Salvation is NOT by works. Jacob was elect, and yet both a liar and a thief. David was elect and an adulterer. Paul hated and consented to the death of Christians, but was elect. Even after their salvation, Paul and Peter argued (see the Jerusalem Council). John Mark, Barnabas, and Paul did not always get along (Acts 15). Then let us cap this off and say that there was still sin in the church (Corinth, the church in Revelation, the letters of Paul and others written to counter a false gospel, et. al.). Thus, your premise is false. NOTHING can keep the elect from heaven (Rom. 9:33-39; Phil. 1:6, etc.).

It is because of the decree of election that God could punish the sins of the elect in Christ upon the cross; otherwise He would have to judge our sin accordingly. If the election plan had not been in place then we ALL would have gone to Hell for God is HOLY and MUST JUDGE sin. In addition, Christ’s death does not make the salvation of the elect a mere possibly, but a genuine reality (Luke 2:11; 19:10; John 3:17; 6:39)! As Packer so eloquently puts it, “Christ did not win a hypothetical salvation for hypothetical believers, a mere possibility of salvation for any who might possibly believe, but a real salvation for His own chosen people. His precious blood really does "save us all;" the intended effects of His self-offering do in fact follow, just because the Cross was what it was. Its saving power does not depend on faith being added to it; its saving power is such that faith flows from it. The Cross secured the full salvation of all for whom Christ died. "God forbid," therefore, "that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." As Murray says, “The word of the angel to Joseph, "Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21) implies the certitude of salvation and not mere possibility.” And “when Paul says that "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:25), he is alluding to Christ's sacrificial offering. But he also states the design: "that he might sanctify and cleanse it . . . that he might present it to himself a glorious church" (vss. 26, 27).”

1 Thessalonians 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

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Reformed and Always Reforming,