The Heart of the Father in Election

What is election? Without a firm understanding of election Christians will be hard pressed to answer the questions and accusations of the unbelieving world. How can a loving God condemn a creature He created to eternal damnation and suffering? If God is so powerful, why did He allow Satan and Adam to sin? Is God the source of evil? These are a few of the difficult questions the world uses to attack Christianity and Christians. How do we answer? What defense can we give for the gospel in a world gone insane with political correctness, postmodernism, and the pervasive idea that there is no absolute truth?

Election and the Problem of Evil

The doctrine of election reveals the heart of the Father regarding His plan and desire for all men. The expression of His love and mercy toward man was perfected at the cross. God would desire that all be saved.

The problem of evil is beyond the scope of the present post. Theodicy is the part of theology that defends God’s justice, righteousness, and power in view of the existence of a world full of sin, death, and evil. The declaration of Rom 8:38 tells us that, for the believer, all things work out for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This is not true for the unbeliever. God has permitted evil to exist so that there is production of a greater good. This greater good is a future that brings glory to God. It is an assurance of a future new heaven and earth, that sin has never touched, inhabited by beings who share His life and glory, and from whom sin has been eternally removed.

The fall of angels and then man resulted from autonomous decisions made by free creatures. The source of evil and the entrance of sin into the universe is Satan and Adam, not God.  We were all created free creatures. When they choose to disobey, He says, “Thy will be done.”

No one is forced into hell.  Hell exists because a loving God will never coerce one of His creatures to choose Him. He has created a place where those who deny Him can be apart from His love for all eternity. Hell exists because God is just. No one will be in hell who would have ever believed in Jesus Christ, no matter how many opportunities they were given.

God has permitted sin and evil so that it could be defeated by the cross. For the believer, the doctrine of election produces the greatest assurance of the Father’s will and eternal desire for us. For the believer, the greatest thing that could have ever happened is that Adam sinned. What we gain by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, is much greater than what was lost by Adam in the fall from innocence. The afflictions we face in this world will be small compared to the glory of God to be revealed to us and in us.

The Attack Upon the Father’s Heart

As we have stated previously, the exclusive claims of Christ and Christianity make us broad targets in today’s world.

1. Biblical truth and inerrancy. 2 Tim 3:16
2. The narrow path to salvation. I am the way and the truth and the life. John 14:6
3. Sin …. The world hates Me because I testify to that which is evil. John 7:7.
4. Mission statement of the church ( Matt 28:19-20, Go, baptize, teach and make disciples) is seen to be imperialistic and claims to be superior to the truth of other cultures.

The views of the world against Christianity are perpetuated by hatred and a lack of understanding of God, His attributes, and His plan. The world and Christians are enemies.

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  John 17:14

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  1 John 2:15

The common erroneous statements made against Christ and Christianity include:

1. A just God would never condemn those who, whether in ancient times or today, have never heard of Him or His salvation.
2. “My God is a God of love. A God of love would never condemn anyone to hell.” “Eventually, we will all go to heaven.” ” You need to be more inclusive of other people and their ideas.”
3. All religions basically worship the same God.
4. Truth is relative and dependent on culture. “What is right or true for you and your culture may not be right for me.”
5. The only truth we can rely upon is that which comes from science. Only science can answer our questions and fix our problems.
6. The Bible is a book of ancient myths handed down over time by a superstitious people, untrained by education or science. It is a book of man about God that contains error and is not authoritative.
7. “It is my life. I can do anything I want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.”

These emotionally driven attacks upon the love, justice and mercy of God are the hardest to defend against. Understanding the doctrine of election as well as the attributes of God, can clarify many of these issues for the discerning Christian so that a firm defense of the gospel can be made. God has revealed His plan and will for man in Scripture.

The Desire of the Father

The first charge leveled against God under the doctrine of election is the injustice of the creation of beings that He would choose to condemn eternally. The following scriptures address the true desire of the Father. [1]

God loves the world.

