The Doctrine of Election

By A.W. Pink

As the doctrine of election is a part of the wider subject of God’s sovereignty, a brief word on this first. In Revelation 19:6 we are told, “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” In heaven and earth, He is the Controller and Disposer of all creatures. As the Most High, He ruleth amid the armies of the heavens and none can stay His hand or say unto Him, “What doest thou?” (Job 9:12). He is the Almighty, who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. He is the Heavenly Potter who takes hold of our fallen humanity like a lump of clay, and out of it fashioneth one as a vessel unto honor and another as a vessel unto dishonor. In short, He is the Decider and Determiner of every man’s destiny and the Controller of every detail in each individual’s life, which is only another way of saying that God is God.

Now, election and predestination are but the exercise of God’s sovereignty in the affairs of salvation, and all that we know about them is what has been revealed to us in the Scriptures of truth. The only reason why anyone believes in election is because he finds it clearly taught in God’s Word. No man, or number of men, ever originated this doctrine. Like the teaching of eternal punishment, it conflicts with the dictates of the carnal mind and is repugnant to the sentiments of the unregenerate heart. And like the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the miraculous birth of our Saviour, the truth of election must be received with simple, unquestioning faith.

Let us now define our terms. What does the word election mean? It signifies to single out, to select, to choose, to take one and leave another. Election means that God has singled out certain ones to be the objects of His saving grace, while others are left to suffer the just punishment of their sins. It means that before the foundation of the world, God chose out of the mass of our fallen humanity a certain number and predestined them to be conformed to the image of His Son. “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name” (Act 15:14).

We cannot do better than here amplify our definition of election by quoting from a sermon by the late C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) on “Things That Accompany Salvation”:

“Before Salvation came into this world, Election marched in the very forefront, and it had for its work the billeting of Salvation. Election went through the world and marked the houses to which Salvation should come and the hearts in which the treasure should be deposited. Election looked through all the race of man, from Adam down to the last, and marked with sacred stamp those for whom Salvation was designed. ‘He must needs go through Samaria’ (Joh 4:4) said Election; and Salvation must go there. Then came Predestination. 

Predestination did not merely mark the house, but it mapped the road in which Salvation should travel to that house. Predestination ordained every step of the great army of Salvation; it ordained the time when the sinner should be brought to Christ, the manner how he should be saved, the means that should be employed; it marked the exact hour and moment when God the Spirit should quicken the dead in sin, and when peace and pardon should be spoken through the blood of Jesus. Predestination marked the way so completely that Salvation doth never overstep the bounds, and it is never at a loss for the road. In the everlasting decree of the sovereign God, the footsteps of mercy
were every one of them ordained.”

Why God selected these particular individuals rather than others, we do not know. His choice is a sovereign one, wholly gratuitous, and dependent upon nothing outside of Himself. It certainly was not because these particular individuals were, in themselves, any better than the others which He passed by. Scripture is very emphatic upon this point: they, too, “were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph 2:3). They, too, had no inherent righteousness. Neither did God choose the ones He did because of anything that He foresaw would be in them, for the simple but sufficient reason that He
foresaw no good thing in them, save that which He Himself wrought in them. All that we can say is that God chose out certain ones to be saved solely because He chose to choose them, because such was the good pleasure of His sovereign will (Eph 1:5).

Continue reading-->HERE.

Day 333

O. Book of Romans (from Corinth) ~ cont.
2. Relationship of the Jews to the gospel - Romans 9:1-33; 10:1-21; 11:1-36


(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth;)  (Romans 9:11)


Election - predestination - foreknowledge - called.  These are all words readily found in Scripture.  Yet there are many who do not know or understand God's electing grace.  I know that only Father can open a person's understanding regarding His sovereignty.  There are many who fight against it.  We, as humans, want to think that we are in control.  We completely miss the fact that we belong to someone...we are either a servant to satan or to God.  Satan, by default, gets everyone that God has not chosen.  Many claim that God electing some is unfair to those who are left on the broad path of destruction.  Not one person whom God has ever called to be His child deserved that distinction.  Not one.  We all deserved to be left wallowing in the muck and mire of sin, headed for an eternity separated from the Father of Lights.


To claim that God is unfair sets one up as a judge of the Creator of everything.  Dare we lift ourselves above HIS throne?  Who are we to tell the Supreme Being who breathed the world into existence that HIS plans and purposes are not fair?  We, who can not even number our days, much less the hairs on our heads?  How proud and haughty are we, when we presume to tell God how to run HIS creation and deal with HIS vessels.


So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  (Romans 10:17)


I was browsing commentaries and thought I'd check and see if Spurgeon had sermons on the verse.  It is here if you'd like to read it for yourself.


For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches.  But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.  (Romans 11:16-18)


I've been pondering that word: roots.  The need for the Bride to return to her 1st century roots.  I recently made that comment to someone and they asked me what that would look like.  I've been researching that topic, working my way through.  Exploring the history of the church.  What did the 1st century church do for worship?  How did they conduct themselves?  Where did they meet?  Why do the various churches have such a difference in their worship services?  How was it decided what must be done, when and how?  How closely aligned with their Jewish roots were they?  They obviously met on the Sabbath (7th day) as it is mentioned frequently.  They met in synagogues.  It appears that Paul taught on the 1st day, at least once.  They went from house to house breaking bread.  They sold things and had them in common.  They attended to the needs of the widows.  They expounded the word (would have originally been the Old Testament).  They would have shared the epistles as they were written and distributed.  They were exhorted that when they came together everyone had a psalm, doctrine, tongue, revelation, interpretation.  That the men were in a position of authority to give forth the Word (and were obviously expected to be studied).  Women were not to teach men, but to remain silent.  That the Gentile converts were not under the obligation to be circumcised.  The elders at Jerusalem knew that Moses was being preached in the synagogues each Sabbath and thought that the Gentile converts would be made familiar with the writings of the Old Testament.  Paul appeared to continue to keep some of the feasts.  Lots to think about on this issue.  Lots to pray about.


...until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.  (Romans 11:25)


The fullness of the Gentiles - Israel is blind in part until then.  I know ultimately God has already decided, curious as to what indicators (if any) would determine the fullness.  Definitely more questions than answers...I'm glad we will have eternity...it will take me all of that to get through my list of why, who, how, when, etc.  :-)


As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.  (Romans 11:28)


That is a weighty thought, Israel is treated as an enemy of the gospel for my sake and the other Gentiles.  That we might have opportunity to hear and heed the gospel message.  It appears that there will be a time when Israel will once again be given an opportunity to 'hear' the gospel.  What a glorious thought that they will see and recognize the Messiah that they rejected, crucified and denied.


O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are HIS judgments, and HIS ways past finding out!  (Romans 11:33)


As one who likes to study and dig, what an awesome invitation and thought.  A never ending delight into the mystery of the Creator.  Join in, pick a book, dig into it.  Delve into the depths of HIS word, delight yourself with the wonders He has given us to explore.  Read the Word.