UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION: Free Will VS Predestination (Calvinism Series: TULIP Part 3) | ask Theocast 

If free will doesn't exist the Satan truly was treated unfairly.

I have been trying to show how this is true but it is sad how many resist this correct interpretation. This is so easy to see I cant understand how it is not more accepted.

Sovereign comes from the 13th century French, meaning to be supreme over the land. Sovereignty pertains to the sovereign. Distilled, THE sovereign is the highest authority, above which there is no appeal. Some, not all, definitions also hold that Sovereign also means the most powerful or highest power. 1. The Bible does not say that God is sovereign. 2. Sovereign does not mean control. Never did, does not now and never will, outside the false new-ish redefining of Calvinism. 3. God is THE sovereign. 4. Sayinjg that God SOVEREIGNLY did this or said that, is nothing but a bullying tactic, as ALL that God does, he does sovereignty. The funny thing in the Calvinist claim of sovereign election UNTO SALVATION is that this claim is absent scripture! God's two wills??? That doctrine calls God a liar

One of my fav verses is Acts 13:48. Notice how that verse is constructed. it says all who were appointed to eternal believed. It does not say all who believed were appointed to eternal life

So we have to start from a faulty premise to understand this?

Wait, so I can't really tell my kids that God loves them because it has yet to be seen?

I listened in case a Scripture was cited to support his position. After a bunch of mental framing and commentary assuming he was correct, at around the 1:45 timestamp, I heard what seemed a reference to Ephesians 2:1 - "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;" The more/less default Calvinist take on what Eph 2:1 is explained by inconsistent Calvinist Warren Wiersbe: "This means spiritually dead; that is, he is unable to understand and appreciate spiritual things. Just as a person physically dead does not respond to physical stimuli, so a person spiritually dead is unable to respond to spiritual things. His spiritual faculties are not functioning, and they cannot function until God gives him life. The unbeliever is not sick; he is dead." On the last point, it is noteworthy that the Bible often compares the sin condition of humanity to a sickness that the Great Physician came to cure as stated in Mark 2:17 - "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." As for the assertion that the (spiritually) dead one in trespasses and sins is no more able to respond than the physically dead person, masculine Calvinist Arthur Pink, who is too extreme (read: consistent) for many Calvinists, like a broken watch that is correct twice a day, eschews the absurdity: "A corpse in the cemetery is no suitable analogy of the natural man. A corpse in the cemetery is incapable of performing evil! A corpse cannot “despise and reject” Christ (Isaiah 53:3), cannot “resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51), cannot disobey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8); but the natural man can and does do these things!" Death is separation. Physical death is a separation. Spiritual death is a separation. Physical death is separation of the soul from the body. When Rachel died, Scripture says, "And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died)". The wages of sin is death - physical and spiritual. Concerning the spiritual separtion, Isaiah 59:3 says: "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God," In reading in ensuing verses after Ephesians 2:1 - Spiritually dead people can walk (verse 2) and have conversation (verse 3, KJV speak for carry on with life.) Not very corpse like. Notice how the prodigal son "came to himself" in spite of being dead in the mind of his father (Luke 15:24). Again, not very much like a corpse. The father called him dead because he was separated. Not very corpse like. In the Revelation, the Lord Jesus Christ tells the Church of Sardis, described as dead, to wake up (not resurrect) and strengthen the things that remain. Again, not very corpse like. Also in Revelation (chapter 2, verse 21) we read of a Jezebel who was given "space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not." She was spiritually dead, but she could have repented as the Lord states she was given space to repent. Paul tells the Romans that they are dead to sin. Does that mean an inability to sin? In Romans 7, Paul says, "For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." This reminds us that sin brings about death, but it also in no way states that Paul's dead condition was from birth. Lost Cornelius was spiritually dead, yet was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. Again, not very corpse like. It's always good to remind our selves why John wrote his gospel: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Synonyms to "have life" - be regenerated, be quicked from a deadness, or sickness, or separation from God due to sin. The Calvinist reword of John 20:31 is "These are written for no particular reason. If elected, you will be given life (regenerated), and having life, you will then believe." Calvinism is well supported by Scripture that has been altered. Also, regarding John 20: 31, Bible believers do not assert that we can trust Christ by ourselves or on our own. The Bible is the enabler, the Holy Scriptures are are able to make thee (whoever you are) wise unto salvation. By stating that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe, Paul is stating that the Gospel is life-giving truth. No need for a gnostic spark of regeneration (effectual call) to accomplish what God's word already states about itself.

