by Pastor Baltazar A. Niangar, Pastor Emeritus, Th.B., A.B., D.D.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” — Ephesians 1:3–4
Few doctrines are argued about as fiercely as election. Some people avoid it. Others use it as a club. I have taught it to the congregation for many years, and I have come to believe that most of the confusion comes from starting in the wrong place. If we start with ourselves and our choices, election sounds cold. If we start with God, it sounds the way Paul presents it: a reason to give thanks (2 Thess. 2:13). In The Truth of Divine Election, I follow Paul through Romans 9 to 11 and let the three Persons of the Trinity lead the way.
The Ground of Salvation: The Father’s Eternal Love
Election begins with the Father, and it begins in love. God did not choose me because he saw something good in me. Moses told Israel the same thing: the LORD set his love on them because he loved them (Deut. 7:7–8). That is the goodness of God in salvation. It is also the guarantee of God, because a love that began with God cannot be cancelled by my failure. Paul answers Israel’s unbelief by showing that the word of God has not failed (Rom. 9:6), since the promise was always by calling and never by descent.
The Grid of Salvation: Chosen in Christ
No one is elected apart from Christ. The Father chose a people in him before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), and the Son came to redeem them. I call him the grid because every gift of the Father reaches us through him. Two gifts stand out. The first is adoption: we are not merely forgiven but made sons (Gal. 4:4–5). The second is grace and mercy: we were dead, and God, being rich in mercy, made us alive (Eph. 2:4–5). None of it is earned, so no one may boast (Eph. 2:8–9).
The Guide to Salvation: The Spirit Who Gives Life
The Spirit applies what the Father planned and the Son purchased. He gives the new birth (John 3:3), and he grants repentance and faith as gifts (Phil. 1:29). A dead man does not decide to rise. This is why I preach the Gospel with confidence. I do not know who the elect are, so I call everyone to come, and I trust the Spirit to do what I cannot do (Rom. 10:13–14).
What This Leaves Us With
If you believe, it is because you were loved first. That should humble you, and it should steady you. Paul asks, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Rom. 8:33). The doctrine is not given to make us proud or curious about the fate of others. It is given so that we will worship the God who chose us before the foundation of the world and keeps us until glory.
Soli Deo gloria.
About the Author
Our All in Christ is the teaching ministry of Pastor Baltazar A. Niangar, sharing biblical resources to help believers grow in God’s Word and the grace of Christ. View All Manuscripts
READ THE FULL STUDY
The Truth of Divine Election
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The Threefold Understanding of Salvation with reflection questions for personal or group study and a full Scripture index.
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