Comments on: Why the Doctrine of Election is Precious to Me http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/11/16/why-the-doctrine-of-election-is-precious-to-me/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:16:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Why the Doctrine of Election is Precious to Me « Already Not Yet http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/11/16/why-the-doctrine-of-election-is-precious-to-me/#comment-701 Why the Doctrine of Election is Precious to Me « Already Not Yet Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:40:31 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=1105#comment-701 [...] Why the Doctrine of Election is Precious to Me This is very helpful from Juan Sanchez, at the Gospel Coalition Blog: [...] [...] Why the Doctrine of Election is Precious to Me This is very helpful from Juan Sanchez, at the Gospel Coalition Blog: [...]

]]> By: Latte Links (11/19) | Caffeinated Thoughts http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/11/16/why-the-doctrine-of-election-is-precious-to-me/#comment-700 Latte Links (11/19) | Caffeinated Thoughts Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:01:51 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=1105#comment-700 [...] Gospel Coalition Blog: Why the Doctrine of Election is Precious to Me by Juan [...] [...] Gospel Coalition Blog: Why the Doctrine of Election is Precious to Me by Juan [...]

]]> By: Robert Hoge http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/11/16/why-the-doctrine-of-election-is-precious-to-me/#comment-692 Robert Hoge Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:11:50 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=1105#comment-692 I's helpful to realize that God is outside and independent of time. He has seen our choices and our actions, performed under our free will, "before time began." It's also important to realize that God doesn't interfere with our free will: the fact that he knows what we'll do in the future doesn't mean that he'll try to change it. Election in the sense you describe it isn't some sort of fatalistic predestination that would make our efforts and our striving meaningless: for one thing, Jesus said that he won't turn away anybody who comes to him in humility and offers him their life with no strings attached. Read my free e-book <a href="http://personal.inet.fi/private/walkabout" rel="nofollow"><i>Walkabout: The History of a Brief Century</i></a> for more of my musings on time and God's independence on it! I's helpful to realize that God is outside and independent of time. He has seen our choices and our actions, performed under our free will, "before time began." It's also important to realize that God doesn't interfere with our free will: the fact that he knows what we'll do in the future doesn't mean that he'll try to change it. Election in the sense you describe it isn't some sort of fatalistic predestination that would make our efforts and our striving meaningless: for one thing, Jesus said that he won't turn away anybody who comes to him in humility and offers him their life with no strings attached.

Read my free e-book Walkabout: The History of a Brief Century for more of my musings on time and God's independence on it!

]]> By: Alex Rollo http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/11/16/why-the-doctrine-of-election-is-precious-to-me/#comment-688 Alex Rollo Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:22:22 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=1105#comment-688 Kevin, I know your question wasn't directed to me -- nevertheless, if I may, I'd like to offer my answer. I'd point them to the book of 1 John, and perhaps walk them through a few of the statements John makes there. If you'll read through the book, you'll often find John saying "by this we know that we are of God" or a similar phrase -- John's point in the whole thing seems to be assuring those who are Christians but who doubt. I've been through this with my wife, and that's the route that we took. Specifically, we started with 1 John 5:1, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him" (ESV). So very simply, we asked whether she had faith in Christ or not ... She said yes, and then we talked about how God saves and chooses through faith, therefore faith is a sign of having been chosen, etc. After much talking, she was at peace in the Lord, and we were able to move on. Then, of course, we talked about whether or not she loved God's people, and that being another sign ... I hope and pray in the Lord Jesus Christ that that's helpful to you. Grace and peace in the Lord, dear brother. Kevin,

I know your question wasn't directed to me -- nevertheless, if I may, I'd like to offer my answer. I'd point them to the book of 1 John, and perhaps walk them through a few of the statements John makes there. If you'll read through the book, you'll often find John saying "by this we know that we are of God" or a similar phrase -- John's point in the whole thing seems to be assuring those who are Christians but who doubt.

I've been through this with my wife, and that's the route that we took. Specifically, we started with 1 John 5:1, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him" (ESV). So very simply, we asked whether she had faith in Christ or not ... She said yes, and then we talked about how God saves and chooses through faith, therefore faith is a sign of having been chosen, etc. After much talking, she was at peace in the Lord, and we were able to move on. Then, of course, we talked about whether or not she loved God's people, and that being another sign ...

I hope and pray in the Lord Jesus Christ that that's helpful to you. Grace and peace in the Lord, dear brother.

]]> By: Kevin http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/11/16/why-the-doctrine-of-election-is-precious-to-me/#comment-686 Kevin Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:02:10 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=1105#comment-686 What would you say to someone for whom the doctrine of election made them worried about whether God had really chosen them? What would you say to someone for whom the doctrine of election made them worried about whether God had really chosen them?

]]> By: Chua Soon Kent http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/11/16/why-the-doctrine-of-election-is-precious-to-me/#comment-685 Chua Soon Kent Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:51:16 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=1105#comment-685 Hi Pr Sanchez, I appreciate what you have written here about the doctrine of election. I agree with your thoughts. Perhaps it is also good to caution that this doctrine should not become a basis for false security and laxity in evangelism. Chua Soon Kent Hi Pr Sanchez,
I appreciate what you have written here about the doctrine of election. I agree with your thoughts. Perhaps it is also good to caution that this doctrine should not become a basis for false security and laxity in evangelism.
Chua Soon Kent

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