NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES DEALING WITH ELECTION

The following passages deal with the doctrine of election. Each should be studied in context, and compared to other passages.

 
MAT 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

MAT 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

MAT 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.


MAR 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

MAR 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
MAR 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

LUK 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

ACT 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

ROM 8:29 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.

ROM 8:30 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.

ROM 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

ROM 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

ROM 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

ROM 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

ROM 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
ROM 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

EPH 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,


EPH 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

COL 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

1TH 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

1TI 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

2TI 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
TIT 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

1PE 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1PE 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

1PE 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

2PE 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

2JO 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

2JO 1:13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
 
After reviewing the above verses, there can be no doubt that the Church should have a doctrine of election. What direction this doctrine should take is the only question. Should it be Calvinistic or Foreseen Faith in nature? These verses alone do not answer this question. In dept study is needed of many verses.




ROMANS 8:29-30:
Verse 29 is very clear. God foreknew that some would be saved, and that some would be unsaved. Those that He foreknew He predetermined that they would become the image of Jesus Christ. Verse 30 is not quite as clear. It says that those who He predetermined would become the image of Jesus, He called, He justified, and He glorified. He predetermined not that they would be saved, He foreknew that. A proper interpretation of these verses would be that who God knew would be saved, He determined that they would become the image of God. Because of that knowledge, He called them to salvation. It is not salvation that is predetermined, but the life the Christian is to live. This theory brings Ephesians 2:10 to life. EPH 2:8-10: 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. God has predestined all who accept Him to be recreated in Jesus Christ. He also knew before, all who would accept Him. This does not limit the offer of salvation to those He foreknew.

EPHESIANS 1:4-5 & 11:
The fourth verse is the only verse in the Bible that cannot be reconciled with the Foreseen Faith theory or can it? In light of other passages (1 Peter 1:19-21), the claim could be made that salvation, and not the people, was predetermined. This is true if you place the emphasis on "in Him." If these verses are kept in context, the claim is supported. Paul is speaking of the plan of salvation. The emphasis is placed not on man and his predestination, but on Jesus as God's eternal plan. There is no question that God planned salvation before the world began. The question is, did God predetermine who would be saved?

1 PETER 1:2:
This strongly supports the Foreseen Faith theory. It says one is elect because of the foreknowledge of God. In opposition to this, 2 Timothy 2:10 could be quoted. The Calvinist will claim that Paul is enduring for those that are already elect, therefore, God has predetermined they will be saved. The Foreseen Faith theorist does not have a problem with this verse. The response is simply that God knows they will be saved, and there is no problem calling them elect before their acceptance. Foreknowledge is not predestination. Paul's point is that he is willing to endure all things that those who will, might be saved.


VERSES THAT INFLUENCE THE DEBATE, BUT DO NOT DIRECTLY TEACH IT

ACT 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
ROM 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

These verses tell us that God does not think more highly of one person than He does another. If the Calvinistic view of election were true, God would be choosing one person over another. He would be a respecter of persons.

1TI 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
 
This verse does away with Calvin's belief that God chose some to be saved and some to be lost. If God was choosing, He would have all men saved, for that is His will.

ISA 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

ISA 55:6-7 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

These Old Testament verses indicate that whosoever comes to God will be forgiven and find salvation. It is not limited to just those the Lord selected, but any who would.


EZE 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

This verse speaks for itself. God does not have pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. Obviously God desires the wicked to turn to Him and live.

JON 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.

Whosoever indicates that anyone can be saved, if they choose to follow God.

2PE 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God is not willing that any should perish. If the Calvinistic theory is correct, one must say that all will be saved, for it is God's will. It is a fact that some will die and go to hell, even though it is not God's will. He is giving the lost time to come to Him, for the choice is their's, not His.