Bible Question: What does the Bible teach about election? |
Bible Answer: The Bible teaches that election is always unto salvation. As Charles Spurgeon put it, "Salvation is all of grace, damnation is all of sin." Knowing before the foundation of the world that man would fall in the Garden and then be totally unable to contribute to his own salvation from sin, God determined to save a remnant of fallen humanity. These He chose, or elected, in Christ, a multitude too great for any man to number, to spend eternity with Him. These He sent His Son to die for on the cross as their substitute and pay the total penalty for their sins(God being just He can never ask for payment for these sins a second time). In time, these hear the Word of God and the Holy Spirit gives them a new nature through the new birth, and they immediately respond with repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. Their salvation is started by God and they are kept by God in a saved state and will persevere in holiness until they are before the throne of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Some Scripture references: John 6:44(human inability), Ephesians 1:3-14(God choosing), 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14(God's choice and calling), John 17:2(Christ gives eternal life to God's elect), Acts 13:48(ordained to believe), John 10:15(Christ's death on behalf of His sheep), Mark 14:24(Christ died for many - His elect), John 3:5-8(the new birth by the Holy Spirit), Acts 20:21(man's immediate response to the new birth), John 10:27-30(eternal life guaranteed for Christ's sheep), Romans 8:31-39(eternal life guaranteed for God's elect), Romans 8:28-30(the golden chain of God's grace). |