Indeed He finished it, highlighting the fact that salvation could not come from men, but by God alone! TR Hi Phil, Thanks for the warning info on John MacArthur. I never heard any of his sermons. Ok … I’m must confess though :bye: I’m “part” Calvin B-) I know I can hear the groans …. But NO WAY am I into any of the tulip stuff :negative: However I do like the daisy flowers :mdrmdr: (It’s an inside joke) I’m a BIG fan of Charles Spurgeon (I have his devotional book and it will make anybody who reads it … cry. So I can see how successful his ministry was back in his day in reaching the lost). :whistle: Calvary Founder, Chuck Smith, Was calvinist … and I heard him say back in the 1990’s “just like man freely choses who they want to marry down here .. God the Father does the same … since he chose me, I think its fair.” - Fair Use - Yes, God wants none to perish and loves everyone and Jesus died for all … whosoever … however, nobody is going to come to Him on their own … unless … the Father draws them. 😉 Ok here goes … in a nut shell … this is what I believe … B-) Chosen, Elected, Ordained, Predestinated, etc. Because we don’t know who is going to be saved so we present the Gospel to everyone we can. Whosoever will. Those who reject the Gospel … then chances are … weren’t chosen and those who accept the Free Gift … were chosen. To promote the proper balance the Bible teaches election according to the sovereign grace of God. Chosen by the Father Purchased by the Son Born of His Spirit I’m His very own Acts 13:48 “And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” 😉 God nowhere tells us why He has chosen some. It is not our prerogative to add words to His. Let us bow to Scripture and cease fighting it. It is forever true of the Christian that “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” II Thess 2:13. God has ordained the end and the means to that end. We are chosen. Chosen by the Father Purchased by the Son Born of His Spirit I’m His very own Election to salvation with the reason not revealed except that it is “according to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph 1:5) In other words, nothing of merit or anything else in us occasioned God’s election. “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation” (2 Thess 2:13) Those who believe in the Bible doctrine of election do not necessarily believe in the idea of election to hell. Others teach that God elected Christ and that all who believe in Him join in that election. It is true that Christ and His own are all joined in one, but the Bible doctrine of election means only what it says … it clearly states that God has ordained and chosen some to salvation. Let God by God. Such is the meaning of the sovereignty of God. God has the right to do as He pleases without being brought into judgment by man. He is the almighty and all-powerful God of eternity. He is greater and wiser by far than any of His creatures. That’s the doctrine of limited atonement, one may cry in protest. No it isn’t. It is just election to salvation, and it does not imply any limitation to the atoning work of Christ. While it is true that quite a few who believe in Biblical election also believe in limited atonement, it is not necessarily true to all who live in election. Let us not assume things that are not so. It seems safe to say that most people who believe in election do not believe in limited atonement. “ … one died for all … II Cor 5:14). Let that stand too. Election to salvation according to foreseen faith. The ones who support this view believe that God, before the foundation of the world, looked down through all future time and saw ahead of time all who would receive Christ as Savior and elected them to salvation because He foresaw that they would believe. The favorite verse of those who believe in election based on foreseen faith is I Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father … “ If the 2nd question is answered first, it doesn’t make much difference how we answer the first one, but we will suggest an answer. What is foreknowledge? Is it simply knowledge ahead of time? Take the word apart. What does it mean to “know”? And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain …”. (Gen 4:1) Of Joseph and Mary it is written “and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn Son (Matt 1:25). Certainly this has deeper meaning than mere knowledge as we use that word. It is an intimate relationship resulting in offspring, or fullness of knowledge which indicates intimacy of relationship. Foreknowledge therefore is the knowing of personal relationship rather than the knowing of facts. Study Acts 2:23 Romans 8:29 and Romans 11:2. Be cautious before you interpret foreknowledge as mere familiarity with facts. The 2nd question is more easily handled. Foreknowledge of what? The question is not answered in the context of I Peter 1:2. There is no mention whatever of foreseen faith. Some suggest that it could be foreknowledge of what God Himself would do rather than what man would do. At any rate, let us not put words in God’s mouth and attribute something to Him that He has not written. For the purpose of clarity, let us use the term “foreseen faith” since the word foreknowledge is an ambiguous word in the theological realm. Terms are unused so loosely. A young man said, I am not in any way an Arminian; I believe in election. I believe that God elected to salvation those whom He foresaw would believe on Christ.” He couldn’t believe that he was practically quoting Jacobus Arminian