Quick Q&A on Election & Predestination (w/Video)
The question posed to me by a member of our church was:
“The more I read and study the Bible, the more confused I become about the doctrine of sovereign election (predestination), God’s choosing who would be saved “before the foundation of the world”. Respected teachers such as Sproul, MacArthur, and other reformed preachers give a good argument for election. However, others, such as A. W. Tozer acknowledge that although God is sovereign he has given man “limited freedom” to make moral choices. Is it necessary for us as Bible students to form a firm opinion about subjects like this or is it ok for us to continue to have questions about certain areas provided it doesn’t effect our salvation.”
I answered their question by breaking this into 3 questions and answers.
First, what is sovereign election/predestination?
Election/Predestination, in short, is the biblical doctrine that the salvation of any person is God’s choice (Matt. 11:27, John 6:35-39, 60-65; 10:24-28; 17:1-2, Jam. 1:16-18, 2Thess. 2:13-14). By God’s grace, He first chooses to regenerate/enable a person, and that person then responds in faith to be saved.
There are 2 schools of thought on this:
One school of thought is what I just shared—salvation is God’s choice first, not man’s because man is inherently sinful. Thus, God has *foreordained* (predetermined in advance) some to be saved or no one would be saved (Eph. 1:3-6, 11-12). This school of thought is built upon the nature of God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness. Because sin cannot choose what’s holy (it falls short every single time), only One who is holy can make something else holy (Eph. 2:1-9). Hence, God has to initiate the transforming work first so a person can come to believe in Him.
The other school of thought says God *foreknew* who would believe—(and their belief would be without His assistance/regeneration beforehand)—and thus those are the predestined people (the elect) who will eventually be saved (Rom. 8:29). This school of thought is built upon the nature of God’s infinitude—(i.e., He is independent of time, space, & matter because these are all part of what He created)—and His characteristic of fairness/impartiality. Since God is infinite, the concept of time doesn’t exist progressively to Him. Time to God is seen as one picture. So whatever God knows will be, will always be that and nothing more or less. Secondly, they say it is unfair of God to choose some and not others. So for God to be fair/impartial, He must allow each person to choose for themselves, and since He knows in advance who those people are that will freely choose Him, they are predestined based upon their choice.
Second, is predestination/election a salvific doctrine? Yes & No.
Yes, predestination is about salvation, so in this way, it is a salvific doctrine.
However, salvation is not dependent upon one’s belief or unbelief in predestination/election. Therefore, in this way, it is not salvific. Predestination/election is an act of God that man benefits from. Thus, man’s belief in this doctrine or rejection of it has no barren on what God does or doesn’t do regarding His salvation.
Third, “Is it necessary for us as Bible students to form a firm opinion about subjects like this or is it ok for us to continue to have questions...”?
It is perfectly okay to continue to have questions about biblical subjects. That’s part of our journey as disciples of Jesus. Nevertheless, yes, every teaching in Scripture is necessary to know for students of the Word. Jesus says in John 8:31-32,
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
It is a must for us to know what we believe and why we believe what we believe because deception is a real and present threat that far too many professing believers have unknowingly become victims of (Rom. 16:17-18, 2Cor. 11:1-4, Eph. 4:13-14; 5:6, Col. 2:4-8, 1Tim. 6:20-21, 2Tim. 3:13; 4:3-4).
__________
The Crucial Qs booklet series
The Bible clearly teaches that we contribute nothing to our salvation. It is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8), and He alone saves. Yet many Christians bristle at this idea. If God decides who will believe, they reason, doesn't that destroy free will?
The late, Dr. R.C. Sproul, has a small booklet also answering this question. It’s available in print or for download (pdf/ebook).
Click the image for more.