The doctrine of election produces many reactions. At the very sound of the word many are ready to argue, others grow uneasy and nervous, and most find themselves confused, wondering why a nice conversation about Christianity has so suddenly turned to politics. It’s a word that’s bound to start a good time wherever you’re at; especially in Christian circles.
But, whenever I personally think about the Biblical teaching of election, I just want to sing.
Mark Webb explains why:
After giving a brief survey of these doctrines of sovereign grace, I asked for questions from the class. One lady, in particular, was quite troubled.
She said, “This is the most awful thing I’ve ever heard! You make it sound as if God is intentionally turning away men who would be saved, receiving only the elect.”
I answered her in this vein. “You misunderstand the situation. You’re visualizing that God is standing at the door of heaven, and men are thronging to get in the door, and God is saying to various ones, ‘Yes, you may come, but not you, or you, or you…’ The situation is hardly this. Rather, God stands at the door of heaven with his arms outstretched, inviting all to come. Yet all men without exception are running in the opposite direction towards hell as hard as they can go. So God, in election, graciously reaches out and stops this one, and that one, and this one over here, and that one over there, and effectually draws them to himself by changing their hearts, making them willing to come. Election keeps no one out of heaven who would otherwise have been there, but it keeps a whole multitude of sinners out of hell who otherwise would have been there. Were it not for election, heaven would be an empty place, and hell would be bursting at the seams.”
That kind of response, grounded as I believe that it is in scriptural truth, does put a different complexion on things, doesn’t it?
If you perish in hell, blame yourself, as it is entirely your fault. But if you should make it to heaven, credit God, for that is entirely his work! To him alone belong all praise and glory, for salvation is all of grace from start to finish!
(Taken from What Difference Does it Make?, p.52)
As the song sings:
But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
Praise God for His electing grace. For if He had not chosen me, I know for sure I would have never chosen Him.
If you would like to know more about the doctrine of unconditional election, I suggest beginning by reading this sermon by C.J. Mahaney called “Sovereign Grace and The Glorious Mystery of Election,” from which I found the quote above.
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