God loves all the people of the world. The value of man to God is shown by His willingness to send His Son to die for the redemption of all who believe.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.     John 3:16

Christ died for the whole world.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  John 1:29

…and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh.  John 6:51

… God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent.     Acts 17:30

… that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.    Heb 2:9

God Desires All to be Saved

Thus it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.   Matt 18:14

… who desires all men to be saved.      1 Tim 2:4

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.   2 Pet 3:9

…And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.   Rev 22:17

The gospel message is to all people.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.    Matt 28:19

Unbelief and Eternal Condemnation

The basis for eternal condemnation of people, who are of sufficient age and intellect, is failure to accept Christ. Each person is accountable and must be responsible for his own eternal destiny.

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.    John 3:18

The basis for eternal condemnation is not personal sins.

Now all these things are from God who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their trespasses against them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.                                                                  2 Cor 5:18-20

… and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.  1 John 2:2

 

The basis for eternal condemnation is failure to accept Christ.

Each person is accountable and must be responsible for his own eternal destiny.

Conclusions about the basis of eternal condemnation and how that relates to Calvinism –

“God wants all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  It is impossible to maintain that He has decreed only some people to receive salvation.

God has commanded all men everywhere to repent. It is difficult to believe He devised a system in which the major responsibility for repentance/unrepentance lies with Himself, rather than with man.

Since the primary basis for eternal condemnation is not inherited or personal sin, but rather failure to accept Christ, it is difficult to adopt a position in which the majority have no real responsibility for whether or not they accept Christ. If Calvinism is true, most are unable to accept Christ because God has not chosen them. The result is there is no remaining basis for eternal condemnation. God does not condemn in the eternal sense for sin. How could He condemn a soul for unbelief if God Himself is primarily responsible for belief or unbelief?” Waterhouse [2]

 The Father’s desire is for all men to be saved. Jesus died for  all.

The gospel, the power of God to save (Rom 1:16), has gone into the entire world (Matt 28:19-20; Luke 24:47).

Why God Must Elect

God must take the initiative to dispel darkness and blindness in a lost person’s heart. Satan blinds all unsaved people to the gospel (2 Cor 4:4).

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  2 Cor 2:3-4

Unless there is conviction by the Holy Spirit the natural man cannot see the importance of revealed truth, for it is foolishness (1 Cor 1:18; 1 Cor 2:14).

For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness…     1 Cor 1:18

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Cor 2:14

The Holy Spirit penetrates the darkness so that the gospel is fully understood (John 6:44, 16:14; Acts 16:14, 26:18). Only then, after the work of the Holy Spirit, is it possible for the person to exercise his or her own faith in Christ. God does not give the faith, but He does make it possible for faith to be expressed. [3]

No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.  John 6:44

He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you

A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. Acts 16:14

… to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God.   Acts 26:18

It is not possible for one to come to a saving knowledge of Christ by themselves. God does the work and we accept His work as a gift by faith.

God’s Work –  Jesus died and paid for our sins. His resurrection signified the Father’s acceptance and Jesus’ righteousness. The Holy Spirit dispels the spiritual blindness and frees us from slavery to darkness and Satan, and plants the seed of the gospel into the heart of man.The Holy Spirit’s work is to dispel the darkness that Satan imprisons us in, and to implant the gospel in the heart of man for those whom He foreknows have the potential for faith is election.

Man’s Responsibility – Man is now free to respond in faith.

The Terms of Election

One of the most debated and confusing doctrines in Christianity is the doctrine of election. Many are called, few are chosen (Matt 22:14). Does God choose some to go to heaven and condemn all others to eternal death and misery or do we choose Him?  Election looks at salvation from the Father’s side through Jesus Christ. Understanding the doctrine of election clarifies God’s role, and man’s responsibility in how salvation occurs.

There are three words that make up this doctrine: foreknowledge, election, and predestination (or preordained.) Each must be clearly defined for there to be any understanding of the scriptures related to the doctrine of election.

Foreknowledge

The foreknowledge of God is one aspect of omniscience; it is implied in the Father’s warnings, promises, and predictions. Acts 15:18 *Knowing the future (foreknowledge) is not the same as creating it.

