Where In The Bible Will I Find:

God's Calling And Election Of His People?

Did God chose or elect certain ones from all the future population of the world for His own even before He created man? For centuries the religious world has been divided into two great camps, as this question has been answered affirmatively or negatively. Some maintain that the choice of the Father in the selection of those elected was sovereign and unconditional, and that it was made before the creation of the world.

They also allege that it was done without regard to the worth or merit of those elected; that it was partial in nature and limited in application; and that the number is so fixed that it cannot be increased nor diminished. This theory was first formulated by Augustine, and adopted and popularized by Calvin during the Reformation.

Such a theory of election is palpably false for many reasons. (1) It is in conflict with the Scriptures, which positively assert the conditionality of salvation (Matt. 7:21; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30; II Thess. 1:7-9; Mark 16:15-16). (2) It represents God as a cruel and arbitrary sovereign acting by caprice and not by the principles of justice and right. (3) It cancels out all human responsibility, and reduces man to the status of a mere puppet manipulated by the Lord, unworthy of any commendation for good done and deserving of no condemnation for any evil practiced. (4) All invitations, promises, warnings, threatenings and admonitions to faithfulness in the Word of God becomes meaningless and without significance. (5) It makes God a respecter of persons despite a definite declaration of Scripture that He is not (I Peter 1:17).

Paul shows how God chose and elects, "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 Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Thess. 2:13-14).

Notice (1) God "chose." (2) He "chose from the beginning." (3) The choice was made "in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." (4) Those thus chosen were "called" through the gospel. The gospel is addressed to ALL men (Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 28:18-20). Thus, (a) ALL are called by the gospel, (b) ALL who believe and OBEY the gospel are saved. (c) But God chooses (elects) those who are saved. (d) Therefore, God chooses or elects to salvation ALL who OBEY the gospel.

Salvation is indeed a "calling" and an "election;" it is God who calls and elects; but He calls by His gospel (II Thess. 2:13-14), and He elects only those who place themselves in the way of salvation through obedience to His will (Matt. 7:21). God's calling is the invitation; the election is man's acceptance. Such is the true doctrine of calling and election.