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Basic
explanation
Total Inability
Because of Adam’s Fall we are all born not merely wounded
but radically depraved and spiritually dead. In our natural state we are
absolutely unable to effect our own salvation. In
this condition we are slaves to sin and hostile to God, having neither the
ability nor desire to repent and turn to Him.
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Some
Representative Texts
Gen 2:17,
Job 14:4, Ps 51:5, Prov 30:12, Matt 11:25, John 3:3, 19; 5:21; 6:53; 8:19;
14:16, Acts 13:41, Rom 3:10-12; 5:12;
1 Cor 1:18, 2:14; 2 Cor 1:9; 5:17,
Eph 2:1-3, 12
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Unconditional Election
It would have been
perfectly just for God to leave mankind in this condition but instead He decided
to choose for Himself certain individuals to be His elect, His people. These
chosen ones God gave to Christ in order to be redeemed. They were not chosen due
to any foreseen merit on their part but entirely out of God’s sovereign will,
good purpose, mercy and glory.
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Deut
10:14-15, Ex 33:19, Job 42:1-2, Ps 65:4, 135:6, Is 14:24, 27; 46:9-11, Matt
11:27; 22:14; 24:22, 24, 31, Mark 13:20, Luke 18:7, John 15:16, Acts 13:48,
Rom 8:28-30; 9:10-24; 11:33-36; Eph 1:4-5; 2:10, Phil 1:29; 2:12-13, 2 Tim
2:10
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Limited Atonement
Christ suffered
and died, not for all people, but for the elect (in all generations). While
election saved no one, those elected were given to Christ in order to secure
salvation by faith. To them God also imputed the righteousness of Christ,
freeing them from all guilt and condemnation. But the unelected could not
receive the benefit of Christ’s atoning sacrifice and were left to reap the
fruit of their own abiding sinfulness.
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Matt 1:21,
Luke 19:10, John 6:35-40; 10:11, 14-18, 24-29; 17:1-11, 20, 24-26 Rom
3:24-25; 5:8-9,10, 12, 17-19, 1 Cor 1:30, 2 Cor 5:18-19, 21, Gal 1:3-4, Eph
1:3-12; 5:25-26, Col 1:21-22, Titus 2:14; 3:5-6, Heb 2:17; 3:1; 9:14-15, 1
John 1:7
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Irresistible Grace
The Holy Spirit
extends to God’s elect an effectual and irresistible
call, bringing him inevitably to faith in Christ. The Spirit creates a new
heart and nature in the dead sinner through regeneration. This supernatural
call cannot be ultimately thwarted or resisted by the sinner who, as a result
of it, freely, willingly and lovingly turns to Christ as Lord and Saviour.
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Deut 30:6,
Ez 36:26-27, Matt 11:25-27, Luke 10:21, John
1:12-13; 3:3-8; 6:37, 44-45; 6:64-65, Acts 16:14, Rom 8:14, 30; 9:23-24, 1
Cor 2:10-13; 12:3, 2 Cor 5:17-18, Gal 1:15-16, Eph 1:17-18; 2:8-9, Phil 2:12-13,
2 Tim 1:9, 1 Pet 2:9, 2 Pet 1:3
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Perseverance of the Saints
All those who have
truly answered God's call and have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit will
remain so for the rest of their lives. Those who do not so remain were never
effectually called to begin with. Thus the regenerated, elected Christian can
have confidence and assurance, knowing he is being kept by the sovereign
power and faithfulness of God.
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Is 43:1-3,
Jer 32:40, Matt 18:12-14, John 5:24;6:35-40;
10:27-30, Rom 5:8-10; 8:1, 35-39, 1 Cor 1:7-9, Eph 1:5, 13-14, 1 Thes 5:23-24, 2 Tim 4:18, Heb 9:12, 15; 12:28, 1 John
2:19, 25; 5:4, 11-13, 20
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