Saturday, July 28, 2007

Did God ELECT ALL To Be Saved?

Because of the passage which says, "And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ" (Eph. 1:9-10; also Col. 1:19-20), should we believe that "all" are elected or chosen "to be holy and blameless in his sight... to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ" (Eph. 1:4-5)?

Should we not say that the word "all" in verse 10 of Ephesians 1 and Colossians 1:20 does not refer to everybody, otherwise we could also say that even the demons are also included?

Could we just believe that the word "us" in Ephesians 1:4 refers to the believers, just as we read in verse 19: "us who believe"?

If we believe that God elected or chose every person to be saved, then He would also give everyone the gift of faith (Eph. 2:8; Acts 13:48, last part) -- then everyone will be saved. But, unless we believe in universalism, we believe that there are those who would enter His Kingdom and the unbelievers would not be allowed to enter.

Could we just believe the Word of God that while others are given by God His Holy Spirt, there are also those whom He "gave them up.." (Rom. 1: 24, 26 & 28)?

Could we believe that while there are those who are being saved, there are also those who are perishing (1 Cor. 1:18; also Rom. 2:5)?

"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath -- prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy...?" (Rom 9:22-23.)