Election

In the next four days or more, I am hopefully going to explain four major parts involved in the salvation and future of a Christian. These four things are biblical and I hope to lay them each out carefully by going to God's Word and explaining what each of them mean.

The four parts are election, justification, sanctification, and glorification. Today I'm going to look at the election of a believer.

 

1. Election.

Election is a biblical teaching that can be summed up into a sentence like this,  "Before the beginning of time, God, in his mercy chose people in this world to believe in Him and trust in His Son as their Saviour."

Ephesians 1:4 says, - "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the World, that we would be holy and blameless before Him..." The reason for God's choice is so that His glory can be put on display in and through our lives. As a Christian, the way I live tells unbelievers whether I really believe in a God and do His will. When I obey God's commands I show by my life that I love God and trust in His salvation in my life. When I disobey God, and live in sin, I show a rebellion against God. If I turn, and repent of my sin, Christ is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) so that His name would be honoured.

 

 Although it is based on God's gracious choice of us, election does not contradict the fact that man must turn to Christ and trust in Him as Lord and Saviour of their life. 2 Peter 3:9 says, - "The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but everyone to come to repentance." Nevertheless, man cannot make the decision to be saved apart form the Holy Spirit of God moving in His heart. Everyone whom God calls to Himself comes to Him by faith , and all who come to Him in faith He has called, and He will receive them, because He called them to Himself.

 

The salvation of a man is by the unmerited favour and mercy of God in one's life. God grants to totally depraved sinners this gift of salvation. Not because they earned it or deserve it but because of His mercy and sovereign grace. Titus 3:5, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."

 

It also must be understood that election is not based on a random sovereignty of God but it is indeed His perfect will. Election goes hand in hand with God's other attributes such as love, justice, mercy, holiness, wisdom, grace, and omniscience. Romans 9:11-18 is a lengthy passage that speaks of God's sovereignty in the lives of man here on earth. Although it may seem unjust to our fallen human minds, we must remember that there is no injustice with God. May we rest in the knowledge that what God wills, is what is best for our lives. He is our creator and giver of every breath that we take. While we live on earth, let us strive to honour and glorify Him so that we will become pleasing in His sight.

 

Blessings,

       Lucas C.