By "to be" I meant to cause. God chose us to be in Christ meaning that He chose us to make us in Christ. Let's compare some verses, shall we?
"In him" is not the qualifier for election; it is the result of election.
Compare:
(1) Eph 1:4 "he hath chosen us"
(2) 2Th 2:13 "God hath...chosen you"
(1) Eph 1:4 "before the foundation of the world"
(2) 2Th 2:13 "from the beginning"
(1) Eph 1:4 "in him"
(2) 2Th 2:13 "to salvation"
(1) Eph 1:4 "that we should be holy" [hagious]
(2) 2Th 2:13 "through sanctification [hagiosmw] of the Spirit"
In him/to salvation
God chose us to make us "in him."God did not choose us because we qualified for his choosing by making ourselves "in Christ." He chose us to be in Christ. We are his workmanship. He created us to be in Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says that God chose us "to salvation." The word to there in the Greek is the word eis, which means "to/in/into." The same word is used in passages like the following:
As Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, God chose us to salvation. God's election results in salvation; it is not based upon people "qualifying" themselves for it.
Ephesians 1:5 explains the means by which God chose us to be in Christ. He "predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself." God the Father predestinated us for adoption. Jesus Christ adopted us for Himself. This is a similar construct to Colossians 1:16 where all things were created by Jesus Christ and for Him. God is doing all the actions here!
that we should be holy/through sanctification of the Spirit
Now, before you whine about "that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" and "through sanctification of the Spirit," let me explain them ahead of time. Not all occurrences of forms of the words sanctify, sanctification, and holy have to do with our systematized "doctrine of sanctification." The words simply refer to "set apart" and can have a variety of contexts.
God chose us to be in Christ so that we would be set apart from the world. How did he do that? Through sanctification of the Holy Spirit.God chose us to be in Christ. He chose us into salvation. How did he bring this choice to fruition? The Holy Spirit set us apart. He washed us with regeneration. He renewed us. He sanctified us.
and belief of the truth
Also, let's look at other factor phrases that you might whine about. Yes, we are saved through faith and we are called by the Gospel. You assume that this means that man autonomously contributes this to enable God to complete His saving work on man's behalf. I contend, however, that these are things that God does sovereignly in His effectual work to choose a people to Himself.
First, are saving repentance and faith autonomous contributions of man? No, they are things that God gives:Before you whine about "were ordained" in Acts 13:48 meaning "disposed themselves," tetagmenoi is a past participle. The word in the exact same tense and voice appear in the following passage:God gives repentance and faith through regeneration. Without God doing this supernatural intervention on behalf of one, no one will positively respond to the Gospel to salvation. Therefore, God's work of giving repentance and faith is part of the effect of His choosing people in Christ/to salvation. Repentance and faith are the pecuniary means through which one is justified.
continued...
Foreknew?
Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by God's_Servant, Jan 23, 2010.
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whereunto he called you by our gospel
Those who come to gospel faith do so through an effectual call of God. Scriptures that distinguish the effectual call from the general call are ridiculously clear.
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You constantly debate by asserting things over and over again. When anyone actually proves your assertions wrong you just ignore them or assert that they are wrong just because, and then you continue to assert them over and over again. You think that just because you assert that something is true, therefore it must be true.
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Whosoever
Whosoever hears the gospel of our salvation are chosen to be in Christ, but only those who are in Christ will be saved. -
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A boule is a "counsel." It is something that someone "determines" or "wills" to do as opposed to a thelw, which is a "desire." God determines that He will save a certain people by regenerating them through His own Word. Those who are saved are saved because God effectually accomplished it on their behalf using His Word as a tool to guarantee His results.
Here are some other examples of boule:
God guarantees that His Word will do exactly what He wants it to do: -
2 Corinthians 5:16
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[Or be a sin offering ] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Timothy 2
Instructions on Worship
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
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