Unconditional Election

Calvinism consists of theological doctrines which use words found in the Bible. However, Calvinism consistently redefines those words, takes them out of context, applies the doctrines inappropriately, exaggerates the meaning of the words to the extreme, or in some other way distorts the Word of God to match the theology written by John Calvin in his book, Institutes of the Christian Religion. The following is a typical definition of Unconditional Election, the Second Point of Calvinism, written by one of the popular Calvinist authors.

Unconditional Election

"God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation."

We will show in our continuing comparison of the errors of Calvinism with the truth of the Bible that the definition of election in Calvinism is not the definition used in the Bible. No place in Scripture is there any indication that any particular individual is elected to salvation. Just the opposite is shown. No one is guaranteed salvation apart from his own belief in the redemption provided by Jesus Christ.

Theological Seminaries Are Centers for Higher Brainwashing.

John Calvin falsely taught that God "elects" some people from eternity past to be saved while damning all of the others to an eternal Hell with no hope of being saved. This false doctrine is directly opposite to the Bible which teaches that God is "not willing that any should perish." If salvation were entirely dependent on the sovereign God as taught by John Calvin then certainly none would perish, but salvation is dependent upon the free will of people to believe the true gospel by faith.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The correct understanding of the terms "elect," "election" or "chosen" begins in the Old Testament where we find that God has elected Israel to be His special people. The individual is part of the corporate elect but is not individually elected to salvation or any special relationship to God.

God Urges the Unbeliever to Believe

Hundreds of times in the Holy Bible God urges the unbeliever to believe. Jesus told the woman with a health problem, "Your faith hath made you whole." She had faith of her own free will while others doubted. The examples are hundreds. Simply search the word "believe" in your Bible software or on the Internet. John Calvin taught that faith was forced upon the unbeliever by God because Calvin falsely taught that the unbeliever was "totally depraved." God and Jesus criticized people for their unbelief. Certainly God and Jesus would not have criticized people if they were not personally responsible for their unbelief.

Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

Calvinists rant and rave at people for rejecting the false doctrines of John Calvin and then proceed to claim faith is only by God's "election." Calvinists should blame God for the unbeliever if the Calvinist hold true to their own false teaching. The thinking of the Calvinists is certainly double mindedness gone to seed.

Corporate Election of the Nation Israel in the Old Testament

The Nation Israel was elected by God to be His people. This election is as a nation. Some individuals in the elect had faith in God and others did not. This election is the Old Testament covenant between Israel and God and is the basis for naming the Scriptures the Old Testament, meaning Old Covenant.

Isaiah 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call [you] by your name, [Am] the God of Israel. 4 For Jacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. 5 I [am] the Lord, and [there] [is] no other; [There] [is] no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That [there] [is] none besides Me.

Isaiah 65:8 Thus says the Lord: "As the new wine is found in the cluster, And [one] says, `Do not destroy it, For a blessing [is] in it,' So will I do for My servants' sake, That I may not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, And from Judah an heir of My mountains; My elect shall inherit it, And My servants shall dwell there. 10 Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, And the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, For My people who have sought Me.

Isaiah 65:21 They shall build houses and inhabit [them]; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, [so] [shall] [be] the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they [shall] [be] the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, And their offspring with them. 24 "It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear."

Corporate Election of the Gentiles in the New Testament

Israel failed to keep her part of the covenant with God because a large majority of the people did not worship God. Israel resisted the call and the grace of God by their obstinate free will. Still, Israel remained the elect until being temporarily set aside because of their rejection of Jesus Christ. God then turned to the Gentiles whom He then called the "elect." This new election is the basis for the name of the New Testament, meaning New Covenant. Those of the elect who believe are the ones who obtain eternal life but can also include the unbelieving Gentiles.

Jeremiah 3:6 The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. 7 "And I said, after she had done all these [things], `Return to Me.' But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. "Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also."

Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 "For so the Lord has commanded us: `I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, [remember] [that] you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith.

The Great Tribulation Saints, those Jews and Gentiles saved during the Tribulation, are also described as the elect and will be together with the previously raptured Church at the end of the Great Tribulation. This event is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man described in Revelation 20:4.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I] [saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received [his] mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Matthew 24:21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. 23 "Then if anyone says to you, `Look, here [is] the Christ!' or `There!' do not believe [it]. 24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mark 13:20 "And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 21 "Then if anyone says to you, `Look, here [is] the Christ!' or, `Look, [He] [is] there!' do not believe it. 22 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 "But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand. 24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 "the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 "And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

Luke 18:7 "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Romans 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this [is] My covenant with them, When I take away their sins." 28 Concerning the gospel [they] [are] enemies for your sake, but concerning the election [they] [are] beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.

