Hi Forest, Harley: how does the idea of an "elect" square with the idea that "heaven rejoices each time a sinner is saved"? If there is an elect then there would be no sinners -- there'd be only "the elect" and "the non-elect".
Do you not believe in an "elect"?
(Mat 24:22 KJV) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
(Mat 24:24 KJV) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
(Mat 24:31 KJV) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Mar 13:20 KJV) And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
(Mar 13:22 KJV) For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
(Mar 13:27 KJV) And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
(Luk 18:7 KJV) And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
(Rom 8:33 KJV) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
(Rom 9:11 KJV) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
(Rom 11:5 KJV) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
(Rom 11:7 KJV) What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
(Rom 11:28 KJV) As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
(Col 3:12 KJV) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(1Th 1:4 KJV) Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
(1Ti 5:21 KJV) I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
(2Ti 2:10 KJV) Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
(Tit 1:1 KJV) Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
(1Pe 1:2 KJV) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
(1Pe 2:6 KJV) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
(1Pe 5:13 KJV) The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
(2Pe 1:10 KJV) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
(2Jo 1:1 KJV) The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
(2Jo 1:13 KJV) The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
Hello, Cronos - maybe one way to look at this is that Heaven is populated by those who are God and those who are not. It would not sound unreasonable to me that only those who are God would know who the elect are. So, God would naturally rejoice at the salvation of all the elect, even though He already knew it in advance. To all others, it would be news and so there would also be rejoicing.
I do not understand your statement that if there is an elect, there are no sinners. All of the elect were and are sinners. The elect have simply been purchased, bought and paid for, and forgiven. We are wholly owned within the family of God. The sins Christ died for include all sins of the elect, past and future.