The Sweetness of Divine Election
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 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. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
To say that most Christians are woefully ignorant of the doctrine of election is an understatement. It conjures up horrible pictures of God, so we are told. It assaults our free will, and how can we be held accountable or responsible if we have no choice? Quite simply, the reason most ask these questions or pose these problems is because they have never studied sufficiently the doctrine from the biblical or divine standpoint. The starting point for any doctrine must be the Word of God. Any doctrine can be expressed in two ways – theologically or biblically. Theological arguments are stated logically and appeal to reasonableness of mind. Biblical arguments are derived from the texts of the Bible. You can see that the biblical arguments should be the stronger of the two. It is always preferable to argue from both, but to just argue theologically can have some weaknesses. Of course, if you interpret the Bible by not using sound biblical hermeneutical principles, you are asking for trouble. So what shall we say about election? Does the Bible teach election? Here is a brief introduction.
I believe that divine election is a sweet doctrine. It is the sovereign work of God. Election is not the brainchild of John Calvin, as some suppose. Election is plainly taught by our Lord and the apostles. Listen to these texts, (and there are numerous others). John 6:37, 39 – “All that the Father gives to me shall come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me.”
You will notice that these texts talk about individuals given by the Father to the Son, and that all that are given will never be lost. Jesus says in verse 44, that no one can come to him, unless the Father who sent him draws that someone. This verse contains the inability of all to come unless drawn to Jesus by the Father. It is clear that not all are drawn for then all would be saved. It is further clear that man’s unbelief and rejection does not stand in the way of the Father’s drawing. It is a sovereign act of God, and is effectual. Effectual calling means that those who are called actually do come. They may resist for a time but they will come. They are drawn because they are elect. Consider these verses. John 15:16 – “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit.”
Rom. 9:11 – 13 – “Yet, before the twins (Jacob and Esau) were born or had done anything good or bad – in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works, but by him who calls – she (Rebekah) was told, “the older will serve the younger. Just as it is written: (Mal. 1:2, 3) Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (also see Eph. 1:3 – 14).
Notice that these verses speak of the time before the boys were born, or before they could be held accountable for either good or bad; God had elected one of them to life – namely, Jacob. Notice that God sets his love on Jacob before either his birth or any works done by him. In case you were to think that there must have been something better in Jacob than Esau for God to choose him, you would be mistaken. Verses 15, 16, and 19 speak of the God’s mercy and compassion, and of his hardening the hearts of certain individuals (like Pharaoh). Verse 19 asks the question, “Who can resist the will of God?” Answer: Nobody! Election is simply according to God’s good pleasure. God is glorified in electing some to life and others to condemnation. God is certainly not unfair, for if God were to be fair then all of us should perish in eternal hell, but God is a God of mercy, and he actually does save by grace.
We would do well to study our verses – Romans 8:28 – 30. The call of God is not a mere invitation to people with the power of self-determination (free will). Rather it is an act of creation in people who are spiritually dead. This act of creation is the infusion of the new nature. It takes place at regeneration. Let’s make sure that we understand that conversion occurs because regeneration has occurred, but as far as we are concerned they are simultaneous. The order (ordo salutis) of salvation according to Romans 8 is: foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification and glorification. Notice that calling is after predestination. God does not look at people and see them possessing the power of free will or self-determination. He sees them as sinners enslaved to their sin and spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1). Spiritually dead people, by the way, do not and cannot, respond to spiritual things unless God makes them alive. We need to understand these truths (see also 1 Cor. 2:14).
We need to know that only God knows who the elect are. I don’t know who the elect are – that’s why we preach the gospel to every person. Mr. Spurgeon used to say that if we could know who the elect are, then we should paint a stripe down their backs and preach only to them. No, election is God’s great business. By the way, election has already taken place in eternity past. God did not have to look forward into time with his divine binoculars to see who would believe, and then on the basis of what he saw, make his election or choice of those believing individuals. If God did not know before he looked, then God learned something, and if God learned something, then God is not omniscient, and if God is not omniscient, then he, of course, is not God. These are theological arguments that you can use to defend election.
God’s foreknowledge, is not simply knowing ahead of time that something is going to happen (though foreknowledge does have that meaning), but it means an “intimate knowledge of”. So, for instance, when God says to Jeremiah in Jer. 1:5 that “before he had formed Jeremiah in the womb, God knew him”, it means that God knew Jeremiah intimately and had chosen him for his prophetic ministry. Compare Amos 3:2 for the same meaning respecting the nation Israel. God’s foreknowledge implies that God has set his special affection on individuals long before they were even conceived or known. Now I hope that by now you are getting the picture on what God has done for you. Election, according to the 1689 Baptist Confession, is this: “by his decree and for the manifestation of his glory, God has predestined certain men and angels to eternal life through Jesus Christ, thus revealing his grace. Others, whom he has left to perish in their sins, he shows the terror of his justice.” (Chp. 3:3) (Matt. 25:34; Rom. 9:22, 23; Eph. 1:5, 6; 1 Tim. 5:21; Jude 4). The Westminster Confession of Faith says the same thing (Chp. 3:2).
Election, therefore, is the eternal act of God whereby, he in his sovereign good pleasure, and on account of no foreseen merit in men and women, chooses a certain number (a multitude which no man can number) of these individuals to be the recipients of special grace and of eternal salvation. Salvation therefore does not depend on my uncertain and frail obedience, but it is absolutely guaranteed because of the unchangeable purpose of God. Election is unconditional. It does not depend on faith. Men do not become elect because they have faith. Faith is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8 – 10). You can despise this doctrine or accept this doctrine. To despise it is to run counter to everything contained in the Word of God. We must also confess and acknowledge that we cannot know all things that God has done or is doing. God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8).
Election is grounded in the love of God. God chose because he loved us. Why should God love us? Who of us can ever begin to understand why God should love anyone of us? We have not acted righteously before him, but rather have despised him and hated him, and loved our sins. Embrace election! You will not be alone. I think it is fair to say that the Apostle Paul believed in election. The Apostle Peter believed it just as strongly (2 Peter 1:10, 11). Who will ever plumb election’s depths? Can we ever begin to comprehend the love of God for us? Election is designed to humble us, not make us arrogant or proud. Without it, we would all perish in hell. Taste the sweetness and rejoice.