There is no question with regards to God's initiative in electing men, because we also believe that election is God's initiative. The question that arises is why God elected some men to salvation. The reason is God's pleasure, and he is pleased with those who exercises faith under His divine influence (Heb.11:6; Ezek.33:11).   We believe that election is God's initiative because when God made the act of electing men in eternity it is based upon His foreknowledge (Eph.1:4; Prov.8:22).  The Calvinist may say, "How can God elect men according to their humility and faith when humility, faith, and man himself do not yet exist in eternity?"  The answer is, although man, humility, and faith do not yet exist, yet God's foreknowledge already exists in eternity.  The Bible teaches that before the existence of all things, God's wisdom, knowledge and foreknowledge already exist in eternity (Prov.8:22-29).

I am so familiar with the Calvinistic doctrine of election and the verses they are using and am aware that there are many  questions that the TULIP  doctrine has no answer and that there are many Calvinistic principles and answers that contradict with the Word of God. Oftentimes, when they cannot answer a question or when their answer contradicts with a biblical principle, they would say, "You cannot question God?" Why should you believe a doctrine of election that could hardly be understood and be reconciled with the Scripture when there is a Biblical doctrine of election that is harmonious with the whole Bible doctrines. The Bible has the answer to all man's questions, and why should I be convinced of believing a doctrine which would leave my mind lots of questions due to inconsistencies of such doctrine to Biblical truths?  How can you call such TULIP doctrine as "the truth" when it contradicts many truths in the Bible?  How can you convinced me to accept such doctrine as "the truth"  if you cannot answer clear and honest questions and you cannot explain the inconsistencies of such doctrine to the truths in the Scripture?  Why should I follow those pastors who were "napasubo" (pushed by circumstances and and so did eat such doctrine) due to financial need when my main motive is to follow God not men.  You see, we ought not to be  followers of men but of God.  And we ought to follow the Bible not man-made writings for such cannot be harmonize with the Scriptures.  How can I be convinced of such inconsistent doctrine when God has given me a Biblical doctrine of election which is clear, consistent and harmonious with the whole Bible and would enable me to give a consistent answer to every man that asks me a reason of my beliefs (I Pet.3:15).  How can you praise God with a TULIP DOCTRINE when you know that there are lots of doubtful answers to the many honest questions?  How can you praise God for such doctrine when it leaves you no answer to those who ask you of your beliefs? You see, God is not the author of confusion (I Cor.14:33). Nor could He be pleased with doubts (Heb.ll:6).  The TULIP doctrine does not lead to real spiritual growth because believing such doctrine will cause you to deny and ignore many passages in the Scriptures.

COUNTER QUESTIONS: (based upon the writings you sent)

1. Is it to the praise and glory of God that some people will reject Christ?
2.  Does TULIP  doctrine really motivates all people  to live holy lives or just some people?
3.  Do you believe that God desires all men to repent and live right with God?
4. Does TULIP doctrine   really motivates the preacher to witness to all people in the world  or just some people?

If so, then the Primitive Baptist should have been mission-minded.  But the fact is that the Primitive Baptists had been strongly opposed to missions to the extent of disfellowshipping any church who is missionary-minded until just recently. According to a Primitive Baptist writer Elder E.D. McCutcheon in his book "THIS WE BELIEVE" (Primitive Baptist--Beliefs and practices):  "Missions have been shunned because of the fact that Primitive Baptists have known that God was able to (and will) save people eternally, from every part of the earth, separate and apart from the gospel.  Because of this, Primitive Baptists of all persuasions have forsaken all mission work until in recent years." ("THIS WE BELIEVE" P.52). Elder McCutcheon further stated, "As before observed, there is very little evangelistic effort being put forth today. It is true that a few of our able ministers call themselves evangelists, but it seems  that most of their preaching is in established churches , rather than true evangelistic outreach -- going where there is no church and few converts" (p.53). It is a fact that their TULIP doctrine have weakened their evangelism.

