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lacknothing said:
So why was there a Great Commission? Why did Jesus instruct his Disciples to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Mat 28:19"? Or did I take that of context to?

Why would Jesus tell his Disciples to go out to ALL nations if he was going to chose. Jesus didn't say Go ye therefore, and teach all nations that my father hath chosen, he said "Go ye therefore, and teach ALL nations."

Am I missing something here?
<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/yep.gif" alt="" /> that you are, and not just someTHING but whole bunch of things. That's why in my first reply I tried to bring you back to "Square 1". When one, by the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, comes to understand just how sinful they are and how helpless they are to do anything about it, they will be just like Martin Luther who is quoted as saying, "I'd believe in Unconditional Election even if it wasn't in the Bible". The truth is, because all are conceived in sin, are guilty before God inherently and are born spiritually dead, if it wasn't for Unconditional Election, no one could be saved.

Now.. as others have pointed out, one does not become elect. One is chosen by God (elected) from eternity. In God's perfect and appointed time the Holy Spirit comes and regenerates (new birth) the elect, creating spiritual life within them with a new disposition that is inclined toward God and all that is holy and good, draws them through conviction of sin and opening their eyes to the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work and His irresistible loveliness. Thus, they are infallibly saved by grace through faith in Christ.

So, this plan of God, from creation to the New Heaven and New Earth whereby He has chosen to save for Himself a remnant of Adam's fallen race to His own glory, is from eternity but executed in time. God not only decreed the end but the means to that end. Thus, it is the Holy Spirit working in and through the preaching of the Gospel that sinners are called to repentance and faith, which the Holy Spirit makes possible in regeneration. All is of God... all is of grace. You would do well to pick up this book, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, by J.I. Packer. And The Highway has quite a number of good articles and books you can freely access and read here: Evangelism

This might interest you: God's Indisputable Sovereignty.

And also as others have already mentioned, there is a nice selection of articles here: Articles on Predestination and Q&A items also.

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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