Whenever we discuss the Doctrine of Election it is hard to remain objective rather than subjective.  This is because so much has been taught on the subject, yet so little has really been explained. Also, a lot of false doctrine has been taught under the guise of "Biblical Election". To clear out the chaff we're going to look at the two major theological positions on this doctrine.

     Before we start, let me quickly point out that I don't have all the answers. Election is one of the more confusing doctrines of Scripture: not confusing because it's untrue, but confusing because the Scripture seems to support both the free will of man as well as the Election of God equally. Most theologians hold to either the Arminian or the Calvinistic positions exclusively, yet to ignore God's awesome power while raising the free will of man to god-like status seems to me to be disrespectful of His majesty. On the other hand, to ignore the "whosoever will" Scriptures in order to automate salvation also seems to be a terrible theological blunder. So, rather than propose either the Arminian or the Calvinistic position, this study will highlight the teachings of both.

     The doctrine of Election as presented by the Church Father Arminius most widely taught and accepted by the American Christian today. This is not to mean this position is true: many who claim to be Christians believe that membership in the Church will give them entrance into Heaven, but nothing is farther away from Scriptural truth. "Unless you have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, you can be assured you will enter hell after death."

That aside, here are the points that Arminius established on Election:

• Man is spiritually dead because of the fall of Adam, but this fall did not cause man to be totally cut off from God. The "fall" means that man in his natural state is unable to please God.

• Man was lost with no way of redeeming himself. God provided a way (the Cross of Christ) that man could be saved. If man accepted this way of salvation, then he would be saved. If not, then man would be damned.

• The fall of Adam had no effect on man's free will. Once God offered the Way of the Cross, man was able, of his own accord, to freely accept or reject this salvation.

• Once God offered the Way of the Cross, He made this offer to all mankind in accordance with His Directive Will. The offer of salvation was made to man without coercion or force on God's part. The offer came freely to man, and man was able to freely reject or accept that offer.

• Once man hears the offer of salvation through the Cross the Holy Spirit comes to that man and "invites" man to accept or reject. The Spirit has no part in coercing or forcing man.

• God did not nominate people from eternity past to salvation. All mankind is freely offered salvation, and all can accept or reject that call. All are called equally to salvation.

• In passages that discussed Election Arminius said that God, in effect, "Looked down through the Ages to see who would accept or reject that call". Once God knew who would accept, these He called "The Elect". The Elect were predestinated to be made like Christ because God chose them based on the fact that they chose Him first. God did not call any "Elect" who had not already made the decision to accept that call of their own free will.

• The major key to salvation is, therefore, the free will of man. Unless man accepts the call, he cannot be saved. God is limited to offering, then man makes the final decision.

     This position has many "pro" and "con" areas to my mind. On the "pro" side, it takes into account the "Whosoever will" verses of Scripture, which are numerous throughout Scripture.

     Yet there are several "cons" to this position that are theologically significant. First, to state that "God looked down through the Ages" implies that there was a point when God was ignorant of something, and God is not ignorant but omniscient. This is a big problem.

     Second, this position seems to advocate that the fall of man was not, indeed, a complete fall. Man could still have enough sense to freely accept salvation. Or, as it were, man could be good enough to know a great spiritual deal when he hears it. Yet God told Adam that "In the day that thou eat thereof, you shall surely die". Death implies, to my mind, total inability. Arminius did not factor in this inability, but assumed that man was still able, of himself, to accept salvation. If man is able, and some accept based on this ability, it seems to me that this introduces "merit" into salvation. Obviously the acceptance of salvation, if done under our own power, constitutes a "work", and work is added to the free gift of Grace.

The Church Father John Calvin offered another scenario to describe Election:

1. Man initially was in a state of perfection, but fell from this state by disobedience. When he disobeyed, man fell into true Spiritual death.

2. This Spiritual death caused man to be totally cut off from God. Not only were man's works regarded as filthy by God, God refused to look on them at all. This is because man's fall caused a Sin Nature to be formed in man.

3. The rule of this Old Sin Nature (OSN) in man is so strong that it literally enslaves his will. Man is an enemy of God, forced into this position by his OSN. Since whatever will man has is automatically anti-God, then man is in a lost and hopeless situation. Sin has affected all parts of man. The heart, emotions, will, mind, and body are all affected by sin. We are completely sinful. We are not as sinful as we could be, but we are completely affected by sin.

   1. This doctrine (called by Calvin, "Total Depravity") is derived from scriptures that reveal human character: Man's heart is evil (Mark 7:21-23) and sick (Jer. 17:9). Man is a slave of sin (Rom. 6:20). He does not seek for God (Rom. 3:10-12). He cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). He is at enmity with God (Eph. 2:15). And, is by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3). The Calvinist asks the question, "In light of the scriptures that declare man's true nature as being utterly lost and incapable, how is it possible for anyone to choose or desire God?" The answer is, "He cannot. Therefore God must predestine."

