Last Sunday, I preached a message on Titus 1:1-4 and discussed the doctrine of election. As I mentioned this doctrine, I knew that there wasn’t enough time to unpack it in a 40-45 minute sermon but I knew it was worth further discussing. Paul says, “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which affords with godliness (Titus 1:1).” Without preaching every point that I made, I’ll dive right into what “God’s elect” is and what is a brief explanation of this glorious doctrine.
Defining election
God decided to choose us to be saved before the foundation of the world not because He saw something in us but for His own sovereign purposes and pleasure. He applied salvation to us prior to Christ dying on the cross. It is God’s 1st steps towards redeeming us. When we think of salvation we typically think of our response to the gospel but something happened prior to responding to the gospel… Acts 13:48 – “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” Other verses that define election for us are – Eph.1:4-6; 1:12; 1 Thess.1:4-5; and 2 Thess 2:13.
As I was studying election it humbly reminded me and led me to repent of living like I had anything to do with my salvation. This eliminates any credit to me and turns my heart to praise God as the true hero (Eph.1:12). Salvation is a work of grace, not a work of man (Eph.2:8-10).
Common Disagreements about Election
The argument against election for those who hear the word election and comprehend the definition are real. For starters, there’s a word called “fatalism” that says that human choices and decisions don’t make any difference. No matter what we do, things are going to turn out the way they were ordained by God. Therefore, why bother with responding to God because he’s already determined everything.
There’s also an argument for declaring that we are no more than robots. It says that we live in an impersonal world that has been determined by an impersonal force and humans just robotically live in accordance to pre-determined plans of the force. But on the contrary, God loved us and thus chose us to come to himself (Eph.1:5). We are human beings with the capacity to make choices and accept or reject the gospel. We aren’t “I-Robots,” we are personal humans with free wills.
Another argument against election is that God’s foreknowledge of our willingness to place our faith in Jesus was the clincher for his electing us. If he sees that the person isn’t going to come to Christ by faith then God wouldn’t elect him or her. However, the Scriptures teach that salvation had nothing to do with us but everything to do with God (Rom.8:29). Scripture never claims that our faith was God’s prerequisite for choosing us. He chose us according to the purpose of His will (Eph.1:5-6).
There are some that seek to claim God’s election of believers is due to some “good” in us, which is a salvation by merit perspective. The persons who think this, hold dear to the faulty reality that we deserve “election” credit because we are “good.” But again, Scripture teaches that we are rebellious sinners deserving of Hell but have been saved by God’s glorious grace. This tends to lead to a belief that God’s election is conditional upon us. But election is unconditional because He chooses us in spite of us.
Others would say that “election isn’t fair.” How is it that God choses some and not others? Doesn’t that mean that he’s condemning people without their ability to respond by faith?” Listen to me… It would be perfectly fair for God not to save a soul. He doesn’t owe wicked sinners anything but eternal judgement and torment. If God didn’t spare angels why should he spare us? Wayne Grudem puts it this way, “Paul raises this objection in Romans 9. After saying that God ‘has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart of whomever he wills’ (Rom.9:18), Paul then raises this precise objection: ”You will say to me then, ‘Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?’” (Rom.9:19) If God is calling the shots for heaven and hell, how can this be fair? Here’s the short answer – Who are we to question the justice of God. He can do anything according to his sovereign will. But why would God save some and not all? Intuitively that just doesn’t seem right or fair… equality is how we live life in our world. But who are we to impose our intuitive grids upon our infinitely wise God. It is his sovereign choice and we simply must submit to it.
Final thoughts
God still desires that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4) but we just don’t know what God knows… who will be saved and who will not. However, here’s my last thought on this… God is more concerned with His own glory than answering our limited thoughts of “injustice.”
What are your views and questions about election? Please share them with us as we seek to humbly engage around the Scriptures.
Thank you SO much for your sermon and for the insight in this blog. I have struggled with the issue of election for quite some time. It just makes it seem like some people don’t even have a chance. I completely agree that God owes no man anything and that those He has elected had nothing to contribute to why they were chosen, but does the doctrine of election really mean that there are some who won’t even have a chance to have a right response to the gospel? That doesn’t make sense to me. In Romans, Paul goes through great lengths to explain that God is revealed to everyone in creation, but as people exchange the truth for a lie, they risk becoming reprobate. Are there truly people that CAN’T be saved? And can the people that God chose (His elect) reject the gospel? These are just some of the questions I struggle with. By no means do I question the sovereignty of God and I will continue to live out the gospel because I don’t know when I am coming in contact with God’s elect, but it is truly difficult for me to understand that there are people that CAN’T be saved. Or am I interpreting election wrong? I would be very interested in your thoughts!
Wonderful questions and completely understandable. Your questions are very common objections to the doctrine of election that we have as we seek to understand theology in lieu of our humanity. These are even questions that I wrestled with trying to understand it. I’ll do my best to answer something that is so deep and wide that theological textbooks discuss.
