OceanSide church of Christ

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CALVINISM (6)

Unconditional Election (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            The second foundational teaching of Calvinism is Unconditional Election.  This doctrine is connected to several words found in the New Testament.  Elect (Col. 3:12), election (1 Thess. 1:4), and chosen (Rev. 17:14) are three of these words.  This teaching proclaims that before the foundation of the world, God chose to save some men of the fallen race of Adam.  Those He did not choose will be lost.  The number of the saved is definite and cannot be changed.  These individuals were chosen solely by God.  The selection of these individuals had nothing to do with anything within these individuals.  Their selection was according to God’s good pleasure and sovereign will. 

Some refer to this as the doctrine of “predestination.”  In other words, the eternal destination of all human beings was predetermined by God long before He created the world.  A few were predestined to eternal life.  The remainder will be lost eternally in the lake of fire and brimstone.  Let’s look at this doctrine set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church of the United States.  This quote is taken from Chapter III entitled:  “Of God’s Eternal Decrees.” 

 

                           “III.  By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men                                                  and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-or-                                                       dained to everlasting death.

                           “IV.  These angels and men, thus predestinated and fore-ordained, are                                                   particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain                                                    and definite that it cannot be increased or diminished.

                           “V.  Those of mankind that are predestinate unto life, God, before the                                                     foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal an immutable                                                   purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen                                               in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of his free grace and love alone, with-                                               out any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them,                                               or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving him                                                     thereunto; and all to the praise of his glorious grace” (pp. 25-27).

 

This teaching is problematic for a host of reasons.  Let’s examine some of these reasons before we delve into the “proof-texts” used by the Calvinists in an attempt to support their doctrine.

            First, if predestination is true, then God would be a respecter of persons.  Remember, God chose the saved before they were created.  Too, He chose them “out of his free grace and love alone.”  In other words, God chose Bob to be saved.  Yet, he ordained John to be lost.  Why would God do this?  Why would God favor Bob over John?  Dear readers, God would never favor or respect one person over another.  The Bible is clear that God is no respecter of persons.  “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:35).  Paul also affirms this in Romans 2:11.  “For there is no respect of persons with God.”  The Calvinist will tell us that we have no right to question God.  If we are among the lost, we are just supposed to keep our mouths shut and accept God’s divine decree.  This might be true were it not for the fact that the Bible teaches that part of God’s nature involves His not being a respecter of persons.  If He decrees one to be lost and another to be saved simply according to His good pleasure, how is He not respecting one over another? 

            Second, if predestination as taught by Calvinism is true, what is the purpose of final judgment?  It is God who decreed where men and angels will be placed at the end of time.  Why, then, be judged?  Paul tells us that at the judgment “every one of us will give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12).  Here is how the judgment of those who are lost might go.

 

                        God:  “You are sentenced to eternal condemnation.”

                        Man:  “If so, it is because you predestined me to go there.”

                        God:  “This is true, and who are you to even think of questioning God.”

According to Calvinism, judgment was done before the foundation of the earth was laid.  “By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death”(Westminster Confession of Faith, 25).  In essence, judgment serves absolutely no purpose at all.

            Third, if Calvinism’s doctrine of predestination is true, then God is an extremely evil being.  The Bible appears to offer salvation unto all men.  Jesus’ invitation invites all to come to Him.  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).  The invitation of the bride and Spirit are just as inclusive in Revelation 22:17.  “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”  The words “all” and “whosoever” involve every human being.  Thus, all are invited to come to Jesus.  Why then invite to all, if all cannot be saved?  Let’s look at an illustration.  A father has three children at home.  He ties two of them to the bed.  Then, he cries out for all of them to come to the kitchen for ice cream.  Only the one not chained can come.  Even if the other two wanted ice cream, they could not get to the kitchen because the father tied them to the bed.  Wouldn’t that be an evil parent?  How are his actions any different from God’s actions if Calvinism is true. 

            Fourth, if men are predestined individually to either heaven or hell, why is it necessary to take the gospel to the world?  God knows who He has selected to be saved.  There is nothing in them that caused Him to choose them.  So, why do they need to hear the gospel?  In like manner, the lost will always be lost.  They cannot respond to the truth of the gospel.  Why, then, should energy be spent proclaiming the gospel to them.  The truth is that all can be saved.  The gospel is the avenue God uses to instruct men about how to be saved.  Jesus told His apostles to preach it to every creature on earth (Mark 16:15).  He also said:  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  Note what Jesus said.  Salvation involves a choice made by man.  It is not a choice made solely by God the Father before the foundation of the world.