Election and Free Will in the relationship to Salvation
From the Merriam-Webster english dictionary ,
we see that Salvation is "the saving of a person, from something". Sin or peril.
Main Entry: sal�va�tion
Pronunciation: sal-'vA-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin
salvation-, salvatio, from salvare to save -- more at
SAVE
Date: 13th century
1 a : deliverance from the power and effects of sin
b : the agent or means that effects salvation
2 : liberation from ignorance or illusion
3 a : preservation from destruction or failure
b : deliverance from danger or difficulty
- sal�va�tion�al /-shn&l, -sh&-n&l/ adjective
Synonyms include preservation and conservation.
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The way I see it:
Salvation comes to you in harmony of
a human agency presenting the scripture
through the working of the Holy Spirit with your spirit.
The point in time is of debate, free will, predestination.
This document should demonstrate both are active.
But at that point, God makes us alive in Christ when we were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1).
He gives us faith as a gift (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
And by this new faith a transaction occurs. Righteousness is credited to our account. Jesus said it on the cross: paid in full.
We are then immersed into God. And thus begins our sanctification process. The Life in Christ.
The Bible uses the words for salvation:
- in the Hebrew : Yeshuwa deliverer (Not surprisingly, this is the Hebrew name of Jesus).
- in the Greek two words are primarily used:
- Soteria is deliverer
- and Soterion is defender.
So obviously, salvation is from God and God alone. This leads us to ask, "How is salvation acquired"?
This is where the debate begins,
whether our believing is the work of God through the Holy Spirit. Or does man choose to believe?
These seem to be essentially two polar positions and the discussions have been vigorous for literally centuries.
Both sides of the debate have their verses to support their position, and
as each position is supportable by scripture, scripture itself testifies to it's own authenticity.
II Timothy 3:15-16
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
From Strongs "to make"
4679 sophizo {sof-id'-zo}
from 4680 ; TDNT - 7:527,1056; v
AV - make wise 1, cunningly devised 1; 2
1) to make wise, teach
2) to become wise, to have understanding
2a) to invent, play the sophist
2b) to devise cleverly or cunningly
So then as I will document, God's word tells us that both positions are extant.
That a third answer to the question of free will or sovereignty of God should be considered.
Or rather that free will and the sovereignty of God are as two tracks of a train.
This seems at first glance to be a contradiction until the fore knowledge of God is considered. In the Webster definition, the fore knowledge is key. And I agree.
Romans 8:29-32 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.
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.
What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
What is born again then:
John 3:3
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again[1]. "
"[1] Or born from above; also in verse 7"
Do we choose to be born? Flesh gives birth to flesh but the spirit gives birth to the spirit.
In the following verses on the free will side of the ledger, you will see the word "believe".
This calls for the distinction James gives us.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
So there is more to salvation than the intellectual ascent of "there is a god". Consider the words - Belief, Faith, and Obedience.
You must follow Jesus's word, everyone could believe in him but must believe that he loves and cares for you. He died so I may live in him. (that is faith)
Now for the two tracks:
Free Will
- Matthew 18:14
In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
- Matthew 23: 37
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
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John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
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Acts 16:29-31 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
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Revelation 17
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty,
let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
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Election
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John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
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John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound,
but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
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Romans 8:28-39 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew
he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called,
he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also,
along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against
those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?
Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand
of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[Psalm 44:22]
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from
the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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- Exodus 10:3-4
And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews,
How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:
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I Samuel 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
- Mark 8:16-18 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet,
neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
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Exodus 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt,
see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand:
but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
- Exodus 7:3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
- Exodus 10:1
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart,
and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:
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John 12:36-41
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.
These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake,
Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes,
nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
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Romans 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness
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Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
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1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
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- Joshua 24:15
And if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your
fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but
as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
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Hebrews 4:5-12
And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said,
Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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- Ephesians 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love: Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will,
- Ephesians 2:1-10
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
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.
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Titus 3:3-7 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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Distractions
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II Corinthians 4:3-4
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
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Luke 8:5-15
A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
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Romans 8:5-8
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature
desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what
the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the
Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God.
It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
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