Redemption: The Elect

We are in the heart of our series Sound Doctrine.  If you recall, from late November through the end of the year our topic was Jesus, and we talked about His nature as God and Man, Jesus as the Focus of Prophecy and the Object of Foreshadowing, the Incarnation, the Atonement, His Resurrection and Ascension.

Last week, we opened a new part of our series on the topic, doctrine, or area of study:  Redemption.  Redemption is one aspect of the Atonement which we talked about just after Christmas.  As sinners, we were in bondage to sin and to Satan.  We needed someone (Jesus) to redeem us out of bondage.  It’s the idea of ransom described in Mark 10:45.  Now, we are going to look at the application of redemption in our lives.

One way of thinking about this topic of Redemption is, “What does it mean to ‘be saved’ in its many aspects?”  From this point until early March, we will talk about God's Grace, The Elect, The Gospel, Being Born Again, True Repentance and Saving Faith, Justification and Adoption, Growing in Likeness to Him, Persevering, and concluding with Death and Resurrection. 

Brian spoke about God’s grace last week.  Today, we will look at the Elect and consider when and why did God choose us?  As well as the difficult to consider thought, are some not chosen?

As in every message, we all need God’s Spirit to lead and to teach, so let’s take a moment and pray before we get started.

Lord Jesus, you have paid the debt for our sins, and everyone who believes in, who trusts in, You will be redeemed.  As we talk through this doctrine of Election, please give us wisdom and understanding.  We need your direction.  Help us to put our full confidence in the answers You have provided for us in Your Word.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

I’ll start off with something I was so excited by that I couldn’t wait, and I told the music team about it on Thursday night.  Who of you has heard the phrase, “The Elect”?  What do you think about when you hear it?  If you are part of the Elect, how does that name make you feel?  Doesn’t it sound special or like the best of the best?  I am one of the Elect (with nose in the air).

The description “the Elect” can be found repeatedly through the New Testament, and we’ll look at a bunch of those verses.  Just one example, Jesus talked about the Elect as in the verse on your programs:

And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.  –Matthew 24:22

The Greek word there is nearly identical to a word in English.  You would think that the Greek word should be “elektos,” but that’s not it.  The Greek word that we translate as the Elect is actually … eklektos.

In the Greek, we’re not actually the Elect.  We’re the Eclectic.  We’re not chosen because of our worth, we’re chosen because of our variety or diversity.  Scripture is clear that people from every tribe and tongue and nation will be in heaven. (Revelation 5:9)  We are an eclectic mix of all sorts, a motley crew.  God prizes that.

I think there is lots of comfort in that.  God desires relationship with all different types of people.  He isn’t looking for a bunch of clones.  He loves us because of, not in spite of, our uniqueness.

The word for church in the Greek is ekklesia which means called out ones.  The word for the elect is the eklektos which means chosen ones.  So we are both the called out and the chosen.

Another term you may here is predestination.  The idea of this word is that our final destination is known in advance.  Does the Bible teach this?  Let’s look at a few verses:

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.  –Acts 13:48

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 he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  –Romans 8:28-30

Regarding the Old Testament times,

What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened … –Romans 11:7

There are many others (Ephesians 1:4-6, I Thessalonians 1:4-5, II Thessalonians 2:13, Revelation 13:7-8, 17:8).  So, it is quite clear that the Bible affirms that God ordained beforehand those who would be saved.

What does this mean for us?  How should we receive the message of election?  Again, we can go to the Word and see how it presents this message.

It is shown as a comfort.  The Romans 8:28-30 passage we just looked at uses election as a justification of why we can be sure that God is working out all our circumstances for our good.  God has always acted for the good of those he has called from eternity past (predestination).  In the recent past, God called and justified those who were predestined.  Then, in the future, we will be glorified in resurrected bodies with Christ.  So, from eternity to eternity, God has acted with the good of His people in mind.  If He does that, will He not also work through our immediate circumstances?

