Why So Much Talk About Unconditional Sovereign Election?
Many years ago in the early stages of my walk with Christ, I read of a visiting speaker to a class of seminary students, who asked them this question: “What is our purpose in life (as Christians)?” Not one student out of that class could answer the question correctly. Not one. This is a classroom full of people who were preparing for a life of ministry. Yet, they didn’t even know the most fundamental purpose we have in life as followers and representatives of Christ. The right answer, of course, is to glorify God. While those students couldn’t answer the question on that particular day, I’m sure the answer stood out in their memory for the rest of their lives. I know it did mine. It made a life-changing impression on me. Since that time, I’ve always been very aware of my primary purpose as a servant of Christ. We all should be.
When someone comes to a website such as this one and they find so many studies on God’s election of particular sinners for salvation, they might wonder, “why so much talk about God’s sovereign will in choosing certain people for salvation? Doesn’t such teaching put God in a bad light? If we believe God chooses people according to His own will and purposes, while passing over the rest, isn’t this something we should try to avoid talking about?” On the contrary. First of all, it doesn’t put God in a poor light. Some Christians think it does, but that’s a notion that’s based on a very limited and faulty understanding. They’re suggesting such things about God on the basis of how we as human beings make decisions. How God makes decisions and how we make decisions are not the same thing. Therefore, instead of talking less about the sovereignty of God in our election unto salvation, we should talk about it more. Why? Because I believe there are many Christians who don’t truly understand what’s involved. Therefore, questions must be answered, for the purpose of glorifying God.
If I never accomplish anything else, I want God to be glorified in my life, and that includes my writing and teaching. It’s the least and the most I can do with my life. I may fail in other areas of my life, but this is one area where I’m determined not to fail, by His grace.
Because of the nature of this article, I regard this as one of the most important articles I’ve ever written.
In the matter of the doctrine of election, particularly regarding unconditional Sovereign election, it’s complicated beyond complicated. Why? For the simple reason we aren’t God. Because of our finite minds, we have no clue how God chooses sinners or makes any decisions at all, since He exists on all points of eternity, and already knows what His choices and decisions will be.
Then there’s the reality that He’s always known His redeemed—although we haven’t always known Him. Likewise, He’s always known those who are not His redeemed. Such reality about God is mind-boggling. There’s no way we can begin to comprehend how God operates in all of His glorious attributes. And that’s exactly why we need to just let go of our pre-conceived notions about God’s sovereign choices and allow God to be God, giving Him the glory that is due His holy name. It’s a matter of trusting God that He is good and righteous and just in all that He does—no matter what it may seem like from our severely and ridiculously limited perspective.
From my own perspective, I believe God’s attributes all work together in total unity and side by side, rather than one before the other, or at the expense of any other. Again, how that’s accomplished, we have no idea. We just have to rest in God’s goodness, and in God Himself.
Having been a non-Calvinist for most of my long life, and having participated in conversations with many other non-Calvinists, I don’t think most proponents of conditional election and free-will, personal ability salvation are truly aware of the serious implications of their position—which I will address now.
When sinners are given the total independent freedom to either choose Christ or to reject Him, it literally gives them full decisional power over where they spend eternity—because at the point of decision, their eternity relies completely on what they decide to do, which allows them to share the credit with Jesus for where they end up, giving them room to “boast,” which is contrary to what Paul says about our salvation (Eph 2:8-9; 1 Cor 1:26-31) — that it’s totally by God’s “grace” as a “gift” to us.
This reality of the free-will position of which I speak, is something I don’t think occurs to most Christians who hold this position. By the nature of this position, it has sinners sharing in the credit with God for their place in Heaven. Does this not send up a red flag about what they believe to be true about the doctrines of election and salvation? If it doesn’t, it should.
With the glory of God in mind, the goal of this article is to reveal the truth about the free-will, personal ability position on salvation—that it’s a belief system that makes sinners co-receivers or sharers of glory with God, glory that belongs to Him alone. It basically places sinners in a position of power that is reserved for God alone.
Our Salvation Is All God
It’s all-important that we give our sovereign God the glory that is due Him, and to Him alone—rather than claiming a part of that glory for ourselves. It’s all-important that we realize how much of a gift of grace our salvation/election really is, that it’s completely by the sovereign grace of God, “choosing” whom He will for salvation. When we can claim partial credit for our salvation, it takes away from the glory of God, because it gives honor to the sinner in settling their own salvation. Whether we realize it or not, that’s what we’re doing when we believe it was due to the will and decision of our own heart that we obtained salvation.
Even if you believe that God “frees the will” so that we’re able to choose to accept Christ (Arminian belief), it’s still a decision of our own will, because in such a belief system we also have the freedom not to accept Christ. As such, at the point of decision it’s sinners who actually determine if they go to Heaven or not, not God. Thus, we can literally claim partial credit for saving ourselves — “Jesus did His part, I did mine.” If we’re the ones who ultimately decide our own salvation, that literally gives us room to “boast” (Eph 2:8-9; 1 Cor 1:26-31).
