Because of total depravity, the cause of salvation has to reside fully in God. As we have seen in an earlier post, synergism (that loci of salvation is found in both man and God) does not relay correctly what the bible seems to indicate.
So, if the cause of salvation resides totally in God and not in anything good in man, what is the basis of this salvation? The scripture refers to the basis of God's salvation as divine predestination and election. So, the answer as to why some are saved and some are not has to do with these two biblical doctrines which go hand and hand.
Predestination and Election: These are biblical terms that relate to our salvation in Christ. The debate is not whether or not these terms are in scripture, but what they mean and how they are applied. We will look at the scripture and then talk about the various views.
First, lets look at the term "predestination."
Predestination- Comes from the Greek word prooidzo, which means “to mark out before hand” or “to decide beforehand. Predestination is a term used to refer to what the bible calls God’s “elect” or “chosen people”. The idea is that God marked out the elect and put a boundary around them and destined them to an ultimate end or purpose, which is salvation and conformity to Christ. Therefore, when predestination is used of God’s elect, it means the predetermination of their destiny. As we will see, the purpose of God was to foreknow, choose, appoint, and then predestine those he elected to be in Christ.
The Use of Predestination
Predestination of Christ’s Death: Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (Acts 4:27-28).
This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. (Acts 2:23)
Predestined to Adoption: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (Eph. 1:4-5).
Predestined to a Spiritual Inheritance: 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. (Eph. 1:11).
Predestined to be Like Christ: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 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. (Rm. 8:28-29).
Now, lets look at the term "election" or "elect."
Election: an act of God before the creation of the world, in which he chooses some people to be saved. This choosing is not based upon any merit in themselves, but solely on the good pleasure and purpose of God.
The Use of Election
Ephesians 1:4-6 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Acts 13:48 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Romans 8:28-30 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Romans 9:11-13 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." 13 Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."
Romans 11:7 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Revelation 13:8 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Based on our analysis thus far, what we see is that these two terms are definitely used throughout the scripture. Therefore it is not a matter of if they are there, but how we are to interpret them. This has been the focus of much debate throughout the history of the church. When it comes to the doctrine of election, two major views rise to the top. They are conditional election and unconditional election.
Conditional or Unconditional?
Prescient view (conditional election)- This view teaches that from eternity past, God looked into the future, saw who would respond to the gospel, and based on this prior foreknowledge, chooses some. In other words, he elects them because he knows they will have faith. In this view, persons must meet a condition, namely repentance and faith, to become elect.
Reformed view (unconditional)- Because of the fall, all humanity has lost the ability to will any sort of spiritual good, that being the case, it is God who has to work faith into the hearts of people. In other words, it is only those who are elect that will respond in faith. Thus, the Reformed view teaches that we are elected unto faith, not because of our faith. “Unconditional” means that there is no prior condition that a person has to meet to become elect. God’s election is based solely on his good purpose and will, not on what man would do.
In order to understand which view is the biblical one, we have to examine the relationship between foreknowledge and predestination.
The Connection of Foreknowledge and Predestination:
1. Election is not based on God’s foreknowledge of our faith. Romans 8:28-30 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
The foreknowledge here is of persons, not facts. The passage stresses that it was “persons” whom God foreknew, not facts about them. When people know God in scripture or when God knows them, it is a personal knowledge that involves a saving relationship. Furthermore, the word "foreknew" in this passage is a verb and not a noun. That means that in this particular passage, it is something that God does, not a passive quality that he has. Thus, it is a verb; something active that God does.
2. Scripture never speaks of our faith as the reason God chose us.
Romans 9:11-13 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." 13 Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."
Romans 11:5-6 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Ephesians 1:4-6 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
2. Election based on something good in us (faith) is the beginning of salvation by works. The Bible presents faith as a gift, not a work. If faith is something that we can do for ourselves, we cannot say that salvation is by grace alone (sola gratis). Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
In this passage from Ephesians, the word "gift" governs both grace and faith. What does that mean? It means that both grace and faith are a gift from God, and not something that man has, nor can he get, apart from the intervention of God.
Thus, election is unconditional: it is not conditioned upon anything that God sees in us that makes us worthy of him choosing us.
In the next post, we will look at some of the objections to the doctrine of unconditional election, along with dealing with the counterpart of election- reprobation.