We hear the word “election” and suddenly the hairs on our neck stand up as we think to ourselves, “That’s not fair. It is unjust of God.”(Romans 9:14) Or we read about God’s sovereignty in salvation and immediately our knee jerk reaction is to cry “What about human free will? After all we are not robots.” I believe the reason we react in this manner is due to a basic misunderstanding of the biblical truth of election due to myths and outright lies that have been perpetrated.
MYTH #1: It is unloving of God to elect some and not others.
God makes it very clear that the reason He chose Israel over other nations was not because of anything in them but simply because He sovereignly chose to love them.
“The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you”
Deuteronomy 7:6-8(emphasis added)
In writing to the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul wrote unequivocally that God’s motive that He predestined us to adoption as sons was love.
“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1:4-6(emphasis added)
MYTH #2: Election is a debate for the ivory towers of seminary and thus has no practical implications for life.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Christians Peter was writing to were under severe persecution. Nero burned Rome because he wanted to rebuild it so as to bring fame, glory and majesty to his name. The persecution the Christians were facing intensified when Nero blamed them for the burning of Rome including its cultural and religious artifacts.
So Peter’s purpose in writing to them was to encourage them in the midst of their trials and suffering. And the very first thing he brings to their attention is election.
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,…”
1 Peter 1:1-2
So how does election encourage suffering Christians? Peter is using an argument from the greater to the lesser. Since God is sovereign over salvation, in choosing you according to His foreknowledge, His predetermined plan and purpose, then surely He is sovereign over any trials. Stuff for real life not for ivory towers.
MYTH #3: Divine sovereignty is in direct conflict with human responsibility.
Once when asked how to reconcile divine sovereignty with human responsibility Spurgeon said there was no need to reconcile friends.
Jesus Himself, while teaching divine sovereignty, at the same time called for a response.
“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Matthew 11:27
According to the very words of Christ Himself “no one knows the Father except …anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” The sovereign choice is Christ’s as He chooses to whom He will reveal the Father. Apart from that there is no way anyone can know the Father. And the reason Christ has the authority to do that is because all things have been handed over to Him by the Father.
Immediately following His sovereign authority, Jesus gives the oft-quoted invitation.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
If I were to ask you who killed Jesus what would your answer be? Here is the apostle Peter’s answer on the Day of Pentecost.
