Examples of Election (Salvific and Non-Salvific) Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Paul, Israel, the disciples, or Mary (the mother of Jesus). Transition: We re going to talk about God s election of individuals to salvation. Terms Election God s act of choosing some people to be saved before the foundation of the world, not based on anything about them or any foreseen merit (aka, unconditionally) but solely because of His sovereign pleasure. The elect Those God unconditionally choose before the foundation of the world to be saved. Literally, the chosen. Predestination God s act of predetermining or foreordaining certain individuals to be saved. The Context of Election God s Glory Salvation is all about God s glory, and in election, God receives all the glory. Depravity No one seeks God. Man is dependent on God to seek and save Him. Preliminary Facts Both God s will and man s will are involved in salvation. o Some simplify the Calvinist v. Arminian debate by saying Calvinism says God chooses and Arminianism says man chooses. However, both views say God chooses and both views say Man chooses. They simply define these ideas differently. o It is undeniable that God predestines and elects - Scripture states it. o But it is also undeniable that when a man is saved his will was involved, he was not saved contrary to his will - Experience testifies to it and scripture implies it. o The question then becomes, How does God s choosing and man s choosing relate to one another? God offers salvation to all. o John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. o Romans 10:11-13 - For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." God does not discriminate between Jew and Greek. All men our depraved. o However, some do seek God and call on the name of the Lord. o The question becomes, Why do some seek God? Scripture NOTE: Not all these passages will necessarily reference election or predestination directly. The Bible is not written as a systematic theology. Consequently, doctrines are not as cut and dry in scripture as theological definitions. Therefore, we will include passages pertaining broadly to God s sovereignty in salvation. Elect language, cf. 1 1 Mt 24:22 - And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 24 - For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
o Romans 8:33 - Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. No one can condemn those God has sovereign chosen to be saved. o 11:7 - What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened. The elect obtained salvation; God left the rest in their hardness against Him. o 2 Peter 1:10 - Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. Peter tells these believers to make their election sure. Chose (verb) language, cf. 2 o Matthew 22:14 - For many are called, but few are chosen." Salvation is offered to all, but given to some. o John 13:18 - I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' Jesus was giving commandments to His true disciples, but not all of these men were his disciple, for Judas was not chosen. o 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. The disciples did not choose Jesus but Jesus choose His disciples and appointed them to bear fruit (same applies to us). o Romans 11:5-6 - So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Even when national Israel was rejecting Christ, there was still a select group of Jews chosen by grace unconditional. Predestination language. o Ephesians 1:4-5 - 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 as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, God chose believers for salvation before the foundation of the world. God predestined (ordained, predetermined, appointed) believers for adoption (God s act). 31 - And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Mk 13:20 - And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. Lk 18:7 - And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? Col 3:12 - Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 2 Tim 2:10 - Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Tit 1:1 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness. 1 Pet 1:1 - Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 1 Pet 2:8-10 - and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 2 Jn 15:19 - If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Rom 16:13 - Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 1 Cor 1:26-28 - For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are. 1 Thes 1:4-5 - For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 2 Thes 2:13 - But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. James 2:5 - Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
o 1:11 - 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, God, who works everything according to His will, predestined believers. o Romans 8:28-30 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. All things work out for good in the lives of those God has called to salvation. God predestined those whom He foreknew. Called to be saints, cf. 3 o Romans 1:7 - To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The believers in Rome were called to be saints. o Galatians 1:15 - But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace. Paul was set apart before he was born and then called by God s grace. Possession language, cf. 4 o John 6:37-39 - All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. The Father has given Jesus individuals to be saved. And all of these individuals that the Father has given Jesus will come to Jesus, He will never cast them, and He will not lose them. o 10:16 - And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. Jesus has a flock of sheep the elect. o 26-27 - but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me Those who do not believe do so because they are not a part of Jesus flock the elect. Those who believe do so because they are Jesus sheep. o Matthew 25:33-34 - "And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Jesus will someday separate his sheep from amidst the goats. His sheep will inherit the kingdom prepared for them since the foundation of the world. o 17:2 (Jesus speaking) since you have given him (Jesus is speaking of Himself) authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. The Father gave Jesus the authority to give eternal life to all whom the Father had given to Jesus. 3 1 Cor 1:2 - To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 4 Jn 10:29 - My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 17:24 - Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
