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Is election/predestination something to be afraid of?
No. It is essential to understand that no one would be saved if it were not for God electing a people, Christ dying for their sins and the Spirit making them a new creation (Rom. 3:10; Ps. 14; Ps. 53). Interestingly, ALL of the first churches embraced election as part of the good news that was preached to them (1 Thes. 1:4; Eph. 1). The conversion and baptism of ALL the early church members involved an integral, working knowledge of this fundamental teaching. The Apostle Paul taught this in his FIRST messages to the Thessalonians (Acts 17; 1 Thes. 1:4), the Ephesians (Acts 19 & 20; Eph. 1 & 2), the Philippians, the Corinthians, etc. The Apostle Peter taught this truth (Acts 2:38-41; 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Pet 1:10). Furthermore, Jesus Christ taught it (Mt. 24:12, 31; Lk. 4:25-27, 18:7; Jn. 5:40, 10:27-29, 15:16, 17:2-3).
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