The Role and Purpose of the Elect

[Aleax]

In my opinion understanding the purpose of the Elected People is one of the keys to understanding UR.

Here's something for starters. The following information is extracted from the YouTube video "Paul tells Calvin and Arminius the way it is". The author of the video is Alice Spicer; therefore all credit for this go to her, and not to me.

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Calvinists are correct when they claim that God is the author of salvation. Sinners can take no credit for making the right choice. Even this is the gift of God to the sinner.

Arminians are correct in claiming that salvation is for everyone, not just an elect few.

Paul explained in his letter to Corinthians "As in Adam ALL die, so in Christ shall ALL be made alive. The confusion on the matter comes because both Arminians and Calvinists believe in eternal torment.

Taking a look at the church history, a few important words were mistranslated, resulting in various forms of false doctrine. One of these is the Greek word aion, which is an age with a beginning and an end. Mistranslation of this word led to the belief that God punishes forever. That is why Calvin's idea of election seems so ridiculous to Arminians. Anyone who understands God's character knows that there is no justice in eternal torment. Anyone who understands God's character knows that His will is that everyone would be saved. Calvinists know that God is all powerful, and that His purpose cannot be thwarted. That is why Calvinists have such a hard time accepting Arminian views.

The thing is, as I've said, they are both right and they are both wrong.

If they both could take a good look at what Paul had to say, then they would understand. You already know that he said "As in Adam ALL die, so in Christ shall ALL be made alive." But do you know what he said next? "Each in his own turn." The reason this is not taken into account is also a result of the mistranslation of the word aion.

Calvinists' understanding of the concept of the elect is clouded by their failure to understand aion. In this aion, God is calling to Himself a group of people who're the firstfruits.

God does not do this to exclude everyone else. No, it is just the opposite. God does this to include everyone else. The elect are called to be ministers of reconciliation. Paul explained this concept in the Ephesians. Here, take a look:

Eph 1:10 in regard to the dispensation of the fulness of the times, to bring into one the whole in the Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth -- in him; 11 in whom also we did obtain an inheritance, being foreordained according to the purpose of Him who the all things is working according to the counsel of His will,

The elect are called to be ministers of reconciliation.

[Tony N]

Indeed.
Since we are to be part of the administration to head up all in the Christ, all in the heavens and all on the earth, it stands to reason that not just the believer is to be saved.

Also in Romans 8 the apostle Paul shows the creation being brought into the freedom of the children of God. Therefore, if one truly believes this, one cannot possibly hold to the idea that only believers in this life will ever be saved since more are to come in the future into the same freedom we enjoy.

[Molly]

Good stuff, guys.   :thumbsup:


And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ--everything in heaven and on earth. [Eph 1:10]



Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

[Aleax]

Good stuff, guys.   :thumbsup:

Here's more: http://www.evangelicaluniversalist.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=2151

[Phillip Macdonald]

Ironically, the founder of the current missional movement by evangelical churches across the globe was the late Lesslie Newbigin and he was a universalist!  (Dr. Tim Keller has been one of his greatest promoters.) In his book "The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society" he explains the purpose of the elect:

"God's electing grace calls into being a people charged with the responsibility of being the bearers of His universal salvation...To be chosen, to be elect, therefore does not mean that the elect are the saved and the rest are the lost.  To be the elect in Christ Jesus, and there is no other election, means to be incorporated into His mission to the world, to be the bearer of God's saving purpose for His whole world, to be the sign and the agent and the firstfruit of His blessed kingdom which is for all."
 

                                                                                      Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society ("The Logic of Election" pgs 86-87)