Predestination and the Elect
Verse Observations: Mt 15:13, Mk 13:22
*election - I Thes 1:4, Rom 1:6
Why doesn’t God just choose more people, everyone, in fact, for the kingdom? (Mt 22:14) Especially since God desires that none should perish? (Ezk 18:23)
If Tyre and Sidon would have been more receptive to the gospel, why did Jesus not go there instead? (Lk 10:13)
If it's better for many that they never see Jesus or hear the gospel, why does God send these to them? (Jn 9:41, 15:22)
How has Jesus enlightened everyone? (Jn 1:9)
How do we reconcile the following?
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Mt 12:30 (also Lk 11:23)
For the one who is not against us is for us. Mk 9:40 (also Lk 9:50)
A more extreme example of this is the person who is not a Christian themself, but who helps Christians in their cause. I read of a Hindu high government official in India who told a missions organization that he would enthusiastically do everything in his power to help this organization should they ever need it and if he had the power to help. What am I to make of this? Though he himself is not a Christian, he is fully willing to spread the gospel (albeit, in an indirect way).
Why does God speak to those who don’t know him in riddles? (Mt 13:10-15) I still don’t understand his explanation. It says “because they don’t understand” rather than “so that they won’t understand” so what does he mean? (v 13)
Why did Jesus speak in figures of speech? In this case, he’s speaking with his own disciples, the ones “To [whom] it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 13:11)”. (Jn 16:25)
Why would God ever hide anything from anyone? Doesn't he want us to understand? (I Tm 2:3-4) How could the disciples be blamed for not understanding? (Lk 9:45)
I Tm 2:4 If this is God’s desire, and God always does his will, why does this not happen?
Is it necessary to be a Christian in order to be saved? - Lk 10:16, Rom 8:8-9
*don't necessarily have to be a Christian - Jer 32:20, Lk 11:31, Acts 14:17, 17:27, Rom 2:26-27
How can a reprobate swear allegiance to God? (Is 45:23, Rv 20:15)
Ezk 6:9-10 vs Rv 9:20-21 Why is it that sometimes people repent and sometimes they don’t?
How are the wicked a ransom for the righteous? (Prv 21:18)
*election - I Thes 1:4, Rom 1:6
Why doesn’t God just choose more people, everyone, in fact, for the kingdom? (Mt 22:14) Especially since God desires that none should perish? (Ezk 18:23)
If Tyre and Sidon would have been more receptive to the gospel, why did Jesus not go there instead? (Lk 10:13)
If it's better for many that they never see Jesus or hear the gospel, why does God send these to them? (Jn 9:41, 15:22)
How has Jesus enlightened everyone? (Jn 1:9)
How do we reconcile the following?
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Mt 12:30 (also Lk 11:23)
For the one who is not against us is for us. Mk 9:40 (also Lk 9:50)
A more extreme example of this is the person who is not a Christian themself, but who helps Christians in their cause. I read of a Hindu high government official in India who told a missions organization that he would enthusiastically do everything in his power to help this organization should they ever need it and if he had the power to help. What am I to make of this? Though he himself is not a Christian, he is fully willing to spread the gospel (albeit, in an indirect way).
Why does God speak to those who don’t know him in riddles? (Mt 13:10-15) I still don’t understand his explanation. It says “because they don’t understand” rather than “so that they won’t understand” so what does he mean? (v 13)
Why did Jesus speak in figures of speech? In this case, he’s speaking with his own disciples, the ones “To [whom] it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 13:11)”. (Jn 16:25)
Why would God ever hide anything from anyone? Doesn't he want us to understand? (I Tm 2:3-4) How could the disciples be blamed for not understanding? (Lk 9:45)
I Tm 2:4 If this is God’s desire, and God always does his will, why does this not happen?
Is it necessary to be a Christian in order to be saved? - Lk 10:16, Rom 8:8-9
*don't necessarily have to be a Christian - Jer 32:20, Lk 11:31, Acts 14:17, 17:27, Rom 2:26-27
How can a reprobate swear allegiance to God? (Is 45:23, Rv 20:15)
Ezk 6:9-10 vs Rv 9:20-21 Why is it that sometimes people repent and sometimes they don’t?
How are the wicked a ransom for the righteous? (Prv 21:18)