03-25-2008, 01:39 PM
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 | Moderator | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Leduc, Alberta, Canada
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Calvin speaks of a general election in the Institutes 3.21.7 Quote: |
“his free election has been only half explained until we come to individual persons, to whom God not only offers salvation but so assigns it that the certainty of its effect is not in suspense or doubt… So, indeed, God’s generous favor, which he has denied to others, has been displayed in the adoption of the race of Abraham; yet in the members of Christ a far more excellent power of grace appears, for, engrafted to their Head, they are never cut off from salvation… It is easy to explain why the general election of a people is not always firm and effectual: to those with whom God makes a covenant, he does not at once give the spirit of regeneration that would enable them to persevere in the covenant to the very end. Rather, the outward change, without the working of inner grace, which might have availed to keep them, is intermediate between the rejection of mankind and the election of a meager number of the godly… Not that it was a vain and unprofitable thing simply to be a child of Abraham; such could not be said without dishonoring the covenant! No, God’s unchangeable plan, by which he predestined for himself those whom he willed, was in fact intrinsically effectual unto salvation for these spiritual offspring alone.”
| Notice however that he does not use Ephesians 1 as a proof text, nor does he use this 'general election' idea as a bludgeon to destroy or subjugate eternal election. He carefully distinguishes between the two, all the while upholding the whole teaching of God's Word.
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Rev. Daniel Kok
Pastor of Grace Reformed Church (URCNA)
Leduc, Alberta CANADA Church Blog
"there is no creature, either in heaven or on earth, who loves us more than Jesus Christ" Belgic Confession, Article 26
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Last edited by Poimen; 03-25-2008 at 02:01 PM.
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