Foreknowledge involves His electing grace, but does not preclude human will.*He knows who will accept salvation, and for that opportunity to happen, He must provide a supernatural way to penetrate the “force-field” put around the heart of the unbeliever by Satan. This opportunity does not guarantee an outcome as the person must still choose.

He foreknows the exercise of faith without which salvation does not occur.

Foreknowledge is distinguished from predestination by the emphasis upon the persons foreknown by God. Predestination has special reference to that which the subjects of His foreknowledge are destined in the future (privileges, status, identity).  Predestination is the guaranteed blessings from God for His own. [4]

The Function of Foreknowledge in Election

Scripture makes a direct connection between election/predestination and foreknowledge.

God knows all the people who will believe, if given enlightenment by the Spirit. Even those with a latent potential for faith will never respond unless their blindness is penetrated and dispelled by God so their faith can be exercised.

God has a program of election to reach all of those whom He foreknows will believe if the blindness is dissipated. His election is conditional upon a foreknowledge of potential faith. God does not irresistibly cause the faith, but He causes understanding of the gospel so that the expression of that person’s faith can take place.

God also knows those who have no potential for faith. They would never believe regardless of the amount of God’s gracious efforts. God holds unbelievers accountable for not having any latent potential for faith. He did not actively decree their unbelief (though He does not force belief and thus indirectly allows unbelief to exist). [5]

Many are confused by Scripture such as “many are called but few are chosen.” The called are those who receive general grace or the conviction of the Holy Spirit regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment. The gospel goes out to the world, but most reject the free grace gift. The chosen receive efficacious grace in election. The chosen ones are those whom God foreknows to have the potential to express faith once the darkness and prison of Satan has been penetrated with the gospel. Election always results in salvation.  Election is God’s work. Salvation is completed by the faith response of man. *Note- penetrating the darkness alone by the Holy Spirit is not election.  An unbeliever, in a gospel presentation, may have the darkness penetrated and still reject Jesus Christ. Penetrating the darkness allows the opportunity for faith to be expressed. It can result in salvation, but the person may choose to reject Christ.

Election

The act of election has to be compatible with all of God’s attributes. It is based on Omniscience.

Done in Love – Eph 1:4-5; Mercy – Rom 9:15; Grace – Eph 2:7-9.

Displays His glory – Eph 2

The emphasis of election is that it is a work of God. It is God who elects. Election assures that those chosen by the Father for the electing grace of the Spirit will be saved. But, election alone does not save them. Salvation is the result of the work of God and the faith response of man. Men are saved by faith in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. The faith that saves can only be expressed in men who are blinded by Satan after God’s action in election. [6]

The purpose of election is:

• Service and good works. John 15:16, Gal 1:15-16, Eph 2:10, 1 Thess 1:4-10
• Manifest God’s glory. Eph 1:6

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit and Election

God’s election and predestination means that anyone foreknown to have a potential for faith will have an opportunity to have blindness removed by the Holy Spirit, so that he/she can understand the gospel with the result of faith and salvation.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the image of the first-born among many brethren.   Rom 8:29

God chooses those with the potential for faith to be recipients of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to cause enlightenment to the gospel, then latent faith can be expressed. The Holy Spirit sanctifies or sets apart those who are chosen for a work of the Spirit to penetrate and dispel blindness so faith can occur. Scriptures that show the relation between the Holy Spirit and election [7] include:

…God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.   2 Thess 2:13

… who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood … 1 Pet 1:1-2

The power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the gospel are the means by which the Father elects. 

Predestination

The Godhead, before time, marked off a destiny that would include:

• Death of Christ, Acts 4:28, 1 Cor 2:7.
• God’s elect predestined to adoption as mature sons. Eph 1:5
• Eternal inheritance of God’s people. Eph 1:11
• Conformity of the elect to image of Christ. Rom 8:28-29 [8]

Predestination is limited to the elect (those who will become believers), and assures their present position (salvation) and future destiny (heaven).

