T.U.L.I.P. - Unconditional Election

[JLB]

I will use this short definition and following clip as a starting point to define the “U” in TULIP.


If this definition and explanation does not properly explain the intent of the Reformers and misrepresents their intent, then I will be glad to remove it, and replace it with what seems to be right.

This is from the Calvinist Corner - The Five Points of Calvinism


God does not base His election on anything He sees in the individual. He chooses the elect according to the kind intention of His will (Eph. 1:4-8; Rom. 9:11) without any consideration of merit within the individual. Nor does God look into the future to see who would pick Him. Also, as some are elected into salvation, others are not (Rom. 9:15, 21).

 

[JLB]

This definition is from Ligonier Ministries —


UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION

Long before Adam sinned, God had already decreed and determined salvation for sinners. In eternity past, the Father chose a people in Christ who would be saved. Before time began, God elected many from among mankind whom He purposed to save from His wrath. This selection was not based upon any foreseen faith in those whom He chose. Nor was it prompted by their inherent goodness. Instead, according to His infinite love and inscrutable wisdom, God set His affection upon His elect.

The Father gave the elect to His Son to be His bride. Each one chosen was predestined by the Father to be conformed to the image of His Son and to sing His praises forever. The Father commissioned His Son to enter this world and lay down His life to save these same chosen ones. Likewise, the Father commissioned the Spirit to bring these same elect ones to faith in Christ. The Son and the Spirit freely concurred in all these decisions, making salvation the undivided work of the triune God.

 

[JLB]

I thought this phrase was interesting —


“Likewise, the Father commissioned the Spirit to bring these same elect ones to faith in Christ”.


Does anyone know what it means to “bring these same elect ones to faith”?




JLB

 

[atpollard]

Does anyone know what it means to “bring these same elect ones to faith”?

[Romans 8:28-30 NASB] 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

[John 6:44-45 NASB] 44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

 

[atpollard]

Does anyone know what it means to “bring these same elect ones to faith”?

To see it in action, read Acts 2.
What does the Holy Spirit do?
What happens with the crowd because of it?
When Peter delivers the Gospel, who “pierces their hearts”?
Is the end result the drawing of the elect (sinners chosen by God to become saints) to Jesus Christ and given the “salvation by grace through faith” promised in Ephesians 2:8-9?

 

[JLB]

[Romans 8:28-30 NASB] 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

[John 6:44-45 NASB] 44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

Yes, these are good scriptures.


What I was asking is what it means to bring someone to faith?


Faith comes to a person when they hear the Gospel from someone God sends, or when He speaks directly to them.


When they obey what He says (repent) then they are made righteous; justified.



JLB

 

[JLB]

To see it in action, read Acts 2.
What does the Holy Spirit do?
What happens with the crowd because of it?
When Peter delivers the Gospel, who “pierces their hearts”?
Is the end result the drawing of the elect (sinners chosen by God to become saints) to Jesus Christ and given the “salvation by grace through faith” promised in Ephesians 2:8-9?

The Holy Spirit sends Peter to preach the Gospel to everyone in Jerusalem.



Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39


The promise is to everyone, everywhere.


Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30




JLB

 

[atpollard]

The Holy Spirit sends Peter to preach the Gospel to everyone in Jerusalem.

The work of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost began long before Peter opened his mouth.

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. [Acts 2:5 NLT]

How did it come to pass that there existed “devout Jews”? It was the work of God’s Holy Spirit upon the heart of men. Remember that ‘ALL THINGS work together for those that are called according to God’s purpose’. How did these devout Jews from every nation come to be living in this place at this time ... again it was the providential work of the Holy Spirit. In a city as vast as Jerusalem, swollen with people at this special season, each and every one of these devout Jews from every nation “just happened” to be in the right location at the right time to witness a miracle of God that would have meant nothing to locals that only spoke Aramaic. Again we see the Holy Spirit at work drawing men to Christ.

All of this happened, because of the Holy Spirit, before anyone uttered a single word. So the Holy Spirit did far more than JUST summon Peter to speak.

 

[JLB]

The work of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost began long before Peter opened his mouth.

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. [Acts 2:5 NLT]

How did it come to pass that there existed “devout Jews”? It was the work of God’s Holy Spirit upon the heart of men. Remember that ‘ALL THINGS work together for those that are called according to God’s purpose’. How did these devout Jews from every nation come to be living in this place at this time ... again it was the providential work of the Holy Spirit. In a city as vast as Jerusalem, swollen with people at this special season, each and every one of these devout Jews from every nation “just happened” to be in the right location at the right time to witness a miracle of God that would have meant nothing to locals that only spoke Aramaic. Again we see the Holy Spirit at work drawing men to Christ.

All of this happened, because of the Holy Spirit, before anyone uttered a single word. So the Holy Spirit did far more than JUST summon Peter to speak.

The Holy Spirit worked through Jesus preaching the Gospel to the lost... Before Pentecost.


The Holy Spirit worked through the Apostles preaching the Gospel to the lost... Before Pentecost.



JLB

 

[atpollard]

The Holy Spirit worked through Jesus preaching the Gospel to the lost... Before Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit worked through the Apostles preaching the Gospel to the lost... Before Pentecost.

JLB

You are FAR more powerful than I am. I was never able to trap God in a box the way you manage to. ?