Transcript No Middle Ground

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Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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Westminster Confession of Faith
Don McClain
"3.5 Those of mankind that are
predestinated unto life, God, before the
foundation of the world was laid,
according to his eternal and immutable
purpose, and the secret counsel and
good pleasure of his will, hath chosen
in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of
his free grace and love alone, without
any foresight of faith or good works, or
perseverance in either of them, or any
other thing in the creature, as
conditions, or causes moving him
thereunto; and all to the praise of his
glorious grace.W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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Westminster Confession of Faith
Don McClain
"3.6. As God hath appointed the elect
unto glory, so hath He, by the eternal
and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto.
Wherefore they who are elected, being
fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,
are effectually called unto faith in Christ
by His Spirit working in due season, are
justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept
by His power through faith, unto
salvation. Neither are any other
redeemed by Christ, effectually called,
justified, adopted, sanctified, and
65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
saved, but the elect W.only."
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"God's choice of certain individuals unto
salvation before the foundation of the world
rested solely in His own sovereign will. His
choice of particular sinners was not based
on any foreseen response of obedience on
their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On
the contrary, God gives faith and repentance
to each individual whom He selected. These
acts are the result, not the cause of God's
choice. Election therefore was not
determined by or conditioned upon any
virtuous quality or act foreseen in man.
Those whom God sovereignly elected He
brings through the power of the Spirit to a
willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's
choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice
of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation."
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
Ephes. 1:4 (NKJV)
just as He chose us in Him before
the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without
blame before Him in love,
Don McClain
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Chose - ἐκλέγομαι - eklegomai
Middle voice from G1537 and G3004
(in its primary sense); to select: make choice, choose (out), chosen.
Peoples New Testament – B. W. Johnson
. . . This does not affirm that God
chose some individuals and rejected
others, but that before the world was,
before there was Jew or Gentile, God
chose to have a people for himself,
the whole church of Christ, a covenant
W. 65thearthly
St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
people confined to no one
Ephes. 1:5 (NKJV)
having predestined us to adoption
as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of
His will,
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Predestined - προορίζω - proorizō
Strong’s - to limit in advance, that is,
(figuratively) predetermine: determine before, ordain,
predestinate.
Thayer Definition: G4309 –
Don McClain
1) to predetermine, decide
beforehand
2) in the NT of God decreeing
from eternity
3) to foreordain, appoint
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
Ephes. 1:5 (NKJV)
having predestined us to adoption
as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of
His will,
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Predestined - πρωρίζω prōrizō
Don McClain
Means properly “to set bounds before;”
and then to “pre-determine.” It is
originally a geographical term, but
applied also to any thing concluded,
or determined, or demonstrated.
Here the word is used to point out God’s
fixed purpose or predetermination to
bestow upon those who believe the
gospel the blessing of the adoption
of sons by Jesus Christ, (Eph.
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
1:5,13)
Ephes. 1:5 (NKJV)
having predestined us to adoption
as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of
His will,
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Predestined - πρωρίζω prōrizō
Don McClain
Peoples New Testament –
Having predestinated us.
Foreordained that we, the church
of Jesus Christ, should be
adopted as his children. The
whole line of argument is general
instead of particular. God
foreordained a church which
should be composed of those
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
adopted as his children.
Ephes. 1:5 (NKJV)
having predestined us to adoption
as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of
His will,
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Predestined - πρωρίζω prōrizō
Don McClain
Wesley Having foreordained that
all who afterwards believed
should enjoy the dignity of being
sons of God, and joint - heirs
with Christ. According to the
good pleasure of his will According to his free, fixed,
unalterable purpose to confer
this blessing on all those who
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
should believe in Christ, and
Ephes. 1:4,5 (NKJV)
[4] just as He chose us in Him
before the foundation of the world,
[5] having predestined us to
adoption
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“ELECT – or “CHOSEN” – Yes!! –
•Unconditionally? – NO!!!
•Individually? – NO!!!
•Violate Free Will? – NO!!!
“Predestined” – Yes
Romans 8:29-30
Romans 9:10-22
Romans 11:5-7
Eph. 1:1-14
Don McClain
•Unconditionally? – NO!!!
•Individually? – NO!!!
•Violate Free Will? – NO!!!
