"The Elect of God" by Gale Nelson
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Tags: #Election #Chosen #Predestination #ElectofGod

In this mid-week study, Bro. Nelson explains "election" in the context of scripture, as well as helps the class to refute the doctrine of unconditional election.

KEY SCRIPTURES:
Ephesians 1:4-5

KEY TERMS:

* Election = to pick out; to choose.

* Unconditional election = without any type of qualification, requirement or condition, you can just go to heaven or hell. A false teaching that man cannot choose his salvation.

* Predestination = determine before, ordain, predestinate. The gentiles were grafted into God's family. God set the boundaries beforehand.

* Chose = "eklegomai" (in the Greek) = God chose a way for man to be saved; and where they would be saved; there was a specific predestined place called heaven, which was chosen before the foundation of the world (v. 4).

KEY LESSON PRINCIPLES:

1) The doctrine of "Unconditional Election" is based upon:

* A false view of God's sovereignty or authority - There was a destination/place chosen before (foreordination; predestination).

* A false view of man's nature - God gave us free will, so we have a choice.

* Man can't choose salvation.

2) Conditional Election
When it comes to our soul, God has created EVERY man with the ability to choose faith! (see Acts 17:26-27; Joshua 24:15)

* If we could not choose, it would make God's invitation to all men disingenuous! (see Revelation 22:17)

3) He Chose Us in Him… Ephesians 1:1-14
God chose the plan… we have to obey that said plan:

* Wisdom: God planned it before the word began (v. 4)
* What? The chosen would be holy and without blame (v. 4)
* How? The elect would be adopted as sons (v. 5)
* Motive? This plan is according to his good pleasure (v. 5, 10-13)

* Who: The Faithful in Christ (v. 1,4-5,13)
* Where: Those in Christ' body (v. 1-13, 2:16)
* How: By grace through faith (v. 2,7,13; 2:8-10)
* When: Baptized into the family of God (v. 5,7,13; Acts 2:38,41; Galatians 3:26-27)
* What: Forgiveness; grace; peace through Christ; inheritance; adoption; eternal life (v. 3)

4) God's chosen family are those who are...

* Obedient (Galatians 3:26-27; Hebrews 5:8-9)
* Make their calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:5-10)

5) Unconditional election cannot be true because:

* God desires ALL men to know the truth and be saved… 1 Timothy 2:4
* His grace has appeared to ALL men… Titus 2:11-12
* God's will is that ALL men repent, not perish… 2 Peter 3:9
* Jesus died for the WHOLE world (1 John 2:1-2)


CALL TO ACTION:
* Get off the fence... https://miamigardenscoc.net/salvation.php

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RECOMMENDED LINKS
* From Designation to Duty: https://youtu.be/cMqJoI48COk
* Website: https://www.miamigardenscoc.net