This post and other Tough Questions posts don't necessarily reflect the beliefs of all the pastors and elders at Trinity. I use this blog to share things I am teaching and thinking about.
Also, note that this is written by a pastor who loves and wants to help people grow as disciples of Christ and glorify God in everything he does.
The Tough Questions class has examined general doctrine, abortion, politics, parenting philosophies, and school choice. These lessons began with a common belief, and the challenging part was the different responses.
This lesson on election begins with different beliefs, and the goal is a common response. Many writers say this is one of, if not the most, controversial doctrines in the church. "Just because I don't understand how something can true, does not mean it is not so." See Romans 11:34.
The goal of the Week 9 lesson and this post is not to end the debate on this issue because I would be foolish to think I could do that. The goal is to help those in the class, those at Trinity Baptist Church, and anyone reading this post make much of God and His Work in our salvation.
I want to offer three challenges when considering election/predestination and free will.
When you consider God's sovereignty and man's responsibility, there is an antinomy—an appearance of a contradiction between conclusions that seem equally logical, reasonable, or necessary. In Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer writes, "God's sovereignty is a reality, and man's responsibility is a reality too." This appearance of a contradiction in our minds is so hard to grasp.
Another challenge when discussing this issue is that both sides are often attached to men rather than scripture. The debate becomes more about what Calvin vs. Arminius or Augustine vs. Pelagius said than what the Bible says. Both sides often construct faulty arguments and make straw men of the viewpoint.
A third challenge at the heart of this debate is that humans are trying to understand God's mind, which is impossible. God is God. We are not, and thank God we are not God.
So, what is the doctrine of election?
The free and sovereign choice of God made in eternity past based on nothing in the person solely because of the good pleasure of His will to be saved from sin and inherit the blessing on eternal life. (author unknown)
God is the author, provider, perfecter, and finisher of my salvation.
There are verses that show God's sovereignty in salvation and others that show man's responsibility for salvation.
Here are some verses that show man's responsibility.
Ezekiel 18:23 says that God does not have "any pleasure in the death of the wicked rather than that he should turn from his ways and live."
First Timothy 2:3, 4 says God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Second Peter 3:9 says God is "not wishing any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
Acts 17:4 says Paul persuaded some people, and they joined Paul and Silas.
Acts 17:27 - 34 describes people seeking, groping for, and finding God. At the end of this time in Athens, it is written that some men joined and believed.
Here are verses that show the importance of God's sovereignty in salvation, along with a brief statement after each.
Ephesians 1:4 - 5
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 to himself 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.
Verse 3 states that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Then, several verses later, verse 11 says, "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will"
Throughout Ephesians 1, Paul reminds the church that God has predestined, chosen, willed, and blessed us with salvation. These are words from the chapter.
Romans 8:29 - 34
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Be sure to check out Pastor Brett's sermons in Romans at tbcgr.org/sermons-romans.html
2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, "the divine element in election (sanctification by the Spirit - being set apart by God) and the human element in personal salvation (faith in the truth)." (Stallard)
Other verses to consider are Acts 13:48, 16:14, Ephesians 2:8, and 2 Timothy 2:8.
I want to respond to the verses earlier in this post, which I have divided into two groups.
Ezekiel 18:23, 1st Timoty 2:3, 4, and 2nd Peter 3:9 discuss God's desire, not man's response. Greg Koukl has a five-minute video entitled "Does God Literally Desire All to be Saved?"
The two verses in Acts 17 discuss what Paul did and how the people responded. These two narratives explain what people saw as God working through Paul and in the people.
“C. H. Spurgeon was once asked if he could reconcile these two truths to each other. “I wouldn’t try,” he replied; 'I never reconcile friends.' Friends?—yes, friends. This is the point that we have to grasp. In the Bible, divine sovereignty and human responsibility are not enemies. They are not uneasy neighbors; they are not in an endless state of cold war with each other. They are friends, and they work together.” (Evangelism and Sovereignty of God , J.I. Packer)
