tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780295056892403563.post6994313912557922632..comments2023-10-21T05:32:03.262-07:00Comments on theologia crucis: Election: What Calvinists don't get.Dr. Jack Kilcreasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362736419613180038noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780295056892403563.post-39067211327216592202010-03-15T16:03:56.140-07:002010-03-15T16:03:56.140-07:00This is very good and insightful.
The paradox as y...This is very good and insightful.<br />The paradox as you call it wraps around in a circular way which is still tidy.<br /><br />In the are of UOJ doctrine with regards to man, it is said that God has no more wrath for him any more and at the same time God has wrath for him.<br /><br />I find this though not paradoxical but inconsistent, besides, the key passages given to support UOJ I find exegetically wanting.<br /><br />LPCLPChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11352627830833515548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780295056892403563.post-82381711311784217092010-03-09T07:42:47.012-08:002010-03-09T07:42:47.012-08:00It seems to me that this is indeed the key point: ...It seems to me that this is indeed the key point: "it's important not to ask questions that Scripture doesn't answer". All the 'cur alii prae aliis' heart- and headache is an enquiry too far, because it wanders off the chart. Long live the loose ends of God's grace!Tapani Simojokihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16554859269922495896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780295056892403563.post-68900425791446945022010-03-09T04:59:41.005-08:002010-03-09T04:59:41.005-08:00Greg- Let me respond to both of your questions.
1...Greg- Let me respond to both of your questions.<br /><br />1. I think it's important not to ask questions that Scripture doesn't answer. This is one I don't think it answers. What it does say is A. God desires all to be saved. B. Those who are not saved resist the Holy Spirit (somehow!). C. Those who are saved are saved purely by grace because God elected them.<br /><br />Now, the real question we should ask is, am I elect? The answer is yes, because God promises you that you are in Word and sacrament. The next question is, what if I fall away, was I then not elect? But this question is speculation. It is a speculation about the hidden God and about my own abilities, i.e. works of the law. When we ask a question like this, then we place ourselves in the sphere of the hidden God, and away from the sphere of the God of love and election in the gospel. Then we move back into self-justification mode: "Oh, well, I know I'm elect because I did XYZ."<br /><br />To remain certain of our election, we must simply look to the Word. We can be certain of God's promise of election because the only characteristic of someone who is not elect is that they are uncertain of God's election in that they reject the promises of God in Word and sacrament.<br /><br />2. Yes, I agree. Jesus says "Many are called, few are chosen." Why this is, we do not know. Luther says that we will know it in light of glory, but not now in light of nature and grace.Dr. Jack Kilcreasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11362736419613180038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780295056892403563.post-73553752649483188222010-03-08T16:13:46.279-08:002010-03-08T16:13:46.279-08:00Thank you for this! It makes me think of this comi...Thank you for this! It makes me think of this coming Sunday's Gospel with the prodigal and the elder brother. What you are saying makes sense with that parable. The point is the elder brother is rejected and is thus the object of the Father's love who is waiting for him to return. This is so in line with this post.<br />I have a couple of questions. You write that the event of faith is the execution of the decree of election. How does that square with the fact that some of those who are brought to faith will not persevere? You also write about some being not elected. I suspect that it is many even most who are not elected. What do you think?Gregory DeVorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06427632118520582054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780295056892403563.post-8982817169427753372010-03-08T12:35:43.948-08:002010-03-08T12:35:43.948-08:00Fascinating. Thank you! Let's hope a 5-point C...Fascinating. Thank you! Let's hope a 5-point Calvinist reads this and responds. Has the potential for an interesting exchange.Tapani Simojokihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16554859269922495896noreply@blogger.com