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Sunday, December 12, 2010

Election

Does God choose who will be saved (via the Holy Spirit)? (i.e., choose those who are saved, the elect?) Reading through the Bible - "the elect" is mentioned so often, it seems to me the above applies (Ephesians 2.8).

I placed a question basket in the entryway of our church. When people ask questions, I try to answer them on Sunday evenings. Just recently I received this question regarding the doctrine of election. Part of me cringed and part of me anticipated the opportunity to share my understanding of the doctrine. It is an understanding that has been shaped by my pastor/mentor, John Mincy and author, Samuel Fisk.

This particular doctrine is difficult to understand. Learned men in theologies struggle with the end result of the common understanding of this teaching. Select verses from Scripture are difficult to explain when it comes to any viewpoint. It is impossible for the finite to fully understand the infinite.

John MacArthur notes that the Scripture explores three different kinds of election: Theocratic (Israel); Vocational (e.g., chosen to be priest, apostle, prophet, etc.), and salvational (individuals chosen by God to be saved). Citing John 6.44 (“No man can come to Me [Jesus speaking] unless the Father who sent Me draws him…”), MacArthur concludes on the basis of the Greek word for draw that God irresistibly draws elect men and women to salvation. These are predetermined recipients of God’s love and forgiveness. The drawing is only effective for the elect and the rest are passed over.

MacArthur concludes that man is able to choose God because God makes that choice possible. No individual receives Christ as Savior who has not been chosen by God (Romans 8.29; 9.11; 1 Thess 1.3-4; 1 Peter 1.2). Man’s will to choose and God’s decision to choose that man are found in the fact that Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6.37).

Both truths, Man’s will to choose and God’s predetermined election of that man, are harmonized by God. They cannot be reconciled. The objects of election are those whom God chose. He elected the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world for the purpose of holiness and blamelessness. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons. He did all this to the praise of His glory (see Ephesians 1.4ff.).

Wayne Grudem articulates reformed theology’s understanding of predestination and election. He desires that a distinction be made between election and reprobation. He views the term ‘double predestination’ as an unfair characterization of reformed theology. “Election is an act of God before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure” (670).

God ordained beforehand those who would be saved. “As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13.48). Romans 9.11-13 are cited to demonstrate that God chose Jacob and not Esau (cf. also Romans 8.28-30). He also mentions Romans 11.7: “Israel failed to obtain what it sought. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened.” Therefore, there are two groups in Israel: the elect and the hardened.

He also points out that the Thessalonians believed the gospel when it was preached. This is evidence of the fact that they were elect of God (1 Thessalonians 1.4-5). “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth…” (2 Thessalonians 2.13).

God has “saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1.9). Believers are the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father; they are a chosen generation (1 Peter 1.2; 2.9). Our names are written in the book of life before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13.7-8).

These, other conservative evangelicals, and many fundamentalists believe what I've just described to be the correct view of the doctrine of election. Any other view for them is inconsistent with the sovereignty of God and the clear teaching of Scripture. The reason this is so is because when we hold to certain systems of thought, we deduce that it must be one way or the other when it comes to this doctrine. Both the sovereignty of God and the free will of man are not held in tension by many who claim that they are.

Dr. John Mincy builds on the fact that God created man in His image. He points out that as managers sometimes we micromanage and make sure people do exactly what we ask them to do. They are given no latitude or choice of their own. However, every good manager will need to allow people room to grow and accomplish tasks on their own. The manager makes sure that people are going in the right direction, makes them accountable for their own actions, and even allows them to fail. God is sovereign. He does as He pleases. His Word reveals His good pleasure. There are passages in Scripture that demonstrate God’s complete engagement and management of people and the direction of their lives. There are other passages where God allows latitude in the lives of people. But He is still moving history and mankind to the return of His Son and the commencement of eternity.

I allow for the fact that many of my brothers and sisters in Christ disagree with my own conclusions regarding election. Increasingly, however, those who believe God elects individuals to salvation and passes by others who end up condemned have marginalized other views concerning this doctrine. Patronizing comments abound on the Internet along with accusations of open theism or a diminished view of God's control over man. There is little or no tolerance for other views. It is with this in mind that I offer what I believe the Bible teaches about this doctrine.

Samuel Fisk rejects individual election. Citing Ephesians 1.4 - 6 (the same passage MacArthur uses to defend his view of individual election), Fisk points out that God has chosen us in Christ "before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace..."