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
“Consequences of
Unconditional Election and
the Calvinistic view of
predestination”
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• The large majority of men are brought into the
world “predestined” by God to eternal destruction –
2 Pet 3:9; 1 Tim 2:4
• God is a respecter of persons – chooses one
sinner and condemns many others arbitrarily and
capriciously - Acts 10:34
• God is unjust – Condemns men for what He
predetermined that they do, without them having a
choice to do otherwise - 2 Cor. 5:10
• Everything is predestined – that would include sin
Don McClain– every sin . . . (Who would be responsible
W. 65th St. church
forof Christ - 9/11/2005
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Don McClain
“ ‘Non elect infants who die in their
infancy will spend eternity in hell’ –
I would answer true to that
question, you have to be elect in
order to be saved. If this question
is false, then we should perform
abortion, because abortion is the
greatest evangelistic act that has
ever taken place since the time
that Jesus walked the face of the
earth, because everyone of those
children are going straight to
heaven according to Mr.
Brown’s
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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…You have heard over and over
again that it is your choice, your
choice and what does God say?
He says, ‘I took two twins from the
same father, the same mother, the
same womb and before they were
ever born God made a choice
between them so that His choice
would stand, not yours, but His
choice…Jacob I have loved and
Esau I have hated. Did you get
that? …’”
Don McClain
(Cook-Reeves Debate, Gene Cook’s 4th
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
Negative, June 24, 2005)
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“So when he (Bruce Reeves)
stands over here and says, ‘His’
‘God is a monster, his God is not
fair, his God sends little babies to
hell, his God spanks babies
indefinitely and there is nothing
they can do about it,’ he is really
arguing against the God of the
Bible. He is really raising up his
accusation . . . against the God of
the Bible. . . .”
Don McClain
(Cook-Reeves Debate, Gene Cook’s
4th Negative, June 24,
W. 65th2005)
St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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“Both evil and good come from
God…So what happens when you
emphasize the will of man, then evil
becomes only associated, there is no
sense in which God decrees evil,
there is no sense in which God wills
evil and so evil is only from the heart
of man and from the heart of Satan,…
but we recognize as reformed
Christians that those are secondary
causes, that the first cause of evil is
God, Himself...Man does not resist
evil when he is fulfilling the decrees of
God”
Don McClain
(Is God schizophrenic? "The Two
Wills of God"
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
Gene Cook - recorded at a home bible study
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• Choosing an
employee . . .
• Looking for a
home –
• Looking for a car –
• Politics
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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We Can Choose Faith!– Acts 17:26,27
Acts 17:26-27 (NKJV)
And He has made from one blood
every nation of men to dwell on all
the face of the earth, and has
determined their preappointed times
and the boundaries of their
dwellings, [27] so that they should
seek the Lord, in the hope that
they might grope for Him and
find Him, though He is not far
from each one of us;
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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We Can Choose Faith!– Rev. 22:17
Rev. 22:17 (NKJV)
And the Spirit and the
bride say, "Come!" And let
him who hears say,
"Come!" And let him who
thirsts come. Whoever
desires, let him take the
water of life freely.
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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We Can Choose Faith!– Joshua 24:15
Jos 24:15 (NKJV)
“And if it seems evil to
you to serve the Lord,
choose for yourselves this
day whom you will serve, . .
. But as for me and my
house, we will serve the
Lord.” - Cf. Rom. 6:16-18
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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We Can Choose Faith!– Acts 22:16 - Arise
Acts 22:16 (NKJV)
And now why are
you waiting? Arise and
be baptized, and wash
away your sins, calling
on the name of the
Lord.'
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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We Can Choose Faith!– 1 Peter 3:21 – Appealing to God
1 Peter 3:21 (NASB)
And corresponding to that,
baptism now saves you-- not
the removal of dirt from the
flesh, but an appeal to God
for a good conscience-through the resurrection of
Jesus Christ,
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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God Chose Before The World:
Ephesians 1:1-14
God planned it before the world
began – Ep 1:4
The "chosen" would be holy
and without blame - Ep 1:4
The "elect" would be adopted
as sons – Ep 1:5
This plan is according to God's
good pleasure – Ep 1:5,10-13
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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God Chose Before The World:
Ephesians 1:1-14
The faithful in Christ – (1,4,5,13)
Those In Christ’s body, i.e.
church, (1-13; 2:16)
By grace through faith – (2,7,13;
2:8-10)
Baptized Into The Family of God
– (5,7,13; cf. Acts 2:38,41; Gal
3:26,27)
Don McClain
Forgiveness - Grace and
peace –
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Was This "Election" Individual Or Corporate?