The  Primitive Baptists would keep on arguing that election is in the Bible as if we Missionary Baptist do not believe in election.  There is no need to argue about that because we believe in the Biblical doctrine of election.  The point of discussion is whether election is conditional or unconditional.  Yes, we believe in the  doctrine of election and that  true Biblical doctrine of election is consistent with the whole Bible.  The Bible provides all answers to man's questions as he diligently studies it.  However, if man believes the TULIP DOCTRINE, despite of his diligent study, the inconsistencies cannot be resolved. If there are men or women among Missionary Baptists who cannot give a satisfying answer when asked about  the doctrine of election, the reason is lack of study.  But if one will study hard  the doctrine of election according to God's foreknowledge, he finds it harmonious to the Scriptures, all his questions will be answered and all doubts will be erased.  Oh why should you believe a doctrine of election that has lots of uncertainty when there is a sure doctrine of election which is harmonious to the whole teachings of the Bible.

EXPLANATION OF REVELATION 13:8;17:8

In Revelation 13:8, you can notice the words, "are not written".  It is in the present tense.  If all the writing of names were done in eternity then it should be "were not written".  Take note also of the phrase "FROM the foundation of the world".  It is not "BEFORE the foundation of the world" as in Ephesians 1:4.  You see there is a big difference between the two phrases.  "Before the foundation of the world" means it is in eternity, before the creation of the world.  However, "From the foundation of the world"  as stated in Rev. 13:8 means that God started writing names  when the world was founded and so the writing of names in the Book of life started since the time of Adam.  Just like any establishment of institution, it is said to have been founded when there are already things or people necessary in its foundation.  You may disagree, but this is the explanation that is harmonious to the whole Bible teachings.   Luke 10:20 says, "Rejoice because your names are written in heaven".  If the names of the elected unbelievers were written in eternity, then they could rejoice.  But they cannot, for only the believers can truly rejoice.

According to the letter you sent me dated Dec. 2, 1997, referring to Eph.1:4, " The prepositional phrase 'IN CHRIST' is Paul's way of emphasizing the doctrine of spiritual union.  What is spiritual union?  It is the doctrine that states that it is by virtue of one's union with Christ that all spiritual blessings flow to that person."  There are  questions to this that need to be explained:

1. Does the words "In Christ" in Eph.1:4 mean that there is already a union existing?
2.  Are all elect already regenerated in eternity?
3.  Is it possible to be in union with Christ and yet not regenerated?
4.  How will you explain II Cor.5:17 and I John 5:11-12?

EXPLANATION OF GOD'S  SOVEREIGNTY

Sovereignty means supreme power or authority.  A king or president, for instance is sovereign but this does not prevent the people in his kingdom or country to disobey and rebel against him. God is sovereign (Psa.103:19).  He is the King of the universe and He rules over all His creations.  However this does not mean that He did not give His creatures, particularly angels and men,  the freedom to choose right and wrong, to obey or disobey.  God was sovereign when the angel Lucifer rebelled against Him.  He was sovereign when Adam fell to sin.  Was it God's will that Lucifer rebelled against Him and that Adam fell to sin?  God is sovereign and yet Satan continues to deceive people and influence men to commit evil acts and uses wicked men to spread false doctrines.  Are these wicked men doing God's will or resisting it?

God's sovereignty, as the Bible teaches, does not mean that His will cannot be resisted by men.  The Bible teaches that it is God's will that all men will know the truth and be saved (I Tim.2:3-4).  It is not God's will that any person will reject Christ and perish in Hell (II Peter 3:9).  the Gospel of grace teaches men to deny ungodliness (Titus 2:11-12).  Doing the will of God requires obedience to the truth as revealed in the Scriptures (John 7:17).  However, there are men who do not obey the Gospel.  II Tim.3:8 tells us that such people are resisting the truth.  Those men who did not obey the Gospel will be judged and thrown in the lake of fire (II Thess.1:7-9). They cannot enter the heavenly kingdom because they did not do the Father's will (Matt.7:21-23).  Since not all men will enter heaven, therefore , not all men do the Father's will. Many people rejected the will of God by living ungodly lives.  Here is a question that you must face,  IS IT GOD'S WILL AND PLEASURE THAT SOME PEOPLE  WILL REJECT CHRIST AND LIVE UNGODLY LIVES?

God sovereignty means that God overrules the evil acts of men and turns  them for the good of His children (Rom.8:28).

Some questions:

1. Are all events ordained by the sovereign God?
2. Is rejection of Christ ordained by God?
3. Is God pleased when the wicked die in their sins?
4.  Whose will is it when people reject Christ, God or man?