o 9-10 - I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. Jesus was not praying for the world, but those whom the Father had given to Him. o Acts 18:9-10 - And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people." The God told Paul to continue evangelizing because God has many in the city. Sovereign revealing, cf. 5 Matthew 11:25-27 - At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. o The only ones who come to know the Father are those the Son chooses to reveal the Father too such is the Father s gracious will. 13:11 - And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. o Jesus spoke in parables because the secrets of the kingdom had been to some and not others. Sovereign granting of life, cf. 6 o John 5:21 - For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. God gives life to them and Jesus give life to whom He wills. o 6:64-65 - But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father. No one comes to Jesus unless it is granted to him by the Father. o Acts 13:48 - And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Those who were appointed to eternal life believed. Born of God, not of flesh. o John 1:12-13 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Those given the right to become children of God were born not by their will but by God s. o 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. The Spirit gives life; the flesh doesn t help one bit. The book of life, cf. 7 5 Mt 16:17 - And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 6 Jn 3:8 - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Acts 2:47 - praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. 2 Tim 2:24-25 (NASB) - And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. James 1:18 - Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
o Revelation 13:8 - and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. The names of unbelievers were not in the book of life since the foundation of the world. This implies that believers names were in the book of life since the foundation of the world. Romans 9:1-13 o Context: Paul s answering the question, Has God s promises to Israel failed? o Answer: No, God has always been sovereign in the salvation of a remnant within Israel, those who are truly heirs of the God s promises to Israel. o Paul gives an example of this: Romans 9:10-13 - 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." Election is unconditional (v. 11). Hated Hyperbole. Our previous questions: Why do some depraved people seek God? o Because first sought them and did a work of drawing them to Him. How do God s will and man s will relate? o Man chooses God because God first chose man. o Man s will and God s will mysterious work together (we will talk about effectual grace later). Other Views of Election/Predestination God predestines people to be Christlike, not to be saved. o Sanctification and salvation are inseparable. Sanctification is the result of salvation. Conditional election - God predestined those whom He knows will accept Him. o Problem This would mean God is not really choosing but just recognizing man s choice. o Problem This makes God s choice conditional on man, giving man a reason to boast, which would violate Eph 2:8-9. Grace is simply not grace if man had any part in it. o Problem: God s purposes and foreknowledge are eternal and immutable. Man is finite. God s purposes existed before man and God s foreknowledge existed before man s actions. Therefore, God s foreknowledge cannot logically be dependent on our future choice, when we and our choices are finite and dependent on His unchanging purposes. Foreknowledge Refers to intimate relational knowledge, to forelove. Governmental/corporate election - God elected the whole world to salvation. 7 Rev 17:8 - The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
o Why would Peter say to make your election sure if it was a governmental/corporate election (or a conditional election for that matter)? o Why would Paul answer refutations to the unfairness of election in Romans 9 if it was corporate (or conditional)? o How would it be a doctrine of assurance if election was corporate (or conditional) (Rom 8:28-37; 2 Thes 2:13-14)? o It s not what scripture indicates whatsoever. Open Theism If God knows the future, than whatever He knows in the future is determined. God must not know the future. Troublesome Passages 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 1 Timothy 2:4 - who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. o God desires that everyone will be saved and does not delight in people rejecting Him. Why He doesn t save all that s a mystery. o This doesn t mean it is God s intention to save the entire world and that He is failing because only some are believing. o 2 Peter 3:9 Any may refer to the elect. God is patient for the elect. (The context is God withholding judgment, and answering why judgment is being delayed). o 1 Timothy 2:4 All may not necessarily refer to everyone, but people of all ethnicities, nations, social classes, etc. (Paul speaks of kings and Gentiles in this context). John 12:32 - And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. o All ethnicities, nationalities, social classes, etc. The context of John 12:32 is that Gentiles just came to Jesus. In Titus 2:11 Paul just got done speaking of old and young, men and women, and slave and free. FAQs How can God choose some and not others to be saved? o True fairness: The proper question is, Why does God choose anyone to be saved? No one deserves salvation That is the fair side. Some are saved The gracious side. God gives some people much more than what they deserve (salvation) but never gives people less than what they deserve (damnation) That s fair. We should never compare elect to non-elect, only what people receive with what people deserve. This principle of fairness is taught in Matthew 20:1-16 parable of the day servants. 