On a forum, if the topic of discussion is theology....then "you know them by their teaching", regarding how they explain : Salvation.
Can you have God's Salvation, and absolutely not understand it, and if you try to explain it, all you can talk about is confessing sin, and trying to "do righteousness" and keep yourself saved, by keeping commandments and doing works?
A.) Probably not.
B.) Maybe not???
Rev 13:8 and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone
whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.
Yea.... before you were born!
NASB Eph 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance,
having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
Net Eph 1:11 In Christ28 we too have been claimed as God's own possession,
29 since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will
29 tn Grk "we were appointed by lot." The notion of the verb κληρόω (klēroō) in the OT was to
"appoint a portion by lot" (the more frequent cognate verb κληρονομέω [klēronomeō] meant "obtain a portion by lot"). In the passive, as here, the idea is that "we were appointed [as a portion] by lot" (BDAG 548 s.v. κληρόω 1). The words "God's own" have been supplied in the translation to clarify this sense of the verb. An alternative interpretation is that believers receive a portion as an inheritance: "In Christ we too have been appointed a portion of the inheritance." See H. W. Hoehner,
Ephesians, 226-27, for discussion on this interpretive issue.
sn God's own possession. Although God is not mentioned explicitly in the Greek text,
it is clear from the context that he has chosen believers for himself. Just as with the nation Israel,
the church is God's chosen portion or possession (cf.
Deu_32:8-9).
NASB Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those
who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those
whom He foreknew,
He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom
He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God
is for us, who
is against us?
CEV Rom 8:28 We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.
They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, 29 and
he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children. 30
God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them. 31 What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us?
NASB Joh 6:65 And He was saying,
"For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father."
CEV Joh 6:65 Then Jesus said,
"You cannot come to me, unless the Father makes you want to come. That is why I have told these things to all of you."
NASB Act 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
ESV Rom 9:15 For he says to Moses, "
I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and
I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 So then
he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then,
"Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-- 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'"
NASB Act 2:39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off,
as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."
CEV Act 2:39 This promise is for you and your children.
It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live."
NASB Mar 4:11 And he said to them,
"To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven."
Let's end with the Contemporary English Version bible....
CEV Act 13:48 This message made the Gentiles glad, and they praised what they had heard about the Lord.
Everyone who had been chosen for eternal life then put their faith in the Lord.
Are you one of the Chosen, the Elect? as you already said... A.) Probably not.
Mat 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mar 13:22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive,
if possible, the elect.
Mar 13:27 Then he will send angels and
they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but
the elect obtained it. The rest were hardened,
Well... each in his/her own order... But God's will.... Will be done!
Rom 11:32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
1Jo 2:2 and He Himself is the
propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only,
but also for those of the whole world.
Job 42:2 "I know that you can do all things, and
that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Isa 46:9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 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,'
1Ti 2:3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 4
since he (GOD) wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God,
who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things.
1Co 15:22 For just as in Adam all die, so also
in Christ all will be made alive. 23
But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power.
Election... it's all of the above in the given time!