Ephesians 1:1-14
God’s
election
is –“the
The obedient - becoming
members of the chosen family body of
– Galatians 3:26,27; Hebrews Christ, i.e.
5:8,9,
church”
The type of person - Mat 5:312
Those who make their “Calling
Don McClainand Election sure” – 2 Pet 1:5-
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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Ephesians 1:3 - Election – How To Get Into Christ
Eph. 1:3 (NKJV)
Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in
the heavenly places
in Christ,
Don McClain
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Holy & without
blame – (4)
•
Adoption – (5)
•
Accepted – (6)
•
Redemption,
(forgiveness) – (7)
•
Gathered together
in one – (10)
•
Obtained an
inheritance – (11)
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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Ephesians 5:26 – Election - How To Get Into Christ
Eph. 5:26 (NKJV)
that He might
sanctify and
cleanse her with
the washing of
water by the
word, (27)
Don McClain
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Holy & without
blame – (4)
•
Adoption – (5)
•
Accepted – (6)
•
Redemption,
(forgiveness) – (7)
•
Gathered together
in one – (10)
•
Obtained an
inheritance – (11)
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Eph 1 - How Do We Get Into Christ – Election – Gal. 3:27
Gal. 3:26-27 (NKJV)
For you are all sons
of God through faith
in Christ Jesus. [27]
For as many of you
as were baptized into
Christ have put on
Christ.
Don McClain
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Holy & without
blame – (4)
•
Adoption – (5)
•
Accepted – (6)
•
Redemption,
(forgiveness) – (7)
•
Gathered together
in one – (10)
•
Obtained an
inheritance – (11)
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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Ephesians 1 – Acts 2:38
Acts 2:38 (NKJV)
Then Peter said to
them, "Repent, and let
every one of you be
baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and
you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit.
Don McClain
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Holy & without
blame – (4)
•
Adoption – (5)
•
Accepted – (6)
•
Redemption,
(forgiveness) – (7)
•
Gathered together
in one – (10)
•
Obtained an
inheritance – (11)
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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Ephesians 1 – Romans 6:3,4
Romans 6:3-5 (NKJV)
Or do you not know that
as many of us as were
baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into His
death? [4] Therefore we
were buried with Him
through baptism into
death, . . . .
Don McClain
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Holy & without
blame – (4)
•
Adoption – (5)
•
Accepted – (6)
•
Redemption,
(forgiveness) – (7)
•
Gathered together
in one – (10)
•
Obtained an
inheritance – (11)
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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Ephesians 1 – Romans 6:4,5
Romans 6:3-5 (NKJV)
. . . that just as Christ
was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should
walk in newness of life. [5]
For if we have been
united together in the
likeness of His death, . . .
Don McClain
•
Holy & without
blame – (4)
•
Adoption – (5)
•
Accepted – (6)
•
Redemption,
(forgiveness) – (7)
•
Gathered together
in one – (10)
•
Obtained an
inheritance – (11)
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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The Nature of God – Cook’s view of Sovereignty cannot be true
Unconditional Election Cannot Be
True Because:
God desires that ALL MEN come to a knowledge of
the truth and be saved! – (1 Tim 2:4)
The grace of God that brings salvation has
appeared to ALL MEN! – (Titus 2:11,12)
God is NOT willing that ANY should perish but that
ALL should come to repentance! – (2 Peter 3:9)
Jesus died for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD!
(1 John 2:1,2)
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
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No Middle Ground
•
•
•
•
•
•
Capable of Responding to
God’s Grace –Rev. 22:17
•
Unconditional
Election
Conditional Election –
John 6:28,29; 2 Pet 3:9
•
Jesus Didn’t Die for
All
Jesus Died for All –Tit.
2:11,12; 2 Cor 5:14
•
Incapable of
Resisting God’s
Grace
Capable of Resisting
God’s Grace – Acts 7:51;
Ezek. 18:30-32
•
Conditional Perseverance
– Rev 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22
Incapable of
Responding to God’s
Grace
Unconditional
Perseverance
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ - 9/11/2005
Don McClain
W. 65th St. church of Christ 9/11/2005
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