Doctrines of Grace - Unconditional Election - Part 2

Ok, we left off defining what Unconditional Election is and looking at what basis God chooses those whom He saves. Now we'll take a look at the Armenian view point.

The Armenian view of Unconditional Election and unfortunately, the view held by the majority of churches across America today, is actually one of Conditional Election based upon God's foreknowledge. In other words, they say that God looked down the corridors of time, saw who was going to believe, and chose them for salvation. So they do embrace the concept of election but this view holds that it is man, by his response, who ultimately determines his salvation. Taking this to its logical and very dangerous conclusion, it proposes that God could not elect anyone without the counsel of man. This view is very anti-biblical.

Unconditional Election insists that God's elective decree rests solely on His SOVEREIGN DECISION to save whom He wills. It has absolutely nothing to do with man since we are all DEAD in our trespasses and sins. Eph 2:1

God says in Romans 9:15-16, "...I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy."

So, what are some objections to Conditional Election?
1) Well, if Election is conditional, it completely discounts the total depravity of man. So then what do you do with these verses:
John 2:24-25 - "But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man."

Romans 3:11-12 - "There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no not one."
Martin Luther said this: "Nothing is not a little something."

2) Conditional Election also misconstrues the biblical concept of Foreknowledge. This creates a position called Open Theism which basically says that God doesn't really know everything. I wonder how they get around the following verses:
Acts 15:18 - "Known to God from eternity are all His works."

Psalm 139:1-4,16b - O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether... ...in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them."

3) Conditional Election also destroys the concept of God's Sovereign Grace.
2Thes 2:13 - "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth..."

Jesus Himself said in John 15:16 - "You did not choose Me, But I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

Election cannot be based on human merit for two reasons:
* Man is not capable of merit in his fallen state
* Grace is negated if merit is present. In other words, why would we need a Savior if we could merit salvation?

Often people will raise the question of FAIRNESS here. They will say things like 'its not fair then that God would choose to save some and not others.' But does the Armenian view answer the fairness question?? NO!

* Is it fair (just) for God to cast sinners into hell?? - Yes
* Are we all sinners?? - Yes See Rom. 3:23
* Aren't we all worthy of hell because of our sins?? - Yes
* Is God obligated to save anyone?? - No
* What if the Just Judge cast all sinners into hell? Is that fair? - Yes
* If the Just Judge is not obligated to save any sinner, then why is He unjust if by His grace and mercy He saves some sinners from destruction??
* What if the Bible clearly stated the fact? Would you believe it then?

Romans 9:22-23 - "What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory."

The fairness issue is if God gave us all what we justly deserved, we'd all be in hell. It's those who are going to Heaven, who are getting what they don't deserve.

Election is not based on man's decision - Rom 9:15-16; Election is God's divine right to execute clemency upon whom He desires - Rom 9:18-21; Election is ultimately for the purpose of God's glory - Rom 9:22-24

Election precedes faith. Acts 13:48 - "Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed."

Jonah 2:9 - Salvation is of the Lord!!! And Praise God for that!

Until next time, God bless.

Rob