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If I am one of the elect am I assured of going to heaven?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked August 10 2014 Photo Anthony Clinton Supporter

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Eced7a1f c81d 42f4 95ea 9d5719dce241 Singapore Moses Supporter Messenger of God, CEO in IT industry, Astronaut, Scientist
Interesting question...

► In Scripture there is not the slightest reference to an election of God whereby one person is chosen to be saved and another is not. There is no teaching that a man is saved because of God's choice alone; there must also be the choice of the individual to meet God's terms of salvation. 

It is the plan of God that is elected, chosen, foreknown, and predestined--not the individual or national choice of man to conform to that plan. The plan is the same for all alike; and everyone without exception is invited, chosen, elected, foreknown, and predestined to salvation, on the sole basis of the individual's choice and total conformity to the gospel to the end of life (see note, Lk. 18:7). 

Otherwise, one will be lost, and there can there be no exception to this divine plan. God's part in salvation for all men has been completed, and whoever meets His terms will be saved. The whole program of salvation is simply that of becoming born again--becoming a new creature in Christ (Mt. 18:3; Jn. 3:1-8,14-18 2Cor. 5:17-18)--and of living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world ever afterward (Gal. 5:18-21,24 Tit. 2:11-14 1Jn. 1:7; 2:29; 3:5-10; 5:1-4,18). If one sins after becoming born again he must repent and turn from sin again or he incurs the death penalty like all other rebels (1Jn. 1:9; 2:1-2). 

No man who lives or dies in sin will be saved (Mt. 7:19-21 Rom. 1:29-32; 8:1-13 1Cor. 6:9-11 Gal. 5:19-21 Col. 3:5-10). The word "election" is used in connection with Israel as a chosen nation with but one exception (1Th. 1:4). In Rom. 9 it deals with the choice of God in Jacob over Esau; and all such individual choices of God are based upon the disposition and attitude of the individual in conforming to Him and His will. 

► Not even Jacob would have been chosen if he had behaved toward God as Esau did. 

One becomes a special subject of God's dealings when he chooses to be and as long as he chooses to be. As long as one rebels against the choice all must make to be saved, no benefits of the election of God can apply to him. The word "elect" also refers to Israel as the chosen nation of God in all scriptures other than Lk. 18:7; Rom. 8:33; Col. 3:10; Tit. 1:1; 2Jn. 1:1,13 where it can be understood as pertaining to all Jews and Gentiles who conform to the predestined plan of God. Thus, Scripture makes it clear that only those who meet the terms of such a plan become the elect of God to share the blessings thereof; and those who choose not to conform to it will receive the predestined curses of rebellion. These simple facts should answer all questions on election, predestination, foreknowledge and like subjects. Truly God is "just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26) and the Judge of those who don't believe (Mt. 16:15-16 Lk. 13:1-5 Jn. 3:16-18 1Tim. 2:4-5 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17; etc.).

► "I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me". Isa 56:4b. Cyrus became known as "Cyrus the Great" as a result of God's blessing in making him conquer. C [not know me] After God's call of Cyrus he did know God (Isa. 44:28; Ezra 1:1-6).


►► Four Elect's of God 
► Christ (Isa. 42:1; 1Pet. 2:6) 
► All Christians (Rom. 8:33; Col. 3:12; Tit. 1:1; Jn. 15:16; Eph. 1:4; 2:10; 2Th. 2:13; 2Jn. 1:1,13) ► Israel (Isa. 45:4; 65:9,22; Mt. 24:21-31 Mk. 13:22,27; 1Pet. 1:2) 
► Angels (1Tim. 5:21) 

Anyone chosen of God at any time, Jew or Gentile, is the elect of God (Rom. 9:11; 11:5,7,28; 1Th. 1:4; 1Pet. 5:13; 2Pet. 1:10). All men are called to become God's elect or chosen ones and can be if they will choose God (Mt. 11:28-30; 20:16; Jn. 1:12; 3:16-20; 6:37; Eph. 1:4; 2Th. 2:13; Jas. 2:5; 1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 17:14; 22:17).

August 10 2014 2 responses Vote Up Share Report


3
Q jcryle001 JD Abshire Supporter
I find elect used 17 times in the Bible, 4 in the Old Testament, 13 in the New.
In the Old Testament and according to Strong's it is the word bä•khēr' with the following outline of biblical usage: I.chosen, choice one, chosen one, elect (of God).