The Bible is clear that the elect are predestined, but never suggests that there is a decree to elect some to damnation. [9]  The term predestination is only used to indicate the riches of privilege and status all believers receive as a result of being “in Christ.” There is not a single instance in Scripture of the term being associated with consignment to eternal condemnation. Predestination is the Father’s will, plan and outcome of salvation for all who believe.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called , He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Rom 8:28-30

Predestination and Eternal Security

The doctrine of eternal security rests upon our election. The elect who are “in Christ” are predestined to at least three things: adoption as mature sons, an eternal inheritance that can never be taken away, and conformity to the image of Christ. The verbs in Rom 8:30-31 related to election (called), salvation (justified), and eternal state (glorified) are all in past tense. The destiny of the elect is so sure it is as if we are already glorified in heaven.

The scripture above does not place predestination before the call of election. Those whom He foreknew to be of the elect by their free will response of faith to the gospel, He predestined to be conformed to His Son. Our glorification (conformed to His Son) is God’s purpose in election. All who are elect (believers) are predestined for this outcome.

Though many pastors preach against eternal security, the scripture clearly states that one who is truly saved (not a false professor) cannot “lose” his/her salvation. When saved, we are literally sealed into Christ and He into us. It is a supernatural act by God that man cannot undo.

From Rom 8:31-36 Paul raises and answers five questions to clarify the truth that a believer’s eternal salvation is completely secure in God’s hands and that the process of election defined above is sure.

• What shall we say to these things? If God is for us who is against us?
• If He did not spare His Son, but delivered Him over for us, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
• Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?
• Who is the one who condemns?
• Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:37-39

The Plan of the Father

The following is adapted from Steven W. Waterhouse, Not by Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide to Bible Doctrine, Westcliff Press, 2007, 126-130. (A website is given in the notes, at the end of the post, where this excellent book on systematic theology can be downloaded.)

God does have a predetermined plan for the ages.

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from the ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish My good pleasure…  Isa 46:10

…. To do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. Acts 4:28

Christ’s death on the cross was planned in the eternal counsels of God before the beginning of time.

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.   1 Pet 1:20-21

… this Man, delivered over by predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.   Acts 2:23

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.  Rev 13:8

God determines all events in human history in one of two ways: directly, He cause something to happen; or  indirectly, He allows something to happen. *In the indirect case, He foreknows the outcome but does not intervene to change it.

Omniscience knows all that would have been involved had He adopted anyone of an infinite number of plans of action. Foreknowledge refers to only what God did adopt and decreed as the plan of God, and not the alternatives.   Ronald Adema [10]

The Outcome or Goal of Election

The final goal of predestination is not conversion, but glorification.

Adoption, while referring to the entrance into God’s family at salvation, also refers to future “son-placing” when believers are mature sons after the image of a glorified Christ. This reception of full inheritance and the redemption of our bodies occur in the future.

But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might receive those under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.   Gal 4:4-7, Rom 8:15

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Rom 8:23

The final goal of predestination is not salvation or conversion, but our glorification.

Summary of the Doctrine of Election

• God foreknows all those with a potential for faith. Not one will miss salvation.
• He chooses them to be special recipients of the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment.
• Blindness is removed so that the individual’s faith can respond.
• This leads to immediate adoption into God’s family. There is also a future “son-placing” with the reception of inheritance and redemption of the body. We are predestined for this inheritance and glory of being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.
• Nothing and no one can stop this destiny for it is an immutable decree by a sovereign God.   Rom 8:28-30. These teachings make the doctrine of eternal security unquestionable.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. … For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we could walk in them. Eph 2:4-7, 10

 

Notes:

[1]  Steven Waterhouse, Not by Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide to Bible Doctrine, Westcliff Press, 2007, 126-130. Book downloads available at www.webtheology.com.

[2]  Ibid

[3]  Ibid

[4]  W.E. Vine, Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996

[5]  Waterhouse, Ibid

[6]  W.E. Vine, Ibid

[7]  Waterhouse, Ibid

[8]  Vine, Ibid

[9]  Ibid

[10] Ron Adema, Doctrinal Studies Bible Church, www.doctrinalstudies.com