Post #37: Thoughts Concerning Election

Today is Election Day in the United States.  What better day than this to offer a posting on the biblical topic of election.  Many people don’t like the idea of unconditional election when it comes to our salvation – probably because it strips us of any power in saving ourselves.  If you’re struggling with the biblical doctrine of election, then we pray today’s Spreading God’s Word topic will be useful for you. 

What is biblical election?  Some say it’s a gracious act of God whereby from all eternity, he chose for salvation all those He foreknew would respond to his common grace.  But there’s a major problem with that line of thinking.  There is no such thing in Scripture as “common grace.” The only type of grace in Scripture is “electing grace.”

Common grace is a theological theory taught in certain circles that the grace of God is common to the entire human race.  It’s called “common” because it teaches that all people receive benefits from it without the requirements of salvation. That may sound reasonable — but nowhere is it taught in the Bible.  Common grace is a misnomer because it’s confused with all of God’s creation — such as sunshine and rain – being available to all humans.  Certainly, the entire human race shares in the creation of God, which is common to mankind.  One of the verses which shows this plainly is Matthew 5:45:    

(Mat 5:45 KJV) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

The distinction must be realized between the grace of God in salvation and the providential care given by God to His entire creation.

The second problem with this idea is that if God knew who was going to respond to Him, then what would have been the purpose of electing them?  That would be a futile action.  I suppose it’s akin to being in the military and the CO asks for ten volunteers out of 25 soldiers. The ten come forward and volunteer for duty. Then the CO says that he is going to elect them.  Well, ff they’ve already volunteered, then election is not necessary.

This is why the idea that God elects those who He knew would accept Him is a very fallacious teaching. 

(Rom 8:29 KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  

1 Pet 1:1-2 KJV — Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

Eph 1:4 KJV — According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  

Both Romans 8:29 and 1 Peter 1:1-2 speak about the foreknowledge of God. The word foreknowledge is the Greek “proginosko”, which means “know beforehand.”  Romans 8:29 teaches that God foreknew who he was going to predestinate unto salvation. The word for predestinate is the Greek “proorizo”. which means “to appoint or determine beforehand.”  1 Peter 1:2 speaks of God electing to salvation those He foreknew.

There is nothing in either of these verses that speaks of a person responding to electing grace. The only action a person has in salvation is a passive one whereby they receive salvation without reaching out or responding positively.  Ephesians 1:4 speaks of the believer being chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world.  For a deeper understanding/appreciation of this we should consider two verses in Revelation: 

Rev 13:8 KJV – And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world 

 

Rev 17:8 KJV — The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

 

In both verses it speaks plainly about true believers having their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life which is a synonym for those who are predestined to eternal life.  From the foundation of the world God already foreknew those whom He was going to save.  Eph. 1:4 speaks of the believer being chosen in Christ. The word chosen is the Greek word “eklegomai”, which means “choose, select, or elect.”  There’s nothing in this word to indicate a needed response from a person for salvation.  It is given to the person whom God has chosen.

 

Once again, the foreknowledge of God is not focused upon who is going to accept Him; rather, it is focused on who He plans to save.  There’s no evidence in the Bible of anyone “accepting the Lord.”  Look at the following verses:  

Mark 2:14 KJV – And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. 

If you notice in Mark 2:14, Jesus said to Levi “Follow me,” and he immediately arose and followed Jesus. There was no “decision” or “acceptance.” Levi heard the call of Jesus and obeyed because he was of God’s Elect. 

Acts 22:9-10 KJV – And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. {And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.  

Acts 22:9-10 gives us one of the accounts of the conversion of the Apostle Paul. An interesting thing to note in verse 9 — those who were with Paul had seen the light but did not hear the voice. Have you ever wondered why this was so?  If there was such a thing as “common grace” then why didn’t the Lord allow the others in Paul’s company a chance to “accept Him” at that moment? The reason is that God’s callings are qualified in that only those who are predestined to be saved will spiritually hear the call. 

Mat 11:15 KJV — He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

In Matthew 11:15, the Lord uses a phrase concerning those who have ears to hear. Now everybody has ears and can hear but what is in focus here are the spiritual ears needed to hear the things of God. Those spiritual ears are only given to the Elect and that is why those who were with Paul did not hear what was being said.

It is the same in our time. Two people sitting in church listening to a sermon, one is sitting there in tears and the other sits there looking at his watch waiting for it to be over. One has spiritual ears to hear and the other does not.  God is the basis and source of salvation – not Man’s will (John 1:13)  

John 1:12-13 KJV — But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  

This means that man has nothing to do in the process of salvation except receive it.  We cannot deny Election. It is Biblical. We are chosen!!!  

Oh, by the way:  did you vote? 

To God Be The Glory!