If election insures Salvation How and why?

How - by fiat.

Why - no one knows.

 

Mike,
Election does ensure that the elect will, in God's time, be called, justified, and eventually glorified (Rom. 8:28ff;John 6:37).

However, we on the human side only know who the elect are because of their response to the gospel and by them "doing these things" (2 Pet. 1:10) as Peter listed in verses 5-7. God has chosen a people, but we only know who they are the same way as Paul in 1 Thess. 1:4 and 2 Thes. 2:13:

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

----- Paul knew their election of God because of their response. -------


13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

---God's elect are chosen, but God calls them out of the world through "belief of the truth" and "sanctification" of the Spirit.---


In Christ

 

If election does not 'insure' salvation, then why would Peter instruct us to make it certain? If it doesn't 'insure' anything then it certainly doesn't matter if its certain or not.

Stop wrangling the scripture and just accept what it says.

 

Yeah... like when it says "whosoever will."

 

Making it sure fits in the context of the chapter in which we are to be adding certain things to our lives. The point is about assurance of salvation. How do we know we are saved? By the virtues listed in vv. 3-5. God does not need assurance. But many Christians today, as then, live in paranoia and fear that they might not be saved, that they might not be one of the elect. Peter is telling us how to have assurance that we are saved.

Whosoever will is indeed a great comment. We must never forget that those who "won't" aren't saved. The gospel is only available to those who "will" and as every Calvinist believes, whosoever will may come. There are none willing whom God will not save.

 

Mike,

Sorry for not being more specific. I cited Rom. 8:28ff (and following). Verse 29 does deal with individual salvation and election. This verse clearly teaches that election (those He predestined) ensures salvation (them He also glorified)

Does the text not say that “All the Father gives to Me” (election of individuals) “shall come to me”? This only “destroys” the need for faith if you misunderstand the Biblical teaching of election. Not only must the elect come, but they “will” come. Rom. 8:29 as cited above says that those He predestined He also “called”. The means is ensured not destroyed.

As for Judas being “chosen”, the choosing of Judas as one of the 12 is obviously a step removed from what Jesus is speaking of in John 6 to the crowd. Judas being the son of perdition fulfilled scripture and Jesus knew from the beginning that he would betray him and was a “devil” and “unclean”. So Judas was not "chosen" in the same way spoken of in vs. 37.

 

We must distinguish between poessesion of salvation and assurance of salvation. One can be absolutely certain that he is saved and be wrong about that assurance. The Bible gives us characteristics of saved people. 2 Peter 1 is some of those characteristics. People without them have no basis for assurance, and they may not even be saved.

If someone neglects these things, has forgotten his "purification from his former sins" which I believe is his profession of faith in Christ. Some take this to mean that he is saved and has simply forgotten it. I think it more likely means that he made a profession that wasn't real and has forgottten what that profession actually meant. The reason I say that is that the entrance to heaven is based on it (v. 11). Therefore, those who do not pursue these characteristics are showing that they are not saved.

It is God who works in us both to will and to do his good pleasure (Phil 2). No one is born willing. They become willing because of the work of God and they respond. God does not save a man against his will. He changes his will.

 

Mike,

The verse says that those He “predestined”, He also “called” and “glorified”. This is individual election unto glorification.

This is false because the ones “given” to the Son “will come” to Him (vs. 37) and be raised up on the last day (vs. 39).This is not an “assumption” but something that is clearly stated in the text itself.


As for Judas, he was not “chosen” in the sense of those mentioned in John 6:37. He was the son of perdition and his role was to “fulfill scripture”. To say otherwise is to say that God give Judas to Jesus to raise up on the last day (John 6:39)when He knew that Judas was the Son of perdition. This would also make Jesus incapable of doing the Fathers will. This is pure eisegesis of John 6:37 and has nothing whatsoever to do with the text under discussion.

In Christ

 

But that's just hte problem. Judas did not come. In JOhn 6, coming is believing. Judas did not do that. In John 6, those who come are raised up at the last day. Judas will not be. Therefore, Judas did not come.

No, Calvinism maintains a high view of responsibility. Man is responsible for his sin, not God. This is one of those straw men that people who don't know Calvinism set up.

Yes, Judas never had a chance. From the OT, he was a son of perdition and was going to betray Christ. That doesn't fit into your system.

Of course God doesn't take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Calvinism does not teach that. You, again, are setting up straw men.

Yes, and man's choice will always be to reject Christ until God gives him a new nature. Free choice is not abrogated. God does not force his salvation on anyone.

 

Mike,
Your whole argument if based on the assumption that Judas was ever a believer which is clearly contradicted by the text of scripture itself:

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. (John 6:64)

In Conclusion- the consistant testimony of scripture is that Judas did not "believe", was "unclean", "son of perdition" and had a purpose to fulfill scripture. This is no argument against the personal and effectual salvation of our truly sovereign God found in John 6:37.

In Christ

 

Is it just possible that in using the term "election" that Peter may mean "your choice or your calling" which could also mean "your faith", because Peter is giving instruction to believers that they are never to waver (something that humans apparently have control over) so that there is no danger of you stumbling (or backsliding or falling away)?

I don't think Peter is addressing "election" in the sense that you are familiar with, but is rather addressing the result of coming to faith in God the Son and How to live life there-in.

In Verse 2 Peter talks about gaining (personal) grace and peace through your "knowledge of the Lord". What is it that knowledge of the Lord does for you? It increases your FAITH in the Lord.

Look what Peter says is verses 5-8,

Then Peter continues,

Why would Peter include verse eleven if he was speaking of ELECTION in the Calvinistic sense? Didn't Peter know that with Calvinistic election there is NO POSSIBILITY of NO ENTRY into the Eternal Kingdom? If anyone should know about election it is Peter....right?

 

"We must distinguish between poessesion of salvation and assurance of salvation."

AMEN. The only test for salvation is 100% conformation with 1 John.

 

Creative to be sure, but if that was what Peter meant, he would have said that. He said "election" because he meant "election."