Correct eskimojerry. There are no second chances. Your either one of God's elect or you are not. ...Those who don't truly know Christ in this age never will and will always be in the judgement.
Am I still at Bible-Truths.com? Are "the Elect" the LAST to be chosen? What is judgement FOR except to lead people to truly know Christ? Won't every knee bow and every tongue aver that Jesus Christ is Lord?
Are the Elect not going to be "saved"? Are the "saved" NEVER going to be 'Elect'? How are "the saved" going to be "saved", then? By their own free-will? EVERYBODY is going to be chosen...each in their own turn. The Elect aren't the Elect because of anything in them or done by them...they are ELECT because they have been ELECTED. And they aren't the end, and truly not even the beginning.
When Ray talks about theology's use of the term 'second chances', he's talking about the element of CHANCE, not 'first'. 'second', 'only', etc. This isn't about CHANCE but about CERTAINTY!
I conclusively agree with Dave, perhaps it's the use of the word "Chance," nothings by chance, everything that happens to everyone was already planned in advance down to it's intricate details which includes who the Chosen Elect are going to be, God does the work in you. Ask Paul, better yet, ask anyone who knew Paul prior to His conversion and even some of the apostles for a short time after. They knew who He was before and what He was doing, so they had some caution towards associating with Him for a short while. None of them knew or expected that Saul who became Paul would be a chosen vessel because of His sordid past being the worst of sinners, but God had other plans.
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKETH in you both to will and TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, TO BE TESTIFIED IN DUE TIME.
Act 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
Act 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
Good Post Dave, Samson.