Election is both conditional and unconditional.
Election is unconditional in that it doesn't stem from any merit found within a human being; God simply chooses to provide salvation because of His inherent goodness, grace, and mercy (cf. Titus 3:5). A major advantage of examining soteriology from the perspective of unconditional election results in the understanding that salvation can't be "earned" or even "obtained" from one's inherent ability. Salvation is truly the gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9) and comes from God alone.
Election is conditional, however, in that it requires a faith and belief that results in genuine obedience to God. One cannot be saved without placing faith in Christ (Romans 3:28, 5:1; Gal. 2:16), or "believing unto salvation" (John 3:16, 18; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). However, since one has no inherent ability to save oneself, the faith in Christ that leads to salvation comes from God alone (cf. Eph. 2:8-9 once again; although a bit ambiguous, I interpret these verses to mean that grace AND faith are both the gifts from God, and not merely one or the other). Remember, God gives every man faith (Rom. 12:3), and this faith must be placed in Christ alone for salvation.
Some would argue that "placing faith" in Christ amounts to a work. I reject that position, however, because placing faith in anything is a default position of human epistemology. Humanity has been divinely backed into a corner of decision, and that decision does not count as a work unto salvation. You either place faith in Christ and accept the gift of salvation (Romans 6:23b), or you, by default, depend upon your human works and merit to obtain salvation. By the way, accepting a gift is not tantamount to a work.
Faith, by definition, is being certain of something which cannot be proven beyond doubt. Thus, "placing faith" in Christ really just means you are trusting Him to keep His promise to save you. The believer can be comforted and reassured of their salvation through the ongoing conviction of sin and presence/activity of the Holy Spirit within his/her heart. This is the evidence of things not seen by the human eye (cf. Heb. 11:1).
This is why I am a soteriological synergist. Faith originates with God (Eph. 2:8-9), and every man has faith (Rom. 12:3). That faith, however, must be exercised by the individual or it is worthless; inactive faith is powerless (James 2:14-26). Thus, God provides the capability for every man to be saved, but man must place saving faith in Jesus Christ of his own volition in order to be saved.
Of course, this begins with the drawing of the Holy Spirit, without which no man can come to God. Man cannot come to God of his own volition without the drawing of the Spirit (cf. John 6:44). Yet, we don't know exactly how, where, or why the Holy Spirit exercises His drawing power. The best I can do is explain that where the Gospel is preached, the Spirit is drawing man to salvation, because the Word itself is "alive and powerful" (Heb. 4:12). I believe Paul's Gospel, and since Paul preached the Word and preached Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:23), then I make the assumption that when that occurs, the drawing of the Spirit takes place. Understand, that drawing will not occur every time to every person, but my obedience to preach the Word is the best I can do within my own power in hopes that the Spirit draws and convicts people to relationship and repentance.
Finally, election is available to the whole world, but not everyone will become elect. The Gospel is unrestrictedly the power of God unto salvation (cf. Romans 1:16), and Christ died as the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Yet, people will still go to hell because of their rejection of Christ. The doctrine of election directly affects the doctrine of atonement, and here's the way I understand it: atonement is available to all, but is applied only to the elect. And atonement is available through the reception of Christ.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13
Hey Ed,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the article but just wanted to point out something. You equivocated a crucial word. See if you notice it here:
"Election is unconditional in that it doesn't stem from any merit found within a human being; God simply chooses to provide salvation because of His inherent goodness, grace, and mercy (cf. Titus 3:5)
You equivocated the word "election." In your first clause you are arguing that election is unconditional but in your second clause you are now talking about salvation. Are you arguing that election is unconditional or salvation? You switched it up in the middle of your premise.
No one would debate that salvation is unconditional. God did not seek counsel from man on this issue at all. That is not the thrust of the debate. Both Arminian and Calvinist would agree with this.
Election is God's choosing as to who will be the recipients of His salvation logically prior to the foundation of the world.This is the question that divides: "What is the basis in God's decision to determine who will be the recipients of salvation? Is it foreseen faith or His own secret counsel?"
Focus on that question more and you will really be having a headache.
Seth Miller
Seth,
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing out the equivocation. I've become quite intrigued by the debate regarding election and the soteriological implications of the doctrine. Many times I equate election and salvation, probably because the "elect" or those who are "saved." There is certainly a distinction between salvation and election, and I'll be careful in the future to avoid the mistake made in this post.
Now let me examine one of your comments. You said, "Election is God's choosing as to who will be the recipients of His salvation logically prior to the foundation of the world."
Now, here's the difficulty I see in your statement. You use the word "logically" in the same context as "chronologically" - that is, ordered within the framework of a sequence of time. When discussing an eternal God, we must see His nature, essence, character, and decisions OUTSIDE the realm of time. God is not bound by time, and yet humanity is trapped inside of it. However, if election is GOD's decree, and not a human decree (and I assume you agree with this), then God does not decree to save the elect by looking INTO time. Instead, God looks APART FROM time and sees the finished result of His own decree.
When you say God chooses the recipients of salvation "prior to" the foundation of the world, you bring time into the equation. Election is decreed by God in eternity.
Seth, I believe God's decision to elect a person to salvation stems from the decision that an individual makes in regards to Christ. A person is not chosen for salvation before the decision to receieve Christ, nor is a person chosen after that decision. A person is chosen in eternity based upon the decision to place faith in Christ.
To be honest Ed, I have not come to decision as to how God relates to time. I think there are a lot assumptions you make that may need a little more grounding. In all fairness, these are assumptions that many Christians make. The following is one example.
ReplyDelete"When discussing an eternal God, we must see His nature, essence, character, and decisions OUTSIDE the realm of time."
To this I say, "Who says?" I believe that God is eternal but I do not think we can fully grasp as to what that means. In this assumption is the underlying implication that time was created with rest of creation. I see no scriptural warrant for that. Certainly we would be hard pressed to develop any time of theology off of it. In fact, ALL that we know about God is by means of revelation He made WITHIN the framework of time. Even you make the following claim:
"And yet humanity is trapped inside of it [time]".
It seems that you have made yourself exempt to your own rule. For how can we who are trapped within time make any assumptions about the "goings on" within eternity. I wholeheartedly disagree that "we must see His nature, essence, character...outside of time." For what does one do with Jesus Christ, the ultimate revelation of God? To see Christ is to see God and yet he lived a temporal life. Your thinking rings of Thomistic philosophy that is found in Norman Geisler. If this is the case, you have picked a good author.
As for your assessment, I genuinely wrestled with using "logically" as oppose to "chronologically" in my wording. I certainly over stated my case. Thank for correcting my thinking. For I do not know which was logically decreed first; the decree of election or creation. Another mystery I suppose. So I will simply use the language of the Bible.
Election is God's choosing His people in Jesus before the foundation of the world. We certainly know that this is true in the chronological sense, but can not say we certainty if in the logical sense. You may have prompted my next personal study.
Ed, if you come to conclusion as to how election works...you let me know. I still do not know what camp I comfortably belong to.
Aside from being perplexed by election, how is life treating you?
Seth,
ReplyDeleteMy thinking is grounded in philosophy, but I have never read a Geisler book. I don't even know what Thomistic philosophy is. It is certainly wise to note that Scripture never indicates time was created. But, like you, I have no camp and have not "figured out" how exactly election works.
Life is going well. West Corbin Baptist Church has a wonderful group of youth that I'm privileged to shepherd, and that will take up most of my time this summer. I love my youth!
How are things with you, my brother?