Doctrine of Election

[desmalia]

I've been studying this one a bit lately. Just curious what everyone here thinks about the concept. I'm sure there will be some difference of opinion, and that's fine. All points of view welcome!

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

I'm not going to vote because it depends on what you mean by the doctrine of election.

[Cajun Huguenot]

Yep. I do.

In Christ,
Kenith

[DiscipleOfIAm]

I wasn't going to vote either, but I did.

Depending on your meaning of the doctrine. As far as, are there elect and non-elect people in the world chosen by God, yes.

Just the short and skinny version. There is so much to this that many, many threads have been started, and closed, about it!

[No Swansong]

It would be helpful if you would provide a definition for 'election' The word means different things to different people even on this board. (even in my family)

[desmalia]

It would be helpful if you would provide a definition for 'election' The word means different things to different people even on this board. (even in my family)
Sorry guys, you're right, I should have clarified. Let's use this definition for discussion's sake:

http://www.biblebb.com/files/macqa/IA-election.htm

[oliveplants]

According to that definition, no.

I do believe that some people are more likely to respond well to the gospel, and that predisposition is from God, but that it is up to the person in the end.

I did some word studies not long ago on this, and there were lots of things (not just people) "ordained" for some work or other, and a lot of them didn't end up doing what they were meant to.

Not to say people just decide of themselves that they want to know more of God. He puts the desire in our hearts for Him; Holy Spirit draws us. But we wouldn't be admonished to "grieve not the Spirit" if it were impossible.

[BBAS 64]

Good Day,

Indeed I do.

Peace to u,

Bill

[Abimelech]

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
According to the definition of a Fundamentalist, as stated in the "sticky" messages, I am a fundamentalist. I don't think of myself that way. however. I do affirm that I do believe all that is stated therein. I'm not sure that I can affirm that God deliberately appointed some people to damnation. I trust God, and I definitely do not understand His ways; they are higher than ours, and His thoughts are higher than ours. I'm definitely not a universalist; I don't believe that all will go to Heaven. I believe that those who are in Hell are there because of what THEY did not do: they did not respond to the Holy Spirit's drawing of them, by cords of love, as directed by God, and say YES to Jesus Christ's offer of forgiveness and grace and mercy. I'm not sure I can believe that people are deliberately appointed to be lost. Father God, deal with me as You know I need it. In Jesus' Name. :amen:

[jlujan69]

Sorry guys, you're right, I should have clarified. Let's use this definition for discussion's sake:

http://www.biblebb.com/files/macqa/IA-election.htm

Per your link, this is known popularly as the Calvinist doctrine of election, and I don't subscribe to it. I'm more Arminian in my leanings.

[BBAS 64]

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
According to the definition of a Fundamentalist, as stated in the "sticky" messages, I am a fundamentalist. I don't think of myself that way. however. I do affirm that I do believe all that is stated therein. I'm not sure that I can affirm that God deliberately appointed some people to damnation. I trust God, and I definitely do not understand His ways; they are higher than ours, and His thoughts are higher than ours. I'm definitely not a universalist; I don't believe that all will go to Heaven. I believe that those who are in Hell are there because of what THEY did not do: they did not respond to the Holy Spirit's drawing of them, by cords of love, as directed by God, and say YES to Jesus Christ's offer of forgiveness and grace and mercy. I'm not sure I can believe that people are deliberately appointed to be lost. Father God, deal with me as You know I need it. In Jesus' Name. :amen:

Good day, Abimelech

In the link provided by the OP I did not see what you had posted and I bolded.

Peace to u,

Bill

[DeaconDean]

Yes I do!

I believe it 100%.

God Bless

Till all are one.

[Lincoln0010]

I do. It may not seem fair but you have to consider that all of humanity chooses to rebel against God. I believe that God will judge all of us according to our works (I believe there is is a scriptural basis for this) and that if it were not for the works of Jesus Christ, all of us should be worthy of hell.

[jlujan69]

Even if unconditional election were true, that still wouldn't make God unjust. If God chose to elect none, and instead let them perish, then He'd be just in doing so. If He chose to elect some and not others, then He'd be merciful and gracious to some, and just to the rest. I only say this because I've heard my fellow Armininans suggest that if Calvinsts are correct, then God is capricious--or something to that effect.

