Page 211 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ELDERLY - ELECT

groups of the redeemed is co-enthronement promised Calvinism is a theology that was developed by John
(Re. 3:21). Not yet is Christ seated on his own throne on Calvin (1509-64) in the sixteenth century. He presented
earth, but these kingly ones, having been presented this theology in his Institutes of Christian Religion, which
faultless with the exceeding joy of the Lord, must be subsequently became the cornerstone of Presbyterian
with him (Jn. 17:24; 1 Th. 4:17). (b) The number of and Reformed theology. It is also called TULIP theology.
these representative elders, in a book where numbers Calvin himself did not use the term TULIP to describe
are so great a part of the symbolism, is significant. For his theology, but it is an accurate, though simplified,
24 is the number of the courses into which the Levitical representation of his views, and every standard point of
priesthood was divided (1 Ch. 24:1-19), and of all the TULIP theology can be found in Calvin’s Institutes.
groups of the redeemed only the church is a priesthood A SUMMARY OF TULIP THEOLOGY
(1 Pe. 2:5-9; Re. 1:6). (c) The testimony of the Calvinistic theology was summarized into five points
enthroned elders marks them as representing the during the debate over the teachings of Jacobus
church: ‘And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art Arminius (1560-1609). Arminius studied under
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: Theodore Beza, Calvin’s successor at Geneva, but he
for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy rejected Calvinism and taught his non-Calvinist theology
blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and in Holland. Arminius’ followers arranged his teaching
nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and under the following five points and began to distribute
priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Re. 5:9-10). this theology among the Dutch churches in 1610: (1)
The church, and the church only, can thus testify. (d) Free will, or human ability, (2) Conditional election, (3)
Eldership is a representative office (Ac. 15:2; 20:17). Universal Redemption, or General Atonement, (4)
The elders are, symbolically, the church, and they are Resistible Grace, and (5) Insecure Faith. These points
seen in heaven in the place which the Scriptures assign were rejected at the state-church Synod of Dort in
the church before a seal is opened or a woe uttered, and Holland in 1618-1619 (attended as well by
before a vial of the wrath of God is poured out. And in representatives from France, Germany, Switzerland, and
all that follows, to the twentieth chapter, the church is Britain), and this Synod formulated the “five points of
never once referred to as on earth (C.I. Scofield, Will Calvinism” in resistance to Arminianism. Arminius
the Church Pass Through the Great Tribulation?). [See followers were thereafter put out of their churches and
Old Age, Pastor.] persecuted by their Calvinist brethren.
ELDERLY. [See Old Age.] In the late 18th century, the five points of Calvinism
ELEAD (God is witness). 1 Ch. 7:21. were rearranged under the acronym TULIP as a memory
ELEALEH (God is exalted). Nu. 32:3. aid.
ELEASAH (God is doer). 1 Ch. 2:39. Total Depravity: Man is totally corrupt and dead in
ELEAZAR (God is helper). Ex. 6:22. his sin so that he cannot even respond to the gospel
ELECT, ELECTION. The term “elect” refers to at least unless God sovereignly enables him, which only
four things in the Bible: (1) Jesus Christ (1 Pe. 2:6). (2) happens if he is one of the elect. God not only must
Angels which did not fall with Satan (1 Ti. 5:21). (3) enable the dead sinner but must sovereignly regenerate
God’s election of the nation Israel (Ro. 9:9-13). Calling him and give him the gift of faith. In the words of the
Abraham out of the world, then choosing Isaac instead Westminster Confession Total Depravity is defined as
of Ishmael, and Jacob instead of Esau. (4) Those who follows: “Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly
receive God’s salvation in Jesus Christ (Mt. 24:22, 24, lost all ability of will to any spiritual good
31; Lk. 18:7; Ro. 8:33; Col. 3:12; 1 Th. 1:4; 2 Ti. 2:10; accompanying salvation; so as a natural man being
Tit. 1:1; 1 Pe. 5:13; 2 Pe. 1:10). It is also called altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not
predestination and foreordained (Ep. 1:5, 11). able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to
Some Lessons about Election for Salvation: (1) Election prepare himself thereunto.”
is based on God’s foreknowledge (1 Pe. 1:2). (2) Election The Calvinist doctrine of Total Depravity does not
means God planned man’s salvation before the creation mean merely that the sinner has no righteousness of his
(Ep. 1:5, 11). It means God, by his foreknowledge, has own or that his heart is depraved. It means also that his
predestinated the Christian to a glorious future (1 Pe. will is in bondage to sin in such a fashion that he is
1:2-4; Ro. 8:29-30). It is not who is predestinated, but unable to believe the gospel. Further, it means that he
what we are predestinated to. (3) Election does not mean must therefore be born again before he can believe.
God arbitrarily chooses who will be saved and who will Arthur Pink states this doctrine as follows: “Faith is not
not be. He has revealed that He wants all men to be the cause of the new birth, but the consequence of it.
saved (2 Pe. 3:9). This ought not to need arguing. ... Faith is a spiritual
grace, the fruit of the spiritual nature, and because the

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