HOW BELIEVERS ARE TO CONSIDER THEIR ELECTION

By Gary Ray Branscome

Although the Bible plainly tells us that God has “Chosen us in” Christ “before the foundation of the world,” because the Bible says, “If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them,” we must reject any interpretation of those words that contradicts what the Bible says elsewhere (Ephesians 1:3-4, Isaiah 8:20).

Since Scripture is our only source and standard of doctrine, rejecting interpretations that contradict Scripture should be automatic. Nevertheless, because we have a heart that “is deceitful above all things,” men are far more likely to explain away what God has said, than to admit that they are wrong (Jeremiah 17:9). And, that certainly holds true when it comes to the doctrine of election. In fact, that is why a debate has raged over the doctrine of election for over four-hundred years.

John Calvin (1509-1564) drew certain conclusions from the words, “God… has chosen us… before the foundation of the world,” of which we will examine two (Ephesians 1:3-4). First he assumed that if God has chosen those who are saved, He must not want to save those whom He did not choose. Then he assumed that Christ only died to atone for the sins of those whom God had chosen. Both of those conclusions are the word of man, not the Word of God, and both of them should be rejected because they contradict what the Bible plainly says.

The words, “God… wants all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” // “As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but want the wicked man to turn from his way and live,” tell us that God “wants all men to be saved” (1Timothy 2:3-4, Ezekiel 33:11). Therefore we know that those who assume that He does not want everyone to be saved are wrong. At the same time, the words, “Jesus Christ… is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world,” tell us that Christ’s death atoned for the sins of all men [“the whole world,”] and not just for some (1John 2:1-2). Therefore, we know that those who assume that Christ did not die to atone for the sins of all men are wrong.

The fact that those two conclusions contradict the Bible proves that they are wrong. However, we have to ask why they are wrong. And, in answering that question it is important to realize that conclusions always have more than one premise. In this case, the words, “God… has chosen us… before the foundation of the world,” constitute the first premise, and that premise cannot be wrong because it is the Word of God (Eph. 1:3-4). Therefore, there must be another premise, (a false premise) that is leading to the false conclusions. That hidden premise must be identified and eliminated. Once that is done, a correct understanding can be determined by taking a view that does not lead to conclusions that contradict the Bible.

For example: If we assume that God first decided to save certain people and afterward decided to send Christ to die for the sins of those He had chosen, we would draw the same unbiblical conclusions that Calvin did. So that assumption is the hidden premise. In contrast, if we instead hold that God first decided to send Christ to die for the sins of all men, and then, because no one could or would believe without His help, chose to bring millions to faith through the preaching of the gospel, that view does not lead to those conclusions.

Therefore, a Biblical view of election starts with the fact that 1- God did not want man to sin in the first place. 2- However, because God knew that man would sin, He decided from eternity to send Christ to die for the sins of all mankind. 3- Then, since no one would ever know that Christ had died for their sins without divine revelation, He also decided to cause the Bible to be written and the gospel to be preached. 4- And finally, knowing that no man left to himself could or would believe, He determined to bring untold millions of people to faith (in spite of their resistance) through the preaching of the Word.

I am not saying that this is the way God thinks of election, but that this view of election does not lead to conclusions that contradict Scripture.

It agrees with the passages that tell us that Christ died for the sins of all. It agrees with the words, “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1Timothy 2:5-6). It agrees with the words, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself,” He is “The Savior of all men, especially of those who believe” (2Corinthians 5:19, 1Timothy 4:10). And, it agrees with the words, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

It agrees with the passages that tell us that God wants all men to be saved. It agrees with the words, “I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord GOD: therefore turn from sin, and live” (Ezekiel 18:32). It agrees with the words, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but want the wicked man to turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). And, it agrees with the words, “God our Savior… wants all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Timothy 2:3-4).

It agrees with the passages that tell us that faith is a gift of God, and that no man could or would believe without God’s help. It agrees with the words, “No one can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1Corinthians 12:3). It agrees with the words, “You are saved by grace through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). And, it agrees with the words, “What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Ephesians 1:19).

It agrees with the passages that tell us that no one is saved unless God chooses to save him. It agrees with the words, “No man can come to me, unless the Father who has sent me draws him” (John 6:44). It agrees with the words, “No one can come to me, unless the Father enables him” (John 6:65). And, it agrees with the words, “Those He predestinated, He also called: and those He called, He also justified: and those He justified, He also glorified,” thus “The elect obtained it, and the others were hardened” (Romans 8:30 and 11:7).

It agrees with the passages that tell us that the lost are lost because of their own fault, not because God wanted them to be lost. It agrees with the words, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets, and stone those who are sent to you, how often I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not” (Matthew 23:37). It agrees with the words, “To Israel He says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people” (Romans 10:21). And, it agrees with the words, “They should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him, and find Him” (Acts 17:27).

Because it often seems to us that we are making a choice, even though we know from Scripture that apart from God’s grace we would never make the right choice, it also agrees with the passages that indicate that we have a free will, or must make a choice. It agrees with the words, “Choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). It agrees with the words, “Today if you hear Him speak, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:7-8). And, it agrees with the words, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

It even agrees with the words, “The race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to all,” for a man born in seventeenth century England would have a far better chance of being saved than a man born in seventeenth century Algeria, or first century England. (Ecclesiastes 9:11).