“Name me one Calvinist poster on this thread that does not believe that he or she is of the Scriptural elect. How does that belief occur?”
God in His mercy has made it clear in His Word that the assurance of salvation is granted to any who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and in Him alone for their salvation. Calvinists call this ‘perspicuity.’I am confident the citations to the Word have been provided numerous times in the past.
“Where is it written that, for example, the poster known as esquirette knows that he or she is of the elect?”
In fact, only the one who endures to the end is manifestly saved (citation omitted), so our election individually is not written where you and I may read it, but I pray that my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The Bible is replete with how the righteous (elect) will behave. We should all be checking ourselves against the standard He has set for us as set forth in, say, Psalm 1. Again, numerous citations omitted.
“If there is no direct message from God - a blinding light on the road to Damascus in the companionship of several friends might do ...”
Surely, we do have the Law and the Prophets, and the Lord Himself stated that these would be sufficient to tell us of the way to Heaven. See Luke 16.
“. . . - that you (the individual) are of that elect now, then either one must contradict the Calvinist teaching that the elect is not all of mankind, or else that Calvinists are Gnostic and not Christian at all.”
True - the term ‘elect’ encompasses not all of mankind, for the Calvinist is not a universalist, but perhaps I misunderstand your point, for it seems that the lack of universality is the notion to which you object.
This is sort of like the Jews being the ‘chosen people.’ Some take that to mean God chose them because they were special, and therefore they were chosen. Quite the contrary. They are special because God chose them.
The elect are chosen by God purely on His own merit and by His own grace and mercy. They are not saved because they are elect. They are elect because they are saved, and that not of themselves. Nothing to boast about, unless they boast in Christ. More citations omitted.
God in His mercy has made it clear in His Word that the assurance of salvation is granted to any who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and in Him alone for their salvation. Calvinists call this "perspicuity." I am confident the citations to the Word have been provided numerous times in the past.
AMEN!
Many of them conveniently ignore the fact that one cannot repent of future sins. If you repent today and sin tomorrow, your repentence does not extend to tomorrow. If you believe in Jesus and Him alone for salvation, and continue to sin and do not repent as often as you have sinned, that is hardly evidence of perspicuity. That is evidence of self-declared salvation and has no business in Christian belief.
In fact, only the one who endures to the end is manifestly saved (citation omitted), so our election individually is not written where you and I may read it, but I pray that my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The Bible is replete with how the righteous (elect) will behave. We should all be checking ourselves against the standard He has set for us as set forth in, say, Psalm 1. Again, numerous citations omitted.
The Jews believe that the Book of Life contains all the names of all the humans ever created. It is only by sin and Judgement that one's name is erased. Revelation 3 might be pertinent here.
Revelation 3: 1 1 "To the angel of the church in Sardis, 2 write this: " 'The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: "I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. 4 However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. 5 " '"The victor will thus be dressed in white, 3 and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels.
Your imitation of Christ will cause your name to stay in the Book of Life - presumably the reverse is also true, given the entire Gospel message.
Surely, we do have the Law and the Prophets, and the Lord Himself stated that these would be sufficient to tell us of the way to Heaven. See Luke 16.
It's still the Lord's call. Your Judgement from Him will direct you to Heaven if He determines that you are to be saved.
True - the term ‘elect’ encompasses not all of mankind, for the Calvinist is not a universalist, but perhaps I misunderstand your point, for it seems that the lack of universality is the notion to which you object.
The Book of Life has all men's names written in it. Yet their names can be blotted out for their deeds. Not all men will be saved. Part of the Christian responsibility is to aid all men to be saved. The Beatitudes give some guidance.
This is sort of like the Jews being the ‘chosen people.’ Some take that to mean God chose them because they were special, and therefore they were chosen. Quite the contrary. They are special because God chose them.
The analogy really doesn't work here. The Jews were chosen; Christians are grafted in to the vine. Those who are unChristian are cut off and thrown away to be burned.
The elect are chosen by God purely on His own merit and by His own grace and mercy. They are not saved because they are elect. They are elect because they are saved, and that not of themselves. Nothing to boast about, unless they boast in Christ. More citations omitted.
Even Paul preaches the gospel of Judgement by deeds.