Calvinism clearly contradicts the teaching of Jesus. To choose Calvinism is to take Calvin's interpretation of Paul over the clear teachings of Jesus.

I'm seeing the connection between Calvinism and white supremacy, now.

Calvinism is an anti-gospel. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, *that the Gentiles by my mouth should HEAR the word of the gospel AND BELIEVE* And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, *giving them the Holy Ghost* even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, *purifying their hearts by faith* {Acts 15:7-8} But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and *that believing* ye might have life through his name. {John 20:31} When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted [enabled] repentance unto life. {Acts 11:18} How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and *how shall they hear* without a preacher? {Romans 10:14} ... So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. {Romans 10:17}

Timestamp 7:00 - Ephesians 1:4 Calvinized - "According as he hath chosen us TO BE in him before the foundation of the world, that we should receive salvation:" Calvinism is well supported by Scripture that has been altered. Those that are already in him, and no one was in him before the foundation of the world, are chosen to a quality of service - "that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" Salvation is not mentioned. Ephesians 1:5 - "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself" This verse is not talking about predestined to conversion. When Scripture defines a term, Bible believers accept and affirm the definition Scripture's definition and adoption is a future event for the believer as stated in Romans 8:23 "even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

Thou shalt not take the name [character] of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

That's my personal problem with calvinist. It just doesn't fit. I've been reading the all my life. I am 45 years old. Because of the internet. Just stumbled across calvinist about 15 years ago. Go into all the WORLD or the WORLD or a specific elect number of people. And preach the gospel. For God so loved the WORLD or the WORLD or a specific elect number of people. The Gospel is simple. Anything else that makes this simple gospel complex.........is.........

I don't question God. I question the Calvinistic interpretation of God. I am a Provisionist.

You mean God predestined my daughter to be kidnapped and then violently murdered by a man who had no choice but to follow God's sovereign decree? Calvin " Yep!" I'm thankful God rescued me from the Calvinism cult. #badtheology

If you are truly a born- again child of God, he will teach you truth. See 1John2:27. You need the truth of God's word to grow ,and become a mature child of God.See John 8:31-32 2Peter3;18- See the definition of these Biblical words in Greek and Hebrew from Vines dictionary FOREKNOWN, PREDESTINED, CHOSEN, ELECT,CALLED.

the answer to your last query is found in hebrews chapter 11,i see it as god had a plan to have a people that loved him for who he is and that plan required sheep and goats ,also required everyone to go through disobedience to understand gods mercy and love him for the merciful sovereign god that he is ,oh the wisdom and mercy of god who can understand? there comes a time when we must not lean on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge him AKA believe GOD cause he said so

2 things I say in love to you all: 1. Reading through these comments, it's clear that even those of us who would identify as Christians need a lot more Jesus in our lives. I don't understand how people could come to the conclusion that this viewpoint is not only wrong, but tantamount to being anti-Christian hate and heresy. Is our pursuit to be right or rather know what is right? 2. Like John mentions at the end of the video: Let's look at the logical argument Premise 1: God exists outside of time Premise 2: He is fully aware of everything that will take place inside of time. Conclusion: He knew before He laid the foundations of the world who would be in hell and who wouldn't. That is the unequivocal truth. I have never seen any logical argument to the contrary. Also, does it say anything about those in hell saying they've been treated unfairly or that they want to be w/ Jesus? Reading the story of 'The Rich Man and Lazarus' I think, while impossible to grasp fully, I think that the Calvinist view holds water much more than the Arminian view. The rich man doesn't cry out for Jesus. He cries out for relief from his pain. He doesn't ask that an angel be sent to his brothers so that they'd embrace Christ, only that they avoid the agony he faces eternally. Reading Romans it's clear that EVERYONE knows the truth and suppresses it, as it's folly to those who aren't enabled (because of a heart of stone) to believe it. Why God chose to do this, I'm not sure but it's clear that He did.

