Chapter 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