   2. Calvinism also maintains that because of our fallen nature we are born again not by our own will but God's will (John 1:12-13); God grants that we believe (Phil. 1:29); faith is the work of God (John 6:28-29); God appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48); and God predestines (Eph. 1:1-11; Rom. 8:29; 9:9-23).

4. God decided, of His own will, to remedy this situation in eternity past. This remedy did not obligate God to save all of mankind. Man fell into his OSN by an act of his own will, and the will of God exercised mercy, not justice, in bailing man out. God's justice demanded that some suffer the consequences for his sin, whereas God's mercy demanded that some be saved. Both of God's attributes, justice and mercy, had to be expressed.

5. In order to satisfy God's mercy He sent His Son to die for a select people called "the Elect". God wasn't obligated to save all, but by mercy was obligated to save some. Those He saved were not selected to this action of Grace based on merit, but based on the inner workings of God's will. There was no partiality in God when the decision was made.

   1. The action of the Son dying for a select group of people is called "Limited Atonement". Jesus died only for the elect. Though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all, it was not efficacious for all. Jesus only bore the sins of the elect. Support for this position is drawn from such scriptures as Matt. 26:28 where Jesus died for ‘many'; John 10:11, 15 which say that Jesus died for the sheep (not the goats, per Matt. 25:32-33); John 17:9 where Jesus in prayer interceded for the ones given Him, not those of the entire world; Acts 20:28 and Eph. 5:25-27 which state that the Church was purchased by Christ, not all people; and Isaiah 53:12 which is a prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion where he would bore the sins of many (not all).

6. In order to satisfy His attribute of Justice God refused to select others to salvation. These people were neither elected to Heaven nor Hell, but were on their own as regards the attaining of salvation.

   1. God does not base His election on anything He sees in the individual ("Unconditional Election"). He chooses the elect according to the kind intention of His will (Eph. 1:4-8; Rom. 9:11) without any consideration of merit within the individual. Nor does God look into the future to see who would pick Him. Also, as some are elected into salvation, others are not (Rom. 9:15, 21).

7. After God provided the means of salvation (the Cross) it was necessary for Him to overcome the OSN in elect man. Calvin's doctrine made it impossible for man's will to function in salvation. Man's natural will was to hate God, so God sent the Holy Spirit to the elect to issue an "efficacious or undeniable call" to salvation. This efficacious call would negate the OSN in the elect so that he would be free to accept that call to salvation.

   1. When God calls his elect into salvation ("Irresistible Grace"), they cannot resist. God offers to all people the gospel message. This is called the external call. But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted. This call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts and minds of the elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration whereby they willingly and freely come to God. Some of the verses used in support of this teaching are Romans 9:16 where it says that "it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy"; Philippians 2:12-13 where God is said to be the one working salvation in the individual; John 6:28-29 where faith is declared to be the work of God; Acts 13:48 where God appoints people to believe; and John 1:12-13 where being born again is not by man's will, but by God's.

8. Once the elect accepted the call (and he had no choice), God justified him (declared him righteous), applied the Son's sacrifice to their lives (marked them as children of God), and will ultimately glorify him so he will be fit to enter Heaven.

   1. This state of salvation is eternal ("Perseverance of the Saints"), and cannot be forfeited. You cannot lose your salvation. Because the Father has elected, the Son has redeemed, and the Holy Spirit has applied salvation, those thus saved are eternally secure. They are eternally secure in Christ. Some of the verses for this position are John 10:27-28 where Jesus said His sheep will never perish; John 6:47 where salvation is described as everlasting life; Romans 8:1 where it is said we have passed out of judgment; 1 Corinthians 10:13 where God promises to never let us be tempted beyond what we can handle; and Phil. 1:6 where God is the one being faithful to perfect us until the day of Jesus’ return.

9. The offer of salvation is freely given to all through the Gospel according to the Directive Will of God. But the elect alone are saved by the efficacious call of the Spirit via God's decreetive will.

10. Though Calvin recognized that there were numerous verses in Scripture that seemed to recognize the existence of free will in man, he deemed these verses to be mysterious, without explanation. How free will and election worked together in Scripture was never determined by Calvin.

Calvinism is therefore known by an acronym: T.U.L.I.P.

Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement (Particular Atonement)
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (Eternal Security)

     The Churches that follow Calvinistic doctrine are the Founders of the Southern Baptist movement, Presbyterians, Primitive Baptists, and various independent Church groups. There are a number of pro and con points to be seen in Calvinism.