Great video 👏🏾

The big bugaboo for Jewish believers in the NT was whether the Gentiles (the nations) could be saved AS GENTILES, or whether they had to convert to Judaism first and then to Christianity. Remember, for the first 3 to 10 years of the Christian Church every Christian on earth was a Jew by birth or a Jewish proselyte. Then half-Jewish heretical Samaritans were added by the Spirit. Then foreign non-ethnically Jewish practitioners of Judaism were added. Then Gentile "God-fearers" were added by the Spirit. Then at last Gentile pagans ('non-God-fearers") were added. At each step, the Holy Spirit had to convince incredulous Jewish Christians that he was indeed including the new group in the Church. Each broad new group, Jews, Half-Jews, and Gentiles, had to be initiated into the Church by the Spirit through Peter, to whom the keys of the Kingdom had been given by the Lord. "All people" language in the NT is usually referring to this controversy and indicates that Gentiles are saved AS GENTILES (members of one of the 70 non-Jewish nations of the earth), with conversion to Christianity through conversion to Judaism being actually forbidden for them. As 21st century Gentile Christians, we can't even imagine that this actually was a controversy in the 1st century Church, but it very much was. Jewish Christians were discriminated against by Jewish non-Christians because of their association with "unclean" Gentiles and because Jewish Christians did not require Gentiles to convert to Judaism first in order to become Christians. Had Jewish Christians required this, the persecution of Jewish Christians by Jewish non-Christians may have never occurred. Thus, it seems that avoidance of persecution was apparently the motivation of the Judaizers. Therefore, faithful Jewish Christians suffered much for their obedience to Christ. An entire NT book, Galatians, was written about this controversy and it features heavily in the Book of Acts as well as less so in many other NT books. TLDR

If God did not choose to sovereignly regenerate people against their always-evil will (at the time), absolutely no one would be saved. And absolutely no one regrets being sovereignly regenerated by God against his always-evil will (at the time) after the fact. If not regenerating people against their always-evil will is "loving", then in order for God to "love" mankind he would have had to save absolutely none of them. o_O That does not sound very loving. On the other hand, if regenerating people against their always-evil will is "unloving", then God saved an innumerable host by being "unloving" toward them, and therefore "unlovingness" by God is, in fact, loving. o_O It does really all come down to the "T" in "TULIP". If our anthropology is wrong, the rest of our theology, as well as our evangelism and apologetics, will also be wrong. From the state of the modern Church in America, I think that it is obvious that this is the case. Decade after decade of soteriological synergism, revivalistic evangelism, and apologetic evidentialism since the Second Not-Even-Pretty-Good Awakening have done Satan's work for him. God help us. Amen. < P.S. For those who respond, "but on monergism, God decreed the ascendancy of synergism", I reply, yes he did, and we nonetheless are morally responsible before God for having adopted heterodox synergistic theology. His decree of our unfaithfulness is no excuse. Therefore, repent.

I just read thru every comment and wonder how many of these people will come back to this place to right their wrongs when the scales fall off of their eyes and they realize that they have blasphemed the very character and nature of Almighty God for the defense of spiritually dead, human freedom. Also, the nastiness that spews from the mouths of these people that hate reformed doctrine is insane. Matthew 7:21-23

It's not "the death of our Spirit". The cross crucified us to the flesh. The flesh wasn' t killed, but Positionally we died to it. The flesh is still as bad as it ever was conditionally. That badness is why abiding in our glorification in the heavenlies is God's job in us.

Before the foundation of the world, God has determined that all who are in Christ Jesus would be saved and adopted as sons. It's simple. You are twisting scripture.