It is also shown as a reason to praise God.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  –Ephesians 1:4-6

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, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  –Ephesians 1:11-12

The doctrine of election increases praise to God and diminishes pride.

We also see it as an encouragement to evangelism.

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.  –II Timothy 2:10

Since Paul knows because of the doctrine of election that God has chosen some people to be saved, this is an encouragement to preach the gospel.  Even if there is great suffering, we are guaranteed that there will be some success for evangelistic efforts.  The example that I read in preparation was, “I guarantee that you will catch some fish.”

So Election is presented clearly in Scripture and benefits of Election are also presented in Scripture.  At the same time, there are misunderstandings about Election, too.  So, I want to take a look at some of those potential misunderstandings.

Before we get into specific misunderstandings, I want to give you a couple of names, a bit of history, and a general warning.

Have you heard the names of John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius?  John Calvin was a French theologian during the Protestant Reformation.  Jacobus Arminius was a Dutch theologian also during the Protestant Reformation though a little later.  Here are their pictures.  John Calvin lived from 1509-1564.  He effectively worked himself to death at 54 years of age.  Arminius lived from 1560-1609.  He died at his own home from natural causes less than 50 years old.

They were both very influential and their ideas have come to represent different (and sometimes polarizing) views of salvation.  The Calvinist view is commonly presented through five ideas:  Total Depravity (due to the Fall, man cannot even believe the gospel on his own, the Spirit must first do a work), Unconditional Election (God’s choice of certain people rests completely on God’s sovereign will not on individual faith, repentance, etc.), Particular Redemption (Christ’s redeeming work is only intended to apply to the Elect only), The Irresistible Call of the Spirit (There is an general call to everyone without distinction but also a special internal call to the elect which cannot be rejected), and Perseverance of the Saints (once saved, always saved).

The Arminian view is also presented with five points:  Free Will (man is not in a total state of spiritual helplessness, man is free to choose or reject God), Conditional Election (God’s choice of people is based on His foreknowledge of their free choice), Universal Redemption (Christ’s death makes it possible for everyone to be saved, but did not absolutely guarantee any one person’s salvation), The Holy Spirit Can Be Effectually Resisted (man can choose to reject the Spirit’s call), Fall From Grace Possible (this one is not even accepted by all people who would call themselves Arminian, so I have shown it in a darkened shade on the slide).

In the Calvinist view, salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the Triune God. The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone.

In the Arminian view, salvation is accomplished through the combined efforts of God (who takes the initiative) and man (who must respond).

[These ideas come from the book Romans: An Interpretative Outline, pp.144-147. by David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas, which contrasts the Five Points of Arminianism with the Five Points of Calvinism.  This information is also available here: http://graceonlinelibrary.org/reformed-theology/arminianism/calvinism-vs-arminianism-comparison-chart/]

We see aspects of both these views in Scripture.  So today, we are talking about the Elect.  At the same time, we know verses like John 3:16 (For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.) as well as II Peter 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.)

And so, let’s add a representation of a five lane highway on the slide there.  This is how it was explained to me years ago.  I’ve forgotten now who used this illustration, but it did not originate with me.  The warning that I got was, it’s okay to drive in any one of the three middle lanes, just don’t drive in the rightmost or leftmost lanes.  You can have a preference toward one view or the other just don’t hold that view to the absolute exclusion of the other.  This area has been a point of contention since the ideas first came into discussion.  So, keep in mind that we need to respond in grace toward one another even as we may have or experience different levels of emphasis in others.

And so, I’ll end on this Calvinist/Arminian topic with this admonition:  Work like an “Arminian,” sleep like a “Calvinist.”  I used quotes there because I am saying it jokingly.  But Scripture is clear that we have a mandate to work at sharing the gospel.  Even if you say, “The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is not for me because I’m not one of the apostles,” consider that a part of the Great Commission is for the apostles and early disciples who heard Jesus speak the Great Commission to make more disciples and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded (which would include the Great Commission to go and make disciples).  We should diligently work at this even as if it depended on us.  At the same time, we should have confidence to rest in God and not be anxious, so we can sleep knowing that God is sovereign.  He is in control.

