Pharaoh, like Judas, is a unique character who served a specific purpose in salvation history and can not be take as a model for individual salvation. Additionally, in both cases the Scripture reveals that Pharaoh and Judas were committed to their courses of evil and that God HARDENED them in their chosen courses.
“The Pharaoh never had the power to overcome God’s will and set the Jews free.”
And just a few verses later we see that the unelect can turn into the the elect...
“”Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’””
Calvinism loves to cherry picking verses from Romans to support a predestination scheme that is ultimately unbiblical in nature.
For example, how can a Calvinist explain the following....
“That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. “
Otherwise
you
too
will
be
cut off
In the Calvinist universe, how can the “elect” who “stand fast through faith” ever be “cut off”?
Imagine, if you will, being present at Sinai and still live in a state of unbelief. Yet that is exactly what happened. We see over and over with the nation of Israel that the people could not refrain from sin, and we see other examples of Godly men and women who are held up as spiritual lights to us.
The "elect" is not a physical group, something the world today still has difficulty grasping. There is a physical Israel and there is a spiritual Israel, big difference.
Imagine being in Christ's Presence and still not believing. Yet this is exactly what happened, many times.
Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Today we have "Christian" nations. Do you really believe that every individual that is born into one is a believer? We have "Christian" churches, is every member a believer?
The bible is clear that "the elect" are ordained to believe and the rest aren't. "Ye must be born again". It's God's Plan of Salvation, it's not mankind's plan.
Calvinists did not make up the Plan of Salvation and/or it’s accompanying doctrine of predestination. All of it is biblical. Calvinists at least try honestly to understand and explain it, in the limit to which mankind can understand the ineffable works of God. None of us understand everything, but many are able to understand at different levels, again, at the grace of God, not through our own efforts, except we are promised that our attempts at understanding and our dilligence will be rewarded.
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise
Pharaoh was no different than any of the other 'lost souls' found in Scripture. The point was that they were used for a specific purpose by God and they did not have the free will to do otherwise.
“”Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’””
FWIW, if you could note the book, chapter and verse I can go back and read the passage to respond better.
I do note in this that it is God who transforms these people, not God waiting for them to do it themselves.
In the Calvinist universe, how can the “elect” who “stand fast through faith” ever be “cut off”?
All I can tell you as a Baptist is I believe and trust my Savior Jesus Christ.
John 10:27-28 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."
If the devil can't snatch me out of Jesus' hand I don't believe I can wiggle out.
***In the Calvinist universe, how can the “elect” who “stand fast through faith” ever be “cut off”?***
They can’t. The Reformed believe that the limo ride is binding and the Reformed Holy Spirit frogmarches the previously unaware elect to the limo where the comfort is complete and through the windows of the limo, whilst gorging on celestial caviar and champagne, they can watch the Reformed reprobate trudging without respite directly into hell.
I realize that this is a rather old post and the conversation may have past well beyond this statement. But I do feel bound to support the dear Rev Calvin whenever possible. This verse, as the entire book of Romans (indeed the entire Bible), is totally consistent with Calvin's view on election. Paul is not talking to a specific person when he states "you". Rather he is talking to the nation of the Gentile.
You are in error to suggest there are "unique character who served a specific purpose in salvation history". I once thought like that but I realized that I was in error. God shows no partiality.
The real issue is that man is TOTALLY depended upon the grace and mercy of God, be he saved or unsaved. All God has to do in any of our lives is to simply lift His divine restraining hand, and we will be off doing all sorts of mischief. God hardened Pharaoh's heart simply by lifting His hand from Pharaoh. God allowed Satan to enter Judas simply at the time He chose and under His circumstance. Likewise, we should never be so bold as to think we are special or unique since that is an indication of pride-one of the worst fault. God could, at any moment, decide to lift His restraining hand over us and we would fall into ruin.
BTW-Those who don't believe that God "elects" His people certainly have a hard time explaining the Old Testament of God's CHOSEN people.