Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • Paradigm Questions +

    Paradigm Questions To which of the following commands of Christ’s do you only pay only lip service? Love your enemies Read More
  • July 27 Devotional: FB Meyer +

    He suffered thee to hunger. Deuteronomy 8:3 Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

grudem-wayneChapter 32: Election and Reprobation

Definition: Election is an act of God before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of anyforeseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.

A. Does the New Testament teach predestination?

List of NT verses: Acts 13:48; Eph 1:4-6; Rom. 8:28-30; 9:11-13; 1 Thess. 1:4-5; 1 Tim. 5:21;1 Pet. 1:1-2; 2:9.

B. How does the New Testament present the teaching of election?

1. As a comfort (Rom 8:28-30).

2. As a reason to praise God (Eph. 1:5-6; 1 Thess. 1:2, 4; 2 Thess. 2:13-14).

3. As an encouragement to evangelism (2Ti 2:10).

C. Correcting misunderstandings of the doctrine of election

1. Election is not fatalistic or mechanistic (Ezek. 33:11; Eph. 1:5; Matt. 11:28; John 3:18; Rom. 10:14, 17;Rev. 22:17).

2. Election is not based on God's foreknowledge of our faith

a. This is the classic "Arminian" position. The ultimate reason for election is the person's own decision to believe or not.

b. Response:

i. Foreknowledge of persons, not facts (1 Cor. 8:3; Gal. 4:9).

ii. Scripture never speaks of our faith as the reason God chose us(Rom. 9:11-13; 11:5-6; Eph. 1:5-6; 2 Tim. 1:9).

iii. Election based on something good in us (our faith) would be the beginning of salvation by merit (Eph. 1:5-6).

iv. Predestination based on foreknowledge still does not give people free choice(If God looks into the future and sees belief, then it is absolutely certain).

v. Conclusion: election is unconditional (Eph. 1:5-6).

D. Objections to the doctrine of election

1. Election means that we do not have a choice in whether we accept Christ or not

Answer: We have a voluntary and real choice along with God's predestination

2. On this definition of election, our choices are not real choices

Answer: God counts them as real in Scripture; therefore, they are real!

3. The doctrine of election makes us puppets or robots, not real persons

Answer: God created us in his image (Gen. 1:27), and counts us as real persons

4. The doctrine of election means that unbelievers never had a chance to believe

a. Answer: Scripture blames people for rejecting God's message

b. (John 5:39-40; 8:43; Matt. 23:37; Rom. 9:20)

5. Election is unfair

Answer: It would be perfectly fair if God did not save anyone (Rom. 9:18-24)

6. The Bible says that God wills to save everyone (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)

Answer: Yes! But both sides say God desires something else more than saving everyone

a. Arminian answer: God desires to preserve man's totally free will more

b. Reformed answer: God desires to demonstrate his glory in both salvation and in righteous judgment more

E. The doctrine of reprobation

Definition: The sovereign decision of God before creation to pass over some persons, in sorrow deciding not to save them, and to punish them for their sins, and thereby to manifest his justice.(Jude 4; Rom. 9:17-22; 11:7; 1 Pet. 2:8; Matt. 11:25-26; Ezek. 33:11)

F. Practical application of the doctrine of election

http://www.christianessentialssbc.com/messages/

Reflections to Consider

  • 1

Publications

  • 1

Music

  • Jesus be the centre

    Center is a song that speaks of the essence of our life in Christ, and echoes the words the Christ Read More
  • I Lift My Hands

    A powerful hymn of adoration and praise Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir. This succinctly captures the joy of knowing our savior. Read More
  • 1

Audio & Video

  • 1

Favorites

  • Transforming this World: The Hope of Glory by NT Wright +

    Wright confronts the perspective that this world doesn’t matter, and that we live only to be in heaven. He shows Read More
  • What is Good in a World that Defies Hope: a talk by NT Wright +

    This is the second part of three talks by NT Wright at Harvard University in November, 2008 on the topic Read More
  • The Stream, the Lake and the River: NT Wright +

      Acts 2.1-21; John 7.37-39; a sermon at the Eucharist on the Feast of Pentecost, 11 May 2008, by the Read More
  • Jesus in the Perfect Storm by NT Wright +

    Zechariah 9.9-17; Luke 19.28-48; A sermon for Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011, In the University Chapel of St Salvator, St Read More
  • 1

Hidden Blessings

  • Christ is a Great Savior: a review of the movie Amazing Grace +

    Amazing Grace is a historical drama about William Wilberforce who was elected to British Parliament at the age of 21 Read More
  • Wilberforce, Hollywood's Amazing Grace, Charlotte Allen +

    William Wilberforce's relentless campaign eventually led the British Parliament to ban the slave trade, in 1807, and to pass a Read More
  • Making Beauty out of Ugly Things: Grace by U2 +

    Grace, she takes the blame She covers the shame Removes the stain It could be her name Grace, she carries Read More
  • The True Nature of Grace and Love: a movie review of the Soloist +

    The 2009 movie The Soloist is based on a book by the same name, written by Los Angeles Times columnist Read More
  • 1