Unconditional Election
by Rod Jackson
All verses are quoted from the NASB anything in [square brackets] is added by me for clarity.
What was last week's lesson?
SHOW CARD - Total Depravity
It was on the 'T' in the acronym T.U.L.I.P. which stands for "Total Depravity". Total depravity means that all humans are fallen in all aspects of their being; So that we do not even desire to be saved from our depraved state.
In Joshua 10:13 we see that the bible says the sun stood still. Yet we know that the sun always stands still and it is the rotation of the earth that makes the sun appear to move across the sky. The bible is using the language of appearance. I believe most Christians are Arminians because that is how they experience salvation. When I was converted I heard about heaven, I wanted to go there so I decide to pray to God and I did pray to God to accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and God saved me.
Appearance and reality are not the same thing.
SHOW CARD - Unconditional Election
Today's lesson is on the 2nd point of Calvinism the 'U' in the acronym T.U.L.I.P. stands for "Unconditional Election". Unconditional Election refers to God's saving stance towards humanity in humanities' totally depraved state.
Mark 13:20 - This verse shows that there are at least some people called "Elect" and that they where elected or chosen by God. God will (or has) shorten(ed) the days of distress for the sake of the elect whom God has chosen.
SHOW CARD - ELECTION = GOD'S CHOOSING
Romans 11:28 - Talking about the elect/covenant nation of Israel, it says that Israel was elected on account of the patriarchs. (cf. Deuteronomy 7:7 & 8) The patriarchs or fathers are people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc. In this verse there is a condition of election "For the sake of the fathers" Yet this was obviously not a condition of the father. So this is an example of election in a particular case.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 - Here we see more conditions in election. The conditions in these verses are not being wise, not influential, not of noble birth but foolish, weak, lowly & despised! However because it says "not many of you were" (v26) this means that these are also examples of conditions in election in particular cases.
James 2:5 - God chose the poor (in money etc.) of the world. We know from Matthew 19:21-24 with the rich young man, that being rich is disadvantageous because they are tempted more to love the things of this world, than to love Jesus. Just because James mentions the poor being elect does not mean that no rich people are also elect. Therefore this is another example of a particular case of election.
So we have seen 3 examples where there were conditions in - Unconditional election? The conditions in these particular cases were "for the sake of the fathers", "foolish, weak, lowly and poor in money." This means that God does have His reasons, conditions in electing people. It is not arbitrary! So unconditional does not mean absolutely no conditions.
SHOW CARD - X UNCONDITIONAL <> UNREASONABLE / ARBITRARY
Luke 5:31&32 - Here we see a logically necessary condition. If people are to be elected to salvation then they need to be saved. (cf. Luke 19:10)
So here is a necessary condition for election - that one must be lost (a sinner). We saw last week that all of humanity is totally depraved and therefore are all lost. So we all fit this condition. The conditions for election do not include goodness, righteousness nor faithfulness.
SHOW CARD - CONDITION IS - LOST / SINNER
2 Timothy 1:9 - God called, not according to works but His own grace and purpose therefore it is not arbitrary.
Romans 9:11, 15-16 - So election is not conditioned by people's will or works.
SHOW CARD - UNCONDITIONED ON MAN'S WILL
Ephesians 1:4 & 5 - God elected us in Jesus before the foundation of the world. In love and according to the kind intention of God's will. So God alone initiates the process, as the Triune God was alone before creation.
SHOW CARD - UNCONDITIONAL = GOD STARTS THE PROCESS
John 15:16 - We did not choose Jesus, Jesus chose us. So faith is not a precondition of election but election is a precondition of faith.
SHOW CARD -
Faith <> Election
BUT
Election -> Faith
Romans 8:28-30 - God elects with foreknowledge. In Jeremiah 1:5 God says that before Jeremiah was in the womb God "knew" him. In Genesis 4:1 Adam knew Eve this is the close personal, intimate relational type of knowledge.
OBJECTION -
2 Peter 1:10 - How can we make our election more sure? We have seen that God is the one who elects us and so election is absolutely certain. However this verse is talking about making our knowledge of God's election more certain. By being obedient and growing in Christ we can see God's work within us. So in this way we can know God has elected us (cf. Philippians 2:12 & 13)