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October 18, 2019 (this is an accidental re-post from October 10, 2019)
Dave, does Acts 15:7-8 teach unconditional divine election?
Based on the false conclusion that man is totally incapable of believing in Christ of his own volition before he is born again, the second point of Calvinism concludes that God must have “unconditionally elected” only certain people to be saved. This unconditional election is made strictly on the basis of God’s sovereign choice, completely apart from any foresight or recognition of man’s volition or choice to believe in Christ.
I do not think this is what the NT teaches. I believe that God chooses individuals for salvation, but He did not choose them apart from their own choice to believe in Him. In other words, nowhere in Scripture does it say He chooses people to believe or predestined them to believe. Rather, He chooses to save those who place their faith or trust in His Son. God’s offer of salvation is for everybody, not just certain people.
Peter was not chosen for eternal life or death, but God chose him for a particular mission, i.e., that through Peter’s preaching the Gentiles would believe the gospel. And the result of the mission was that the Gentiles did believe in Jesus for eternal life. Peter’s election concerned eternal life (i.e., he was chosen to preach it!), but it was not to eternal life. He was chosen to serve.
Peter indicates that God had chosen him for the initial ministry to the Gentiles. It does not say that God chose him for eternal life. Even though the text doesn’t say it, Peter could be considered an elect person or a select one for that ministry at that time.
Sources Used
Badger, Anthony B. Confronting Calvinism: A Free Grace Refutation and Biblical Resolution of Radical Reformed Soteriology, 163.
Lazar, Shawn. Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life. Grace Evangelical Society.
Stegall, Tom. Must Faith Endure for Salvation to Be Sure?: A Biblical Study of the Perseverance versus Preservation of the Saints. Grace Gospel Press, chapter 3.