In the New Testament the Greek for elect is eklektos with the following usage: I. picked out, chosen A. chosen by God, i. to obtain salvation through Christ a. Christians are called "chosen or elect" of God. Ii. the Messiah is called "elect", as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable iii. Choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians.

Simple Logic: 1.something is what it is. 2. It cannot be what it is not. 3. It cannot be what it is and is not at the same time.

Based on the Hebrew and Greek definitions of the word elect 1.The elect whether a collective group or individual are the elect. 2. The elect cannot be the non elect. 3. The elect cannot be the elect and non elect at the same time.

Example, If I elect, choose or pick out a candidate for public office the very essence of my choosing necessitates that there is another or others that I did not elect. 

In reference to Israel God said:

Deuteronomy 7:6 "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."
Deuteronomy 7:7 "The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:"
Deuteronomy 7:8 "But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

Deuteronomy 43:7 "And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;"
Isaiah 43:3 "For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee."
Isaiah 43:4 "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life."

Lamentations 3:2 "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."
This was written to Israel, not the Church. However, in principle it applies to all of God's elect.

Eph. 2:1-3 "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

Eph 1:4 "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:"
Eph 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"

Titus 3:5 "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;"

Gal. 3:1-3 "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you, This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

It cannot be what it is and is not at the same time. 

Phil 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform until the day of Jesus Christ"

August 11 2014 11 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Photo Anthony Clinton Supporter Teacher in China
Mat 24:31.And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 
Rom 8:33.Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God who justifies.
It is quite clear in the Scriptures as to who the Elect are. They are the Church that will be gathered on the last day. Does that mean all the elect are going to be in heaven? Is it possible for the elect to fall short of the final prize? 


Both the apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul showed in their writings that just because you are the elect it definitely does not guarantee you a place in heaven. In fact the prize would only be finally received if one has kept the faith and has endured to the end of their lives. Let’s take a look at Paul’s language when dealing with the elect. 

2Ti 2:10.Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 
2Ti 2:11.For faithful is the Word, for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. 
2Ti 2:12.If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 
In this passage Paul is showing that his need to endure incredible suffering for the elect was not because their place in heaven was certain, on the contrary, that they might by his example endure that in the end they might “obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus”. If the sufferer denies Jesus, Jesus will deny them. Notice the language in the above mentioned scripture does not establish a once saved always saved concept. It’s saying that the elect will have conditions as to whether they can receive their final winning of the prize of eternal life. The Holy Spirit, the author of the Bible confirms this fact through the apostle Peter. Peter was also tested severely with the temptation to abandon his calling and election after the denial. He wanted go back to his life as a fisherman. But he became truly repentant after Jesus converted him to the right way and thus continued in the election. Knowing this would also be the challenge of the Churches written about in 2Peter 1 he tells them that he would continually remind them to make their calling and election sure, and if they followed his instruction they would never fall from that grace but finally receive an entry into the eternal glory of heaven. In context in this Chapter Peter is addressing Christians in the Church not Jews outside the Church. How do we know this? Verse 1 they had the same precious faith, v 2 and 3 and 4, grace had been given them to escape the corruption of the world and have the divine nature in them, they were to add to that faith that Peter also had verse 6, verse 8 By adding the virtues to their faith they would continue increasing in the knowledge of Christ, verse 9 shows they had been purged from their past sins under the New Covenant seeing that the Old Covenant had been voided after the death of Christ. In verse 9 If Peter was talking to Jews that were not Christians Peter would have been addressing them with a similar message in Acts 2 to repent and be baptized but of course it’s Christian’s he’s addressing proven by the context.

2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brothers, rather be diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you shall never fall. 
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In conclusion then, both Peter and Paul taught that being elected did not mean heaven was a foregone conclusion but that the Elect should continue to be diligent in the faith and endure all things to the very end of their lives and so gain the eternal prize of heaven. The real warning to the Church is to make sure they remain in Christ abiding in Him as the true vine and the strength and endurance will continue to flow in them to be final overcomers rather than abandoning their Christian Heritage.

August 11 2014 3 responses Vote Up Share Report


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