Ephesians 1: 11 (NIV): "In Him we were also chosen -- having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything, in conformity with the purpose of His will".

Romans 8: 29 (NIV) For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that He (Jesus) might be the FIRSTBORN among MANY BROTHERS. (See link Children of God; BROTHERS of Jesus.)

Ephesians 1: 4 (NEB) "In Christ, He chose us, before the world was founded, to be dedicated, to be without blemish in His sight; and He destined us -- such was His will and pleasure -- to be accepted as His sons, through Jesus Christ."

Same (NRSV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as He chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before Him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as His children, through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will.

Jeremiah 1: 4 (NRSV) Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; and before you were born, I consecrated you.

2 Corinthians 1: 21 (NEB) "And if you and we belong to Christ, guaranteed as His, and anointed, it is ALL God's doing. It is God, also, who has set His seal upon us; and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our heart."

John 6: 44 and 65 (NIV) (Jesus speaking) No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me, draws him.... 65 He (Jesus) went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me, unless the Father has enabled him."

John 6: 44 and 65 (NRSV) No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father, who SENT ME; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned FROM THE FATHER comes to me.... 65 And He said, "For this reason I have told you that NO ONE can come to me, unless it is GRANTED by the Father."

2 Thessalonians 2: 13 (RSV) "We give thanks for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you, from the beginning, to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit, and belief in the truth."

John 15: 16 (NRSV) (Jesus speaking) You did not choose me.... but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last -- so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. 18 "If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world -- therefore the world hates you.

Psalm 28: 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield -- in Him my heart TRUSTS; so I am helped.... and my heart exults -- and with my song I give thanks to Him. 8 The LORD is the strength of His people. He is the saving refuge of HIS ANOINTED. 9 O save YOUR PEOPLE.... and bless your heritage. Be their shepherd -- and carry them.... forever.

1 Corinthians 1: 23 (NRSV) ....but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews, and "foolishness" to Gentiles. 24 But, to those who are the called.... both Jews and Greeks.... Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom; and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

2 Timothy 1: 8 (NIV) So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us, and called us to a holy life -- not because of ANYTHING we have DONE.... but because of His own purpose, and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time.

Same (NEB) It is He (God) who brought us salvation, and called us to a dedicated life, not for any merit of ours, but for His own purpose, and His own grace. granted to us through Christ Jesus from all eternity.

Romans 8: 29 (NEB) "For God knew His own before ever they were....; and it is these, so FORE-ORDAINED, whom He has also called...."

Romans 8: 31 (NRSV) What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?.... 33 "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has CHOSEN? It is God who justifies".

(JNT Note: To "justify" means "to make just", or to make "righteous". God "justifies" those whom He has chosen. That is -- it is not man, not "the church", not "baptism", not the minister, not we ourselves, not our works, not "pretend-belief", and not our reciting creeds..... that have any part in deciding who is, or who will be, "justified" by God. "It is God who justifies".... not God plus something.... or God plus anything.)

Romans 11: 5 (NIV) So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works -- if it were, grace would no longer be grace. What then? What Israel sought so earnestly, it did not obtain; but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written (Paul quoting Isaiah 29: 10): "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see, and ears so that they could not hear -- to this very day."

Romans 9: 15 and 18 (NIV) For He (God) says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 18 Therefore, God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy -- and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

Same (Romans 9: 18 [NRSV]) So then He has mercy on whomever He chooses.... and He hardens the heart of whomever He chooses.

Romans 9: 20 (NIV) But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, `Why did you make me like this?'" 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes -- and some for common use? 22 What if God, choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath -- prepared for DESTRUCTION? 23 What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy.... whom HE prepared in advance for GLORY!
(Author's note: verses 21 and 22.... made for "common use", and "prepared for destruction".... seem to be further references to those who are NOT "chosen".)

Acts 13: 48 (NEB) "When the Gentiles heard this, they were overjoyed, and thankfully acclaimed the word of the Lord; and those who were marked out for eternal life, became believers."

Acts 10: 40 (NEB) "God raised Him (Jesus) to life on the third day, and allowed Him to appear, not to the whole people, but to witnesses whom God had chosen in advance."

Same (NIV) "He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen -- by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

Galatians 1: 15 (NEB) Paul speaking: "But then in His good pleasure, God, who had set me apart from birth, and called me through His grace, chose to reveal His son to me."

Ezekiel 34: 11 et seq. (NEB) "I myself (God) will ask after my sheep, and go in search of them. I will bring them out from every nation, and gather them in from other lands, and lead them home." 22 "Therefore, I will SAVE my flock, and they shall be ravaged no more. I (God) will judge between one sheep, and another." (See link, "God's Sheep".)

Luke 2: 14 (NRSV) "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace among those whom HE favors!

Deuteronomy 14: 1 You are the children of the LORD your God..... 2 You are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be His treasured possession.

1 Corinthians 2 (NRSV) 14 Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them; and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 Those who are spiritual (JNT: the "chosen") discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny.

Romans 9: 8-11 (NIV) In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son." 10 Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad -- in order that God's purpose in election might stand 12 not by works, but by Him who calls -- she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

John 6: 44 (NRSV) (Jesus speaking): "No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me..... 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned, from the Father, comes to me."

John 6: 64 (NRSV) Jesus speaking: But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And He (Jesus) said, "For this reason, I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."

John 5: 21 (RSV) "For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will."

Same, Jerusalem Bible: "The Son gives life to anyone He chooses."

Same (NIV) "The Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it."

Matthew 24: 31 (NEB) Jesus speaking: "With a trumpet blast, He (God) will send out His angels, and will gather His chosen from the four winds, from the farthest bounds of heaven on every side."

1 Peter 1: 1 (NIV) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.... to God's elect.... strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit....

John 3: (NRSV) Jesus speaking: 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Isaiah 43: 7 (NEB) "Bring my sons and daughters from afar. Bring them from the ends of the earth. Bring everyone who is called by my name, all whom I have created, whom I have formed, all whom I have made for my glory."

Isaiah 43: 10 (KJV) Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am He. Before me, there was no God formed; neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me, there is no saviour.

Revelations 17: 14 (NRSV) These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Revelations 13: 8 (RSV) "And all who dwell on earth will worship it.... every one whose name has NOT been written before the foundation of the world, in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain."

Psalm 106: 4 (NIV) "Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people. Come to my aid when you save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of your CHOSEN ONES, that I may share in the joy of your nation, and join your inheritance in giving praise."

2 Peter 1: 10 (NEB) All the more then, my friends, exert yourselves to clinch God's choice and calling of you.

Acts 2: 47 (NEB) And day by day, the Lord added to their number those whom He was saving.

John 1: 11 (NRSV) He came to what was His own, and His own people did not accept Him. 12 But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God -- 13 children who were born -- not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man -- but of God.

Acts 2: 38 (NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call."

John 17: 1 (NRSV) After Jesus had spoken these words, He looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given Him authority over all people -- to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him.

Isaiah 65: 22 (NIV) No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. 23 They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD -- they and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking -- I will hear.

(John 12: 44 [NRSV] Then JESUS cried aloud: "Whoever believes in me believes NOT IN ME, but in HIM who sent me. 45 And, whoever SEES ME.... SEES HIM who sent me.)

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Romans 8: 33 (NRSV) "Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies."


8/18/07