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Election comes from the word elect, which means, to pick out, to choose
out, chosen, given preference, elected but not installed in office.
A. Those whom God saved are already chosen (elected) unto salvation in
Jesus before the world began according to Ephesians 1:3-14.
1. We were elected unto salvation in eternity, but saved in time.
2. This gives all the credit, honor, and glory for our salvation unto
God alone!
B. The word elect is used in the Bible seventeen (17) times.
1. Sixteen of these times it is used concerning people and once
concerning angels.
2. Elected is used one time, election: is used six (6) times, and the
word elects is used three (3) times.
3. In every verse where these words are used it is always God who is
doing the electing!
C. Some false definitions of election.
1. God voted for you, Satan voted against you, and you cast the
deciding vote.
a. According to Ephesus 1:4, election was before the foundation of
the world, before the creation of angels, including the fallen angel who
became Satan.
b. If Satan had a vote for who would be saved, that would make him
equal with God.
c. Satan wants to be equal with God, but he never has, nor will he
ever be.
d. No human had a vote on whether he would be saved or not, because
election was made in eternity, before the foundation of the world.
e. If any human had a vote on election, that would be the same as
that human being equal with God, and that is not so.
2. I have heard some folks say there was a man who wanted to be saved,
but God would not save him because he was not one of the elect.
a. I heard this story when I was a young boy.
b. I thought it was terrible, and I still do.
c. Would any person be under conviction to be saved, then God refuse
to save him? Of course not.
d. Of all the people who came to Christ to be healed, how many did
Christ refuse to heal? None.
e. There were some people in Israel who were not healed of their
physical diseases, but those people did not come to Christ to be healed.
f. Every person who comes to Christ for salvation, recognizing their
sinful, totally depraved condition, completely trusting Christ to save
them will be saved.
3. Some believe God has elected some people to go to hell.
a. This is called double-predestination.
b. There is no verse in the entire Bible that declares God elected
any person to hell.
c. John 3:17-19 states, For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come
into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.
d. Men were already condemned by sin, God did not have to condemn
them.
4. Some believe God looked down through time, saw all those that would
believe, and then elected them to salvation.
a. If that was so, election is not needed, because, according to this
theory, election comes after salvation, not before.
b. If that is so, salvation is the cause of election, instead of
election being the cause of salvation.
c. The fact of total depravity reveals this thought is false.
d. There is no scripture in the entire Bible that states that God
looked into the future, and elected all those he saw would believe.
e. See the point below, under True Biblical Definition of Election
which uses Psalm 14:1-4.
5. Some believe election is salvation.
a. There is no scripture that states that election is salvation.
b. Election is unto salvation, but election is not the same as
salvation.
c. There is a difference in the time of election and
salvation.
1) God elects us in eternity. Ephesians 1:4 states, According as
he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blame before him in love. The word
chosen and the word elect are translated from the same Greek word.
This verse teaches us that God elected us to salvation before the
foundation of the world.
2) Ephesians 1:13-14 reveals we are saved in time. In whom ye
also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed
with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the
praise of his glory.
D. The true Biblical definition of election.
1. God choosing whomsoever he will.
a. God’s election is not based on any good on our part.
b. There is none good, no not one.
c. God did not elect Israel as his nation because of any good on
their part.
d. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 states, The LORD did not set his love upon
you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for
ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and
because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers,
hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out
of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
2. Our names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from before the
foundation of the world, not when we are saved.
a. Revelation 13:8 states And all that dwell upon the earth shall
worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world.
b. Revelation 17:8 declares The beast that thou sawest was, and is
not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition:
and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not
written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they
behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
3. Psalm 14:1-3 states, The fool hath said in his heart, There is no
God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that
doeth good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men,
to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all
gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth
good, no, not one.
a. Verse two emphatically declares that God looked down through time
to see if there were any that did seek God.
b. Twice – once in verse 1 and again in verse 3, just in case we
didn’t get it the first time; God stated that there were none that did
seek God.
c. Those that believe that God looked down through time, and saw
those that would believe, therefore elected them to salvation do not
have a scripture to base their belief on.
d. I, however, have a scripture to state the Bible doctrine that God
looked down through time, and saw nobody seeking him; therefore God
elected totally depraved sinners to salvation.
e. John 15:16 states, Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen
you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that
your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in
my name, he may give it you.
