ELECTION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
(and what difference does it make anyway?)
I've asked myself those questions often in the past, and many times again this week. And although I'm tempted to say it's not worth a disagreement, I know better. With this paper I want to offer a simple, introductory answer to both of the above questions, beginning with the latter. What difference does what you or I believe about election really make?
I. An Historical Overview
First I want to ask: What difference has it made to Baptists in the past? Since we are studying the Baptist Faith and Message, it won't hurt to investigate what God-fearing, thoughtful Baptists (and other godly men), past and present, believe[d] concerning election. Let me say that I don't believe any doctrine just because someone I respect does, nor should you. On the other hand I mustn't too lightly dismiss the views of men and women who've given their hearts and lives to loving and serving God, and to the diligent study of His Word. So looking at a few quotations will give us a feel for our spiritual heritage, and at the same time a definition of election will begin to emerge and take shape. Not all of you will want to wade through this, but it should prove rewarding and eye-opening for those who do. You may recognize some of the names:
Matthew Henry (Commentator): "The eternal election, in which the difference between some and others is first founded, is purely of grace, free grace; not for the sake of works done or foreseen; if so, it would not be grace... Election is purely according to the good pleasure of His will, Ephesians 1:5. The rest were blinded, v. 7. Some are chosen and called, and the call is made effectual. But others are left to perish in their unbelief."
William Carey (The father of modern missions): "We are sure that only those who are ordained to eternal life will believe, and that God alone can add to the church such as shall be saved. Nevertheless we cannot but observe with admiration that Paul, the great champion of the glorious doctrines of free and sovereign grace, was the most conspicuous for his personal zeal in the work of persuading men to be reconciled to God."
Richard Fuller (Third president of S.B.C.): "Do you receive the doctrine of predestination? Certainly... Well, then you do not receive the doctrine of man's free agency. Indeed I do... I embrace both doctrines. Nay, more; I see clearly that if I reject either of these great truths and cling to the other, it will tow me away into fathomless depths of folly and impiety. But, how do you reconcile these two doctrines? Reconcile! I do not reconcile them at all. I am not required to reconcile them. Who made me judge and reconciler of God's acts and attributes and clearly revealed testimonies?"
J.L. Dagg (Theologian, 1794-1884, of whom Paige Patterson has said "If one wishes to know what most Baptists believed during the formative days of the Southern Baptist Convention, he will discover it in [Dagg's writings]."): "All who will finally be saved were chosen to salvation by God the Father, before the foundation of the world, and given to Jesus Christ in the Covenant of Grace. The doctrine of election encounters strong opposition in the hearts of men... no proof of its truth can be equal to the testimony of Scriptures. Let us receive their teachings on the subject without hesitation or distrust; and let us require every preconceived opinion of ours, and all our carnal reasonings, to bow before the authority of God's holy word." [He then cites Scripture extensively.] "From the views which have been presented, it necessarily follows, that election is not on the ground of foreseen faith or obedience."
P.H. Mell (President of S.B.C. for 17 years): "The elect are chosen, not because God foresees faith and good works in them... God's act in electing some and not others is to be resolved into his sovereign will. 'He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth' (Rom. 9:18). The elect are, by the influence of sovereign grace, made willing in the day of God's power and those not elected have no active principle of disobedience imparted to them, and feel no restraint upon their wills--they are simply passed by, and permitted to follow the inclinations of their own hearts."
C.H. Spurgeon (Baptist pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle of London, 1800's): "The old truths that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, is the truth that I preach today, or else I would be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape truth; I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. Men say they do not like the doctrine of election. Verily, I do not want them to; but is it not a fact that God has elected some? I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless you preach what is now-a-days called Calvinism. I have my own ideas, and those I always state boldly. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else."
B.H. Carroll (Founder of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary): "When I was a young preacher, a Baptist preacher who was a good man, but Arminian in his theology, preached a sermon on election. He said, 'Election is according to the foreknowledge of God. God foreknew that certain men would repent and believe. And having seen that they would repent and believe, he elected them.' When he got through, I told him that the New Testament use of 'foreknowledge' was almost equivalent to predestination and that any Greek scholar would tell him so and that election was not based on any foreseen goodness in man, but that repentance and faith proceed from election and not election from them."