8 8. Matthew 20:1-16 - "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at
o Romans 9:14-18 - 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. God has mercy on whom He has mercy. And as we ve seen, giving mercy to some and not others is not unfair. How can God condemn someone if God doesn t choose him? o Romans 9:19-23 - 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?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory The created has no right to speak back at the Creator. The Creator has the right to create for whatever purposes He wants in this case (and all cases), His own glory. o John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Those who are condemned are not condemned because God did not choose to save them. They were condemned already. Doesn t this mean God violates man s will? o Some misunderstand election and think that it would mean 1) man s will isn t involved, 2) that there are some people who would be saved that don t want to be, and/or 3) that there are some people who want to be saved but can t. o Will Choosing what one wants, not the choice between two options. o The unsaved Does God violate the non-elects will so they can t be saved? Man s nature is to not want God and to not seek God (totally depraved). Therefore, by not electing individuals, God does not have to violate their wills in anyway. He leaves them to choose exactly what they want not Him. o The saved But if man s nature is to not want God, doesn t He violate the elects will? God does not coerce people to believe in Him. He works in them so that they want Him and willfully believe in Christ (irresistible/effectual grace). Understanding sin properly is vital to understanding election. o When people view man as having the ability to choose between heaven and hell they are not understanding depravity but are viewing man as if he is neutral. o Therefore, when God doesn t elect someone, they view it as God taking away his ability to choose between heaven and hell. o God doesn t take away their ability to be saved because they never had it. Understanding that salvation is about God s glory is vital to understanding the fairness of election. the master of the house, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first last."
o o Psalm 115:1-3 - Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 2 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. He seeks His own glory in salvation, specifically election. Misunderstandings of Election Pride I m one of the elect. o Election ought to humble you because your election was unconditional. Double Predestination. o The opposite of being predestined is not being predestined. o God doesn t need to predestine anyone to hell. We do a good enough job predestining ourselves their on our own. No prayer. o We pray because we know God is sovereign. o If God wasn t sovereign, we would have much less hope. No evangelism. o No Biblical command will ever contradict a Biblical doctrine. o We evangelize with the confidence that God does save. The Importance of Election Some ignore the doctrine or claim it s not important because it s hard to handle and controversial (Paul would disagree). Some provide over simplified answers (i.e. God is so above us we can t understand it ). It s in the Bible. o All scripture is God s Word and is important. o We can t ignore it; we will inevitably land on either side. It s attached to other doctrines and affects our theology as a whole. o It affects the way we interpret scripture. o To say it s not important is to say your entire theology isn t important, for they re attached. It affects our view of God. o To deny God s sovereignty in salvation is to attack God s sovereignty as whole, or at minimum, to have an inconsistent theology where God is sovereign only sometimes. It affects our view of sin. o By denying a Biblical view of depravity we are in reality accepting an unscriptural view of man. It causes us to view man s condition as better than it truly is. God wants glory. o Those who love election love it because they love God s glory in it. It affects our view of salvation. o Denying a Biblical view of election makes man the center of salvation. o Salvation is no longer about God glory but man s choice and man s well being in salvation. It gives us a proper understanding of faith. o Faith is a gift from God (Eph 2:8). It is something He grants us. o Faith is not what we bring to the table but the realization that we have nothing to bring to the table. Faith is not a work. It is vital to the doctrine of preservation. o Denying God s sovereignty in salvation is also a denial of God s sovereignty in preservation. o If man s will is sovereign in salvation, than man can choose himself out of salvation.
Our view of evangelism. o Other theologies are dependent on a hope that man will receive the gospel they deliver, and therefore, tend to focus on human methods rather than on God. o We need to be dependent on God (praying and using His Word) in evangelism.