BIBLICAL GROUND FOR DIVINE ELECTION

THE BIBLICAL GROUND OF DIVINE ELECTION

            Why Did God Elect Anyone to Salvation?

                        - This is the crux of entire subject - THREE POSSIBLE ANSWERS:

                                  (1) God elects those who are good.    Basis: personal goodness.

                                  (2) God elected those He foresaw would believe. Basis: Foreseen Faith. Almost                             makes election a permissive decree.

                                  (3) ***God elected those He purposed to save through faith in Christ. - Is the reason in man or in God? Basis: God's Sovereignty.

           Negatively - the Bible teaches:

                                  (1) Election not based on the will of man - Rom. 9:16 "Not of him that willeth."

                                  (2) Election not based on the works of man - 2 Tim. 1:9 "Not according to our                               works, but according to his own purpose and grace."

                                  (3) Election not based on the choice of man - John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me,                         but I have chosen you."

           Positively - the Bible teaches:

                                  (1) The ultimate source of Election is God's grace - Rom. 11:5-6 "According to                              the election of Grace"

                        -           can't go back of this

                        -           rules out all merit on part of man

                                  (2) Our election is according to the "good pleasure" and "purpose" of a sovereign                           God.

                                    Eph. 1:5, 11     "According to the good pleasure of His will."

                                    "Being predestinated according to the purpose of him."

                                  (3) Our election is according to the "foreknowledge of God". 1 Pet. 1:2 "Elect                                according to the foreknowledge of God."

                        -           this foreknowledge is not merely fore-sight. Cf. Amos 3:2

                        The word “known” means more than mere knowledge. If that were all, then God knew all nations. It includes the determination and communication of good. God knows that ALL are sinners which gives the Creator rights to use as He purposes to bring about eventually His Kingdom here on earth where His chosen will rule and reign with Him where they abide in mansions prepared for them.

                        -           It is a foreknowledge of special favor toward those whom God in His

grace purposes to save. Cf. also Gal. 4:9 "Are known of God."

                             -           Whatever it means, it cannot mean that God elects men on the basis of some meritorious act which He merely foresees they will do. In the case of Amos 3:2, God knows demerit, and for this He shows love and grace.

            Summary: God's election is of His Grace - this rules out all human merit.