221 – The Eternal Nature of Divine Election

SEMESTER 2

221 – The Eternal Nature of Divine Election

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  SOTERIOLOGY II LESSON # 21
THE ETERNAL NATURE OF DIVINE ELECTION

Read Eph. 1:1-14.

INTRODUCTION:

1. The term “in the beginning” essentially refers to “the foundation of the world.”
2. Thus all things that are “before the foundation of the world,” belong to eternity not to time. (Eph 1:4)
3. Obviously, we can neither observe, demonstrate nor rationalize such things.
4. For them we are totally dependent upon divine revelation.
5. Such a doctrine is the doctrine of election (humanly incon­ceivable).
6. Nevertheless Scripture is replete with revelations of the eternal nature of election. Positive arguments are as follows:

I. PROOFS STATED BY SCRIPTURE

1. The doctrine of God’s immutability.

i. Scripture presses the doctrine of divine immutability upon us. (Mal 3:6, Heb 6:17-18, Jam 1:17, Psa 33:11, Pro 19:21, Isa 14:24, Job 23:13)
ii. We are simply stating that God cannot change, thus what He plans or approves at any time, He must plan or approve at all times.

2. The eternal omniscience of God. (Rom 8:29)

i. Whether this foreknowledge or knowledge is mere cognition, or eternal love, it must involve eternal cognition.
ii. If God found out by any observation which had a time element, then His perfect knowledge was not always so.
iii. This, of course, is a denial of the eternal infinity of God.
iv. In effect, to place election in time is to deny all of God’s eternal perfections.

3. Plain statements of Scripture.

i. Chosen from before the foundation of the world. (Eph 1:4)
ii. From the beginning. (2Th 2:13, Gen 1:1-4)

II. ANSWERING THE OBJECTIONS

1. That election takes place at the point of salvation, because we are “chosen in Christ.”
2. That we are elected when we are saved, because Scripture never calls the unsaved elect.

i. This is sometimes the case, but not always. (Eph 1:4, II Thes. 2:13, Joh 10:16, 2Ti 2:10)

3. That we are elected when saved, because Scripture puts calling before election.

i. Again this is sometimes true. (2Pe 1:10, Rev 17:14)
ii. Where chronological order is obvious (Rom 8:28,30) election certainly precedes calling.

4. Election takes place when we are saved because we are chosen through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

i. It is obvious to any student, that sanctification and belief are the means of the salvation, not of the election.

III. OBSERVATIONS OF SCRIPTURAL IMPLICATION

1. All the Father giveth shall come. (Joh 6:37)
2. As many as were ordained believed. (Act 13:48)
3. Chosen you unto salvation. (2Th 2:13)