Tonight I attended my first Systematic Theology class at Coram Deo. I enjoy learning and Biblical study is enjoyable to me. I like learning about the Old Testament and how it applies to Christ and the New Testament. The history of the Bible really appeals to me and makes religion more rich and fulfilling. Taking this theology class, I hope, will help enable me to be more missional in my life and bring God and Christ to more people.
I’ve got some things to wrestle with from my first class. We talked in-depth about the common grace of God and about election. Common grace was much simpler to wrap my mind around. Common grace, at its root, is the grace that God grants upon everyone in their lives. All good things can be related to God and the good things that happen to each of us is part of His common grace.
Election, well, that’s a harder concept I need to think about. Election is the theological, and Biblical truth, that God chose those who will be redeemed before the world existed, before time. This brings to light a LOT of questions about salvation, pre-destiny, free will, etc etc.
I’ll write more on this later after I have time to think about it; complete with scriptural references for thoroughness. I’m leaving it open to questions or comments about your thoughts about salvation.
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I know this isn’t a comment, and this may not be the right place for questions such as this, but here goes.
I am interested in what Coram Deo was teaching about election? What were their citations? Was it an exploration into what it is, or a teaching that they believe/preach? I am curious because I have heard that the leaders of this church believe in this concept of election, but tend to skirt this issue when confronted on it.
Concerned,
Coram Deo is teaching the Calvinistic view of Election, as written by Wayne Grudem in Grudem’s “Systematic Theology.” The pastors haven’t skirted the issue as far as my perspective and they boldly preach it.
Election is defined by Grudem as “…an act of God before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.” That’s precisely what Bob, JD and Will have been preaching.
We’ve only covered it in our Theology discussion on Sunday night, not in church services yet, but we will be covering it in February and March. If you live here in Omaha I invite you to attend.