I find that most people have the wrong idea of what the biblical doctrine of election is. Most people think that Calvin’s conception of election is synonymous with the biblical doctrine of election. I don’t believe this to be the case. Therefore, I treat the issue in Holiness In Fresh Perspective: Covenant, Cross, and Kingdom (Wipf and Stock, expected 2014). Here is my treatment of that.
Before the foundation of the world, God chose, or elected, to work his World Renewal Plan through a single family, the family of Abraham. Through Abraham, God’s World Renewal Plan would be accomplished (Eph 1:3–6). Herein lays the proper, biblical doctrine of election and predestination. So many get it wrong, unfortunately. The familiarity with Calvin’s doctrine of election and predestination (which is linked to perseverance doctrine as well) temps us to think that it is synonymous with the biblical doctrine of election. This is not the case. The true, the biblical concept of election as pertains to salvation is about a corporate, collective people, not so much about individuals.
Let me first explain what the biblical doctrine of election is not. The biblical doctrine of election is not that God predetermines who does and who does not go to heaven. Election according to Scripture is not about God predetermining where people spend the after-life. This is not a priority concern whatsoever in Scripture.[1] Scripture, especially the Old Testament and Paul (as we will see that Paul is right in step with the Old Testament), is much more concerned with the fact that God predestined that through the family of Abraham his plan would be fulfilled. Christ is the chosen one through whom people can chose to be a part of God’s covenant people by faith. Paul and the Old Testament teach us that, “God’s people is a chosen race (1 Pet 2:9), that is, a chosen group and not chosen individuals.”[2] God chose Abraham and his family. God chose Christ and his church. Everett Ferguson further explains this idea with this:
“All who are in Christ are included in his election. God chose Abraham (and all in him); God chose Jacob (and all in him); God chose David (and his descendants); God chose Christ (and all in him). Just as all who were “in” Abraham, Israel, or David were included in their election, so it is with Christ. The election of Christ entails the election of those in Christ. The plan of God for Christians is spoken of in the same way as for Christ: foreknown (1 Pet. 1:20; Rom. 8:29), predestined (Acts 4:28; Eph. 1:5: Rom. 8:29-30), and loved before the foundation of the world (John 17:24; Eph. 1:4). God continues to choose a category, a group—believers in Christ. Christians are in Christ as Jews are in Abraham and humanity is in Adam (cf. Eph. 1:10).”[3]
This means that God chose, in advance, to overthrow the reign of sin and death through Jesus. Said another way, Jesus was the “elect” one through whom people would be saved. There are God’s people and there are those who are not God’s people. Individuals have the opportunity choose to participate, or not to participate, as members of this corporate people of God. This is entirely different than God predetermining where people will spend eternity after they die.
[1]. For a more thorough treatment of a biblical doctrine of life after death, see Wright, Surprised by Hope.
[2]. Ferguson, The Church of Christ: A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today, 1109–1110, Kindle Edition.
[3]. Ibid., 156–1159, Kindle Edition
It seems to me that Romans 8:29 speaks clearly about certain people whom God “foreknew” (not just an undefined or unfilled group), he “predestined.” Also, in Ephesians 1:4, Paul talks about certain people whom God chose, including himself: “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” In light of these passages, I think it is clear that God chose a group of people to be saved ultimately through Christ, but where you have a group, you have individuals who make up that group. On the last day, our salvation will be that we (individually) have been chosen “in him (Christ).”
Yep. I knew I would hear from you on this one.
The “foreknew” language actually, in my opinion, further supports my point by moving us away from a Calvinist predetermination doctrine. I actually go to this passage often to make the point but didn’t in this post. So, thank you for going there for me. 🙂
In Ephesians 1:4, for me, the “in him” also further supports my point. Thanks again for that.
Guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
In the end, love isn’t forced. It’s a choice. And if salvation is a love relationship, there’s no convincing me otherwise. There are no shotgun weddings in the Kingdom of God.
I hope I’m understanding the post and comments below, correctly. It seems that the foredestined, election scripture really speaks of the plan God had since the beginning of time for those who choose Christ, whether looking forward or back to the Messiah. i agree there are no shotgun weddings in the Kingdom. He chose to make Abraham a people, small in number so that no one would ever claim a heritage in Him based on their long line of believers. We see in the Word in every line of men, there are good and evil ones. Each must choose whom they will serve and then the ultimate, original plan is open to them with God.
God doesn’t really speak to groups, He speaks to individuals and it is a little overwhelming to consider how few individuals, biblically that He has chosen to speak to. He originally spoke openly, but the people chose to hear thru prophets. He still speaks through His Spirit today. The important question is…Do you hear Him? Jesus says, My sheep hear My voice. Each of us must answer that and proceed as He leads, right?