CALVINISTIC-REFORMED THEOLOGY DOCTRINE ON MATTHEW 24 REFUTED AND EXPOSED (Part 3)

CALVINISTIC-REFORMED THEOLOGY DOCTRINE ON MATTHEW 24 REFUTED AND EXPOSED (Part 3)

KENUTE P. CURRY

And the Word of the LORD came to me…….

Once the definition of the words “elect/chosen” are established biblically, the foundation of Calvinism will collapse and the true identity of the elect in Matthew 24 will come into view. The words “election, elect, chosen” are terms that have nothing to do with one’s eternal destiny. Scripture does speak at length of “the elect” and “the chosen” but these terms are devoid of the Calvinistic sense of someone who has been elected to receive eternal life.

 The term elect and its derivatives are "not salvific” in meaning but simply refer to persons or things that are chosen for a particular purpose and " the purpose has nothing to do with eternal life."

The word elect ( בָּחִיר bāḥiyr, Heb, ἐκλέγομαι ĕklĕgŏmai, Gk) means to  choose, select. The elect or chosen are those people or things that have been elected, selected, or chosen for a particular purpose by someone.

God chose the tribe of Levi - “For Yahweh your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes to stand and minister in His name from now on.” (Deuteronomy 18:5; 1 Chronicles 15:2).

God and the people chose Saul to be the first king of Israel: “Now here is the king you’ve chosen, the one you requested. Look, this is the king the Lord has placed over you” (1 Samuel 12:13). Saul’s election by God to be king had nothing to do with eternal life and his removal from being king likewise had nothing to do with eternal life. “Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king. (1 Samuel 15:23) - Saul was simply removed from his post.

Judas is analogous (corresponding in particular) to Saul in many ways because they were both elected for a purpose (not salvation) yet they both forfeited their election.

God’s election of the Messiah further demonstrates that the term “elect/election” is devoid of the Calvinistic concept of eternal life.

"My Servant…My Chosen One (בָּחִיר bāḥiyr, Heb; ἐκλεκτός eklektós, Gk) I delight in Him(Isaiah 42:1; 49:7). This title was used of Jesus on the cross - “let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” (Luke 23:35; 1 Peter 2:4, 6). Jesus was unquestionably chosen, elected, predestined by God to be the Messiah but His election was not for His salvation; He was chosen by the Father to give us eternal life because he is the source of life!

God also elected for Jerusalem to be His city and for His name to be there, (1 Kings 8:44, 11:32, 36; 2 Chronicles 6:6; Psalm 132:13). God chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

Jesus pointed out in a parable that the guests chose (ἐκλέγομαι ĕklĕgŏmai, Gk) the best seats, (Luke 14:8).

The conclusion from each of the examples is that “election has nothing to do with predestination to eternal life.” God chose priests, kings and Jerusalem for His purposes and man chose both God and idols. We would be wrong to try to insert the concept of eternal life into the term election.

This is the Word of the LORD!

© 2015 Kenute P. Curry.  All rights reserved.