after whom Arminianism was named. Belief in election does not make one a Calvinist, nor does adherence to the foreseen faith view constitute one an Arminian as such. One may be Calvinistic or Arminian with regard to the teaching of election, but there is much more to both systems than that. A future chapter will deal with that more in depth. Suffice it to say that no verse anywhere in the Bible teaches election according to foreseen faith. Why then the belief? It is the result of an attempt to tie the means to the end. God elected some. Those elected must believe in Christ. Neither fact can be denied, but to tie these 2 together as cause and effect or the means and the end is not for us to do, simply because God has not related them in this way. It is ours to preach faith and teach election as 2 doctrines of the Word of God and leave the reasons with God. The theological implications of this are discussed in a later chapter. Election to a national or group destiny God speaks of Israel and the Church as His elect. Therefore, this view of election is valid. Let it be remembered, however, that election in the New Testament is not limited to national or group destiny. It has to do with personal salvation as well. Election to service “ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain …” (John 15:16). God does ordain some to service. In the case of Jeremiah He said, “before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou calmest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). Likewise it was said of John the Baptist before he was conceived that “he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). This filling was for service. “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God (Luke 1:16). Since God chooses some individuals to serve Him, surely He chooses to saved them first, since His saved ones serve Him. The entire plan is God’s - the salvation, the means of salvation and the service which is the result. Election to sanctification, perfection and good works. For whom he did foreknowledge, he also did predestination to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestination, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Rom 8:29, 30) Foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification , glorification - from beginning to end, including the means —- it is all God’s eternal plan, and in that great 8th chapter of Romans Paul uses the term “God’s elect”. These are good words, great truths, not to be denied but to be embraced by believers, though they be beyond us. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:8-10). One could quibble over the use of the word “election” in reference to good works when the text speaks of “ordained”. The fact stands that God planned to save certain individuals, planned the means of faith, planned that those saved should serve and planned that such should be conformed to the image of Christ and be fruitful in good works. Jesus used the term For the elect’s sake (Matt 24:22) The very elect (Matt 24:24) Gather together his elect (Matt 24:31) Given All that the Father give them me shall come to me; and him that come the to me I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37). Believers are given to Christ by the Father, and such as are given” shall come”. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day (John 6:39) Inability No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44). No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him (John 6:65,66). Who Hears? He that is of God heareth God’s words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God (John 8:47) It does not say, Ye are not of my sheep because ye believe not. Rather it says But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. Again the response was negative and the Jews took up stones again to stone him (vs. 31) Ordained “And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48) Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them (Matt 28:16) For I also am a man set (appointed) under authority, having under me soldiers (Luke 7:8) And there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do (Acts 22:10) The powers that be are ordained of God (Rom 13:1) Thus it can be properly concluded that the word clearly means appointed, ordained and determined. Certain people are ordained, appointed and determined unto eternal life. The Bible says so. Encouragement to evangelism Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city (Acts 18:9, 10) Paul continued in Corinth a year and 6 months teaching the Word of God. God had greatly encouraged him, promising him fruit for his labor. Foreknowledge and predestination And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknowledge, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30) Note the certain phrases: The called according to his purpose” “whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate.” The work is God’s all the way through - “foreknow” “predestinate” “called” “justified” “glorified”. And yet the responsibility is man’s. One does not exclude the other. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? (Rom 8:33) It should be noted that predestination (vs 29) is predetermination to conformity to Christ. No effort is made here to stretch the word beyond its intended meaning. God is sovereign Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. God calls but man must also call. Romans 9 thru 11 is the election of the nation of Israel Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (9:13) I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willets, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheath mercy (9:15, 16) Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth (9:18) Inability “… Neither can he know them …” I Cor 2:14) Natural man, apart from God, is unable to comprehend spiritual truth. He is dead (Eph 2:1). It is necessary for the Holy Spirit of God to reprove (convince and convict) him (John 16:7-11). Chosen, elected According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of child by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will (Eph 1:4-5) God addresses us as “the elect of God (Col 3:12) “knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God ( I Thess 1:4). By now it ought to be clearly recognized that God uses language which men avoid. “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation thru sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess 2:13, 14) Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim 1:9) For the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (2 Tim 2:10) According to the faith of God’s elect … (Titus 1:1) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, thru sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ … (I Peter 1:2) According to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (I Peter 1:3) This matter of salvation is a matter of begetting. In natural physical life the parent begets children; he chooses to have children, follows normal methods and means, and children are born. In the spiritual realm it is much the same. God decides to have spiritual children and chooses from among the sons of men certain individuals and saves them. That is election. It is a mystery, but a fact to be believed. It is readily acknowledged that in the spiritual birth the one born makes a choice. He exercises faith, whereas he did nothing in the process of natural birth. Yes, there is a difference between natural birth and spiritual birth, but one truth remains: the choice of the parent plays a part. Physical parents make a choice in the natural birth; God makes a choice in the spiritual birth. We are “begotten”. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you … ( I Peter 5:13) Selection! why? That is God’s business. Yet it is reveled in the Scriptures that God will do it that way, and we are to learn something about God’s sovereignty by reading it. Dare we omit such doctrines when God teaches them? Surely “all scripture .. is profitable … (2 Timothy 3:16) Let us ever give it its proper place. If a person is saved, he was elected and no reason for that election is revealed to us. We can only bow before God and accept His unsearchable judgments with thanksgiving. Any blame must be laid upon man and the devil. All praise is to be given to our sovereign, holy, loving God. Election in Hymnology Elect from ev’ry nation, One old hymn writer confessed his own depravity Tis not that I did choose Thee, Jesus Sought me when a stranger It is great to sing, “I believe” but let’s not omit the grace of God O the love that sought me! Faith admits a mystery I know not why God’s wondrous grace I know not how this saving faith I know not how the Spirit moves John Newton knew the grace of God that rescued him from debauchery ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear Until He makes it plain, mortal man does not do well to explain why God in grace “ordained to eternal life” some of mankind. Nor dare we charge Him with unfairness even though we make such a charge indirectly by thus charging those servants of Christ who preach the doctrine of election. Let it be our joy to know the truth, to understand what is revealed, to wonder at the mystery and even to sing of God’s electing grace. God chose the Jews to be His people God chose Noah to build the ark God chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and bring to the promise land God Jacob over Esau God chose David (the shepherd) over his older brothers to be King of Israel God chose Mary for the virgin birth God chooses and will seal the 144,000 God chooses those who will be saved My thoughts are … Now some people are given more opportunities to accept the Free gift and others only get 1 chance. My thoughts on this are perhaps saved loved ones are praying for their lost loved ones and friends and the Lord is answering those prayers with given more opportunities to hear? If you seek me with your whole heart you will find me. But the average lost person isn’t seeking God. However, if they do … the Lord promises to reveal Himself and save them. I recall this one testimony of this man who lived on a remote island in the jungle … and he said God if you’re out there, please reveal yourself to me. Then not to long after praying that … he saw a glass bottle wash ashore … he removed the cork and inside were the Scripture passages and how to get saved! And he read them and got saved! ———— The book I quoted from is 171 pages … it was written by one of my former pastor’s. He said the book was compiled and written over a 7 year period. He said there are 2 things man will never understand this side of heaven; how God could elect to save some sinners and not others and how He could make man responsible for his faith or unbelief. Our minds are too small and too perverted by sin. Our knowledge is so limited, not only because God has revealed only a limited amount of truth, but also because we have not availed ourselves of all that has been revealed. We are prejudiced in favor of ourselves as men. We are prone to pattern God after ourselves. We create God in our image and likeness. God rebukes our thoughts as He says “… Thou though test that I was altogether such as one as thyself …” (Psalm 50:21). For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8,9) No matter how we try, how can we as mortal, finite, sinful men ever comprehend the marvelous love of God and at the same time understand His justice and vengeance? The secret things belong unto the LORD our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deut 29:29). Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonor? (Romans 9:18-21) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33) ————————- His testimony I refused to read books on the subject. I stuck to my Bible. Then one day a verse leaped from the page and confronted me: “and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed”. Acts 13:48. God’s plan must be acknowledged. He didn’t say “as many as believed were ordained” as men might have said it. God said “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” People often explain away or make corrections … we need to let it stand as it is. It present most clearly the plan of God and encourages us to teach, witness and preach because God has a plan and is carrying it out through our teaching, witnessing and preaching. - Fair Use - Thanks for sharing! This dovetails nicely when I have said that the "church" as well as individuals take too much credit for their service before the Lord! Aptly pointing out that no evangelistic formula or the sinners prayer or any human effort can save anyone! Only God saves! Therefore rewards for a "soul winner" or any other office of the church simply speaks to our obedience to the spirits leading! Then it is also mentioned that evangelism accommodates escape from Hell for some! Escaping Hell in light of all the language and doctrine presented here is then somewhat confusing!? What is given to men by way of gifts and calling speaks to God's methodology of saving souls as well as a platform for future individual rewards! Indeed, God chooses, then we acknowledge that choosing or not! Not that we have of ourselves chosen Him! Also reiterating the truth that doctrine or theology does'nt save as well! I will call on Him, bless His holy name, and work to become a vessel unto honoring God! Otherwise leaving all to God! For my understanding fails me greatly! Even with rightly dividing God's word and the situational parcing and application of God's word in a timely fashion, God's will is above mine! Who can know it?! TR Hi Geri, Good to hear from you. In the past, I have been told I was or accused of being a Calvinist by a couple of people who seem to think a Calvinist is just anyone who believes in once saved always saved as I do. This is wrong. My beliefs on election predestination are first that God wants everyone to come to faith and salvation and none to perish. But God also foreknew from the beginning who all would come to faith, so he predestined those to be saved. The Holy Spirit acts in bringing a person to faith, but the person still has a choice, in other words it's not irresistible by the person. Christ still died for every person even though every person will not accept His gift of salvation by faith. Something I keep in mind about Calvinism and Reformed doctrines, creeds, confessions, are all man-made doctrines. If they conform to the doctrines of scripture that's the final test. But I don't believe in just relying on some churches doctrines; I believer in being the Berean and checking these doctrines with what the Bible says, which is the final authority. As the lyrics of the old hymn goes: "My faith has found a resting place not in devise or creed, it's in the every living One...." Those may not be the exact lyrics, but I think my point gets across. MacArthur has as a number of disciples and fans spewing his false gospel of working your way to Heaven on his impossible treadmill of keeping the commandments and good works. There people are too numerous to list. You can find whole lists of them online and their false teachings. I have run across a few people who left MacArthur's church and read their sad stories of how they were so mislead into doubting their salvation by his preaching and books. Fortunately, they found the free gift of salvation by faith in Christ that they can never loose. Keep looking up, Phil Got Questions. org are Calvinist so I find them to be a bit biased when answering questions like this. I find them to be a valuable and reliable source for many things but they do have a few blind spots. Here is a website that I quite enjoy. I tend to lean towards the Free Grace side of things. Perhaps they are a little biased too but here is their ideas on Lordship Salvation: https://expreacherman.com/2018/01/14/is-lordship-salvation-a-false-gospel-of-works-no-question/ I am personally a zero point Calvinist. 