A KEY VERSE
Arminians amd Semi-Arminians use the following Scripture and base their main argument against the Augustinian view of Election today known as "Calvinism".
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29
The verse above is one of the main verses, if not the main verse, upon which they base their teaching.
THEY USE THE TERM "FOREKNOWLEDGE" TO DENY ELECTION
Arminians teach that G-ds' Foreknowledge gave Him the knowledge of who would later "choose" Yeshua (Jesus) and therefore definie Election and what Election means by Foreknowledge, not an Act of His Sovereign Decree of Electing or Choosing one and not Choosing another before they were born.
HERE IS HOW ARMINIANS TWIST THIS VERSE
For whom He did Foreknow, them did He also Predestinate...
The verse clearly is speaking of specific persons whom G-d knew before they existed. Those, He Specifically and Absolutely Predestined. The ones that He knew beforehand (called the Remnant, or the Elect) are the very same ones that He Predestined to be Saved, and no others.
What happens to every single one of those whom He both Foreknew and Predestined? Scripture is clear here also: all that were Foreknown and Predestined are most definitrly:
...to be conformed to the image of His Son,
The very verse that Arminians try to use to attempt to overthrow G-ds Sovereign Choice says precisely the opposite thing!
Now we have also heard deliberate distortions of this verse by some. Some Arminians rattling off this verse will misquote it as "that they might be" "conformed to the image of His dear Son" as if all were Predestinated and "maybe" some "will choose" and some won't to be conformed to His image?
This is deliberate trickery on their part again. The words "might be" or "may be" do not appear at all in the Original Greek Text of the New Testament with reference to anyone else here except Jesus Christ. There are two classes of people here. The Elect and Jesus Christ. Here is the actual verse in Greek:
For (hoti) whom (hos) He did foreknow (proginosko) He (proorizo) also (kai) did predestinate (proorizo) [to be] conformed (summorphos) to the image (eikon) of His (autos) Son (huios), that (eis) He (autos) might be (einai) the firstborn (prototokos) among
Note again that "might be" does appear, but it is used only with regard to Jesus Christ Who is "The Firstborn of many brethren".
In some other Versions, notably the NIV and the NASB both complicate the verse by changing "be conformed" to "become conformed" perhaps suggesting some possible action on mans' part.
Here is the Basic English Bible that takes the "big words" out (some Capitals added):
Because those of whom He had knowledge before they came into existence, were marked out by Him to be made like His Son, so that He might be the first among a band of brothers: Romans 8:29
To Semi-Arminians, no such Act of Divine Choosing one specfic class of persons called The Elect ever took place. Instead they say all were Chosen but Foreknowledge knows who will finally "choose" to be Saved. His Foreknowledge is not related to His Foreordination of these events. Scripture says "His Works were Finished from the Foundation of the world". That means ALL His Works with regard to Salvation as well. Scripture calls the Creation of the world "Finger Work" for G-d but our Salvation "Arm Work". It is already DONE.
For we which have believed do enter into Rest, as He Said, As I have Sworn in My Wrath, if they shall enter into My Rest: although the Works were Finished from the Foundation of the world. Hebrews 4:3
HIS WRATH BURNS AGAINST ANY THAT DENY HIS FINISHED WORKS AND THEY SHALL NOT ENTER HIS REST
They reject the Scripture about His Works and the teaching of Augustine and the early Church, and therefore Luther and Calvin of the Protestant Reformation who rediscovered Augustines' teaching on this subject.
Election, according to Arminians, is merely based on G-ds' Foreknowledge of who would or would not later "choose" Yeshua (Jesus)[1] and therefore be Saved, not on His Specific Sovereign Choosing of the Elect in Moshiach (Messiah) "from before the foundation of the world", Ephesians 1:4-11 but that He simply "Foreknew" who would later "choose" Him.
Arminians use selected verses to establish their argument. They do not see "the big picture" because they leave other Scriptures out that more fully explain how G-d Works. They apply more strength to some selected verses and less strength to others, or leave out others entirely.
THEY DIVIDE SOME OF G-DS' WORKS FROM OTHERS
This is the most glaring error of the Arminians. They subtly divide His Foreknowledge from His Foreordination. The two are Absolutely inseparable, but they take the liberty of dividing them, simply to make their doctrine work.
They cannot admit that G-d has Foreordained all events, because then all their arguments would be demolished. They therefore must exclude Foreordination and give it another meaning. They also give another meaning to G-ds' Decrees specifically with regard to mans' Salvation. If G-d has already Pre-Ordained and Decreed: therefore DECIDED who would or would not be Saved, it is not "mans' choice" but was His.
So they take care to separate His Pre-Ordaining from His Election as Absolutes. They say the two things are only related in terms of Foreknowledge.
This makes unregenerate man an arbitrary agent. His own "absolute". This is Humanism, the lie that satan promised Eve in the Garden, "ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil". Unregenerate man still has retained some "power" to "contribute" something "good" to secure his own Salvation. Man is not toally lost and dead in sins, but still has some "divine spark" (call it what you will), in himself after the Fall (making satans' promise to Eve true) and by that "spark of good" "elects" himself to be Saved.
OTHER VERSES THAT OVERTHROW ARMINIANISM
If thou be Righteous, what givest thou Him? or what receiveth He at thy hand? Job 35:7
Who hath prevented[2] Me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole Heaven is Mine. Job 41:11
"Who has taught me to accomplish my work?" Geneva Bible. Note on Job 41:11. 1599 Edition.
For it is G-d that Works in you both to will and to do of [His] Good Pleasure. Phillipians 2:13
Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He Hath Purposed in Himself: Ephesians 1:9
BIG "PROBLEM VERSE" FOR ARMINIANS
Or who has first given to Him and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For Of Him[3], and Through Him, and To Him, are All Things: To Him Be Glory Forever. Amen. Romans 11:35,36
"This saying overthrows the doctrine of Foreseen works and merits. That is, for G-d, To Whose Glory All Things Are Ascribed, not only Things that Were Made, but Especially His New Works which He Works In His Elect." Geneva Bible. Noted on Romans 11. 1599 Edition.
Here is MORE on Election.
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FOOTNOTES
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