Equipping University

Election is a controversial topic yet the church cannot avoid discussing it. Election is a biblical term, a biblical concept, and the Bible discusses it frequently. Indeed, the topic appears multiple times in almost all of Paul's letters. He even begins his letter to the Ephesians, a group of recently converted pagans, with this very topic that most Christians today believe should never be discussed at all. Therefore, the question is not "Does the Bible teach election?" but "What exactly does the Bible teach about election?" Unconditional election to salvation may be defined as God's gracious choice, made in eternity past, of those whom He would save by faith through the atoning death of His Son. This choice was based not upon anything that those so chose would do, or any choice they would make, or on how good or bad they might be, or on anything else specifically true about them in contrast to others. Instead, this choice is based solely on God's own good pleasure and will. In light of this understanding, we will see that unconditional election specifically denies that God elects persons based upon His advanced knowledge, in eternity past, of their future decision of whether to accept God's gift of Jesus Christ when they hear or read the gospel. Instead, we must say that salvation, which includes election, is all of God. We see this doctrine most plainly taught in two primary passages: Ephesians 1 and Romans 9.

A survey of the BIble reveals that God is a choosing God. God has pleasure in the doctrine of election and election brings glory to God. If that is so, why do we not focus on this vital doctrine more often? From the beginning, God had a plan to redeem mankind. This plan was made certain "before the foundation of the world" (Eph 1:4). From the beginning, God set apart a people for Himself and His infinite glory - a people we now see includes both Jews and Gentiles. It is this setting of His divine love and choice on a certain people that we know as "election." In election, God saves men and women in accordance with a plan formulated in eternity past. The events we see unfolding in time are not chaotic but the divinely ordained means that God uses to bring His plan to fruition. In fact, "this world and all that is in it exist primarily as the means to the fulfillment of a divine purpose, 'to unite [or, consummate] all things in him [Christ]'" (Eph 1:9-10).