4. The changing viewpoint before and after salvation.
a. Before salvation, each sinner comes to Christ, who is the door of
salvation. Above the door are the words, Whosoever Will May Come.
b. After salvation, after the sinner goes through the door, he looks
back and sees Christ. Above the door are the words, Elected From Before
The Foundation of the World.
c. Always preach the gospel to the lost – that is what Jesus did.
d. After salvation is the time to speak about election, and other
Biblical doctrines.
E. Colossians 3:12-13, Put on therefore, as THE ELECT OF GOD, holy and
beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
long-suffering; forbearing one another, if any man have a quarrel against
any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
1. There can be no mistake about whom Paul is referring to as the Elect
of God. The words chosen and choose are translated from the same word as
elect.
2. The elect of God are those whom he has chosen unto salvation.
F. Example:
1. Mark 13:20 – And except that the Lord had shortened those days,
no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen,
he hath shortened the days.
2. Ephesians 1:4 – According as he hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love:
3. II Thessalonians 2:13-14 – But we are bound to give thanks
alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from
the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit
and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
G. The elect of God are those whom he chose in eternity to be saved in
time.
1. Ephesians 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love:
2. II Timothy 1:9 - Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and
grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
3. Election is not salvation, but unto salvation.
H. The elect of God are those whom he has chosen to save by his grace and
mercy.
1. This means there was nothing in the creature as the cause or ground
of the choice.
2. Romans 9:11-18 – These verses explain that God has chosen his
elect through no value of their own, that God is entirely righteous in
whoever he chooses, that God will have mercy on who he will have mercy,
that God even raised up Pharaoh and hardened his heart. God will harden or
soften hearts at his own will.
3. I Corinthians 1:26-31 – These verses explain that God has chosen
the weak things, the despised thing, and base things to stop all boasting.
If there will be any boasting or glorying, that boasting and glorying will
be in the Almighty God.
REGENERATION
Regenerates - comes from the word regenerate, which means, to be renewed
- to be completely renewed - to form or bring into existence again - to bring
into existence anew that which was lost.
A. Mere man cannot renew what was lost in Adam in the fall.
1. Regeneration in the Bible means, to be born again.
2. It is something God must do and he alone is able to do it!
B. John 3:3 states, Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily,
I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God.
SANCTIFIES
Sanctifies - comes from the word sanctify which means to set apart - to
cause to pass over - to consecrate - to dedicate.
A. The word holy, holiness, saint, sanctified, sanctify, or
sanctification all have this same meaning.
1. We who are saved have been set apart, and caused to pass over.
2. We are sanctified (set apart) from darkness (sin) unto light.
B. II Thessalonians 2:13 states, But we are bound to give thanks alway
to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth:
SAVES
Saves - This word is used in reference to salvation, which means, to
save, delivered (saved) from danger, evil, difficulty, destruction, delivered
from the penalty and power of sin - to be redeemed - to be delivered from the
consequences of sin.
A. God saves sinners out of love and not because of any foreseen faith or
works on their part.
B. God’s elect people are saved in time and those who are saved have a
genuine experience with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
1. The blessing of election, regeneration, sanctification, and
salvation are all spoken of in the Bible in the book of II Timothy 1:8-9,
which states, Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the
gospel, according to the power of God who hath saved us and called us with
an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began.
2. Other scriptures that teach this to be true are:
a. I Peter 1:1-2 – Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the
strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and
Bithynia 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of
the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
b. Romans 11:5-6 – Even so then at this present time also there
is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then
is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be
of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
c. John 15:16 – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,
and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your
fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my
name, he may give it you.
d. I John 4:19 – We love him, because he first loved us.
e. Hosea 12:9 – And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of
Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the
solemn feast.
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