WHY DOES GOD ELECT SOME

THE BIBLICAL PURPOSE OF ELECTION

  

 Many find difficulty because they persist in thinking of Election apart from its great ethical and spiritual goal.

     The elect are always elect to some holy and useful end.

            Eph. 1:11-12 "That we should be to the praise of his glory".

            1 Pet. 2:9         "That ye should show forth the praises of him."

            Eph. 1:4           "That we should be holy and without blame."

            Rom. 8:29       "Did predestine to be conformed to the image of His Son."

            John 15:16       "That ye should go and bring forth fruit."

              Nowhere in the Bible are men ever said to be elect to salvation as a mere place of divine favor apart from ethical considerations.

                         True that men are said to be elect to a prepared kingdom (Matt. 25:34), elect to                        adoption as sons (Eph. 1:5), and elect to glory (Rom. 9:23).

                         But all these have ethical implications: the kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness; the adoption is a position demanding a personal holiness; and the glory is first of all a moral glory.

            The election of God includes both the means as well as the end, both the obligations as well as the blessings.

            2 Thess. 2:13-14 "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

                                   here the means: "Sanctification of the Spirit"      end: "to salvation and belief of the truth"

            1 Peter 1:2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

                        means: "Thru sanctification of the Spirit"    end: "unto obedience and sprinkling of the  blood"

            John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

                        means: "ordained you"   end: "go and bring forth fruit"