." Yet, there are Bible teachers who insists that the elect people of God in the New Testament are the Jews or the nation of Israel. The hardening referred to is a hardening of some ethnic Israelites (not Gentiles). https://www.moodymedia.org/radio-programs/running-to-win-15/forgiven-forever-part-4-1/#.W9oOJo-WxD8 (6:57 8:45). God is the cause . It is hard to say, seeing as the Bible would imply that the sole purpose of their existence is so that God could bring glory to Himself through judging, sentencing, condemning and tormenting people according to their works Archived post. That is, there is no way for any of them to be assured that they are included in the number of Gods elect. Rather than the gospel being truly evangelistic (evangel means good news), that is, confidently and genuinely proclaiming to all people that God has made a way of salvation and that they too can be saved by putting their faith in Christ, it is inverted into a particular, exclusive, mysterious determinism that causes people to want to know whether they have been divinely assigned to eternal life or eternal damnation. The non-Calvinist maintains that God wants to save them. Therefore, Calvinism is christologically deficient because an unconditional election detracts from the sinner having Christ presented to him as the mediator of salvation, the expression of Gods salvific love and will and the very source of the sinners hope. Rather, God through the Spirit are always at work in each and every persons heart and mind who hears the preaching of the biblical gospel message. Only those thus called can presume that they are among the unconditionally elect. To be saved is the evidence that you are one of the elect. The good news is that if they surrender to Gods way of salvation and put their faith and trust in Christ, and simply receive Gods gift of salvation, they will have their sins forgiven, abundant life here and now and at death eternal life in heaven with Jesus. This book declares uncompromisingly that God has a plan for unbelievers as well as believers. Therefore, in light of the promise of salvation by faith in Christ which Lutzer presents to all sinners, his doctrine of unconditional election is rendered pointless. When this doctrine of unconditional election is lurking behind the scenes, it turns the gospel and human responsibility on its head. Clearly God does love even those who spurn His tender mercy, but it is a different quality of love, and different in degree from His love for His own. You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. So, if man is characterized by total inability, and election is unconditional, and the call is effectual and grace is irresistible, how is it that the person needs to do something as if it is they who can do it or not do it? They demonstrate that Calvinist attempts to support their doctrine of unconditional election lead to inconsistency, confusion and in the end are incompatible with the gospel message. The confirmation of such knowledge is also irrelevant and immaterial. That is clear by some of the content of the message that Lutzer himself preaches. Obviously only God knows who the elect are, and the Gospel preacher has no need to worry about that when engaged in evangelism. The Spirit will continue to work until he has produced in you the effect he has predetermined faith. According to His Own Criteria, Is Erwin Lutzers Calvinist Soteriology Heretical? So salvation is not a matter of believing the good news of your salvation that is found in Christ, it is by being among the elect whom God has decided will be saved and will cause to believe.
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