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To: Frumanchu; xzins
Yes, but in Arminianism it is only those which are foreseen to respond in faith who are elected. The distinguishing factor rests with the individuals, thereby making Him a respector of persons.

Fru, that doesn't even make sense. Say two men are caught in a crime. One confesses to it up front, expresses remorse, and begs the court's mercy. The other lies repeatedly (and is caught), expresses no remorse, and defies the judge. Would you call the judge a respector of persons if he let the first off with community service and throws the second man in jail for the full term allowed by the law? Or would you say that the judge was both just and merciful in using his authority to go easy on the penitant man and slap down the defiant one.

A "respector of persons" is someone who bases his opinion of someone on their social status or some other accident of their birth rather than on that person's behavioral choices. For God to single some out based on "His good pleasure" for salvation and some for damnation would be the very essence of respecting persons unless He is simply being capricious--which would not describe the God of the Bible! But on the other hand, for God to choose in His sovereignty to give us a valid choice and then make His election based on His foreknowledge of us (which is exactly how Rom. 8:31 and 1 Pt. 1:2 say He goes about it) is not.

288 posted on 08/02/2005 5:23:25 PM PDT by Buggman (Baruch ata Adonai Elohanu, Mehlech ha Olam, asher nathan lanu et derech ha y’shua b’Mashiach Yeshua.)
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To: Buggman

see #271


289 posted on 08/02/2005 5:28:00 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
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