Peter was an Apostle to the Jews, and those who believed in Jesus Christ were persecuted and driven from Israel to other countries toward the north. Peter calls them pilgrims because they were driven from their homeland. These Jewish believers became part of the Church or Body of Christ and as such became part of the elect. The Church is the elect and not any individual.

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The following verses show us that God temporarily set Israel aside because of their unbelief and rejection of Jesus Christ, and turned to the Gentiles with a new gospel, the gospel of grace. Paul defines grace as being salvation by faith without being under the Mosaic Law and circumcision. In doing so, the Gentiles have now become the elect. This election is not a guarantee of salvation but rather a guarantee of salvation by grace based on the individual's faith in Jesus Christ's death for the forgiveness of sin, and faith in His resurrection for the giving of live through the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Romans 11:22 is a warning to the Gentiles that they will also be cut off if they do not continue in His goodness, meaning faith in Him.

Romans 11:9 And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always." 11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation [has] [come] to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall [is] riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy [those] [who] [are] my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away [is] the reconciling of the world, what [will] their acceptance [be] but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit [is] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]; and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, [remember] [that] you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in [His] goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who [are] natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- 27 to God, alone wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ forever.

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [can] [be] against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? [It] [is] God who justifies. 34 Who [is] he who condemns? [It] [is] Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [Shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Romans 9:9 For this [is] the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." 10 And not only [this], but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, [even] by our father Isaac 11 (for [the] [children] not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." 14 What shall we say then? [Is] [there] unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then [it] [is] not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

Romans 11:3 "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then [it] [is] no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if [it] [is] of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new [man] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave [nor] free, but Christ [is] all and in all. 12 Therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also [must] [do]. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

Titus 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, a true son in [our] common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly [places], 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Colossians 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. 11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught [it], but [it] [came] through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once [were] not a people but [are] now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

The following verse indicates that the Gentiles are the elect but have not yet obtained salvation. Paul is hopeful that they may obtain salvation, but the wording shows the possibility they may not. This verse contradicts the false theology of Unconditional Election which teaches that election is equal to salvation.

2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, [even] to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

The Gentiles were forbidden to become children of God prior to Israel's rejection of God. In Matthew 15:22-28 below, Jesus called the Canaan woman a "dog," and said He did not come for her. Yet, because of her faith He healed her daughter. This Scripture is in direct contradiction to Calvin's doctrine of Total Depravity whereby one must be drawn by God, given faith by God, and must be one of the elect. The Gentiles, of which the Canaanites were part, were not named as the elect at this time. Jesus did not draw her to Him, which is contrary to the erroneous doctrine of Unconditional Election. She came by her own free will despite His initial rejection of her. This is also in direct contradiction to the erroneous doctrine of Limited Atonement. Her faith in Jesus certainly provided her salvation in addition to the healing of her daughter.

Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

Matthew 15:22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." 24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" 26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw [it] to the little dogs." 27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great [is] your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Gentiles were Predestined to be Offered Salvation Without the Law

The Gentiles were predestined by God from the foundation of the earth to become His elect by grace in what the Apostle Paul calls the mystery. The grace given to the Gentiles is salvation apart from the Mosaic Law and circumcision. The correct definition of the word grace as used by the Apostle Paul is salvation apart from the Mosaic Law and circumcision. The commonly held definition that grace is "unmerited favor" is an erroneous and simplistic explanation that misses the principal meaning supported by Scripture. Salvation apart from the law was not offered to Israel. These verses do not mean that any individual was predestined to be saved. It says He chose us (Gentiles) in Him. Salvation is dependent upon "whoever believes" and not God's determination of one's salvation or lack thereof. God desires all men to be saved.

Ephesians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

John 12:46 "I have come [as] a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened [his] mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

Acts 10:43 "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

Romans 10:11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

1 Timothy 2:3 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Corporate Election of the Body of Christ in the New Testament

John Calvin distorted the Bible doctrine of predestination to a heretical meaning that some of mankind, the elect, are predestined to regeneration and the rest to eternal torment. The Bible actually states that the person who is already saved will be "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son," in the Bible process described as sanctification.