However, a true biblically accurate position on salvation doesn’t even allow for boasting. For sure, there may be Calvinists who are prideful about being “one of the elect.” However, it’s not pride about acquiring salvation out of the will of their own heart. They realize that it’s all God. In no way do they believe they had anything to do with their salvation. In no way do they believe that they share the credit or glory with God in coming to faith in Christ. Rather, this element of pride some Calvinists may have, is about being one of God’s elect. For sure, any form of pride is sinful, but in this case it has nothing to do with the idea that the decision to accept Christ originated within themselves. They know it’s completely by God’s grace. Thus, it doesn’t apply to the “boasting” Paul mentions in Ephesians 2:9 (also 1 Cor 1:26-31). This type of boasting is about the belief that we obtain salvation because of “our own doing” or “of ourselves” at the point of decision.
Speaking from personal past experience as a non-Calvinist, especially in my younger years as a Christian, I felt good about myself that I made the right choice about accepting Christ as my Savior, while so many others didn’t, or don’t. There’s certainly an element of pride in that. That’s the difference between the two belief systems.
When we realize and acknowledge the total one-sidedness of God’s grace in our election unto salvation, then God receives all the glory. When we truly and fully recognize that it’s all God from start to finish, it removes all possibility for boasting. On the contrary, it completely humbles us, knowing that our salvation is a total gift from God, one that is simply placed into our eternal bank account, and one that is totally undeserved.
All glory goes to God for our salvation. We do not share in that glory, because God will not share His glory with anyone:
(Isaiah 42:8 – NET) – “I am the LORD! That is my name! I will not share my glory with anyone else, or the praise due me with idols.
What the LORD (YHWH) reveals here is that He is the one true God, and that “He will not share His glory with anyone else.” When we can claim partial credit for our salvation, it essentially puts us in a place that only belongs to God. At the point of decision, if we’re given the total freedom of will to either choose Christ or to reject Him, then we literally have total control over where we spend eternity. In truth, only God has the right and power to decide our eternity. Do you not see the conflict this belief system creates?
You may respond, “this is how God ordained it.” But how can that be, when God Himself said that He would not share His glory with anyone? If we have sole control over our eternity at the point of decision, it essentially puts us in a place that belongs to God, where we can rightly share the credit or glory for accepting Christ, instead of rejecting Him in unbelief.
But what does Paul say? He says that our salvation, as well as the required faith, is by the “grace” of God, that it’s a “gift”—so that “no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9; 1 Cor 1:26-31). If we can boast about the part we had in our salvation, then it’s not by “grace” and it’s not a “gift,” but something we chose for ourselves. This alone compels us to conclude that the free-will position on salvation has to be wrong.
On the other hand, there is no conflict when we realize and acknowledge the total one-sideness of God in where we spend eternity. It takes the focus off of us, and places it where it belongs. It gives God all the glory, where there isn’t even the possibility of claiming some of the credit for ourselves—where there is no room for “boasting.”
God’s grace in salvation is not simply faith in the absence of works, like many Christians believe (like I used to believe). No, it’s God’s grace from start to finish—from our election, to our calling, to faith, to our salvation. It’s all God. That’s what Paul means when he says that it’s “not of yourselves” (Eph 2:8). There’s nothing within us that can secure our own salvation at the point of decision. It’s the “gift of God” that He Himself places into our Heavenly bank account.
Yes, it’s through “faith that we’re saved,” but that’s part of the “gift” of “grace.” Faith is something that He Himself produces within us—not something that we summon or urge on or inspire within ourselves. We must understand that the grace of faith is part of the “drawing” process (Jn 6:37,44). We’re never drawn apart from faith. If God is drawing us, then He’s also “granting” us the faith that is required (Jn 6:64-65; Ro 10:17):
(John 6:64-65 – BSB) – [64] However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.) [65] Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”
So we see that it’s impossible to produce faith within ourselves. It must be “granted” to us by God Himself—where there is no option to walk away in unbelief.
The idea that we have the personal ability and a free will (or freed will) to either choose Christ or reject Him, forces proponents of this position to admit that God’s grace is actually two-sided, where both God and sinner share in the credit or the glory for their salvation, for the role each one has in it. Of course our will is involved, but God opens our heart in such a way that it affects our will toward Christ, where faith flows as a “gift” of God’s “grace.” Whether God does this via regeneration first, or apart from regeneration (a debatable issue), it’s still God who does the work within us, drawing us to His Son.
Either God’s grace is one-sided or it’s not. We can’t have it both ways. If you think it’s two-sided, then you’re faced with a serious challenge to try and disprove the obvious conflict. For me, it’s really clear. When you put it all together, I don’t believe there’s any reasonable argument that can be made against the one-sidedness of God’s grace in both our election and in our salvation. It should settle all doubts about the unconditional nature of God’s choosing of sinners to faith in His Son, that He’s completely sovereign over where people spend eternity.
