The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Predestination and Election

First I would just like to point something out here. God isn't constrained by time, is He? I don't believe He is. So who is to say that our prayers are ineffectual concerning the salvation of our children under the reformed doctrine of Unconditional Election. Not that I'm saying that His eternal choice to save some over others was based on any foreseen act or response on the part of those selected, but was based solely on His own good pleasure and sovereign will. But I also believe that are prayers don't go unanswered.

Let me ask you something else, why is being an Armenian any more comforting. There I'm sure have been many Armenian mothers who prayed for their children only to see them grow up and never come back to the church.

Predestination, I admit, is a sizable stumbling block, but it should never be elevated above all of the other wonderful beliefs of the reformed faith. I've seen this happen over and over again in the PCUSA church I used to belong too. The Armenian believers there zoomed in on Predestination and couldn't get passed it to explore all the other aspects of the reformed faith. I believe that we need to present the "whole" package when apologizing the reformed faith.

A large portion of the reformed faith deals with Biblical Theology and Covenant Theology. These two areas of reformed teaching vastly help in the better understanding of Predestination. I found that when someone finally starts reading scripture with a reformed presupposition then they will see Predestination in almost every book they read in the Bible. When this happens, it isn't the case of... "well I'm still not sure" ... to that of... "Wow I can't believe that I never saw that before!"

I'm going to provide some scripture versus that I believe will help in this matter and then I'll provide some links that you might want to explore but I believe that Pilgrims replies and links were also very sufficient. Just as a personal note though, when It came to my wife, I finally had to gently "put my foot down" with her. She was having a very hard time trying to understand why I wanted to move churches, from the PCUSA to the PCA and I tried and tried, but finally I had to just come out and say, while we were driving home from the PCUSA church, we are never going back to that (the PCUSA) church again. She just kind of looked at me and from that point on we have been attending the PCA church. Now that she has had a little time under the reformed roof, she has finally begone to see the difference, but it literally took me to drag her kicking and screaming. If you believe in the reformed doctrines then I believe it is your responsibility to lead your family under the reformed teachings.


Unconditional Election:

A. General statements showing that God has an elect people, that He predestined them to salvation, and thus to eternal life.

Deut 10:14,15
Psalm 33:12
Psalm 65:4 - 106:5
Haggai 2:23
Matthew 11:27 - 24:22,24,31
Luke 18:7
Romans 8:28-30 - 8:33 - 11:28
Colossians 3:12
1 Thess 5:9
Titus 1:1
1 Peter 1:1,2 - 2:8,9
Rev 17:14

B. Before the foundation of the world, God chose particular individuals unto salvation. His selection was not based upon any foreseen response or act performed by those chosen. Faith and good works are the result, not the cause of God's choice.

God did the choosing: Mark 13:20
God's choice was made before the foundation of the world: Ephesians 1:4

God chose particular individuals unto salvation-their names were written in the book of life before the foundation of the world: Rev 13:8 - 17:8

God's choice was not based upon any foreseen merit residing in those whom He chose, nor was it based on any foreseen good works performed by them: Rom 9:11-13 - 9:16 - 10:20 - 1 Cor 1:27-29 - 2 Tim 1:9

Good works are the result, not the ground, of predestination: Eph 1:12 - 2:10 - John 15:16

God's choice was not based upon foreseen faith. Faith is the result and therefore the evidence of God's election, not the cause or ground of His choice: Acts 13:48 - 18:27 - Phil 1:29 - 2:12,13 - 1 Thes 1:4,5

It is by faith and good works that one confirms his calling and election: 11 Pet 1:5-11

Election was based on the sovereign, distinguishing mercy of Almighty God. It was not man's will but God's will that determined which sinners would be shown mercy and saved: Exodus 33:19 - Deut 7:6,7 Matt 20:15 Rom 9:10-24

The doctrine of election is but a part of the much broader Biblical doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty. The Scriptures not only teach that God predestined certain individuals unto eternal life, but that all events, both small and great, come about as the result of God's eternal decree. The Lord God rules over heaven and earth with absolute control: nothing comes to pass apart from His eternal purpose: 1 Chron 29:10-12 Job 42:1,2 Psalm 115:3

The doctrine of election should be viewed not only against the backdrop of human depravity and guilt, but it should also be studied in connection with the eternal covenant or agreement made between the members of the Godhead. For it was in the execution of this covenant that the Father chose out of the world of lost sinners a definite number of individuals and gave them to the Son to be His people. The Son, under the terms of this compact, agreed to do all that was necessary to save those "chosen" and "given" to Him by the Father. The Spirit's part in the execution of this covenant was to apply to the elect the salvation secured for them by the Son.



Bringing the Gospel to Covenant Children

How to pass on the faith - The Five Points of Covenantal Succession

Raising Children for God

Y.B.I.C,

Dave