The Body of Christ, the Church, was foreknown by God, called, and formed according to His will, predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ, justified by Christ's death and will be glorified upon the Rapture of the Church to meet Christ in the air. All of these blessings were hidden in God from the foundation of the earth in what Paul calls "the mystery." The individual is not elected to salvation but becomes a part of the Body of Christ, the elect, by belief in the truth of the gospel.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to] [be] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- 27 to God, alone wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ forever.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation by grace was hidden in God because Jesus Christ would not have been crucified for the forgiveness of our sins had the evil rulers of that age known.

Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly [places], 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden [wisdom] which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Election of Individual Persons for Duties According to God's Will

God elects individuals to do His will. Some are not willing to do the righteous will of God so He uses their evil deeds to do His will. The faithful and obedient man God will use to do His righteous works. The verses below show that Pharaoh rejected God and hardened his heart against the will of God. God responded by sending many plagues against Pharaoh to show His power and make His name declared in all the earth. God continued in Exodus 9 to harden Pharaoh's heart to bring to the surface that which was already there.

Exodus 7:14 So the Lord said to Moses: "Pharaoh's heart [is] hard; he refuses to let the people go."

Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

Exodus 8:27 "We will go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He will command us." 28 And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me." 29 Then Moses said, "Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the Lord, that the swarms [of] [flies] may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord." 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord. 31 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms [of] [flies] from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go. 9:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, `Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: Let My people go, that they may serve Me.'"

The Apostle Paul uses the story of Pharaoh as an example for Israel. Israel hardened their hearts in their rejection of Jesus Christ; therefore, God has the right to turn to the Gentiles with the gospel of salvation by grace. The Gentiles were not God's people but now they shall be called the "sons of the living God."

Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed [it], "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 [What] if God, wanting to show [His] wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 [even] us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." 26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You [are] not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God."

God elected Saul to be King over Israel to save His people from the Philistines, but King Saul turned against God in disobedience.

1 Samuel 9:15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, 16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to me." 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, "There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people."

1 Samuel 10:24 And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that [there] [is] no one like him among all the people?" So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!"

1 Samuel 13:9 So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. 11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and [that] you did not come within the days appointed, and [that] the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 "then I said, `The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering." 13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever."

God elected Paul (Saul of Tarsus prior to God's changing his name) to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. God, in a special miracle, urged Paul to accept divine election. First, He blinded Paul with a bright light, then Christ personally spoke to Paul. The Scripture clearly says that Paul was resisting the call of God (kicking against the goad), and the harsh measure by God was required to win Paul's cooperation. Paul's response was immediate and complete submission to Jesus. This section of Scripture clearly shows man's free will to accept or reject God's calling. This Scripture clearly shows the errors of the doctrine called Irresistible Grace.

Acts 9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It [is] hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord [said] to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Election of Jesus Christ to Take Away the Sin of the World

Jesus Christ was elected by God to take away the sin of the world.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Isaiah 42:1 "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One [in] [whom] My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry out, nor raise [His] [voice], Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law."

1 Peter 2:4 Coming to Him [as] [to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and] precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 7 Therefore, to you who believe, [He] [is] precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," 8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

In the following verses we see that Jesus is the Savior of all men and is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. The word propitiation here means the total removal of the sins of all mankind or expiation. It means the sins of the whole world have been paid for by the suffering of Christ. It does not say that if anyone repents, he has an Advocate nor if anyone confesses his sins, he has an Advocate. Neither does it say that if anyone goes through a ceremony such as baptism to get rid of his sins, he has an Advocate. Baptism does not remove sins, neither is it a way of salvation. Baptism in this Dispensation of Grace is a witness to one's faith in Jesus Christ. What it does say is that if any man sins, we have an Advocate with the Father when we accept the redemptive work of Christ. This does not mean that everyone will be saved because he is saved from wrath through Him or by faith in Him. Salvation requires individual faith by the sinner in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ as shown later in this study.

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this [end] we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is [the] Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Election Does Not Determine Individual Salvation

Although Israel was the elect of God as shown above, individuals within Israel rejected God; and therefore, the entire nation was considered by God to have rejected Him because of the rejection by the majority. Election, as shown in these verses, is not a guarantee of salvation, and election can be resisted. These verses are in contradictory to the erroneous Calvinistic doctrine of Irresistible Grace.

Numbers 14:11 Then the Lord said to Moses: "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?"

Numbers 16:30 "But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord."