So I think that a strong focus on one view to the exclusion of the other is a misunderstanding which we can have when we consider the doctrine of the Elect.  Let’s look quickly at a few others:

Election is not fatalistic or mechanistic.  Some might say, “Well, if election is really true, then things are already set and we don’t have to put forth any effort because nothing can be changed.”  Or, “there is an impersonal plan set in place at the beginning which is running until the end of time.”  But that’s not how God behaves.  God shows a personal love in Scripture.  We already read Ephesians 1:5 which said that God “destined us in love to be his.”  In Ezekiel 33:11, it says,

As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die? –Ezekiel 33:11

The Bible treats us as people, as individuals, not machines.  Jesus continually exhorts us to “Come!”  “Come you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11:28).  The Bible repeatedly illustrates that our choices are real choices with real consequences.  “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18)

Election is not based on God’s foreknowledge of our faith because our faith is never given in Scripture as the reason God chose us.  Although faith is something we as believers must display, it is not a work that deserves or earns salvation.  Faith in Christ is the opposite of work.  It requires us to abandon all trust in our own good works and self-righteousness trusting only in the work that Christ has done on our behalf.

Romans 9:11-13 demonstrates that between Jacob and Esau God chose one and not the other.  “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ Just as it is written: ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’ ”

There was no action that Jacob or Esau would do in life which would influence God’s decision.  This separation existed so that His purpose of election would continue.  This is difficult to understand and even in some cases to accept.  We may not know for sure whether God’s election is entirely unconditional or if it is conditioned upon something like foreknown humility, repentance, or faith, but the Scripture is very clear that election and salvation are unmerited, unearned, and undeserved.

If Election was based on something good in us (even our faith), that would be the beginning of salvation by works or merit.  II Timothy 1:9 says “God, 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.” 

Some might say that Election is based on God’s foreknowledge of our faith response.  However, this idea does not really give people free choice.  There are three elements involved and necessary in each person’s salvation: a) the gospel must be communicated, b) God must work in the heart, and c) the person must believe.  If God bases His decision regarding election on his foreknowledge of our actions (which must be correct), then there is no way that their lives can turn out any differently.  They are fixed or determined, but what then does the fixing or determining if we make God’s sovereign will secondary to something else.

I can try to explain, but it is mysterious and in some ways beyond our limited perspectives.  This quote illustrates the paradox yet again.  “People are all standing in a room with several doors.  Above one door [the door to heaven] is a sign which reads ‘All who will may enter.’  Those who choose to enter the door find the back side of the door a sign which reads, ‘Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.”—Donald Grey Barnhouse

Let’s move on and consider some possible objections to the idea of Election.

Some might say that Election means we don’t have a choice whether we accept Christ or not.  To this we can say that although God sovereignly controls all that happens in His universe, He sometimes does so in a way that does not determine human choices.  God is not the initiator or cause of every choice, particularly of morally evil choices.  In the case of Election, God can work sovereignly through our desires so that He guarantees our choices align with what He has ordained.  God can bring about the case where we choose Christ voluntarily.  It would be a mistake to assume that our choice must be absolutely free of God’s influence to somehow be a valid human choice.

Even though it would be mistaken, some might persist in saying that under the definition of Election, our choices are not real choices.  But, we may not know how God can know the future free choices of people without determining them, yet the Scripture is clear that He does know them and allow them, yet does not always determine them.  If God then makes us and then tells us our voluntary choices are real and genuine, then we have to accept that.  God gets the deciding vote on what is real and genuine.

This is similar to the previous objections, but some may say the doctrine of Election makes us robots, not people.  Again, God is Creator.  He says and interacts with us as individual people.  Therefore, we must let Him define what personhood is.  Our ability to make willing choices is one that distinguishes us in Creation.  We are real people created in God’s image.  God allows us to make real choices that have real effects in our lives (and the lives of others).