EXPLANATION OF ROMANS 9:10-24

Verse 11 is in  harmony  with the Biblical doctrine of election according to God's foreknowledge.  We believe that God elected men according to His foreknowledge in eternity -- that is before men existed.  God's election is according to His grace, not according to the works of men.  God is gracious to those who humble and believe under His divine influence (Jam.4:6).  Humility and faith is not a work (Eph.2:8-9).

Verse 13 says, "Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated".  It is because of Esau's pride that God said this.  Looking at the book of Obadiah is like looking at the microscope to see the character of Esau who is full of pride.  The Edomites are like the enlargement of Esau's character.  The book of Proverbs tells us that God hates pride.

Verse 16 means eleclion  is of God's calling.  Without His calling and invitation men cannot respond. You see man will not come without God's invitation.

IS TULIP DOCTRINE A REAL MEAT?

Calvinists will often say that the reason why many would not accept the TULIP Doctrine as the truth because it is a spiritual meat and could hardly be accepted by a carnal mind.  How can I consider TULIP doctrine as a spiritual meat when it violates the Bible truths. Spiritual meats are hard doctrines which could hardly be understood by spiritual babes but when it is diligently studied, one will find it very harmonious to the Bible.   Take for example the doctrine against idolatry.  It could hardly be accepted by  Catholics who just professed faith. And it takes  a lot of Bible studies before they can learn to accept that truth.  As they study the Scriptures, they will find the doctrine against idols harmonious with the Bible. However, the tulip doctrine when studied well by a person, is found contradicting many principles in the Scriptures.  Man-made doctrines can never be harmonized with the whole scriptures because God's mind is different from man's.  Since the tulip doctrine is not harmonious with the Bible,  then it is not real spiritual meat.

The Calvinists have tried to adjust their doctrines in varying areas just to make it fit the Scriptures but wherever they make the adjustment, they'll always find new problems of inconsistencies.  Because of inconsistencies, and the Calvinists vary in their adjustments, the result is the Calvinists were divided into many varying groups and they themselves disagree with one another and cannot be united.

DID JESUS REALLY TAUGHT UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION AND IRRESISTIBLE GRACE IN JOHN 6.

How can one confidently says it is unconditional election when such kind of doctrine ignores many passages in the Bible.  Do you really believe that all the elect had an existing relationship with Christ before the world began?  If so, they were already God's children before the world began.  And if they were God's children since eternity then there is no need of regeneration.

Some Questions:

1. When does man become a new creature, child of God, at the point of union with Christ or before?
2. When is the elect united in Christ, in eternity or at the point of faith?
3.  If the elect where already in union with Christ then they were already God's children in eternity.  The question is, which comes first, becoming a child of God or regeneration?
4. How will you explain these passages if irresistible grace were true? ( Jer.6:19;7:13,23-25;9:13;11:7-8; 15:6; Heb.3:7-13)

If your explanation is contradicting each other, then there is no truth in Calvinism, for the Bible when studied deeply is harmonious but man's doctrine will always be inconsistent and contradicting.  If tulip doctrine is true spiritual meat, why is there so many contradiction in the Scriptures which the Calvinists cannot explain.  Why should you be convinced of a doctrine which is based on human ideas  and writings using only some portions of the Scriptures to support human ideologies.  If someone will tell me that I have a carnal mind and am in danger of rejecting the truth because I don't believe in the universal church or TULIP  doctrine, I will not be afraid because his statements is not based on facts and I am confident in God's word. Would you eat and digest a fish with its bones even if you know that it is harmful to your health?  So why should I be convinced of digesting tulip doctrine when I know for sure that it contains man-made doctrines and it has lots of contradiction in the many facts of the Scripture.   Calvinists would  often use the writings of men to defend their  doctrine  rather than the Scriptures.

I have been receiving a lot of reading materials from the Calvinists since 1990 and I learned that there are many contradictions in it.  I had arguments with Bro. Jun Mangubat and Bro. Guinit about election and answered their questions but when I asked them many  questions, they did not answer many of my questions.  Instead, Bro. Jun sent me many writings of men.
 
I hope you will understand that this letter is not sent to put you down but with brotherly concern, that you may uphold the right doctrine and walk in the truth.

If you have some questions, feel free to write it down.  May God bless you and Happy New Year!

In His service,

Edwin Jardinel