Election is one of those biblical words which shows how submitted we are to the Word of God. The concept of divine election tends to make Christians react, either positively with joy and thankfulness, or negatively with skepticism and dismay. But we must face it, the word election is found dozens of times in the Bible with words such as "election", "elected", "chosen", or "given". As we shall read, the Bible says that God the Father elected us before the foundation of the world, He chose us and gave us to His Son Jesus Christ.
We cannot escape it. The Word of God says it plainly over and over again. But what does it mean? Importantly too, what are misconceptions about election? And, most of all, why is the doctrine of election good news, fantastic news for you today? In our last posts we considered an introduction to Calvinism and the doctrine of total depravity, let's dive now into the second letter of the TULIP Calvinism: Unconditional Election.
What Unconditional Election Is
Unconditional Election is the biblical doctrine teaching that God chose some sinners for salvation before the creation of the world. This election or choice from God was not conditioned by anything in man, neither his will nor his actions, or even his foreseen choices or faith, it was only based on the good pleasure and will of God. Nothing in the sinner made God choose one rather than the other. We did not choose God, so as to make God respond in choosing us. He chose us when we did not yet exist or had done anything, whether good or bad.
[Election] was not conditioned by anything in man, neither his will nor his actions, or even his foreseen choices or faith, it was only based on the good pleasure and will of God
Election is a merciful act of love from God to save us rather than let us all justly die in hell. Election existed in the Old Testament with the patriarchs and the nation of Israel, and it exists also today with the Church and all the Christians. The fullness of the elects forms the people of God out of the world.
What Unconditional Election Is Not
Election is not unfair because God is free to save and pardon whoever He wants. He is not obligated to forgive anyone. Critically, election is not a restriction of salvation because no one seeks after God and therefore without election there would be nobody ever saved. Election makes salvation a reality for some, rather than an impossibility for all.
Besides, election is for salvation, not for damnation. Those who are not elected will end up in hell because they loved their sins rather than God and deserve to go there for their unbelief.
Election is not a restriction of salvation because no one seeks after God and therefore without election there would be nobody ever saved
What is more, election is not an excuse to refuse evangelism since we do not know who is elected and thus, we must preach the gospel to every person. Secondly, God predestined that the elects would be saved through our evangelism and prayers and therefore we must pray and sow the seed of the Gospel for the elects to be saved.
Selected Biblical Verses
On election being before the foundation of the world
“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Ephesians 1:3-4).
God “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9).
The elects are known to God alone who has written their names “before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 13:8).
On election being from God and as an act of love
The elects of the Church were chosen by love: “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-7).
Isaiah spoke of the election of the nation of Israel when God said through Him: “Israel mine elect” (Isaiah 45:4). Moses taught that the elects of the Israel were chosen by love: “6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).
What is more, election is not an excuse to refuse evangelism since we do not know who is elected and thus, we must preach the gospel to every person
On election being by the will of God
Ephesians 1, quoted earlier, repeatedly affirms that election by the will and grace of God alone: “4 even as he chose us […] to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory”.
On election not being by the will of man
When discussing election in Romans 9:11, Paul explains that God’s choice “does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy” (Romans 9:16). This all-important text unambiguously tells us that election does not depend on man’s will (“him who wills”) or man’s actions (“Him who runs”). To make confusion impossible, the positive is even added, “but on God who has mercy”.
Election does not depend on man but on sovereign grace and mercy from God. Here is the greater context of Romans 9, where Paul explains that God’s election of Israel had not failed in the Old Testament:
“9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” (Romans 9:9-19). The end of the quote demonstrates that God’s election depends on God’s will alone, and that election is irresistible.
On election being fair
Speaking of the doctrine of election (Romans 9:11), Paul knew very well that most people would claim that Calvinism is unfair, hence he had a pre-emptive strike at that objection and said: “14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!” (v. 14). Then, Paul raised and addressed another objection of man’s will and God’s sovereign will:
“19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”” (v. 19-20). And, he explains that the elects get mercy, whereas the non-elects get justice (v. 21-24), and consequently, there is no injustice in election.
Without election, I would be justly doomed. With election, I am graciously and mercifully forgiven and adopted into God's family
In conclusion, election is fantastic news because it means that God, instead of justly giving me the sentence of eternal hell for my sins, He chose me, an enemy, to be born again and to receive the divine gifts of faith and resentence, and to be adopted into His Family so that I would be forever into His presence. Without election, I would be justly doomed. With election I am graciously and mercifully forgiven and adopted into God's family. I cannot speak but to say: praise be to God for election, blessed be His holy name!
In the next post, we will examine the next letter in the TULIP: Limited Atonement.
Blessings in Christ,
Jonas Croissant
Pastor-Elder
Acts Church of Maricopa
Contact & Sunday service information: https://www.actschurchmaricopa.com/location
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