Are the Non-Elect the Extra Kids Eve Had?

1. There is an idea being promoted that election works as follows:

            Had Adam and Eve not fallen into sin they would have had children, all of whom would have been born innocent and sinless and would have lived forever if they didn’t sin themselves.

            After the Fall, God cursed Eve with multiplied conception.

            Gen 3:16 – Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

            It is then claimed that all these extra children that would be born due to the extra conceptions would the reprobate that God did not elect, and all of the originally-planned children would be the elect.

1. What does Gen 3:16 actually teach?

            The simplest and most obvious explanation of a verse should always be given due consideration before embracing an elaborate and fanciful explanation.

            The simplest and most obvious explanation of the curse of multiplied conceptions is found in the verse itself: “in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children” (Gen 3:16).

            Increased painful childbirth was part of Eve’s curse: “…I will greatly multiply thy sorrow…in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children”.

            More conceptions means more childbirth (or miscarriages, which are also sorrowful), which means more pain and sorrow.

            Remember, the simplest and most obvious explanation is usually the truth.

III. Problems with this idea

            Problem #1: Where does the Bible teach this idea?

            It doesn’t.

            The Bible teaches that election is of grace, not race.

            Rom 11:5 – Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

            Grace – Favour, favourable or benignant regard or its manifestation (now only on the part of a superior); favour or goodwill, in contradistinction to right or obligation, as the ground of a concession.

            Grace is in contradiction to right or obligation.

            If the “original kids” are the elect, then they each individually have a right to be elected and God would be obliged to elect them based on their descent, which is the antithesis of grace.

            The Bible teaches that God’s children are not born of blood (race, family), but of God.

            Joh 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

            Joh 1:13 – Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

            The Bible teaches that prior to God’s election, all of mankind were a fallen lump.

            Rom 9:21 – Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

            Rom 9:22 – What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

            Rom 9:23 – And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

            Rom 9:24 – Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

            Prior to God’s election, God viewed all of mankind exactly the same, just one fallen lump.

            God did not view them as two groups, the “originals” and the “extras”.

            Problem #2: Consider the implications of this idea.

            If the non-elect are the “extra kids” which would have never existed if the Fall had not occurred, then consider:

            Cain would be one of the non-elect “extras”, being a reprobate (1Jo 3:12).

            That means that if Cain would never have been born if the Fall had not happened, then neither would any of Cain’s kids have been born.

            This would mean that all of Cain’s kids would also be non-elect “extras”.

            Since Cain’s kids would never have been born if the Fall had not happened, then neither would their kids have been born.

            This would mean that all of Cain’s grandkids would also be non-elect “extras”.

            This would ultimately mean that every one of Cain’s descendents would never have been born if the Fall had not happened, and therefore all of Cain’s descendents would also be non-elect “extras”.

            Therefore, this idea essentially teaches Two-seedism.

            This idea is false because God has chosen His elect out of every kindred (family), and tongue (language), and people (ethnic group), and nation.

            Rev 5:9 – And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

            Kindred – 1. a. The being of kin; relationship by blood or descent

            If this idea is reasoned out to it’s logical conclusion, there would be entire families and bloodlines of people who are all non-elect, which is false.