Great video you have all the classic talking point of John Clavin down. All doesn't really mean all. Whosoever doesn't really mean that. Everyone actually means some. I've never figured out why Calvin's followers don't believe that God had the power to say what he really means in his word. Also, Arminians can explain why God doesn't save everyone. It is because he allows them to choose to follow him or not to follow him so God gives us a choice that we must make.

There is no wrestle if you don't interpret scripture with a Calvinist belief system.

I love this thank u I’m learning so much praise God

Who among this chat is a parent? Have you ever given your children an ultimatum? A choice where if he does “A” he gets this, or does “B” he gets that? You have?? Okay, here’s another question. Were you still in sovereign control of the consequences your child’s free choice? You were? Well guess what. It’s the same thing with the God of the Bible.

Hi! I see the points of both sides and am torn between the two. Can anyone explain Luke 7:30? "But the pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)"(ESV)

3:08 timestamp - "God is saving people and those to whom he is saving is not based upon a condition that humans have met or a condition that we even know about." The condition in Scripture is stated in 1 Corinthians 1:21 - "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." The condition is faith, or belief, as the verse says. Yet I believe the speaker that it's a condition that he doesn't know this - it's ideological possession that leads to a dogmatic prejudice to dispute the clear statements of Scripture. Calvinism is well supported by Scripture that has been altered.

Predestined=able to hear His Word(s)+obedient servant proclaiming God's Word x preordained unbeliever hearing God's Word=born again believer(baby Christian)+ feeding on the Bread of Life+time+mature discipleship= (after some time) another mature believer Wash Rinse Repeat God Bless

"And that He died for all, that those who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:15). So then, if Christ only died for the elect, then the non-elect can live for themselves?

Dear brother John, Paul mentions the word all also in 1 Timothy 6. He says there that the love of money is the root of all evil. Eventhough the Greek text says all evil we know that it actually is saying all kinds of evil. Because all evil in the world does not have the love of money as its root. Like lying, it has nothing to do with the love of money.

Why can"t it be both? Predestination and free will?

Amen from the Philippines Talisay City Cebu

Question #1: what is the reformed perspective of women pastors? Question #2: what is the reformed perspective of husbands as head of the home, spiritual headship?

People rant about their freewill to choose but they don't let God exercise his will to choose.

Don’t we have the ability and the will to strive to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect?

God calls us to choose. Joshua 24:15 says, "CHOOSE you this day whom you will serve." Deuteronomy 30:19 says, "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now CHOOSE life, so that you and your children may live." Revelation 22:17 says, "...whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." It does NOT say, "The ones I (God) choose will take of the water of life freely." John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It does NOT say the ones I (God) choose shall not perish. What does the Calvinist say sin is? The Biblical definition of sin is missing the mark. Not doing God's will. How can there be sin if God is CAUSING everything to happen? What is sin if EVERYTHING that happens, ONLY happens because GOD CAUSES it to happen? Also, how can there be obedience if EVERTHING ONLY happens because, AGAIN, God causes all to happen, even "obedience" to God's commands? What about verses like Joshua 24:15, "... CHOOSE for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." AND, You'll NEVER convince me that, as hyper Calvinists believe, God causes EVERYTHING to happen, even murder, rape, child molestation, LGBTQ lifestyles, anti-Christ religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, atheism etc.

can you clarify that God does not choose some for hell? (at end of video)

Hogwash

This channel is underrated. 👍

Jon has so misinterpreted Ephesians 1:4. God Chose us in Christ Jesus. 1st question to ask, who is the "us" Paul is referring to? Vs 1 says "The Saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ." So, vs 4 says God chose the faithful in Christ to be holy and blameless before Him. 2nd question to ask; how do we get in Christ? Vs 13...In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise..." If you interpret these passages to say that God chose us "to be" in him, then you have predetermined what the text means rather that deriving your belief from what the text says. Also, when you read John 3:16, and Jesus says whosoever believes in him shall have eternal life, and John 20:30, "but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.", how can you interpret Ephesians 1:4-6 to say that God predetermined who will believe in Jesus. It is much more consistent with the rest of the bible that all those who believe are "In Christ" were predestined to be holy and blameless rather than God predestined who would believe in Christ. It's a shame that Calvinism teaches you to ignore the context of scripture and focus on what Calvinism teaches.

