Doctrine of Election
(1) Election means "a choosing," or "a selection." God chooses or selects. Jn 15:16, You did not choose me, but I chose you...." The words "choose" and "chose" are in the middle voice in the Greek, which means that the subject is benefited by the action of the verb. You could translate this verse in this manner: "You did not choose me for your benefit, but I chose you for my benefit." Jn 6:44, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him......" Zech 4:6, "....not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." Matt 22:14, "For many are called, but few are chosen." It is the Holy Spirit who does the calling, or choosing, and He does so according the plan of God. This plan, which was designed in eternity past is called the Divine Decrees. (2) All members of the human race are potentially elected or chosen to be a part of the plan of God. This is the Doctrine of Unlimited Atonement. I Cor 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." II Cor 5:14, "....one died for ALL." II Cor 5:15, "...that he died for ALL..." A. Unlimited atonement is compatible with the sovereignty of God. In other words, God desires that all people be saved. II Pet 3:9, " The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." The fact that some people are not saved is a matter of their own negative volition. It has nothing to do with the will of God. B. According to the Doctrine of Unlimited Atonement, Christ was judged for the sins of the entire human race on the cross. Therefore, everyone can be saved. The only reason that people are not saved is because of their own negative volition. C. Unlimited Atonement offers potential salvation for the entire human race, but restricts actual salvation to those who believe in Jesus Christ. D. Unlimited Atonement provides salvation for both the elect and the non-elect. For the saved and the unsaved. In other words, salvation is provided for all. That is grace. E. Unlimited Atonement is also compatible with man's two steps toward salvation. (a) God Consciousness: which is arrived at by human thinking. This is when a person
becomes aware of his need of God. (b) Gospel Hearing: which is the actual plan of salvation given to that person who has reached God Consciousness. F. Therefore, negative volition in the human race is the cause of man's failure to receive salvation. The principle is this: man manufactures his own problems, and only God can solve them. (3) Christ was elected or chosen in eternity past, before time began. Isaiah 42:1,"Here is my servant, the one I uphold, my CHOSEN ONE in whom I delight: I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations." I Pet 2:4, "As you come to him, the living stone, rejected by men but CHOSEN by God and precious to him..." I Pet 2:6, "For in the Scripture it says; See, I lay a stone in Zion, a CHOSEN and precious corner stone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." If you are going to have a plan, it must center around a key person. In God's plan, Jesus Christ is that key person. (4) The election of Jesus Christ took place in eternity past, during the issuing of the Divine Decrees, also called "The Eternal Life Conference." Eph 1:4, "For he CHOSE us in him before the creation of the world..." (5) Every believer shares the election of Jesus Christ. Rom 8:28-32, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been CALLED (chosen) according to his purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that they might be the first-born among many brethren. And those he predestined, he also CALLED (chose), and those he CALLED (chose), he also justified, and those he justified, he also glorified." Eph 1:4, "For he chose us IN HIM before the creation of the world..." This "choosing" or "election" is accomplished through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. (6) Election is based on the omniscience of God, not the omnipotence of God. In other words, God chooses because of His knowledge, not because of His power. Rom 8:28-32, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God FOREKNEW (omniscience) he also predestined to be the first-born among many brethren. And those he predestined, he also called, and those he called, he also justified, and those he justified, he also glorified." (7) God does not choose or predestine anyone because He wants to. God chooses or predestines individuals because of His foreknowledge. In other words, before the
world was created, God looked down through the ages, and in His complete foreknowledge of all things saw who would accept or reject His plan of salvation in Jesus Christ, and based on that knowledge God the Father chose all who would accept Jesus Christ. (8) The election of individuals to salvation rests totally on the divine choice based on foreknowledge, not on human effort or human merit. Rom 8:28,"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called (chosen) according to HIS PURPOSE." Jn 15:16, "You did not choose me, but I chose you...." Again I want to point out the importance of the middle voice in the Greek of the verbs "choose" and "chose." The middle voice says that the subject is benefited by the action of the verb. So this could be translated, "You did not choose me for your benefit, but I chose you for my benefit." (9) This election, or choosing, is made complete at the point of salvation. II Thess 2:13,"But we are obligated to give thanks at all times to God concerning you brethren, having been loved by the Lord, because God CHOSE you from the beginning to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." Notice the word order here, "the sanctifying work of the Spirit," then,"belief in the truth." In other words, before anyone can "believe in the truth" and be saved, the Holy Spirit must do His job of "sanctifying"or "setting apart" the one who is to be saved. II Tim 1:9,"Who has saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of anything we have done but because of HIS OWN PURPOSE and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME." (10) Election is the foundation of the Church (universal), because election refers to all who are IN CHRIST regardless of where they may be geographically. Bible doctrine is the foundation of the Church (local). (11) Knowing and understanding the concept of election only comes through the knowledge of the Word of God. The knowledge of the Word of God only comes through the self-discipline of attending regular Bible classes, concentration, and the filling of the Holy Spirit.