Ephesians 1.4 teaches that when we place our faith in Christ, we are chosen in Him - not chosen to be placed in Him. We are predestined to adoption as sons and to living for the praise of His glory. Election looks to the benefits of salvation but not the act of salvation itself.

Paul teaches that we were chosen in Christ not chosen to be put in Christ. The descendants of Jacob were not chosen to be put into Jacob; rather, they were chosen in Jacob. Isaiah 42.1 is a prophetic passage. It speaks of Jesus Christ as God the Father's Servant. He is upheld as the Elect One. As God's Elect One, Christ was chosen to fulfill redemption's plan. We are not among the elect until we come into Christ through repentance and faith. Our position in Christ the Elect One makes us elect. We were not elected as individuals in eternity past; we are elect once we are in Christ. We are in Christ through faith and repentance. Difficult passages:

Paul writes, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified ...Who shall bring a charge against God's elect" (Romans 8.28-33). The terms call and elect in this passage refer to our service to God and not our salvation. Election is not of individuals to salvation but according to His purpose which was and is to save those who would approach Him on the basis of what He provided and not what we can provide. And, of course, God knew who would approach Him on that basis.

Romans 9-11 is often used to buttress the idea of individual election. However, the passage is teaching us how God responds to nations not individuals. God chose Israel and rejected Egypt. That has nothing to do with individuals within those nations. Romans 9.22 states, "What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction..." The verb prepared is in the passive voice in Greek. God did not prepare Pharaoh, representing Egypt, for destruction; but rather, Pharaoh/Egypt prepared itself for destruction. I could walk us through this entire section and not once have to interpret a passage to mean individual election. God's choice of Israel was to privilege and duty not individual salvation.

2 Thessalonians 2.13 says, "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." God has chosen us in Christ for salvation not wrath. The Thessalonians are in Christ because of faith and repentance. People must hear the Gospel, believe the Gospel, and by faith receive the Gospel. This verse does not make sense if it is to mean individual election to salvation. How would God from the beginning choose the Thessalonians to believe the truth through sanctification and belief in the truth? No, belief opened the door. Those who reject the truth receive delusion (2.10-12). Those who accept the truth receive salvation (2.13). Incidentally, verse 14 defines salvation in the context as the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is future glorification. Paul reminded the Thessalonians about the future they have to look forward to because of their faith in Christ.

"Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2.10). Paul is suffering in prison here. He is suffering for the sake of the elect, those that will be saved - those who will be in Christ. God chooses to save those in Christ. They are in Christ by turning and trusting. Salvation is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory - this seems to be speaking of ultimate and final deliverance in Heaven.

Peter states that dispersed believers throughout Asia Minor are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1.2). This verse simply state that our election in Christ was according to God's foreknowledge. It does not teach the election of individuals to salvation. That must be imported by our own deductive reasoning. Even if the verse was teaching election of individuals to salvation, it would be based upon God's foreknowledge and not upon a decree God made in eternity.

I think it good to remember this distinction: we are chosen in Christ not chosen to be put into Christ. People who believe that faith is a work struggle with this. Saving faith is not a work. It is simply accepting the free gift God has offered us. We do not earn it or deserve it (Ephesians 2.8-9).

The concept of predestination must also be understood in tandem with election. One is predestined to conformation to the image of God's Son. One is not predestined to salvation. Predestination points up the future adoption and service of believers. It does not refer to how they became Christians. The foreknowledge of God does not imply that God predetermined or predestined events. I don't view this as a diminishing of the sovereignty of God at all. On the contrary, it magnifies the sovereignty of God.

Summary: My understanding is that God chose to save all those who would respond to the Gospel. This is what He provided as a means of escape from eternal wrath. We receive God's provision by placing our faith in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. We are elect ones because we are in the Elect One, God's Servant - Jesus Christ. How do we get in Christ? Faith is the vehicle not some predetermined choice that God made from eternity. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God" (John 1.12-13).

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3.16). This text says God love the world not just some individuals in the world. It also promises that whoever believes in Him has everlasting life. It does not say that only those individuals chosen by God will believe.

So, God chooses on the basis of those who would look to His provision and not their own provision. Salvation is still through Christ alone, by grace alone, and through faith alone. Man is hopeless without Christ. Even if you do not see this doctrine the way I do, you still would have to conclude with me that God didn't have to choose to save any of us. All of us deserve Hell.