Unconditional Election Or Unconditional Salvation?

Dr. Leighton Flowers, Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists, briefly unpacks a mistake some non-calvinists make regarding what calvinists believe about unconditional election.

[gabrielkinzel]

As a Calvinist, I can say AMEN to everything you just said. : )

[QuintenWallace]

We believe in perseverance of the Saints. We will always keep our salvation and be saved. We believe in the golden chain of salvation.

[UnlimitedMercy]

I have to say that was a fair representation of what unconditional election is according to Calvinism, thank you for that sir.

[themasterscall]

God's Gift is Faith/Believing by His Grace - there is No Condition. Faith is the Noun and Believing is the Verb. The Elect are Saved by the Gift God gives which is Faith/Believing.

[djohnson]

Isn't it the same thing?
Or at least arrives at the same outcome?
If they are "elect" then they can't very well resist, right? (According to TULIP)

[TimothyFish]

Am I correct in thinking that this means that God is unconditionally electing people to be the kind of people that he will conditionally elect to salvation? That makes even less sense.

[lanceasher]

Calvinist cannot believe faith is a choice for salvation if they believe God as to give them unconditional election first. That just playing with words with hopes to deceive the uninformed. By that very same argument they contradict there whole predestination message.

[larrybedouin]

If Christians are unconditionally elected, then peradventure why would the names of the unelected sinners need to be blotted out of the Lambs book of life?

It is nonsensical.

[borismanurung]

Sooo...somehow it implies that free will has to be in action to finally reach salvation then....

[lanceasher]

If you're elect then your save. There is no separating that, can you have a ELECT UNBELIEVER ???

[nikao]

Wait; are you saying calvinist believe people are unconditionally elected to be saved but still can make the choice not to be saved? Or is it all who are unconditionally elected will be saved and if that's the case then it would be unconditional salvation that is connected with unconditional election. I'm glad you are still at this lighton. Calvinism is just a sad religion to be part of and instead of being angry with them I really do pitty them and that's because of how you have gone about dealing with the issue that is calvinism.

[dw]

*UNDERSTANDING THE SUBTLE NATURE OF THE TERM UNCONDITIONAL IN CALVINISM*

In Calvinism - election is both conditional and unconditional.
Because there are TWO SENSES in which the word is applicable.

1) Election - is "conditioned" upon the infallible decree
2) Election it is NOT "conditioned" upon anything having to do with the creature.

So in Calvinism - there are TWO SENSES at play in the use of this term.

When you understand this - you understand that in Calvinism - not only is election not "conditioned" upon anything having to do with the creature - but WHATSOEVER COMES TO PASS - is NOT "conditioned" upon anything having to do with the creature.

So then - there is a SENSE in which EVERYTHING is "unconditional"
Because in Calvinism - the infallible decree is NOT "conditioned" upon anything having to do with the creature.
But at the same time - EVERYTHING that comes to pass is "conditioned" upon the infallible decree.

All sins and evils which come to pass - are the byproduct of the infallible decree.
Which means that all sins and evils (because they are infallibly decreed) - come to pass - "Unconditionally"
"Unconditioned" upon anything having to do with the creature.

And following this model - the existence of all sins and evils are also "Conditioned" upon the infallible decree.

So the truth is - in Calvinism - EVERY human impulse comes to pass "unconditionally"
And at the same time - EVERY Human impulse is "conditioned" upon the infallible decree.

This gives you a sense of how many HIDDEN SUBTLETIES can be found within the Calvinist use of language! :-]

[cecilspurlockjr.]

Thats the same thing cause of the irresistible thing reformers hold to... Isn't it? Unconditional plus irresistible equals one has no choice.. Unconditional salvation.. Or am I missing something here?

[jordandthornburg]

In other words, faith is a pointless and arbitrary condition just used to get to the preselected end goal.

[protruth]

wrong, Unconditional election and unconditional salvation cannot be logically differentiated.

[robertcain]

A pretty good summation and in my opinion Calvin was reacting to the Catholic belief of works. Which has perhaps been unbalanced, as unfortunately everything is taken to extremes. The balance in the scriptures is that we can lose our calling as 'many are called, but few are chosen', the parable of the sower and Paul's admonishment to finish the race, least be disqualified.

[richardcoords]

This is technically correct, but Calvinists themselves often overthrow their own doctrines. Case in point, Calvinists refer to the "Three Salvations: from eternity past by election, in the present through an effectual calling, and in the future through perseverance of the elect."

[lanceasher]

Can a man not not believe if he is regenerated?

[isstephanie]

That is what they say they believe but break it down what does that really mean with being elect?

[JungleJargon]

Who is it that DECLARES who the elect are? Calvinists themselves? Salvation is through sanctification BY THE SPIRIT and believing what is true. You know them by their fruit.