This week we come to the glorious, but admittedly sometimes hard to swallow and comprehend doctrine of election. In a nutshell, this doctrine states that man is born totally wicked and cannot and will not choose God. God, then, graciously chooses to unconditionally save some people (the elect) and turn them from evil to good, from death to life, and from sin to righteousness. Everyone else, He hardens, will not save, and He will pour out His wrath on them.
This can be a very hard topic to discuss and think about. It’s nearly impossible not to think about our friends and family that aren’t saved and wonder why. It’s hard to think about people suffering in hell knowing that our loving God destined them for that demise. It’s simply hard stuff. I would also say, however, that the meat of this doctrine is absolutely glorious; it points to a totally supreme God who sovereignly directs everything. Our God is entirely and completely free to do whatever He wants, free from outside constraints. This totally free and holy God then chooses, in a supreme act of love, to save some dirty rotten sinners who were so dead in their sins that they would never turn to Him of their own accord instead of justly damning them to hell. What grace! What mercy! What a great God! God’s purpose in election is the praise of His glorious grace.
Whether this doctrine is one that you embraced long ago, is something you just can’t believe, or is something you’re on the fence about, I’d encourage you to search the Scriptures, especially Ephesians 1:3-14 and Romans 9:9-24. What do they say about election, choice, and predestination? Also, I plan on leaving a good chunk of time at the end of class to address any questions or comments you have about this doctrine. Please come ready to ask and discuss.
I also highly recommend John Piper’s sermon series on Romans 9 to help clarify and explain this doctrine. I found this one particularly helpful.
My notes can be seen here.
[...] February 22 – Election [...]
By: Spring Schedule « Builders Blog on February 17, 2009
at 10:10 pm
I have been “chewing” on the election topic this week, especially, trying to sort some points out in my mind and in prayer. There are a couple things that I would love to hear other’s perspective on…sort of like iron sharpening iron as I/we continue to learn more about God and His GREAT work.
First, as I’ve read more it seems like many people think that those who believe in free will “work” their own way to salvation—meaning that it is because of them and what they have done that saves them. After reading passages such as Romans 3-4 and Ephesians 2:8&9, it seems like faith cannot be equated with a work that anyone can claim for themselves. Even if we are the ones who choose to believe and follow, it is only because of Jesus Christ and His work/sacrifice. How does choosing to accept God’s gracious GIFT of mercy give credit to a sinner?
Also, while I tend to lean more towards the side of free will (our individual election to salvation being based on/conditioned on God’s foreknowledge of our response to the gospel), I think that the Bible is very clear that “no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12). The struggle for me is that for some the same inclusivity of this thought is not mirrored in God’s work of salvation, though it seems that the same language is used for both. All throughout Scripture it speaks of Christ dying for ALL, NO ONE perishing, ANYONE can come to Christ through faith, etc. Why is the inclusive language different when it comes to God’s gift of salvation?
This is all so heavy and hard to work through. It is great to have each other – brothers and sisters in Christ – to learn from and get challenged by. May the Lord be honored as we strive to know Him.
By: Kristin Bergman on February 26, 2009
at 10:34 pm
Kristin,
I’m not part of KSBC but from time to time I stop by and check out the blog. Your question was intriguing, and inviting, so I hope you don’t mind me throwing some thoughts out there.
Ultimately, the question has to boil down to: why did someone choose God. According to many “freewill” advocates (although predestination doesn’t actually preclude an idea of freewill), salvation is likened to two people drowning in the ocean. A life tube is thrown out to them. Each person is then required to decide what to do with that life tube. They could either grab on and be saved, or they won’t, and drown. If person A grabs on and person B does not, we’re all going to be of the opinion that person A made the better choice. Why? Was it because he was smarter? More informed? Wiser? Culturally more adapt? If pushed, a freewill advocate would have to say “Yes, person A was smarter.” And here is where we drift (no pun intended) away from the Biblical idea of salvation. Does the gospel simply put someone in a “savable” condition; that is, just offer salvation to people? Or, does the gospel SAVE people (Romans 1:16-17)? If it only puts them in a savable condition, and one must, unmoved and by their own “freewill” grab the life tube, then they merit salvation because they chose and made the better decision. God did 99% but the person still has to do 1%. The glory then goes to both man and God.
But remember Christ’s words in John 6, “but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.” He doesn’t say, you’re not part of my flock because you don’t believe…no quite differently, he says you don’t believe because you’re not part of my flock. Even the “work” of belief (John 6:29), is wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, we believe BECAUSE we are part of the flock. I’m not sure the above dilemma, of two people drowning, is solved if election is based on God’s foreknowledge of our response. We must still ask ourselves, why do we believe? The Biblical answer must be, “I believe because of free grace, all of free grace” (see Ephesians 2:8-9).
But you are quite right. This seems rather incompatible with verses that say “anyone” can come to Christ. I think it’s important to distinguish, as our Protestant Reformers did, the difference between the “warrant” to come to Christ, and the “ability” to come to Christ. Everyone has warrant to come to Christ, but not everyone is given the ability to come to Christ. There is a big distinction here, and one our forefathers very intricately worked out.
Well anyway, I don’t know that this response does much good. Just figured I would throw a thought or two out there for consideration. May the Spirit be ever faithful to us.
Grace.
By: Kyle Borg on February 28, 2009
at 11:59 pm