Biblical Predestination Part 7 - Election is Not About Heaven or Hell
ELECTION. PREDESTINATION by Chris Kauffman
What about God's "elect"? Doesn't God elect some for Heaven and some for Hell? Are those not chosen for Heaven even capable of believing in Jesus? If not, why bother witnessing to them?
Confusion. Twisted and abused Scriptures taken out of context have been crafted together only in recent church history (the past 500 years) to teach that some people have been elected, chosen, predestination to go to Heaven and others have not....
But it's utter rubbish.
This doctrine of election was unorthodox and not mainline Christian belief for the first 1,500 years. The great Bible scholar and Lawyer John Calvin popularized this idea that some were elected to go to heaven and others were not. It's since crumbled into a chaotic mess of confusion that basically demonizes Our loving Father of all people. (Eph. 4:6 & Isa.64:8)
FIRSTLY - IT'S NOT ABOUT HEAVEN OR HELL.
Election has nothing to do with "going to Heaven" or "going to Hell". When Paul wrote concerning election (which was more than anyone else in the entire Bible), he never once mentioned anything about an eternal destination. Paul never, ever mentioned Hell. Not once.
In Romans, the letter most often cited concerning "election", Paul never mentioned Hell and concerning election he never mentioned Heaven. Election had absolutely nothing to do with the afterlife destination, according to Paul. That idea is a recent invention of man that has watered down a powerful Gospel of the Kingdom of God active in this world.
SO WHAT WAS ELECTION ABOUT?
According to Paul in Romans, election was quite simply for the purpose of carrying the Message. Paul was chosen to preach the Gospel.
Consider Paul's mentions of *his* personal election and the purpose. He began many of his writings with the explanation of how he was chosen by God's will and for what purpose....
ROMANS 1:1 " 1Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, (Chosen) set apart for the gospel of God..."
1 CORINTHIANS 1:1 "Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God..." (Elected)
GALATIANS 1:15,16a " 15But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach..."
1 Timothy 1:1 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God..."
2 Timothy 2: 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from before time began..."
I could go on about Paul's personal election and why God chose him to preach. But "election" is bigger than God's choice of one person to preach. You have been chosen and called to preach, but what about God's corporate election?
Corporate Election
We have to go to some of the most complicated passages in the New Testament. Romans 9-11. I will keep this very brief.
Romans 9:10 "Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.”
God's purpose for elections was not "who's going to Heaven" and "who's not" but **who will serve the other**.
"The older will serve the younger." Election. Chosen to serve. Not chosen to live in a golden mansion after we die versus being eternally condemned to a literal torment in actual flames...That's absolute foolishness. It is not the Wisdom of God.
Election in Romans 9-11 was about how the Jews were first chosen to serve the Gentiles by bringing the Promised Seed, the Light of the World. (remember God's promises to Abraham?) Now that Jesus has accomplished God's purpose on earth, the Gentiles have received Jesus (and will continue to do so) until the fullness of the Gentiles chose to come in to Christ. By the way, fullness denotes completion and not partial. Every Gentile is part of God's plan, just as is every Jew.
When every Gentile comes to Jesus, the Jews will become jealous and every Jew will turn to Jesus too! (Romans 11:11-27)
This is just a brief snapshot of these complicated passages but the icing on the cake is the end of Romans 11. Verses 28-36 highlight the incredible wisdom, insight and mercy of Our Father and declare his great worth of all things!
Interesting. I pretty much agree with everything except your conclusion. I don't expect to see Hitler in eternity, eating and drinking with people who love God.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I pretty much agree with everything except your conclusion. I don't expect to see Hitler in eternity, eating and drinking with people who love God.
ReplyDelete