The Adventist Way of Life

Well, this article will attempt to explain from God’s word the troubling doctrine of Calvinistic election. This false doctrine fosters a very disobedient faith in obedience to God’s commandments, a sort of “loose Christianity“.

I myself was once a believer in the false theology of Calvinism. It is based on a wrong understanding of two Biblical terms, “predestination” and the word “election“. Let us look at these two terms from a Biblical understanding. First off, let me say that as a Christian Seventh Day Adventist I have learned to use the whole Bible when ever approaching a subject.

When we look into a Bible subject we must see what God has said in many places regarding the issue. We are commanded to “rightly divide the word of truth.” [2 Timothy 2:15,16]

The Bible word “election”: The New Testament alone (depending on the translation) uses the word “elect” [“eklektos” – “chosen ones” plural] fifteen times. “Election” is used three times.  What does it mean in these contexts? Some believe the use of the word “election” is referring to the idea that God chose certain individuals to be saved and certain individuals to go to hell. Does this sound like a God of love?

Now those who believe in this sort of “salvation elitism” say things like: “God is sovereign thus He can choose people to burn in hell without any choice they may or may not make.” What you must remember is that God is referring to the fact that He elected a “nation” or “group” of people through which the gospel would be preached and that in this group some would accept the gospel and be saved.

Romans 8:29-30 reads: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Paul was not referring to particular individuals or a select number whom God willed to be eternally saved as the Calvinists teach, nor was he speaking of particular persons whom God foresaw would respond to the gospel as the Arminians teach. Paul was simply teaching that God knew long before the gospel was proclaimed to the nations of the world, that he was going to have a group ofpeople (the Elect or the Church), who would be conformed to the image of his Son, that is he would have a people who were Christ-like in character.

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:4, “God our Savior wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” It also states that God wants all men to be saved in 2 Peter 3:9, Matthew 23:37 and in Ezekiel 33:11 and 18:30. Obviously not all men are saved.

How does Calvinism explain this? Does the God of Calvinism have two wills that are in direct contradiction and hence have a multiple personality disorder? Let us look at some proof texts that Calvinists use to dodge this issue.

Many Calvinists quote Romans 3:10-12: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” The Calvinist’s main emphasis is on the idea that “there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.”

As a poet,  Psalmists frequently burst into hyperbole, especially when hot with righteous indignation. Jesus Himself said things like: “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off…”. [Matthew 5:30] Jesus says this to make a strong point, he does so in an extravagant Hebrew idiom to get the point across powerfully. This is a common Hebrew poetic practice.

But if you try and “reason from the Scriptures” with extreme Calvinists you will be wasting your time.  Why? When Calvinism is shown to have logical contradictions, many Calvinists usually reply that God’s thoughts are unsearchable, and therefore the logical problems that Calvinism has, for example divine election and human responsibility, exhaustive sovereignty and human free will, and God’s having two contradictory wills, are solved by invoking the phrase, “well that’s a mystery.”

It is true that God has many things that we cannot understand but the Gospel of salvation is made so clear in Scripture that even a child may understand. You have a choice! Good or evil! God or the Devil! It’s that simple.

God asks His children in numerous places to “make a choice“. “Choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” [Joshua 24:15]

The Biblical word “predestination”: The word “predestined” appears five or six times (depending on the translation), and  those usages refer to groups of people being predestined to salvation but never individuals. Once again, Paul was not referring to particular individuals or a select number whom God willed to be eternally saved as the Calvinists teach, nor was he speaking of particular persons whom God foresaw would respond to the gospel as the Arminians teach. Paul was simply teaching that God knew long before the gospel was proclaimed to the nations of the world, that he was going to have a group of people (the Elect or the Church), who would be conformed to the image of his Son, that is he would have a people who were Christ-like in character.

We need to understand that “Pre” simply means an earlier or prior time. Let us look at Ephesians 1:9-14. I will insert contextual notes so you can see what Paul is saying. Remember, context controls the meaning of any passage:

“9)- Having made clear to us [the Jews, the Jewish people] the secret of his purpose, in agreement with the design which he had in mind, to put into his hands 10)- The ordering of the times when they are complete, so that all things might come to a head in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on the earth; in him, I say, 11)- In whom we have a heritage, being marked out [pre-chosen; pre-destined] from the first in his purpose who does all things in agreement with his designs; 12)- So that his glory might have praise through us who first had hope in Christ: [Jewish people]  13)- In whom you also, [Gentiles; non-Jews] having been given the true word, the good news of your salvation, and through your faith in him, were given the sign of the Holy Spirit of hope, 14)- Which is the first-fruit of our heritage, till God gets back that which is his, to the praise of his glory.”

Here we see that the apostle Paul is not refereing to pre-chosen individuals but a pre-chosen race of people through whom the plan of redemption would be known, even to the Gentiles [the rest of the world]. Biblically the term ”predestiniation” is primarily associated with the call of the Jews and Gentiles to join together, “to make in himself of twain one new man (the Church), so making peace,” between these two estranged people. [Eph 2:15]

 To correctly understand the term predestination we must appreciate the historical context in which Paul wrote his epistles and also God’s original purpose in Creation. The Bible teaches that God takes pleasure in the death of no person! [Ezekiel 18:32] Every person who has ever been born is in need of salvation. Nobody is more “special” than his brother or sister. Some believe that they have to earn their salvation while others teach that they are “special” and that it is all given to them on a “silver platter”. So they live like the rest of the world and say things like; “Ha, ha! I am saved because God prechose little o’l me and not you!” Well, these are the two extremes that the Bible warns against.

The Bible decalares that God is not a “respector of people”. Acts 10:34 & 35 reads; “Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” We also read that;

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering  toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. [2 Peter 3:9]

I have read so many long thick books by Christians trying to justify that God chose them because they and their sect are more “special” and nobody else has a chance. Look! The Bible is simple! God wants to save people, all who come to Him! It’s really that simple folks. It should be plain that it is at least God’s desire that none should perish. Psalm 74:12 says that God is “working salvation in the midst of the earth.” II Timothy 2:4 likewise says that our Saviour “desires [will[s] (KJV); wishes (Amplified)] all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

One last thought, a lot of Calvinists seem to think just because God knew before the foundation of the world who was going to be saved that somehow that means that He picked certain people to be saved. That’s like saying that since God knew who was going to be a murderer that he chose certain people to be murderers, or rapists, or pedophiles, etc.

Let us be carefull, fellow Christians! Remember, we serve a God of love. He loves every single one of you and He has given you the ability to make choices. Take this gift of choice and choose Jesus Christ today..even this second!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16]

And last, please consider the following passage found in Romans 11:13-22…….,

“I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.”

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.”

 Written by Eric W. King [some portions taken from Eric's earlier writtings]. Completed on September 12,2007 [updated January 11,2008]

For another study regarding the same topic please visit the following link:

The Jewish nation predestined to reveal Christ

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