Subject: What does Bible teach on election? |
Bible Note: Second Peter 3:9 must be put in its context to see who the "none" is. In this chapter, Peter is addressing those who are asking why Christ has not returned yet, why the resurrection of all men has not occurred (v. 4). The apostle contends that God's timetable is not our own (v. 8), and then says that he is holding back the end because he "is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." Who is the "you" being referred to here? If we look at the first verse of the chapter, we see that Peter is addressing believers. If The addressees are already saved, why is God being patient toward them? The answer is that in addressing the entire church, Peter proclaims that God is not willing that any of the elect should perish, but come to repentence. It does not make sense in the context to think that "all" means "all men," rather than "all of you" (i.e. the elect). Why would God be holding back the end for almost 2,000 years so far, waiting for everyone to come to reprentance? Both of us will agree that universalism is not a Biblical dosctrine. People going to Hell is just. If I were not among the elect, I would merely be getting what I deserve in facing eternal wrath from an infinitely holy God. The fact that I am saved is thanks to God's mercy and his grace. I think that all who understand the depth of our sinful rebellion against God (Romans 3:10-18) would agree that we do not deserve salvation. None of us are "entitled" to it. The fact that God shows mercy to some and not others is clearly expressed in Romans 9. The "all men" in 1 Timothy 2:4 means "all kinds of men," unless in verses 1 and 2 "all men" and "kings and those in authority" are two different groups as well. The fact is that Ephesians 1 points out that those who are (or will be) believers have been predestined before the world began, based not on God's foreknowledge of our choices, but rather according to his own will (1:5,9,11). In John 6:37,38 Jesus himself unequivocally says that those that the Father GIVES to Christ will come to Him. He says the same thing in John 10:25-29. God is not unjust for allowing some to go to Hell while he rescues those he will. If God were acting solely on the basis of justice we would ALL go to Hell and Christ would never have come. On the other hand, if he is required to show mercy to all, then it becomes something we each are entitled to, which is the exact opposite of what mercy is. While the issue of free will is not a salvific one, it certainly is important to gain a deeper understanding of who God is and our purpose in evangelism. If you can interpret Romans 9 in an Arminian light, I would be happy to discuss it with you, revbob. It just seems that the passage is undeniably Calvinist in its approach to salvation. --Joe! |