     On the "pro" side, there are numerous Scriptures that support Calvin's view of election. The Scriptural teaching that God is immutable, in itself, seems to support Calvinism. If God "looked down through the ages" to see who would be saved, then saved on the basis of that, then it is possible to conceive of a time when God "did not know" all things. When He "looked down" the ages He did so to correct a knowledge deficiency in Himself, and this seems to make Him less that omniscient. So, for the pro side, Calvinism is more compatible with that which the Scripture teaches of God's makeup.

     On the "con" side, though, there are those verses that seem to support the free will of man. Calvin could not reconcile these verses with his doctrine, and this is, indeed, a serious problem.

     I believe that the truth of election lies somewhere between both Arminianism and Calvinism. I know for a fact that, if you read the account of Paul's conversion (Acts 9.3-6), you can't possibly believe that he was given a "free" choice of accepting Christ as Savior. Paul was literally knocked down, blinded, and was not restored to health until he repented. As a preacher I can appreciate this method of conversion, and there are many times I wished God would strike down members of our audience and force them to salvation. Yet I digress! You can see, in Paul's life (at any rate) a clear indication of coercion of will by God to achieve salvation in one of the elect (that is, if you're honest about the text). So let's see what the Scripture has to say.

Hebrews 2:9-10 "But we see (BLEPO, see at a glance) Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned (Perfect Passive Participle, crowned in the past with continuing results into the future) with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste (Aorist Active, taste once and for all) death for every man. (HUPER + accusative case PAS = for everyone)  For it became him, for whom (DIA + accusative case = because of whom) are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing (Aorist Active AGO, leading once and for all) many sons unto glory, to make the captain (ARCHEGOS = the highest rank in the Roman army, today equaling the rank of General) of their salvation perfect (TELEIOO, Aorist = make complete once and for all) through sufferings. (note this is plural)"

1 John 2:1-2 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (PARAKLATOS = lawyer, council for the defense) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation (ILASMOS = means of appeasing, acceptable sacrifice) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Revelation 20:11-15 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 "For the love of Christ constraineth (literally = keeps on pressing down on us on all sides) us; because we thus judge, that if (EAN, first class condition = if, and it is true) one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

1 Timothy 2:5-6 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."

Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation (SOTERIOS used adjectivally = imparting salvation) hath appeared (Aorist Passive Indicative EPIPHAINO = has clearly become manifest) to all men"

2 Peter 2:1 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

     Calvin taught that Christ's Atonement was only "limited", that is, it only served to atone for the sins of the elect. Yet even a casual reading of the Scriptures seems to dispute this claim. Hebrews tells us that Jesus tasted death "for every man". John says that Jesus was the propitiation (payment price of redemption) for not only our sins, but "for the sins of the whole world". Corinthians teaches us that One (Jesus) died "for all", as does the writings in Titus and Timothy. Let's examine each text in more detail, but so far, even with a casual reading, I have to believe that Calvin missed the boat on this one.

     In the Hebrews text we see that Christ "taste(d)" (Aorist Active, taste once and for all) "death for every man." (HUPER + accusative case PAS = for everyone).

     The Scripture places no qualifier on who this "everyone" is. Calvin would have us add to or modify the text to read, "tasted death for everyone of the elect", but no where does this Scripture support such a modification. The purpose of the Cross was clearly for Jesus to suffer the penalty of sin for all of fallen mankind so that God could justly bring us into a right relationship with Him. The fact that Christ suffered and died for the whole world doesn't automatically assume that the whole world will be saved - this is Unitarian/ Universalist hogwash. You must accept what Christ did for you for the payment to be effective, otherwise you stand before the Great White Throne judgment of God on your own merit (not a good thing, if Revelation is to be believed). Christ is the means of salvation, but your faith in Him is the key that unlocks that means. When the means and the key unite, salvation results.

     In our 1 John text the Unlimited Atonement of Christ is even more clearly presented. John said that Christ is the "propitiation" (ILASMOS = means of appeasing, acceptable sacrifice) "for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world".

     Calvinism counters by stating that "for the sins of" is an addition of the King James translators, and is not found in the original text. This is true, but the fact that John was referring to "sins" prior to talking about the whole world (this was, indeed, the major thrust of the message)  then any thinking person can see that what the translators added was no more than what was clearly implied. Christ's sacrifice didn't just pay for a select group, but for the sins of all mankind.

     You can see the ramifications that Unlimited Atonement has on all mankind, whether they have accepted its merits or not. At the Great White Throne Judgment (see our Revelation text, above) you see that people are judged "according to their works". Not "according to their sins" but "according to their works".

     Jesus paid the penalty for sin, so they will not be judged for their sins, but based on what they did (works) that gave them right to enter Heaven. Of course, none of us have "works" that give us right to enter Heaven, so, after looking in the Book of Life (the names of all those who accepted Christ as Savior) and finding their names missing, God examines the lost person's works to determine their fitness to enter Heaven. Human good always misses the mark of righteousness (Isaiah 64.6), whether it be giving to a charitable cause, joining a Church, or caring for the homeless.