My Personal Testimony
My first recollection about Jesus was when I was about 4 years old. I have this memory of standing outside of the church and thinking about the song I had just sung. It was “Jesus Loves The Little Children.” I didn’t know anything about Jesus except that He loved all the children of the world, that we are “precious in His sight.” That may have been the morning God began drawing me to Himself. From that day on, I believed everything I had been taught about Jesus, about God, about the Bible, about heaven and hell, etc. Throughout those early years of my life BEFORE I came to faith in Christ at 16 years old, I always loved God and did my best to live for Him. But I still didn’t know what Jesus did for me on the cross. I still didn’t have a clear understanding of any of that. It wasn’t until I was 16 years old that I finally learned. I learned by way of a gospel tract that a lady gave me when I was downtown shopping during the Christmas season. That night when I read about Jesus and salvation through Him and what He did for me on the cross, I was completely ready. There was absolutely no way I was leaving my bedroom before I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I got down on my knees and opened my heart to Him.
When I think about how I came to faith in Christ, all that led up to that moment, I know that it was not me drawing myself to Christ all those years. It was not me preparing my own heart for that glorious day when I got saved. I had nothing to do with learning and BELIEVING everything I was taught about Him. I didn’t will myself to believe. I just did. It was always in my heart to believe. How could any of this be my own doing in any way, shape or form? It wasn’t me that put that faith there. Believing was not something I made myself do. I know that it was all God from that morning when I sang the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children” when I was 4, to that day when I learned about what Jesus accomplished for me on the cross at 16.
How can any of this be explained except that it was the sovereignty of God in my life, God Himself working in my heart and life and drawing me all those years? I can’t see how there can be any other explanation. Can you?
Someone may ask, “what about all the people God didn’t draw to Himself as He did you?” I can’t explain that. That’s God’s business. This is something we won’t fully understand this side of Heaven. All I know is this:
(1 Corinthians 1:30-31 – BSB) – [30] It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. [31] Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Scriptures To Meditate On
(Psalm 115:1- BSB) – Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.
(Psalm 29:2 – BSB) – Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.
(Psalm 57:5 – BSB) – Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory cover all the earth.
(Psalm 79:9 – BSB) – Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.
(Psalm 86:9 – BSB) – All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.
(Psalm 96:7-8 – BSB) – [7] Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. [8] Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and enter His courts.
(Isaiah 24:15-16 – BSB) – [15] Therefore glorify the LORD in the east. Extol the name of the LORD, the God of Israel in the islands of the sea. [16] From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me.” The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery.
(Isaiah 42:8 – BSB) – I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.
(Isaiah 42:8 – NET) – “I am the LORD! That is my name! I will not share my glory with anyone else, or the praise due me with idols.
(Isaiah 43:5,7 – BSB) – [5] Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east and gather you from the west. [7] everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”
(Isaiah 48:11 – BSB) – For My own sake, My very own sake, I will act; for how can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.
(Isaiah 48:11 – NET) – For my sake alone I will act, for how can I allow my name to be defiled? I will not share my glory with anyone else!
(Malachi 2:2 – NKJV) – If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” Says the LORD of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart.
(Matthew 5:16 – BSB) – In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 9:8 – CSB) – When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God, who had given such authority to men.
(Luke 5:26 – CSB) – Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today.”
(Luke 17:15-18 – CSB) – [15] But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. [16] He fell facedown at his feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan. [17] Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? [18] Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
(John 5:44 – BSB) – How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
(John 7:18 – BSB) – He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood.
(John 8:50 – BSB) – I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge.
(Acts 4:21 – CSB) – After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done.
(Acts 12:23 – BSB) – Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
(Romans 4:20 – BSB) – Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
(Romans 11:36 – BSB) – For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
(Romans 15:7 – BSB) – Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.
(Romans 16:27 – BSB) – to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
(1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – BSB) – [26] Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast in His presence. [30] It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. [31] Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31 – BSB) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
(2 Corinthians 1:20 – BSB) – For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.
(2 Corinthians 4:15 – BSB) – All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
(2 Corinthians 8:19 – WEB) – Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.
(2 Corinthians 10:17 – BSB) – Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
(Galatians 1:3-5 – BSB) – Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, [4] who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, [5] to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 1:11-14 – BSB) – [11] In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. [13] And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
(Ephesians 3:21 – BSB) – to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Philippians 1:10-11 – BSB) – so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
(Philippians 2:9-11 – BSB) – [9] Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philemon 1:6 – CSB) – I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.
(Hebrews 13:21 – BSB) – equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(1 Peter 4:11 – BSB) – If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
(2 Peter 3:18 – BSB) – But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
(Jude 1:25 – BSB) – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
(Revelation 1:6 – BSB) – who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
(Revelation 4:8-11 – BSB) – [8] And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” [9] And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne who lives forever and ever, [10] the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying: [11] “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and came to be.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17-18 – BSB) – [17] Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! [18] All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
(1 Peter 1:3 – BSB) – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
(Revelation 5:12-13 – BSB) – [12] In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”
(Revelation 14:7 – BSB) – And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”
(Revelation 15:3-4 – BSB) – [3] and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations! [4] Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
(Revelation 19:1 – BSB) – After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!
(Revelation 19:6-7 – BSB) – [6] And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. [7] Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.
