What Do You Think of Election?

Note:  This article was originally published in the Amory Advertiser newspaper.

The Bible doctrine of election and predestination is a doctrine seldom if ever heard by many people and many who have heard of it usually have misconceptions about it.

Briefly stated, God, before the foundation of the world, chose (elected) a certain number of persons and predestinated (predetermined) them to eternal glory.  This choice of God is not based upon any foreseen good works in the one being chosen but solely according to the good purpose of His will.  (Eph 1:4-5, Rom 9:11) 

Sadly, many who are familiar with this doctrine have concluded or been taught that election and predestination keeps penitent sinners out of heaven.  God forbid!  In fact, a repenting sinner who comes to Christ, trusting in Him alone, is a sure sign that Jesus Christ has redeemed him.  God’s electing grace through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ is the only means whereby any sinner is eternally saved.  (Rom 3:24)

Why is it that a sinner can only be saved by God’s electing grace?  It is because man in his human nature will not and cannot choose God.  (John 5:40, I Cor 2:14)  The first man Adam was made sinless but subject to fall.  Had he chosen to obey God and refused the forbidden fruit, he would have lived eternally on earth.  But Adam sinned and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.  (Rom 5:12)  The day Adam sinned he not only died a natural death but the Bible says he died spiritually the same day and that spiritual death then passed upon us all.  (Gen 2:17, Rom 8:7-8)  Simply put, there is not a single person who is capable of believing or obeying Christ in a saving way because he is spiritually dead.

When Paul wrote to the believers at Ephesus, he said they had been dead in trespasses and sins but have now been quickened (made alive) with Christ (Eph 2:1, Eph 2:5).  How did these once dead people become quickened with Christ?  It was through the power of God, the same power that resurrected Christ from the dead.  (Eph 1:19-20)

Jesus taught in John 3:3-5, that before we can see or enter the Kingdom of God, we must first be born again.  He states that this new birth, which makes us alive in Christ and able to see and enter His kingdom, is through a sovereign, invisible, irresistible act of the Holy Spirit.  (John 3:7-8)

All who are descendents of Adam are born dead in trespasses and sins.  All who are chosen in Christ will be born again by God’s Holy Spirit.  They will believe in Him and follow Him in obedience not in order to get eternal life, but because they have eternal life. (John 3:36)  Therefore, we preach the gospel to every one knowing that God will quicken the hearts of his elect and by faith they will believe the gospel. (Col 1:23, I John 5:4,13)

Elder James Taylor