Unconditional Election. God, before the foundation of the world, arbitrarily chose to save some people and destroy others and nothing can be done to change God’s sovereign decree.
Scriptural Objections to Unconditional ElectionGod has given mankind freedom of choice. He gave Adam and Eve the freedom of choice. (Gen. 2:16-17) Their choice was plain -- obey and live or disobey and die. Their choice was made through and by their own will having been influenced by Satan. Who is willing to say that since God foreknew the outcome that He forced or ordained Adam and Eve to sin? (James 1:13-14) Mankind today still has freedom of choice. (Josh. 24:15) People can choose today whether or not they will serve God. (Rev. 22:17) Both the Psalmist (Psa. 119:30) and Mary, the sister of Martha (Luke 10:42), are examples of this principle.
God is impartial -- no respecter of persons. (2 Chron. 19:7; Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 2:11; 1 Pet. 1:17) If Unconditional Election is true then God has indiscriminately condemned those who will be eternally damned while favoring those who are of His elect. Calvinists who insist that since God is sovereign and can arbitrarily choose who to save do not realize that if God were to do that He would violate His own nature for He is also just. (Psa. 89:14) God has not exempted anyone from the opportunity to obtain eternal life. (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)
Salvation is not wholly dependent on God. The origin of salvation is utterly dependent on Him. (Eph. 2:4-10) The reception of salvation is dependent on man. (Rev. 22:17; Phil. 2:12) The reception of salvation comes through meeting the conditions God has provided through His grace. God placed on man the responsibility of obtaining the salvation which He foreordained or predestinated. God foreordained the gospel (1 Cor. 2:7-8; 2 Tim. 1:9-10) but man must obey it in order to receive the benefits of it. (1 Pet. 4:17) God predestinated that Christ should die for man (1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8), but man must obey Him to receive His blessings. (Heb. 5:9) God foreordained that redemption would be in Christ (Eph. 1:4-7) but man must do those things to be found in Him. (Gal. 3:26-27) The church was predestinated (Eph. 3:9-11) but one must be baptized into it to be a part of it. (1 Cor. 12:13) God wants all persons saved. (1 Tim. 2:3,4; 2 Pet. 3:9) He has not arbitrarily doomed any individual without giving him a chance at eternal life.
Unconditional Election nullifies the great commission. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16) Nothing could be more foolish than to preach the gospel to all if only people whom God arbitrarily chooses are able to understand it. If nothing can change anyone's status in relation to salvation or condemnation, why preach it? Why warn people to flee from the wrath to come? (Matt. 3:7) If they are elect, they will not incur the wrath of God regardless of what they do or do not do. If they are not elect, they cannot flee anyway. Unconditional Election nullifies the universal invitation of Christ. (Matt. 11:28-30; Rev. 22:17) Why would Jesus plead with people to do the impossible?
ConclusionThe Bible does teach predestination but not the Unconditional Election that Calvinists teach. It does not teach that individuals have been foreordained to life or death no matter what they do. It states that we are free moral agents with the ability to accept or reject God's commandments thus determining whether we will ultimately be saved or lost.
The predestination or foreordination of God determined that He would save sinful man through the sacrifice of His Son. Those who would respond to the gospel, His power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), and its call (2 Thes. 2:14) would become part of His elect. Those who reject the gospel and its message would be damned eternally. God will render judgment on all in the final day based on what they have done. The righteous will have life. The wicked will face the second death. Each person, not the predestination of God, determines what his/her destiny will be. (Rom. 2:3-11)
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God is impartial -- no respecter of persons. (2 Chron. 19:7; Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 2:11; 1 Pet. 1:17) If Unconditional Election is true then God has indiscriminately condemned those who will be eternally damned while favoring those who are of His elect. Calvinists who insist that since God is sovereign and can arbitrarily choose who to save do not realize that if God were to do that He would violate His own nature for He is also just. (Psa. 89:14) God has not exempted anyone from the opportunity to obtain eternal life. (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)
Salvation is not wholly dependent on God. The origin of salvation is utterly dependent on Him. (Eph. 2:4-10) The reception of salvation is dependent on man. (Rev. 22:17; Phil. 2:12) The reception of salvation comes through meeting the conditions God has provided through His grace. God placed on man the responsibility of obtaining the salvation which He foreordained or predestinated. God foreordained the gospel (1 Cor. 2:7-8; 2 Tim. 1:9-10) but man must obey it in order to receive the benefits of it. (1 Pet. 4:17) God predestinated that Christ should die for man (1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8), but man must obey Him to receive His blessings. (Heb. 5:9) God foreordained that redemption would be in Christ (Eph. 1:4-7) but man must do those things to be found in Him. (Gal. 3:26-27) The church was predestinated (Eph. 3:9-11) but one must be baptized into it to be a part of it. (1 Cor. 12:13) God wants all persons saved. (1 Tim. 2:3,4; 2 Pet. 3:9) He has not arbitrarily doomed any individual without giving him a chance at eternal life.
Unconditional Election nullifies the great commission. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16) Nothing could be more foolish than to preach the gospel to all if only people whom God arbitrarily chooses are able to understand it. If nothing can change anyone's status in relation to salvation or condemnation, why preach it? Why warn people to flee from the wrath to come? (Matt. 3:7) If they are elect, they will not incur the wrath of God regardless of what they do or do not do. If they are not elect, they cannot flee anyway. Unconditional Election nullifies the universal invitation of Christ. (Matt. 11:28-30; Rev. 22:17) Why would Jesus plead with people to do the impossible?
ConclusionThe Bible does teach predestination but not the Unconditional Election that Calvinists teach. It does not teach that individuals have been foreordained to life or death no matter what they do. It states that we are free moral agents with the ability to accept or reject God's commandments thus determining whether we will ultimately be saved or lost.
The predestination or foreordination of God determined that He would save sinful man through the sacrifice of His Son. Those who would respond to the gospel, His power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), and its call (2 Thes. 2:14) would become part of His elect. Those who reject the gospel and its message would be damned eternally. God will render judgment on all in the final day based on what they have done. The righteous will have life. The wicked will face the second death. Each person, not the predestination of God, determines what his/her destiny will be. (Rom. 2:3-11)
Read more information on this link.