1 Samuel 8:7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them."

1 Samuel 10:19 "But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, `No, set a king over us!' "

We can see from the following verse on election that the individual had to be diligent in order to become one of the elect in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That diligence is faith and obedience for which the person himself is responsible.

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith [it] [is] impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- 27 to God, alone wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ forever.

The following parable in Matthew 13 shows the free will of man in an analogy to the soil. The condition of a man's heart is necessary for the gospel to take root. The sower is someone presenting the Word of God to all he sees. The sower did not elect the soil and force the soil to accept the seed. This parable contradicts the false teaching of unconditional election taught by John Calvin. The soil is very much conditional.

Matthew 13:3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 "And as he sowed, some [seed] fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 "Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 "But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 "But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

As we have seen in our study above, God elects groups of people to have a particular relationship with Him in different ages, but God does not elect any one particular individual to salvation. There is not one single verse in the Bible that makes such a statement. We have seen that the Bible calls Israel God's elect, but many of the elect rejected God. In this Dispensation of Grace or Church Age in which we live, God calls us the Body of Christ and the elect. God turned from Israel because of their rejection of Jesus Christ and elected to offer salvation to the Gentiles without the previous requirements of keeping the Mosaic Law and circumcision. He also offers this same method of salvation to each and every person, including the Jew. Everyone has been elected to receive this offer of salvation, and no one is beyond accepting God's offer of eternal life by his own free will.

1 Timothy 2:3 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For [there] [is] one God and one Mediator between God and men, [the] Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ [and] not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Jesus taught that anyone who came unto Him would receive salvation (rest from the labor and works of the Law).

Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John Calvin falsely taught that no one can come to Jesus unless God has first elected him to be saved. This false teaching has sent millions to an eternity in hell because Calvinists worship a false god and another Jesus both of which were created by John Calvin.

We believe that salvation is by grace through faith based upon the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus took upon Himself the sins of all mankind by His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead provides salvation to all who believe. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become the children of God.

Calvinists are Schizophrenic Double-Double False Teachers

First, Calvinists falsely teach, as did John Calvin, that God elects those whom He has chosen to believe the false doctrines of John Calvin, while He damns the others to spend eternity in Hell. Calvinists claim the unbeliever cannot believe because he is totally depraved and to believe would be impossible works of salvation. Next, Calvinists blame the person who rejects John Calvin's false teaching for their failure to believe. This is called schizophrenia. If a person is elected by God, it is illogical to blame the non elect for what God has not done. By medical standards, all Calvinists have a mental illness. John Calvin obviously did.

The Dutch Church convened the Synod of Dordrecht in 1610 to resolve the dispute between Remonstrants (followers of Jacob Arminius) and the Reformed Church (followers of John Calvin) concerning the correct interpretation of the Bible. In the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands, Jacob Arminius began to teach doctrines contrary to the Reformed faith. The Remonstrants drew up five statements of doctrine in which they set forth their own views. The Calvinists answered the Five Points of the Arminians with their own, which has come to known as the Five Points of Calvinism. The approval of the Calvinist position was sealed by a packed Synod before it began, and the Calvinists relished the victory by murdering many of their opponents as they fled for their lives. This appeared to be a great victory for Calvinism at the time, but it has since been shown to have been the high point in their theological domination. Calvinism has continued to decline over the centuries because John Calvin's technique of terror no longer allows the spread of his theology.

The Five Points of Calvinism which form the acrostic T-U-L-I-P will be shown here to distort and blaspheme the true attributes of God, the true nature of man and the Holy Scriptures.

Total Depravity

Unconditional Election

Limited Atonement

Irresistible Grace

Perseverance of the Saints

John Calvin

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Click below for Bible studies, references, books and other links.

False Doctrines of the "Pope" of Geneva

What Love Is This?
Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God by Dave Hunt

The Seven Dispensations
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
by Dr. C. I. Scofield

Bible Life Ministries - Links Page

The best book for the study of dispensations is:
Gods' Plan for Man
by Finis Jennings Dake, 1990 ISBN-10: 1558290265

Highly recommended book for studying many different theologies is:
The Moody Handbook of Theology
by Paul Enns, ISBN: 0-8024-3428-2

An extremely well written and documented book in refute of Calvinism is:
The Other Side of Calvinism
by Laurence M. Vance, Ph. D., ISBN: 0-9628898-7-3

Prophecy Today for the Body of Christ

The Great Bible Mystery

Are the Sins of All Mankind Forgiven?

History of the New Testament Scriptures

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