A different objection to the doctrine of Election would be to say that it means that unbelievers never had a chance to believe.  Except, the Bible does not say this or support this view.  Jesus put the blame on the willful choice of others to reject Him, not on God’s decree.  (John 8:43-44, Matthew 23:37, John 5:40, Romans 1:20)

Similarly, someone might object that Election is unfair. Unfair that some get chosen for salvation and others passed over.  It should be noted that it would be perfectly fair if God did not save anyone like he did with the angels (II Peter 2:4).  By saving some, then this is a demonstration of grace far beyond fairness and justice.

This objection can go deeper saying that it is not fair for God to create some who would sin and be ultimately condemned.  Paul deals with this in Romans 9:20-24, but He does not appeal to our pride or give a philosophical answer.  Instead, He directs us back to God’s rights as the omnipotent Creator,

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ “Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? –Romans 9:20-24

In short, God had done what He has done.  It is then our choice to accept what God has said because God is God, and we are not.  It doesn’t appeal to our pride for sure.  Parents sometimes find themselves in a position that they make a decision but the child is not able to understand the reason fully.  That may not stop them from asking, “Daaaaaaad, but whyyyyyy???!!!!”  It’s not the same thing, in fact, God’s ways are above our ways as high as the heavens are above the earth.

Earlier, I shared John 3:16 and II Peter 2:4 concerning the idea that the Bible says that God wills to save everyone.  This is the last objection to the Election that we will look at.  This is probably the clearest chance we have to set a Calvinist view and an Arminian view against one another.

Both Calvinists and Arminians would agree that that God’s commands in Scripture reveal what he wants us to do, and both agree that the Scripture invites us to repent and trust in Christ for salvation.  Both agree that God wills that we be saved.

But both sides acknowledge that not everyone will be saved.  Calvinist (or Reformed) theologians say that God’s glory is more important than saving everyone (according to Romans 9).  Arminian theologians say that the preservation of man’s free will is more important than the salvation of all people.  These are two different concepts of the nature of God.

The teachings that God loves and desires salvation of all, that some will be lost, and that God sometimes hardens, are all true, even though it may be difficult for us to reconcile them. And so, there’s one more topic I would like to address today.  Many of you were familiar with the term The Elect.  I don’t think this term is commonly used.  We’re going to look at what is called the doctrine of Reprobation.  Reprobation would be the sovereign decision by God to pass over some in sorrow deciding not to save them and to punish their sins manifesting his justice.

This is one of those topics where we are hard pressed to look at it or even to consider it.  The consequences are horrible and eternal.  The love and grace we experience from God in our own lives cause us to recoil from this idea.  “May it never be!”  But Scripture speaks of it, so we will look at it:

For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.  –Jude 4

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”  Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? –Romans 9:17-20

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.  –I Peter 2:8

As much as we dislike this idea, we need to be careful not to reject it (or God) or wish that the Bible was not written the way it is.  Jesus did not reject this, but even thanked God for it.

“Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.£ If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. –Matthew 11:21-26

There are differences between election and reprobation.  Election is a cause for rejoicing and praise. (Ephesians 1:3-6, I Peter 1:1-3) Reprobation brings God sorrow.  (Ezekiel 33:11)  The blame is on the angels or the people who reject God.  Election is grounded in God’s grace.  Reprobation is grounded in God’s justice.

Paul wrote about his fellow Jews who rejected Christ saying, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.”  (Romans 9:2)  We ought to feel this great sorrow as well when we think about the fate of unbelievers.

That’s what I have to share on the topic of Election.  [Much of this material is found in the book Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, Chapter 32 - Election and Reprobation.]  I adapted the following paragraph from material which came from our association of churches, GCC:

“We want to emphasize both God’s sovereignty and man’s freedom and responsibility, even if we are not able to fully understand how they fit together.  We just touched briefly on some of the differences of opinion which can be found in these topics within the body of Christ.  It is our desire to avoid becoming embroiled in endless theological debates in order to fulfill the mandate that we, as part of His glorious church, received from our Lord Jesus that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in Christ’s name to all the nations.”