@Theocast You might be a really nice and kind person, but you are anathema! I say this with zero animus. The fact is that you bring a false gospel. You use very dishonest terminology such as, "to choose whether God's save them or not." That is a false assertion. No one, not a one, even thinks along the lines of, " I have decided to let God save me." What the Christian (which you are not) have in mind that they choose to trust Christ. BTW, the name of your false doctrine, UNconditional Election, is not taught in scripture. The choice of Jacob over Esau is not even about salvation of either! The Bible does not teach that it is about their salvation! In fact, the Bible plainly states that those of Thesolonica chose God (Your election OF God NOT your election BY God). The Bible also does not teach in anyplace, nor in aggregate, man is unable to believe. You need to repent of Calvinism and become saved. As it is you are not saved, as your doctrine does not even actually include any salvation at all. How so? To be saved means that you are saved FROM something. Since Calvinism's "salvation" is based SOLELY upon some fictional election prior to creation, those so elected can never, ever be in danger of damnation. Christ or no Christ, they cannot be damned, blaspheming the Holy Ghost cannot damn them, outright rejection of God cannot damn them. There is zero danger in their path, touching damnation! Thus salvation does not even exist for the elect. All is religious pomp and a vile, lying soap opera that does nothing but mock those who cannot, under any circumstance, be saved! There is not a single doctrine that is unique to Cal;vinism that is true, no not one!

So when Abram chose to put his trust in God and to believe and be Loyal to God no matter what……his Faith was kinda null? When I read predestine type text in the Bible I have been interpreting and we THE HUMAN RACE have been predestined to be welcomed back into God’s family, back to the Edenic age

God’s word condemns us or predestined us to hell as soon as we are adults and make our own choice my guess is anywhere from 11 to 18years old. Now comes John 3/ v16. If we believe in Christ in us ,, as Paul says I live not But Jesus lives in me !! And only If we are following God’s words Jesus footsteps we are born again by his power off the Holy Spirit guidance strength to carry the cross to Calvary. We are then predestined for heaven. But if we desire to go back in our old lives and go back against the word follow our own will instead off God’s will. Because that’s easier for the flesh We are then again predestined for hell unless we repent

I noticed that you said numerous times “we can’t look at one verse” but yet you used only one verse each time to prove your doctrine but then with John 3:16 you then went and got the entire context and that’s not theologically sound. You did what you said not to do and then when it came to the verse that debunks all of it you then followed what you said to do.

Is it possible for someone to not believe the Calvinists view and still be saved?

Not one aspect of the TULIP is Biblical. Calvinism Absolutely Destroys a Biblical Theodicy. God is Holy and He is Innocent of Wrong Doing.

Since we know that God is not obligated to save anybody, it is a mercy if he saves anyone. If He had not chosen to elect some, none would be saved.

Our choice in salvation is not in our calling/justification, but in our choosing/sanctification where the inheritance comes from per Acts 20.32/26.18. We dont have the ability to pursue sanctification without His calling. The whole od scripture is about the inheritance and the Millennium/Kingdom so pursue salvation of the soul and dont waste His generous calling.

Like RC Sproul said “ if He’s not sovereign He’s not God”. And YES He IS GOD

Thanks for this video - It is a good example how someone jumps through hoops and go all over the place to freely interject their calvanism and put words in the context that is not there. This is sad to watch. It is complicated and hard because you are raping the word to try and interject your sick man made theology into the word of god.

When Jon said we aren't allowing scripture to formulate our beliefs, my jaw hit the floor. That is exactly what Calvinism does. They have to superimpose this systematic belief onto texts in order to interpret scripture in a way that supports their belief system. I highly recommend going to Soteriology 101 and listen to Dr. Flowers and consider what the Calvinist Proof Texts are really saying.

