ELECTION

Election and Predestination are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. Both terms in regard to God’s purposes have been difficult concepts to understand even to the greatest of human minds. Election refers to the beginning and calling whereas predestination takes us to the end and completion of purpose.  One would indicate preference and the other purpose. As with all Biblical concepts it is wise not to go beyond what scripture actually says. In the debate between election and freewill, Scripture sometimes takes a second place to theological argument.

When considering Election it is prudent to realise that the Bible indicates two sides, as is aptly illustrated in Isaiah 53:1 which says, (note the order the questions are asked):  ‘Who has believed our report? and to whom the arm of the Lord is revealed?’ So there is a responsibility to believe the report, but also the work of the Lord is revealed by the sovereign will of the God.  Many have endeavoured to explain these two sides and in some cases, have put forward extreme views with the result that they emphasise some scriptures and neglect others. They argue, ‘as everything is predetermined by God, there is no purpose in us openly preaching the gospel? Those who are elected to be saved will be saved, no matter what we do’. But we need to remember that the Lord calls and people can refuse that call. For example, the Lord said to the rich young ruler “you lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me” (Luk 18:22). There is no record that the young man ever did follow the Lord, for it is said he went away sorrowful. This man walked away from a direct call of the Lord. Can we really suggest that Jesus said this to the rich young ruler knowing full well he was incapable of following Him?

No doubt confusion arises when men try to explain the mind of God. ‘Our God is a great God’ and we will never fully understand the mind of God. He knows all things, the end from the beginning, and we have to recognise that He is “Omniscient” – all knowing. Because of the magnitude of His Being we need to humbly admit that we are unable to fully know all things in regard to the ways of God.

Can we reconcile God’s Sovereign knowledge on one side and Man’s responsibility on the other? One  person has tried to illustrate these two sides, by explaining that they are like the two tracks of a railway, as one looks down the rails, in the distance they seem to meet. We know they are totally reconciled in the mind of God and some future day we might understand this more fully.

We may not totally understand election but this should not hinder us from doing the work of the Lord. We have been given the Word of God to enable us to faithfully serve the Lord. We are told to preach the gospel to all humanity and it is the responsibility of those who hear to ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and they will be saved’ (Acts 16:31).  In prayer, either as individuals or collectively as an Assembly, we direct such to God, understanding that His Word says ' Salvation is of the Lord’ (Jonah 2:9). We take assurance from the Lord Jesus who graciously said ‘ALL that the Father has given me will come unto me and HIM that cometh to me I will in NO WISE cast out’ (John 6:37). Therefore as believers we tell others of Christ and His Salvation with all the urgency and expectancy we can, knowing that the Lord is willing and able to save to the uttermost all those who come to Him.

However God’s dealings with us as His people always has a purpose which is shown throughout scripture. This is indicated to us in Romans 8:29-30. ‘for whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate,…… them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified’. These verses take us from the beginning to the end of a person becoming a child of God. In the word of God we read of the Election of God (1 Thess 1:4), and the Election of Grace (Rom 11: 5) to encourage us in our Work and Walk for the Lord.

In summary, the word election appears in the Bible, and we cannot deny (a) that God sometimes chooses people for His purposes, and (b) the precious truth of the sovereignty of God! We have to balance this view with the fact that God will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. For God is one, and there is one mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus , who gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim 2:4).