W.T. Conner (Professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, author of Christian Doctrine published in 1934 by Broadman Press): "Election does not mean that God instituted a general plan of salvation and decreed that whosoever would should be saved and therefore the man who wills to be saved is elected in that he brings himself within the scope of God's plan. It is true that God has decreed that 'whosoever will' shall be saved but election is something more specific and personal than that. It means that God has decreed to bring certain ones, upon whom his heart has been eternally set, who are the objects of his eternal love, to faith in Jesus as Saviour."
Dr. Tom Nettles (Chairman of Church History, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Memphis TN): "The doctrine of unconditional election, perhaps more than any other biblical doctrine, inspires a marvelous awe before the almighty God and humbles his creatures. While shattering all glory that man may seek for himself, the doctrine rivets in our minds the truth that God indeed is the blessed and only potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who will bring to pass in his own time...all things. To him be honor and might forever!"
JulieAnn Palmer (Follower of Christ, Sikeston MO): [My wife wanted to add this profound observation, made by a friend in one of her Bible studies.] "I find it hard to believe that a God who didn't give me a choice about my gender or eye color or who I was born to would leave such an important decision to me.
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***It's obvious that those men and women are all passionate about this issue. But still, what practical difference does it make in my life?
II. Practical Relevance (thanks to J.I. Packer for much of this)
1) Election encourages and assures the elect: "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn?" (Rom. 8:33)
2) It elicits heartfelt praise: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who chose us in him before the creation of the world. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons... to the praise of his glorious grace." (Eph. 1:3 ff.)
3) It is the strongest possible motivation for love and holy living: "Put on therefore as God's elect... a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering... " (Col. 3:12) "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
4) "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure." (2 Pet. 1:10) J.I. Packer suggests other beneficial effects the assurance of election has on a Christian: "It awakens awe in him, as it sets before him the greatness of the God in whose hands we all are, and who disposes of us all at his own pleasure. It humbles him, for it reminds him that his salvation is not in the smallest degree his own achievement: he has nothing that he has not received." Packer's statement reminds me of two passages from 1 Corinthians that I want to insert here: "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, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus." (1 Cor. 1:27-30) "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Cor. 4:7)
Packer continues: "But it also thrills him, by assuring him that his salvation is all of God, and that in God's hands he is safe for ever. The reason why he is in Christ now is that God chose him to be in Christ from all eternity; and God's choice guarantees that he will be kept secure in Christ Jesus to all eternity. 'Whom he predestined... called... justified, he also glorified.'"
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* **III. Misconceptions
I am indebted to Dr. Robert Selph for most of the above quotes. I want to close with a section from his book entitled Southern Baptists and the Doctrine of Election, in which he addresses some common misconceptions:
"First, God does not save or damn anyone against his will. Unconditional election is God's saving purpose which works compatibly with and not contrary to the human will. For those who will be damned, God leaves them to and gives them exactly what they choose for themselves. For those who are going to be saved, God sovereignly and graciously changes their hearts through the Holy Spirit and the gospel so that they voluntarily and eagerly trust the Lord Jesus for salvation by their own choice. Without God's sovereign, quickening power, none would respond and be saved.
Secondly, anyone who is saved must hear the gospel and believe. There is no other way. We must preach. We must witness. We must seek to bring people to hear the truths of saving grace. Christ, the Lord of the Church, has commissioned us to this task. We must give ourselves relentlessly to this duty until all strangers are brought home.
Thirdly, the gospel is to be preached to every creature on earth. There is to be no discrimination of any kind. Our God is worthy to be made known to the far corners of the earth, and He will powerfully save sinners from every nook and cranny of the entire globe. Christ died to save men of all kinds out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Our call is to beseech men everywhere, without distinction, to repent.
Fourthly, God receives every single person who comes to Him in faith through Jesus Christ. All who come to Him will in no way be cast out. They will experience the open embrace and saving mercies of King Jesus."
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* **I would simply encourage any of you who have gone to the trouble of reading this far to be like the noble-minded Bereans in Acts 17:11, "for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." May the Lord bless each of us in our quest to know Him truly.