1:26 it’s not that we can’t understand it, it’s that it’s stupid. And unbiblical. I’m sorry to be harsh, but this teaching is as ridiculous as saying the Earth is flat. It ignores reality, not describes it.

It's so sad to see that so many people believe that their own so-called free will is more important than God's. For anyone struggling, I'll sum these Biblical doctrines up with this- we all deserve Hell. God is merciful to those He saves, and just to those He doesn't.

The following verses indicate that God indeed does determine who will be lost as well as who will be saved. You can’t have election without Reprobation since God’s decision to save some people and not others took place before anyone was born. [Pro 16:4 NKJV] 4 The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. [1Pe 2:8 NKJV] 8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. [Rom 9:21-22 NKJV] 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 [What] if God, wanting to show [His] wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath PREPARED for destruction,

I didnt realize Calvinism was such a black eye for Christianity. A ton of false teachings. A real shame.

Nah. Bye!!

Martin Luther said free will was a thing that existed in name only, and he was right. Today the Church believes in the “three yard line gospel”. Jesus gets the ball down to the three yard line but he is unable to score the winning touchdown so he has to hand it off to you and your freewill. The three yard line gospel and its underlying premise of free will is destroyed in the following five arguments. 1. The gospel is the powerful word of God that saves and results in the new birth. Acts 11:14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household. *The word for saved is a passive participle it indicates the message will save and the recipients of the message will be acted upon by this message. 1 Peter 1:22-24 since you have been born again,not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word iis the good news that was preached to you. *In this passage the gospel is the word of God that produces the new birth. The term born again here is a passive participle indicating those who experience it are acted upon. This passive participle is used again in the third chapter of John and the first epistle of John 9 times, and it is passive in every other instance of the NT i have looked at. The clear teaching is that being born into this world or the kingdom of God is an act performed by someone other than ourselves.Babies don’t give birth to themselves. See also James 1:18, John 1:12,13, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 2 Thessalonians 2:14 2. The new birth results in faith. John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. *The seeing mentioned here is obviously faith and it is the result of the new birth. 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. *Again the participle for born is perfect passive, it points to the action of the new birth occurring prior to the action of believing. Note the words in the english “has been” .Paul also uses other metaphors for the new birth like new creation Galatians 6:15. circumcision of the heart Romans 2:29, Colossians 2:11. that point to divine agency not human agency in calling, regeneration or whatever you want to call it. 3. Faith is considered a gift. Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, *According to Daniel Wallace in his Greek grammar the pronoun “this” can refer most likely back to either “grace by faith salvation” or it could have an “adverbial effect” that could be translated “and especially”, this points to faith as a gift. This is most likely from the context, since Paul thinks men are dead and are raised by grace, see 2:5. 4. Grace is an attribute of God that is exercised in a sovereign and effective work that results in the salvation of souls in every aspect of their salvation. 2 Timothy 1:9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, Galatians 1:15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, *Salvation is applied in calling and that is “by grace” 2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. *Note how Paul in this verse Paul equates grace with the “power”( my power) of God in the first sentence and the “power of Christ”, in the second. 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. *It wasn’t Paul but Grace that made him work harder. 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. *Note “God is able” to make grace abound not man. Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved- *Your dead in your sin until God’s Grace makes you alive! Ephesians 3:7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. *Gods grace is transmitted by the “working of his power”. 1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 5. Individuals are placed in union with Christ by God and this union encompasses every aspect of their salvation. *In each of these passages Paul uses the phrase “in Christ” to describe the positioning of Christians and attributes this work to the will of God not man. 1 Corinthians 1:30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, *This would be a false statement if man placed himself in Christ through his faith. Ephesians 1:3 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, *God is the one who is to be blessed because of our union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, *Why thank God if man is the cause of his being placed in Christ? 2 Corinthians 1:21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, *Starting to see the pattern here? God is the cause of our union with Christ. See also 2 Timothy 1:9 above Many other arguments could be added to this like predestination, calling, Romans 8:28,29, etc. But this is sufficient for anyone willing to settle with scripture. For those committed to their “ idol free will”as the great Puritan John Owen called it no scripture is ever sufficient.