     The unbeliever will enter the Lake of Fire, not because of his sins (which were paid for on the Cross) but "because he refused to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and tried to make it into Heaven on his own foolish, inadequate works". How sad! The check was signed at the Cross, the pardon accepted, and the fool rejected it. The Atonement was universal, unlimited, but ignored and thus lost to these foolish people.

     The Apostle Paul approached the Unlimited Atonement of the Cross from a different perspective. He assumed the Doctrine was true (" If " (EAN, first class condition = if, and it is true) "one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all") and then used it to assert two other Doctrines: the Universality of Sin and the Doctrine of Christian Motivation.

     Christ paid for the sins of the whole world. The very fact that He did this proved that "were all dead", that is, all mankind was fallen under the weight of sin. In order for God to provide a fair rescue for all humanity, which was dead in sin, "then He had to die for all mankind".

     Having proved this, Paul took the argument a step farther. Since Christ made Unlimited Atonement for sin, and since the believer is freed from sin under this payment, then those who are in Christ should live their lives "as if they are in Christ". Paul said "they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again". The believer must, of necessity, live his life "like a Christian", not like a lost person.

     I pray that many of those in Churches all across America today would take this to heart. Rather than compromise the Scripture in order to maintain acceptability in our lost society, we should be standing firm on the truths of Scripture. "Homosexuality is condemned by Scripture" - support that stand. "Adultery is condemned by Scripture" - don't tolerate it in order to appease the world's view of "love". "Abortion is an abomination before God" - reject such acts of murder rather than tolerate it for large growth in the Church. A tumor increases the weight of a person's body, yet such growth is undesirable!

     In Timothy, Paul was more direct in supporting the Doctrine of Unlimited Atonement. Christ is "a ransom for all", not just for a select number. Christ is "the Savior of all men", not just for Calvin's elect. The payment was made in full for all, if all would only accept it.

     Since Christ made an Unlimited Atonement for the world, then it's only natural that God would offer this salvation equally and freely to all men. In Titus Paul said this Grace of God "hath appeared" (Aorist Passive Indicative EPIPHAINO = has clearly become manifest) to all men", has clearly manifested itself to all. The Aorist Passive tells us a lot about this Scripture.

     First, it tells us that this "manifesting" action comes to every person ("all men") at least once in their lifetime. In other words, there comes a time in every person's life when God lifts the veil of sin, just for a moment, and allows us to make a rational decision for or against God. The Passive Voice further tells us that the object ("all men") of the sentence has nothing to do with this manifestation.

     At some time in your life, whether you are debased or exalted, of high intelligence or of low, whether rich or poor, whether male or female - the Lord opens a window of opportunity for salvation. When that window is open you have a choice: accept or reject that pardon."

     If news reports are true, Jane Fonda became a Christian not too long ago. I myself would have never believed that she would ever accept Christ as Savior. Jane was so far to the left, that liberals looked up to her as a sort of god. She believed in herself and her agenda, not God or her country. Yet she has, the reports go, accepted Christ as Savior and God used her driver to witness to her. What I would have never believed, God made possible. Of course, when I was growing up there were many who believed that I would never be saved, myself included. Yet when the window of opportunity was opened, I came in and met a Savior that thoroughly refreshes. Praise Him that He reached out, and still reaches out today! Good for you, Jane, if this is true. You will be blessed - I promise.

     Finally, we see that Christ even died for those who have a hidden agenda in the Church. These people ("who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them") have been paid for on the Cross, bought by the Lord, yet reject Him in order to sow discord in the Church.

     Many of them are present in the Church today. They reject the Scripture as God's Word because it does not fit their agenda. They equate love of God with loving sinful actions, and so bring in "damnable heresies". They are paid for, but not redeemed, because they reject the purchase price of the Cross. You see them on television, see them pervert the lofty aims of mainline denominations in our country, and all for the sake of their own agenda. "They will have their reward".

     Is Calvinism's assertion of "Limited Atonement" correct? "No, the Scripture does not support such a theory". Christ died for all, no matter how despicable, so that all might have a chance at eternal life.

     Light is not light if it is unseen. Light in outer space, outside of our human range of vision, is useless to any. Hidden light is useless, but we who are saved are the "light of the world". We are to shine so that anyone in the KOSMOS can see our light, and come to the Christ we profess. Jesus said:

John 12:46-47 "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth (PISTEUO, Present Participle = keeps on believing) on me should not abide (MENO, Aorist Subjunctive = should not stay in) in darkness. And if any man hear (AKOUO, Aorist Subjunctive = should hear) my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."

     Click here to go to the next article on Election ( Part 2 of 3 ) or click below to return to the "Basic Training" menu. God Bless!

     If you have not already done so, please trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. For more information on Salvation Click Here to view "How can I get to Heaven?"

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