"But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Sprit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." –II Thessalonians 2:13, 14
Excellent election! Though we have heard of an unscriptural election that wasn't and have even been told that scriptural election wasn't. It is here that the timid soul flees and the prejudiced mind gets set.
It is strange that many have never even heard of election and some have been told by preacher's that they should not talk about it. But as the words appear in scripture as elect, election, chose, chosen, and more they simply mean to "pick out, choose, or to gather out." If there are some elect, then there must be an election. How then is election as we find it in the Bible an excellent thing?
It is such because it proceeds out of the love of God. In our text Paul refers to the people of God as "brethren beloved of the Lord." No election, no love! God declares his love to be a sovereign love saying "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." Men question how God could hate Esau but our question ought to be, " How could God love Jacob?" God is holy and man is sinful and unlovely. God loves whom he will and loves only those He has loved and chosen in Christ. His love is an "everlasting love" and an unchanging love because He is unchanging.
In 1 Peter 1:2 the elect are said to be so "according to the fore-knowledge of God." This is not God choosing based on His knowledge ahead of time who would choose Him. God's foreknowing is his foreloving! Adam knew his wife it tells us in Genesis. This means he knew her intimately and lovingly. Husbands are commanded in scripture to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. This means that a man is to love the wife he chose and only her. Such is the love of God for his elect.
Christ tells in Matthew 7 of some who would at the last day tell of preaching, doing great works and even casting out devils in His name. But he will say to them in that day, depart from me ye that work iniquity, I never knew (loved) you."
Election is excellent in that it is something God has done! " Because God hath chosen" Paul says. If he has done it, it must be right. It is in the past tense. He did it "from the beginning" even before the foundation of the world. (Eph. 1:4 ) This truth is shown throughout the scriptures, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Abraham, Noah and many more. It was the subject of Christ's first public message in Nazareth and even then they sought to stone him. (Luke 4:25-29).
Election is glorious in that it was done " in Christ." " He hath chosen us in him (Christ)" says Ephesians 1:4. Throw out or disregard and deny election and we must do the same with Christ himself! He lived for and died for God's elect. He lays down his life "for the sheep." Jude says are "sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Christ Jesus and called." Election in scripture is vitally joined to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Election is a matter of divine revelation. It is in God's word. Dare we to tell anyone not to preach or talk about it? To do so is to exalt man's wisdom above God's wisdom. To not preach election is to not declare all the counsel of God. If we don't believe in election, we need not believe in heaven for the same God told us of both. Election is not the doctrine of dark age theologian but the revelation of the God of grace. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable…"
Election is "to salvation." "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation." It is not simply God choosing men to service, to the means of grace or to privileges- though these things are certainly true-but to salvation. Men are not saved by election but by the blood of Christ, but there is no salvation apart from God's election. Salvation from sin's penalty, power, presence- it all flows from God's eternal purpose of election.
Election is personal. It is not something done in the abstract. "God hath chosen you." God deals with individuals. Christ died for his people individually as well as corporately. Christ says, "ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you." (John 15:16)
Election is excellent in that it is an incentive to holiness. Some who are blind to the truth say that such a doctrine promotes sin in the lives of those who believe it. But the opposite is the case. Any truth of scripture may be abused but election rightly believed and taught promotes Godly living. Election is to good works. The elect are "chosen in him…that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." (Eph. 1:4) Peter says, "Elect…unto obedience." He calls us a "chosen generation to…shew forth the praises of him" and to "abstain from fleshly lusts." Eph. 2:10 declares "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Election is the great producer of true humility. When we read in I Cor. 1:26 that "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen the foolish…weak…base…despised…things that are not…that no flesh should glory in his presence." It is God's grace, God's love, God's purpose, God's will, God's son and God's Choice! Thus it excludes boasting and promotes humility. God chooses wretched, ungodly sinners!
Election is inseparably joined to the Gospel! Notice again our beginning text. "Chosen… through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." The elect of God are born again of the spirit of God. As a result, they hear and believe the gospel. They do not wake up in eternity surprised to find out that they are one of God's elect. They are regenerated in time, hear the gospel in time and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in time. This is what the apostle tells us is the characteristic of God's elect. Christ said, "My sheep hear my voice" and also " He that is of God heareth God's word." God calls and identifies His people through the gospel. No other way! Peter tells us to "give diligence to make your calling and election sure." If we have not heard the gospel of God's grace in Christ and believed on Him in our hearts, we have no right to claim to be one of God's elect. Likewise, if we have in true faith come to Christ for all our salvation, we have no reason to doubt that we are God's child. But it is to be remembered with great soberness that there is no preaching of the gospel where there is not preaching that election in Christ from which the gospel flows.
Election is excellent because it creates true gratitude and praise. Paul says in the text, "We are bound to give thanks…always." So it is always with those chosen in Christ. He says also as he speaks of election in Eph. 1, "Blessed the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…who hath chosen us." He chose us, not seeing any merit or action on our part. He chose us such sinful rebels that we are. All glory and praise to his name. Lastly, election rightly viewed and believed stimulates missionary effort. There are those who falsely believe that it is a hindrance to missionary zeal but the apostle who sets forth election so clearly and uncompromisingly in Romans 9 is the same one in the first of Romans 10 cries, " Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they may be saved." God has chosen a people, Christ has died for this people, the Holy spirit will regenerate this people, Christ has commanded us to the preach the gospel to every creature that He might use it as the instrument whereby to call out his sheep-Let us proclaim the good news of his grace victoriously because his sheep will hear his voice!
As it is set forth in the Bible and believed by God's chosen people, I tell you, election is excellent!