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Chapter: 14.51
(Section 14: Selective Salvation)
Copyright © Michael Bronson 1998 - 2005
BibleHelp.org

In a previous chapter we saw there is no glory or accomplishment in forcing someone to say the words, "I love you." Forcing someone to be on your side provides no pleasure. There is no victory in creating a "loving" family that basically consists of "robots."

On the flipside, there is tremendous glory in creating a people who can choose you out of a truly free heart. There is great pleasure in being loved by someone who chooses you out of their free will. There is great victory when people choose you despite great suffering and adversity. There is tremendous thrill and satisfaction from having someone choose you when such a choice will result in great loss, intense suffering, or even death.

Satan understood this. When he approached God about Job, he said it was easy for Job to love God when Job had great wealth. Satan said, ""Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But, stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." (Job 1:9-11)

Satan understood people have a free will and are capable of choosing their friends. He figured if Job lost his great wealth and was tormented enough, he would choose to reject God. Satan’s plan backfired. Instead of Job responding like most people, Job remained faithful to God. As a result, God was greatly glorified. I believe Job’s actions brought God tremendous pleasure. To have someone choose you despite great adversity is far more valuable than having someone choose you when times are going well.

Job’s experience demonstrates the importance and necessity of a free will. It highlights the fallacy of the doctrine of forced conversions. If God was glorified with Job’s decision, think how much He is glorified when a person makes the ultimate decision (salvation).

Other Chapters in this Section

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Up
PART 1: What is Selective Salvation?
PART 2: What Does the Bible say about Selective Salvation?
PART 3: Problems with Selective Salvation
PART 4: “Choice” –The Achilles’ Heel of Selective Salvation

Choice 1: The Contradictions of Selective Salvation
Choice 2: Can You Force Someone to Love You?
Choice 3: Is Choice Really a Choice Without a Choice?
Choice 4: Do We Really have a Free Will?
Choice 5: Can Prayer Change Things?
Choice 6: Can God be Grieved by Our Sins or Moved by Our Repentance?
Choice 7: The Choice to Sin
Choice 8: Are We Incapable of Choosing God?
Choice 9: Choice and the Moral Standard
Choice 10: The Purpose of Choice
Choice 11: The Suffering of Job
Choice 12: Why is God Pleased with our Obedience?
Choice 13: The Rich Young Ruler
Choice 14: Why was God so Excited when the Lost Sheep was Found?
Choice 15: A Man After God's Own Heart
Choice 16: Choose You this Day whom You will Serve
Choice 17: Appointed as a Ruler over many Cities

PART 5: Difficult Questions Answered
Appendix: Foundational Documents used by Selective Salvationists

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