We choose. We chose. You choose. You chose. You will choose.

The Rogue Tomato

Well-known member
Find those in the Bible somewhere. I checked 3 translations (NIV, NKJV, ESV) and those phrases are nowhere to be found with respect to election or salvation.

On the other hand, "The Lord chose", "The Lord will choose", "God chose", "God will choose" shows up with respect to election and salvation in many places. The closest I could find was "choose this day" which implies "you". But the choice was between God and other gods.
 
Find those in the Bible somewhere. I checked 3 translations (NIV, NKJV, ESV) and those phrases are nowhere to be found with respect to election or salvation.

On the other hand, "The Lord chose", "The Lord will choose", "God chose", "God will choose" shows up with respect to election and salvation in many places. The closest I could find was "choose this day" which implies "you". But the choice was between God and other gods.

Act 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
Act 17:27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
 
What about God choosing Himself?

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Christ is the "Chosen/Elect" of God.
 
Find those in the Bible somewhere. I checked 3 translations (NIV, NKJV, ESV) and those phrases are nowhere to be found with respect to election or salvation....
Deut 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
 
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better.” (Luke 10:41–42)
Did unregenerate Mary really make a choice ? wink wink
 
Deut 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Maybe choosing there doesn't really mean choosing. another wink wink :)
 

We Choose God​

Well, sort of. Scripture makes it clear that God chooses us for salvation. And scripture makes it clear that we choose God. It’s not either/or, it’s both. John 1:12-13 is a perfect example of this.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Who received the right to become children of God? It was those who believed in Jesus. Those who made a real choice to put their faith in Jesus Christ. This isn’t a trick verse. Those who believed in Jesus made a real choice to really believe in Jesus as the Son of God. I'm sure Mary did this before and after the resurrection.

So do we choose God? No doubt about it.

The Blazing Center
 
Maybe choosing there doesn't really mean choosing. another wink wink :)
Or, they did not really choose to 'Save themselves'
Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Acst 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
 
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Whoever believes in him sounds like a choice (Personal decision) to me.
 
Did unregenerate Mary really make a choice ? wink wink

No matter how we look at the Scriptures, it is clear that salvation is first and foremost, an act of God. We can not save ourselves. As such, this is why the word "ἐκλέγομαι" often chosen to relate the distinct character and nature of God chooses.

It is impossible for us to have initially chosen salvation for ourselves. This in no way preclude the very real fact that we have choice whether to accept God's work in Christ or deny it.

Which why I often point to God's choice in Himself through Jesus Christ. That is the choice that relates the character of Election.

Everyone of us receive our identities from Jesus Christ. Not in ourselves.
 
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Whoever believes in him sounds like a choice (Personal decision) to me.

I could come up with lots of false doctrines according to what some scripture sounds like. It's not a matter of what scripture sounds like, but what it actually says.

Having said that, I am very entertained by all the attempts to find those phrases in the Bible without actually finding those phrases. Keep it up!
 
no God doesn't say He does that to everyone, He specifically said the king/ruler in the passage.
Mwaahhh haa haa ... you stepped right into my trap! ;)

  • [Acts 2:37 NASB] Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what are we to do?"
  • [Acts 16:14 NASB] A woman named Lydia was listening; she was a seller of purple fabrics from the city of Thyatira, and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
  • [Ezekiel 36:26-27 NASB] "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 "And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and follow My ordinances.
  • [Philippians 2:13 NASB] for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for [His] good pleasure.
 
No matter how we look at the Scriptures, it is clear that salvation is first and foremost, an act of God. We can not save ourselves. As such, this is why the word "ἐκλέγομαι" often chosen to relate the distinct character and nature of God chooses.

It is impossible for us to have initially chosen salvation for ourselves. This in no way preclude the very real fact that we have choice whether to accept God's work in Christ or deny it.

Which why I often point to God's choice in Himself through Jesus Christ. That is the choice that relates the character of Election.

Everyone of us receive our identities from Jesus Christ. Not in ourselves.
Yes its synergistic :)
 
I could come up with lots of false doctrines according to what some scripture sounds like. It's not a matter of what scripture sounds like, but what it actually says.

Having said that, I am very entertained by all the attempts to find those phrases in the Bible without actually finding those phrases. Keep it up!

I often ask Calvinists to show me where they were chosen. There is a reason salvation is mentioned in the manner it is. It doesn't require your particular perspective to establish a proper view of Election. There would be no salvation without God's choices. Which is why Jesus said, You haven't chosen me. I have chosen you. This statement did not preclude them from chose themselves. In fact, Peter chose to abandon Christ. Christ let him walk away. He didn't even go personally to talk to Peter. He first sent another.

Election is about rank. God first chose Jesus Christ. Those unnamed individuals that obtain salvation wouldn't be there without God's choice alone.
 
Back
Top Bottom