Unconditional Election

 

Election is unto salvation–the greatest of all blessings. And strange to say, this is a neglected truth even by many who profess to believe it, and others have a feeling of repulsion at the very mention of this Bible-revealed, God-honouring, and man humbling truth. But all who love the doctrine were once haters of it, therefore, they have nothing in which to take pride. Every man by nature is an Arminian. They love it enough to preach it in the face of criticism and persecution.  These two systems were not named for their founders, but for the men who popularized them. The system of truth known as Calvinism was preached by Augustine at an earlier date, and before Augustine by Christ and the Apostles, being especially emphasized by the Apostle Paul.

 

To "Predestinate" and its meaning.

proori,zw proorizo {pro-or-id'-zo} • 1) to predetermine, decide beforehand 2) in the NT of God decreeing from eternity 3) to foreordain, appoint beforehand

Acts 4:28 Rom. 8:29 Rom. 8:30 1 Co. 2:7, etc...

KJV Acts 4:28, "For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done

 

 

. WHO DOES THE ELECTING? Who chooses the persons to be saved? If men are chosen to salvation, as the Scriptures affirm, who does the choosing? There must be a selection or universalism. The language of Scripture seems peculiarly definite in reply to this question. Matt. 13:20 speaks of the ELECT, whom He ELECTED, rendered in our version, "The elect's sake whom He hath chosen". The word election is associated with God not with man. God is the CHOOSER, His people are the CHOSEN, and grace is the source. The theology, that God votes for us, the Devil votes against us, and that we cast the deciding ballot is entirely outside the pale of Scripture teaching, and is almost too ridiculous to notice. (John 15:16; II Thess. 2:13; Eph 1:4)

2. WHEN WAS THE ELECTING DONE? For the answer we are shut up to the Scriptures. But the BIBLE answers with sunlight clearness. In Eph. 1:4 we read that "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world". The expression, "before the foundation of the world is found in John 17:24, where it speaks of the Father's eternal love for the Son, and in 1 Peter 1:20, where it refers to the eternal determination of the Divine mind concerning the death of Christ. There are many similar expressions. ELECTION IS ETERNAL! (Rev. 13:8; II Thess. 2:13; II Tim. 1:9)

3. WHY WAS THE ELECTING DONE? Was it on the ground of something good in the sinner? Then nobody would have been elected for there is none good. Holiness is not the cause but the effect of election. We are chosen that we should be holy not because we are holy (Eph. 1:4). Nor, as we have already seen, is election in view of foreseen repentance and faith. Election is the cause of repentance and faith and not the effect of these graces. To say that God chose men to salvation because He foresaw that they would repent and believe and be saved is to attribute foolishness to the infinitely wise God. It is as if the president should issue a decree that the sun must rise tomorrow because he foresees that it will rise; or as if a sculptor should choose a certain piece of marble because he foresaw that it would make itself into the image he wanted. We challenge any Arminian to raise these questions and get his answers from the Scriptures.

God’s Purposes in Election

Why did God choose to do things this way? What were His purposes in election? Scripture reveals some answers.

To Manifest the Glory of His Character. The ultimate purpose of election, of course, is for the glory of God (see Proverbs 16:4). Paul gives one of God’s purposes for election in Ephesians 1:4, "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him." According to this verse, God’s purpose in choosing some for salvation was so there would be a group of humanity who would be holy and blameless. They will fulfill the purpose God has for creation in manifesting the glory of His character, holiness and blamelessness.

To Demonstrate the Glory of His Grace. A second purpose is seen in Ephesians 1:12: "To the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." That is why He predestined some—that they would be to the praise of His glory. The Book of Ephesians makes the point clear that for all eternity the elect will be trophies of grace for God. He is going to be able to demonstrate the greatness of His grace in eternity. The elect’s presence in heaven is going to be an evidence of how great God’s grace really is. For all of eternity, those in heaven are going to be trophies to the greatness of the grace of God. Those in hell will be evidence of the greatness of God in His justice and holiness.

To Proclaim the Excellencies of His Name. Peter gives another purpose for election in 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." God has chosen some that they might proclaim His excellencies. That is why making Him known to people all around the world should be a priority. One of God’s specific purposes in choosing the elect is that His excellencies, the greatness of Him who called us out of darkness into light, might be proclaimed.

 

Ps 78:67,70-72 - Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved.... He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

 

Ps 105:6,43 - O seed of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones!... He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout.

 

Ps 135:4 - For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure.

 

Prv 16:4 - The Lord has made all things for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

 

Mt 11:25-27 - At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. All things have been delivered to me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

 

Mt 22:12-14 - [Parable of the Wedding Feast] So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' and he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called but few are chosen.

 

Mt 24:22 - And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

Mt 25:33,34 - And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." [Note the analogy of sheep and goats. A goat can never become a sheep, nor a sheep a goat.]

Lk 4:24-29 - Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." Then all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.

Jn 13:17,18a - If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. I do not speak concerning all of you [disciples]. I know whom I have chosen.

 

Jn 17:2,3,6-12,14,20,24,25

 

Ac 9:15 - But the Lord said to [Ananias], "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel

 

1 Cor 1:26-29 - For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Eph 2:8-10 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them

 

2 Tm 2:10 - 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

 

Lk 10:20-22 - "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

 

Rev 13:8 - And all who dwell on the earth will worship [the beast], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Rev 17:8b - And those who dwell on earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world....

Rev 17:14 - These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.