😉 Well, at least the T.U.L.I.P. anyway and the way Calvinists define it. I take particular issue with the L and the P. Perseverance of the saints is a works doctrine that keep you on a works treadmill and sows fear and doubt. Preservation of the Saints is the Biblical doctrine. I also believe that predestination and free will are both correct and they can freely coexist together. Why? Because God is outside of time and He doesn't need things sequentially ordered like we do. Well — I will say that I feel like I am repeating myself — NOTHING we can do matches up to God’s holiness, righteousness, and perfection …. He is creator, he is sovereign … I understand this is a hard concept for our finite brains but God does not need us, nor is His existence dependent on our worship of Him. He is God, God alone Isaiah 44:6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” the book of Isaiah is full of these such verses for the almighty I AM. 1 Corinthians 8:6 “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” Isaiah 64:6 “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” Truth - God knows the beginning from the end - yet we believe that we can figure it all out (as created beings, we are rather arrogant). Does God know who will accept Him and reject him, certainly, it would be foolish to believe that He just put it all out there and said run with it, if you can …. Do we know, absolutely not … He gave us a command — Go! Preach/tell! — the rest is up to Him. Isaiah 46:10 “declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’”. Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” I agree with Phil — I will just continue to study the Word as it is given and believe that what my Father, Creator, King, Savior, GOD said and did are truth … man will always twist it to fit what man needs it to fit … I have seen too many change scripture to match culture instead of keeping scripture the main things and allowing it to live in us …. Abide in me and my Words abide in you — John 15 is a great chapter to commit to your heart, very refreshing in these times. My two cents or maybe it is a nickel now with prices rising :mdrmdr: :prayer-hands: Well said, Tammie! First off, I am neither a Calvinist nor Arminian: I am a Biblicist. I think some Calvinists make the Christian faith into like some sort of intellectual exercise or shell game instead of projecting the love of God that scripture reveals. I made the mistake of being on one of their Calvinist forums years ago and there was almost no love or caring shown. All they seem to want is to put down any beliefs that didn't conform to their TULIP Reform creeds and confessions. They didn't seem to care about reaching out with the gospel message to the world because they thought that it had already been divinely foreordained who was saved and who was not. They twist scripture around to fit their creeds and doctrines. I think their site was called "5 Solas.org" or something like that. John Calvin's real hero was Augustine who was the big promoter in the RCC doctrine. Calvin got a lot of his influence from Augustine of Hippo. And this was his inspiration for his TULIP doctrine. All of the 5 TULIP points are false, and particularly the last one "P" perseverance of the saints. What this does is say the saints must follow through with good works or they are not really saved. This is the false doctrine of faith plus works in order to be saved. Loadship Salvation Calvinists would have you looking in the mirror at your conduct instead of looking to the Lord; they are fruit inspectors. I quit a grace believing Bible church in the 1990's because it had become infiltrated with Lordship Salvation Calvinists who promoted books and false teachings of John MacArthur and RC Sproul. Today I attend a small Bible church that is teaches grace alone. Hopefully, they won't become infected with LS Calvinist teachings. Phil 1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. I have listened to John Mc Arthur for years and believe he is serving the Lord in his ministry. God bless this place :rose: Those verses from 1 Corinthians 3 are talking about the Bema Seat judgement of Christ where we will be given rewards for our faithful service. They are not connected to our salvation. Verse 15 delineates this by saying 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The Great Commission …
God’s plan must be acknowledged. He didn’t say, “as many as believed were ordained.” As men might have said it. God said, “As many as were ordained to eternal life believed”.
2 questions must be asked (1) what is foreknowledge? (2) Foreknowledge of what?
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (John 10:26-28).
Note the order. It does not say that they were ordained because they believed. Ordained is the Greek word tatagmenoi means to “appoint, arrange, order, ordain or decree”.
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed 12 thousand …. (Rev 7:4, 5)
Yet one o’er all the earth
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth
One holy name she blesses
Partakes one holy food
And to one hope she presses
With ev’ry grace endued
For, Lord, that could not be,
This heart would still refuse Thee,
Hadst thou not chosen me.
Wand’ring from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood.
O the blood that bought me!
O the grace that brought me to the fold
Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold
To me He hath made known
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own
To me He did impart
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart
Convincing men of sin
Revealing Jesus thru the Word
creating faith in Him
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
We are given the great commission to witness to everyone … we don’t know who is chosen until we see their responses … if they accept the Gospel message then they were chosen.
Like many others, I fought the doctrine of election lest it destroy my zeal. But it is not a deadening doctrine. No Bible doctrine is that. However, if it is carried to a wrong extreme and given a place of too much prominence to the exclusion of responsibility, love, compassion and zeal, it can deaden.
