Defending Calvinism (U= Unconditional Election)

Election in the biblical sense was defined by Wayne Grudem as, "an act of God before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure." The "U" in TULIP is for "Unconditional Election". The Doctrine of Unconditional Election says that God chose who would believe, not based on anything they could offer, but simply out of love. God's election is not conditional upon us being worthy of God's love.

We will first start out looking at John 6:37, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." This verse is very vocal in emphasizing God's sovereignty in election. Those who God has predestined before the creation of the world will come to Christ. There can be no doubt based on the certainty of Jesus here. If God has given some to Christ, therefore, there are some who God did not give to Christ. But we can see that those who God did give to Christ are a gift to the Son from the Father.

Continuing in John 6, in verse 65, Jesus said “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” Jesus was speaking to some of his followers, and he knew then that some were not true believers. This did not catch him by surprise. He affirms here that they would not, and could not, come to him unless the Father grants it.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 1: 4-6, "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." Paul's audience here are believers, and he very specifically says that God "chose us". He also says that this took place before the foundation of the world, which indicates that his reasoning for doing this is apart from anything we could add or earn.

In 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, Paul wrote: "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,  because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake." Paul says here that the fact that the Thessalonians believed is proof that God chose them. Later, Paul writes in 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."

Paul wrote in Romans 8:28-30, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  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." When Paul speaks about who God foreknew, he is explaining God's choice in electing believers. Those that he elected, he predestined them to be in the likeness of the Son. He goes on to say that those who are elect, are called, justified, and will be glorified.

Shortly after, Paul wrote in Romans 9:11-13: "And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,  though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—  she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”  As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Paul is clear that election is not based upon personal merit. Just as some Jews were chosen for salvation, some Gentiles were also chosen for salvation. Paul also quotes Malachi when talking about Jacob and Esau. God chose one nation to be blessed, and one nation to judgment. 

One of the clearest statements on God's sovereignty in election is found in Acts 13:48: "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." This verse puts a limit on who would believe- those who were appointed to eternal life. There is a correlation here between election (appointed) and the response to election (believed).
 
Unconditional Election and Limited Atonement (which we will cover in the next blog post) are the two most controversial aspects of Calvinism. There are some arguments against Unconditional Election. One is that election means we do not have a choice in whether we accept Christ. Opponents would say that some who would want to choose God couldn't because they aren't elect. Similarly, they would say that there would be those who would be elect, even if they didn't want to choose God.  However, the premise is faulty. Because we are slaves to sin, and dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1), until something miraculous happens in us, our disposition would be to that which is at war with God. If God changes our will, and we are reconciled to God, that is because God elected us to salvation before the foundation of the world. Unless you are elect, you would not seek God (Romans 3:11).

Opponents would say that election is unfair. They would be offended at the thought that God chooses to save some, while passing over others. God is under no obligation to save anyone. He would be perfectly just if he chose to pass over everyone. God chooses to have mercy on some, and hardens others (Romans 9:18). Paul goes on to address the concerns that he anticipates some will who would say it is unfair: "You will say to me then, 'Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?'  But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?'  Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?  What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,  in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—  even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?" It is clear that Paul knew that there would be objections and calls for God to be fair. But lets be clear, we don't want God to be fair or display justice. This would be catastrophic for all if we all got what we truly deserved. We want grace and mercy.

Arminians would point to 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." We must understand that there are three frequent ways that the Bible speaks to the will of God. First, the decreetive will. This is the will of God to bring to pass whatever he choosed to do in the world. If we apply this will, it would make that God does not decree that any should perish, and this would point to universalism. The second is perceptive will, which are commands that God gives to people, such as the Ten Commandments. If we apply this will, it would mean that God doesn't allow people to perish. Lastly, the will of disposition. This refers to the disposition of God and what grieves him. God takes no delight on anyone perishing, and I would argue that this is the form of "will" that Peter is referring to in the above verse. Some translations say "wishing" in place of "willing".

Election is another reason to praise God. With election, God is responsible for salvation, and it is not left to us. Instead of patting ourselves on our back for making ourselves right with God (which is not possible), we can give praise to God for choosing us as believers and knowing that the process of salvation will be completed.

We can be sure that there are people out there who will be saved, so our evangelism is not wasted. While we do not know who is elect, we can be sure that God has chosen some people for salvation. Election guarantees that there will be some who will respond to evangelism. Without election, you could theoretically evangelize your whole life without someone coming to God.

The Doctrine of Election is humbling. Why did God choose me? For some reason, God decided to grant mercy and grace on me before the foundation of the world. It is completely dependent on God, so that no man can boast. There is nothing I could have done to earn this love. It is completely unconditional.

Sola Gratia!