“Some who can’t have a right response to the gospel?” – This question is viewed out of our humanity which knows how to sense and identify things that “unfair.” I get it. But the Bible doesn’t allow us to declare or say that unbelievers have no chance to believe. In the Scriptures when people rejected Christ the blame seemed to always be on their willful choice or decision to reject Christ. It never seems to be because of anything that God the Father decreed or mandated. For example, John 8:43-44; Matthew 23:37; and John 5:40.
“God is revealed to everyone in creation.” – You are right. Rom 1:20 says, “For His invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” What this says is that everyone of us is confronted with a clear revelation of God that deems us without excuse in our response to him. The responsibility is on US to respond. So the next question is “Are our responses and choices really real?” And the answer about the realness of our choices is based on how God made us. If He made us in a certain way and then tells us that our voluntary choices are real, then we must believe that they are. In other words, our choices don’t have to be free from God’s influence or control in order to be real.
“Are there truly people that can’t be saved?” – Again, great question. I know it conflicts with our humanity (sense of unfair). I’ll say it like I’ve learned – It would be perfectly fair for God not to save anyone. We see this in how he dealt with the angels (2 Pet.2:4). But isn’t it unfair that God would create some people who he knew would sin and be eternally in Hell and who he wouldn’t redeem?
This is called the doctrine of reprobation. This means it was God’s sovereign decision before the creation took place to pass over some persons, in sorrow deciding not to save them, and to punish them for their sins, and thereby to manifest his justice (Grudem). Check out Rom. 9:18, 19. Also, understand that God has ultimate rights as the creator (Rom.9:20-24). Also, understand that we aren’t really justified in answering back or questioning God or His justice. It is His Sovereign will… There’s no room for us to accuse him of being unfair. He’s God. I can hear you and others say, “But it just seems so unfair to save some and not all.” Again, that’s our own longing for human justice and our reality and desire for all people to be treated equally. In other words, if God is saving some sinners, shouldn’t he save them all? I mentioned this before – we can’t impose human contextualization on an infinitely wise and sovereign God of the universe. We are human and He is Creator. But what about the passage that says all will be saved (1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Pet. 3:9). This relates to God’s revealed will that tells us what we should do but God has a hidden will that eternal that we must submit to. He invites and commands everyone to repent and come to Christ for salvation but he also knows that everyone is not. Another point to remember is that God is about His own glory more than seeing everyone saved (Grudem) which causes us to have to rest in that God’s glory is the fact that some are not saved. I know, it seems to go against everything that God teaches and commands us (loving God and our neighbor) but read Jude 4, Rom 9:17-22, Rom 11:7 and 1 Pet.2:8… Also, Jesus – Matt.11:25-26. Remember God’s justice and glory – Rom 9:22, 23.
Remember: ELECTION – is about God’s grace and; REPROBATION – is about God’s Justice
“Can the people that God chose (His elect) reject the gospel?” – NO. This is the 4th point in Calvinism called – Irresistible Grace. I’m copying and pasting this from the Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics: The result of God’s Irresistible Grace is the certain response by the elect to the inward call of the Holy Spirit, when the outward call is given by the evangelist or minister of the Word of God. Christ, himself, teaches that all whom God has elected will come to a knowledge of him (John 6:37). Men come to Christ in salvation when the Father calls them (John 6:44), and the very Spirit of God leads God’s beloved to repentance (Romans 8:14). What a comfort it is to know that the gospel of Christ will penetrate our hard, sinful hearts and wondrously save us through the gracious inward call of the Holy Spirit (I Peter 5:10)!
I hope this helps you out as we all strive to be “theologians.” Let me know if you have any questions about this and any others… Blessings!
Thank you, Pastor B! This is really great stuff. I think election will always be just as much of a mystery as the Trinity, but I’m glad both are real! I praise God that I am part of His elect and will continue to pray that God will instill a greater and greater passion in me to reach those who have not yet accepted Him. Thanks again for the insight and your patience with my questions.
No, thank you sis… You’ve modeled asking questions about things we as Christians don’t completely understand. Thanks!
Wow this is great stuff Pastor Bond, I am glad I finally got to read this. Doctrines of Grace always bring me much peace and comfort as they humble me before God. Thank you very much for posting it and refreshing my spirit once again as I find myself falling in love with these beautiful doctrines more and more. Blessings.
P.S. beautiful explanation of Irresistible Grace point.
Thanks Natalia. God is so good. A book that I want to read as I grow is “Chosen By God” by R. C Sproul. I’ve heard good things about it.
If God chooses those who will be saved & man has no part in the equation, how do you, Pastor, KNOW that you are chosen? What about Romans 10:13, that says ‘whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved’?
I am so glad that the gospel is for “whosoever will” & not for the “elect”, when the “elect” can’t know that they have been “elected”