Mister Richardson’s
Bible Doctrine Class

Chapter 18 - Election

The Order of Salvation
  1. Election (God’s choice of people to be saved)
  2. The Gospel Call
  3. Regeneration (to be born again)
  4. Conversion (faith and repentance)
  5. Justification
  6. Adoption
  7. Sanctification
  8. Perseverance
  9. Death
  10. Glorification

What is Election? An act of God before creation in which He chose some people to be saved, not on account of any forseen merit in them, but only because of His sovereign good pleasure.

A. Predestination in the New Testament
  1. Acts 13:48 - as many were ordained to eternal life believed.
  2. Romans 8:28-30 - those whom He foreknew He also predestined.
  3. Romans 9:11-13 - that the purpose of God according to election might stand.
  4. Ephesians 1:4-6,12 - He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.
  5. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 - He has chosen you.
  6. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 - God chose you from the beginning to be saved.
  7. Revelation 13:7-8, 17:8 - everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life.
B. How is Election taught?
  1. As a comfort to Christians.
    • Our salvation is secure in Christ - Romans 8:31.
    • Christ intercedes for Christians, not the world - John 17:9.
  2. As a reason to praise God - Ephesians 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:13.
  3. As an encouragement to evangelism - 2 Timothy 2:10.
C. Misunderstandings of Election
  1. Election is not fatalistic or mechanistic - Election is personal and addressed to people as real people - Matthew 11:28; Revelation 22:17; John 3:18. The gospel is preached so that the elect might be saved.
  2. Election is not based on foreknowledge of faith - see Romans 8:29,30.
    • Foreknowledge of persons - 1 Corinthians 8:3; Galatians 4:9.
    • Scripture never speaks of our faith as the reason God chose us - Romans 9:11-13;11:5-6, John 1:13.
    • Election based on something good in us would be salvation by merit.
    • Predestination based on foreknowledge still does not give people free choice.
    • Therefore, election is unconditional.
D. Objections to Election
  1. We do not have a choice/chance - John 5:40; Rom 1:20.
  2. Election is unfair - Salvation is a gift, not a right.
  3. God wills to save everyone - 1 Timothy 2:4 - all men means all types or kinds of men. In the Reformed view, God's highest value is His own glory, while in the Arminian system, His highest value is human free will.
E. Reprobation

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Give three evidences from the New Testament in support of the doctrine of Election.
2. Give three ways in which the New Testament views doctrine election.
3. Is God's election of people based on His foreknowledge of their faith? Explain.
4. What is the relationship between God's election and a person's choice to accept Christ?
5. What does God apparently deem more important than saving everyone?
6. What is the difference between election and reprobation?

TERMS
Determinism, election, fatalism, foreknowledge, order of salvation, predestination, reprobation.

WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM
Q7. What are the decrees of God?
A7. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Q20: Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
A20: God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.

ARTICLES
Misunderstandings of Election - Wayne Grudem
The Sovereignty of God - John Murray
Book Review: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God - Banner of Truth

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God - J. I. Packer
Chosen by God - R. C. Sproul
Calvin on Predestination and Election ebook

QUOTES
The Reformers taught not only that regeneration does precede faith but also that it must precede faith. Because of the moral bondage of the unregenerate sinner, he cannot have faith until he is changed internally by the operative, monergistic work of the Holy Spirit. Faith is regeneration’s fruit, not its cause. According to semi-Pelagianism regeneration is wrought by God, but only in those who have first responded in faith to him. Faith is seen not as the fruit of regeneration, but as an act of the will cooperating with God’s offer of grace.
- R. C. Sproul, Willing to Believe: The Controversy over Free Will

BACK