[Abimelech]

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
According to the definition of a Fundamentalist, as stated in the "sticky" messages, I am a fundamentalist. I don't think of myself that way. however. I do affirm that I do believe all that is stated therein. I'm not sure that I can affirm that God deliberately appointed some people to damnation. I trust God, and I definitely do not understand His ways; they are higher than ours, and His thoughts are higher than ours. I'm definitely not a universalist; I don't believe that all will go to Heaven. I believe that those who are in Hell are there because of what THEY did not do: they did not respond to the Holy Spirit's drawing of them, by cords of love, as directed by God, and say YES to Jesus Christ's offer of forgiveness and grace and mercy. I'm not sure I can believe that people are deliberately appointed to be lost. Father God, deal with me as You know I need it. In Jesus' Name. :amen:
:wave: God is just, and holy, and chooses to show His abundant mercy on us. I'm sorry; I cannot remember the exact verse, but the message on this topic that I heard, centered around the verse that says, "Am I not free to make the vessel as I see fit?" I cannot see God deliberately creating some people doomed to Hell, before they come out of the womb, without any choice in the matter. Even Judas Iscariot could have repented, had he chosen to do so. God knows the end from the beginning, and everything in between. He can do whatever He chooses, and I will still trust Him. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than ours. But Psalm 103 tells us that as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy towards us. In Revelation, chapter 21, most of the tears that God wipes away, may be His own, over the ones who chose to not accept Jesus. Please, I say this in love. I certainly do not want to come across as blasting or flaming my brother or sister! :amen:

[No Swansong]

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
According to the definition of a Fundamentalist, as stated in the "sticky" messages, I am a fundamentalist. I don't think of myself that way. however. I do affirm that I do believe all that is stated therein. I'm not sure that I can affirm that God deliberately appointed some people to damnation. I trust God, and I definitely do not understand His ways; they are higher than ours, and His thoughts are higher than ours. I'm definitely not a universalist; I don't believe that all will go to Heaven. I believe that those who are in Hell are there because of what THEY did not do: they did not respond to the Holy Spirit's drawing of them, by cords of love, as directed by God, and say YES to Jesus Christ's offer of forgiveness and grace and mercy. I'm not sure I can believe that people are deliberately appointed to be lost. Father God, deal with me as You know I need it. In Jesus' Name. :amen:
From reading your response here it seems you believe that you must believe in double predestination to be considered a Fundamentalist on this board. That is not correct. It is not necessary to believe in either single or double predestination to be considered a Fundamentalist on this board. There are both Calvinists and Arminians on the board.

[Abimelech]

From reading your response here it seems you believe that you must believe in double predestination to be considered a Fundamentalist on this board. That is not correct. It is not necessary to believe in either single or double predestination to be considered a Fundamentalist on this board. There are both Calvinists and Arminians on the board.
I'm sorry. You've lost me. What is "single" and "double" predestination?

[No Swansong]

As I understand it, (please my reformed bretheren feel free to correct any error) and this is stated very simply.

Single predestination is the belief that God foreordains only salvation but not reprobation.

Double predestination is the belief that God foreordains both salvation and reprobation.

[jlujan69]

As I understand it, (please my reformed bretheren feel free to correct any error) and this is stated very simply.

Single predestination is the belief that God foreordains only salvation but not reprobation.

Double predestination is the belief that God foreordains both salvation and reprobation.

Yup, that's about the sum of it, although there may be an official theological-ese term for "single predestination".

[Abimelech]

As I understand it, (please my reformed bretheren feel free to correct any error) and this is stated very simply.

Single predestination is the belief that God foreordains only salvation but not reprobation.

Double predestination is the belief that God foreordains both salvation and reprobation.

:wave: Thanks! I trust God. I know that I am saved, and my name is recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life. Glory to God!
Honest question: Can "single" predestination be legitimate? If God foreordained only salvation, and only those foreordained can be saved, then by default those who aren't foreordained to be saved are foreordained to be lost. I'm very willing to receive any private messages, saying, "Hey, booger boy, be careful how you come across!" ^_^ I think Hell is a terrible place, and I wish that NO ONE went there. I love all of you, and I praise God for this site!