And regarding the tough things we find in God’s Word, in the end, we can ask ourselves a simple question, “Do you trust Him?”  If you find yourself in a position where you think, I can’t trust God, let’s talk about those things.  That’s definitely not a good place to be.  We are not expected to understand all things, but we are expected to trust God.

When we talk through topics which place limits or restrictions on people, most of us start to feel anxiety and maybe frustration.  It is important at these times to keep our eyes on the truth of God’s grace.  This morning’s entry in the Faithwalkers Journal does just that.  While we may have some anxiety because we cannot fully understand God’s ways, this is nothing compared to what others who do not know God must experience.

“A Good News Thing - Sunday January 17, 2016

Entry from the Faithwalkers Journal, Winter 2016

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 NIV

“God made a way for the whole world to get to God through His own plan. This is not a bad news thing – this is a good news thing.

“The plan is exclusive, but it's also inclusive. Maybe the issue is not that it is too narrow; maybe it is too broad. Even prostitutes and crooks and tax collectors are getting into heaven before the religious people. Who can do this but God alone?

“This is a good news thing, a hard-to-imagine thing. I toured a Buddhist temple years ago. I asked the guide, "How many people in this temple have reached Nirvana (the state of perfection)? He said, "Well, no one in this temple." So I said, "Then how many people in the world today have reached it?" He said, "Maybe one or two." I thought, out of 350 million Buddhists in the world, that's not good news. The good news is that Jesus made a way; you don't have to go through endless cycles of rebirth.

“I have some Muslim friends, and they do not know whether on the Day of Judgment their good deeds will outweigh their bad deeds on the scale. So they have no confidence before God. But Jesus made a way not based on our works.

“Any "religion" is basically the same. It is you trying to get to God or peace through your own effort, merit, discipline or strength. But the gospel is different: "There is none righteous, not even one . . ."; "all have sinned and fall short . . ."; you are "saved by grace through faith, not by works" And that's good news!”

When we arrived for music practice this morning, Jessica commented on how beautiful the morning sky was.  (In the winter, we’re much closer to dawn when music practice starts compared to the summer.) Often when I think of the beauty of the dawn, I am reminded of these words from the song “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” “When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair …”

God drew me to look at this song, and I was surprised and blessed by the story behind it. [This story can be found on the cyberhymnal website: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/e/whenroll.htm]

The words and music were both written by a man named James Black in 1893.  He was a Methodist Sunday school teacher in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was calling roll one day for a youth meeting. Young Bessie, daughter of a drunkard, did not show up, and he was disappointed at her failure to appear. Black made a comment to the effect, “Well, I trust when the roll is called up yonder, she’ll be there.” He tried to respond with an appropriate song, but could not find one in his song book:

“This lack of a fitting song caused me both sorrow and disappointment. An inner voice seemed to say, “Why don’t you write one?” I put away the thought. As I opened the gate on my way home, the same thought came again so strongly that tears filled my eyes. I entered the house and sat down at the piano. The words came to me effortlessly…The tune came the same way—I dared not change a single note or word.”

Let’s sing together:

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,

And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

When the roll, is called up yon-der,

When the roll, is called up yon-der,

When the roll, is called up yon-der,

When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,

And the glory of His resurrection share;

When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,

Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;

Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

Let’s close in prayer:

Lord God, You are sovereign.  You know the end from the beginning.  We cannot understand how some of these things fit together.  We also do not know why you have allowed some of the difficult things we see and face in our own lives, in the world, and that some people will not be saved.  This is a difficult teaching.  But we know that You are not only sovereign, You are love.  We thank You for how you have been patient and kind with us.  Help us to be patient and kind with one another.  Help each one here to trust You more each day.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.