Unconditional Election
This subject certainly tends to be vitriolic. But I think sometimes this is needlessly so. We tend to struggle with anything that we feel comes up against human freedom. At first glance this seems to be opposed to it, but I think there are some healthy possible models of understanding how human freedom and unconditional election work together. First I need to define “election” and then what is meant by unconditional election.
Election of course means “choice”. It is the doctrine that God chooses a people for himself. The question and point of debate within Christianity concerns how he does this not that he does this. The texts teaching that he does this are prevalent throughout Scripture, and the vocabulary and language of God’s sovereign choice are explicit. Consider a few of the references to this in the Bible:
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit– fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things– and the things that are not– to nullify the things that are, 1 Corinthians 1:27-28
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–Ephesians 1:4-5
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:11
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 1 Thessalonians 1:4
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5
who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 1 Peter 1:2
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth– and not I only, but also all who know the truth– 2 John 1:1
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings– and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” Revelation 17:14
So if God chooses a people for himself, how does He do it? The Calvinist position teaches that he chooses as a sovereign initiator to work in the lives of certain people and draw them to Himself. Since He is in control of all things He moves circumstances, events, the actions of others, our own desires etc… to draw us to himself. In fact we ultimately believe because He is the one who gives us the gift of faith according to Ephesians 2:8. We genuinely believe but it is because He has drawn us and given us the gift of faith to trust Him for our new life. So salvation is said to be wholly a work of God.
Of course this a description of the spiritual reality that is taking place. I do not necessarily consciously realize that the Lord is drawing me to Himself and producing faith in me but as a loving Sovereign He is doing just that, whether I realize it or not.
What Unconditional Election is Not
- He has not chosen in response to what He knew I would do. That reduces the biblical language of “choice” down to mere confirmation. He would then merely be confirming me in the faith that I conjured up. If this were the case it would seem useless to make such pervasive mention of God’s choosing a people for Himself. He would actually just be giving His approval to my faith. This view is called “conditional election”.
- He has not simply chosen to create a category or group called the “church”. Those who hold this view see these texts about His “choice” referring to His desire to have a people set apart for Himself, which is true enough, but it doesn’t do justice to the personal nature of some of the language and the fact that I am given the ability to trust Him by Him. This view is called “corporate election”.
An important text in the whole discussion of the doctrine of election is Romans 9. Paul talks about God’s sovereign unconditional choice of people to salvation. He writes in a mock dialogue anticipating their objections to what he is saying. It certainly would be odd to read Paul’s mock dialogue in a manner that wasn’t speaking to the possible objections that individuals themselves may have. In other words He is talking about individual salvation not just looking at a group who are the church but how God works with individuals in making them part of the church.
Let me give you a picture of how unconditional election and total depravity work together. Since all of humanity is by nature an object of wrath (Eph. 2:3). They are destined for destruction. They are sinners by birth and by choice. In other words, all of humanity, to quote those great theologians of Rock-n-Roll AC/DC, is headed on a “highway to hell”. But God in His mercy pulls some off of this highway through election. So election is a grace not some arbitrary pick-em. It is not like choosing sides for kickball on the school playground, as we sometimes view it. If total depravity is right, and it is, then election is the only merciful choice that God could have without completely annihilating everyone’s freedom by establishing universalism (the idea that everyone goes to heaven).
Finally let me note that this is a hard pill to swallow because we tend to view it as arbitrary rather than a grace. But if we understand it in light of total depravity it can be nothing but loving grace and mercy. We do not know who the “elect” are. Only God knows. He chooses to use us to take the Gospel to people who might be stirred by Him to receive eternal life or they may maintain their own rejection of Him, who knows. Our job is to be used by Him as a means of taking the message of grace to another. When we talk about the doctrine of election we are talking about a spiritual reality that happens, but we are not privy to its happening until we see the fruits of it in a soul transformed by the work of God. Its teaching in Scripture is intended to assure us that God is working in and through us. We gratefully are not left to our own devices. It is intended to free us from the burden of results and remind us that we are called to be faithful witnesses but the results are His.
One final objection/question I want to anticipate and answer ahead of time is this: some might say, “Well if God chooses why do I need to share my faith at all, after all won’t they be come to Him anyway.” The answer is: “No they won’t, not in the world God has chosen to create.” What I mean is this. He chose to enact a world where person “A” is chosen to receive eternal life and comes to trust in Him. But as a sovereign God He chose that it would happen in this same world by means of person “B” sharing their faith with person “A”. So the end is not merely chosen by God but the means are as well. He moves circumstances and woos us as free creatures with His omnipotent influence to get us where He wants us to go in sharing our faith with people and the ends always meet just where He designed them in His infinite wisdom.