The Doctrine of Election means that before the creation of the world, God chose some people to be saved. When their time comes, they choose to believe the Gospel and are saved. Conversely, those who were not chosen will be condemned because they did not choose to believe in God’s one way of salvation, the death and resurrection of Christ.
This doctrine is based on Biblical revelation and is the only one that makes sense. Well, in many ways it rises above human comprehension, but with our limited understanding of divine revelation, it makes sense. It recognizes that God is God and he is not bound to choices we, as creatures of his creation, make on our own binding him to our decision. Furthermore, we know that apart from God’s predestination of the elect, no-one would be saved (John 6:44). We simply would not choose Christ apart from God’s calling and guidance. So thank God for being chosen and elect.
Compounding this lofty doctrine is the fact that some people think they are saved but they are not. They may have done everything their church or religion requires, but apart from a genuine faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, they will be condemned. Satan has been using false religions and false teachings in Christian churches for years and deceiving many non-elect people who never know the truth until it’s too late.
That brings us to the concept of Assurance of Salvation. Many people wonder if they are truly saved. There obviously is no question on God’s part as he chose the elect and he will guide events in our lives to bring the elect to saving faith. Assurance of salvation refers to what we believe about our own individual status. Some worry that they may be one of the ones that were deceived and not really saved. They read certain passages in the Bible and shudder:
[Jesus speaking] “‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:21-23
Or maybe that they have backslidden so far as to have lost their salvation.
“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Hebrews 6:4-8
The Doctrine of Election is vigorously debated in some Christians circles but it is based on solid foundational Scriptures. Here are some highlights:
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Romans 8:29-30
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
Ephesians 1:4-6
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:11-12
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12
“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.”
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”
2 Timothy 2:10
Confirm your Calling and Election
In reviewing these Scriptures, it becomes clear that there are sufficient grounds for the Doctrine of Election. The problem is how do you know for sure if you are included or not? Well, the Bible does not leave us without hope for that issue. We can confirm our calling and election! It says so right in the Bible and tells us how and assures us that God has given us everything we need to be confident in our salvation.
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:2-11
Peter’s second letter was authored near the end of his life. We can speculate that he spent much of his time preaching this message over and over wherever he visited. Knowing that he would soon be put to death, he wrote it down so it could be preserved. Because it has been included in the canon of Scripture, we believe that the Holy Spirit guided him in choosing the proper words to convey the truth of God. This letter is one of the most treasured letters of students of the Bible.
Notice he starts out with the words grace and peace be yours in abundance. Grace is God’s undeserved favor made available to us who do not deserve it but receive it as a free gift. We have forgiveness of sin because of the finished work of Christ on the cross. We have been justified by God and are presently indwelled by the Holy Spirit as a deposit of the salvation we have been promised. Because of those present possessions, we have peace. “Grace and peace in abundance because of our knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ!“
Next he directs our attention to God’s divine power which is the source of all our spiritual assets. He states that we have everything we need. How reassuring that is to us. And what should we do with the things he has provided? Live a godly life! After all, he tells us that because of our salvation we participate in the divine nature. Wow! We were born with a sinful nature and sin is our natural tendency, but now we have assurance and revelation that we have been born again and participate in his divine nature. That fact is instrumental in overcoming temptation, living a holy life, growing spiritually and serving others. He confirms that we have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. Our salvation starts in this life; it doesn’t begin at our death. Because of our salvation we reap benefits immediately. God has given us his precious promises and equipped us with everything we need. Next he moves on to what we might call a checklist which begins with faith. Faith is the first and most important characteristic on the list. Faith however, is not meant to be the end result, but merely a foundation to build on. Love is the end result and includes all the previous characteristics.
The law of Christ is to love others and put their needs above your own. People of the world- the non elect- don’t live by that law but rather live by selfishness and immorality. They are lawless and do whatever they deem appropriate in their own eyes. They sometimes reinforce sinful practices by making them legal and acceptable. But in God’s sight they are lawless. Later in this same letter, Peter warns the elect not to fall into the error of the lawless but to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. That is the key to assurance of salvation – growing spiritually and demonstrating love. How? The list serves as a guide:
| 1. Faith | 5. Perseverance |
| 2. Goodness | 6. Godliness |
| 3. Knowledge | 7. Mutual Affection |
| 4. Self-control | 8. Love |
Simply put, if you do these things, you will not be ineffective or unproductive in your faith. You will never stumble. You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of Christ. What great assurances! Earlier in the Matthew 7 passage we read about some who will be turned away. Now we know how to avoid that situation and instead receive a rich welcome to the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
That begs the question, is it possible to have faith and be saved but not do any of those things? Notice the list starts with faith and ends with love. Following his list would be the ideal path to a holy life. Peter was definitely writing to those who had faith as stated in 2 Peter 1:1. So the answer is yes, it is possible to have faith without growth in the same way it is possible for a baby to be stillborn. If that were the case, you would not experience assurance of salvation but you will still be saved by the grace of God if you were elect. Notice he says, whoever does not have them (the subsequent characteristics in the checklist) is nearsighted and blind forgetting that they have been cleansed from the past sins. Not only would you not experience peace from assurance of salvation, you would forget that you were saved in the first place. The judgment seat of Christ will reveal our earthly decisions whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). Your eternal rewards will reflect your decisions and actions in our temporary bodies here on this earth that will be destroyed by fire. Our eternal future is in a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:10-13). Don’t waste your time on selfishness and sinning, instead live holy and godly lives here on earth while there is still a chance to glorify your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ before it’s too late. Now you’ve been warned. How will you respond?
“Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
2 Peter 3:17-18
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
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