ELECTION

ELECTION – 1 PART OF PREDESTINATION

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Eph. 1:4

“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.” 2 Thess. 2:13-14

A tentative definition of election: That God, before the foundation of the world, chose all believers to salvation in Christ with all its attendant blessings and obligations. Cf. 2 Thess. 2:13-14 with Eph. 1:4 Because God has chosen you from the beginning –Chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.

The place of election within the total divine plan which predestination includes:

(1) Predestination refers to the total plan - includes all things. - Hence includes both causative and permissive decrees.

(2) Election refers to that part of the total divine plan which deals with the saved.- God predestinates all things - He elects the saved. He does not elect the lost to be lost – they do through the refusal to accept the grace He offers to all. - Election deals only with personal beings. -  Election always a causative decree. God causes that thing to take place. He allows sin but it is in His plan. And since all are sinners He has the choice of how He wants to use a person therefore He has a whole creation to use in this process. Psa. 148:8-12. He has Judas, He has Pharaoh, He has John the Baptist, He even has you and I. Many things have happened in my experience over 70 years at this point and of a few I know that the God and King of this universe has a plan that I still have trouble comprehending. He elects none to perdition but by grace He saves a few. Election has to do with the saved.