222 – The Personal Nature of Divine Election

SEMESTER 2

222 – The Personal Nature of Divine Election

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  SOTERIOLOGY II LESSON # 22
THE PERSONAL NATURE OF ELECTION

Read Rom. 9:1-24.

 INTRODUCTION:

1. The large amount of time given to this subject is due to the large amount of opposition the doctrine suffers.
2. It is so scripturally prevalent that one must accept it, or find many arguments to fight it.
3. Since so many unbiblical arguments are lodged against it, they must be biblically answered.
4. One of the weak, but common claims is that biblical election is not soteriologically personal.
5. This lesson considers the stock denials and endeavors to answer them.

I. THE FIRST ERROR OF “ONLY GROUP ELECTION”

The proposition stated that biblical election pertains only to Israel as a nation, and later to the Gentiles as a whole, and that only position and advantages are involved not eternal life, this is clearly error for the following reasons:

1. Romans 9 and 11 teach both national election and soteriological election, and illustrate the latter by the former; this is proven by:

i. The statement that God hardens, or shows mercy sovereignly. (Rom 9:18)

a) This obviously refers to individual dealing.

ii. The objection Paul anticipated interprets his statement. (Rom 9:19)
iii. The context is essentially personal and soteriological, as opposed to corporate and national. (Rom. 9:6-8)
iv. The description of them as vessels of mercy and wrath. (Rom 9:21-23)
v. The mention of only a particular portion of Israel, as the remnant, to whom election pertained. (Rom. 11:5-7)

2. The Gentiles were not substituted for the Jews, because:

i. Israel has not been rejected in the sense of her election being revoked. (Rom 11:25-29)
ii. Paul’s statement that the unbelief of some did not void God’s promise in the sense of Gentiles being substituted. (Rom 9:4-6)

3. There is individual election of Jews and of Gentiles: thus voiding the whole negative argument.

i. Paul’s description of the vessels of mercy, which God prepared unto glory (before the foundation of the world) of Jews and of Gentiles. (Rom. 9:23-24)
ii. The constant appearance of this doctrine in Scripture as evi­denced by previous lessons.

II. THE SECOND ERROR OF “ONLY GROUP ELECTION”

The proposition stated that eternal election unto salvation applies only to the “whosoever wills” as a class may satisfy the ignorant who are seeking a refuge from divine sovereignty, but it is false for the following reasons:

1. God’s eternal foreknowledge of those He saves. (Rom 8:28-30)
i. This “foreknowledge” whatever it is, is obviously of in­dividuals “whom.”
ii. To elect a “class” knowing exactly who would ultimately compose it, is equal to the personal election of those individu­als.
2. The fact that their names are written in the book of life in eternity past. (Rev 17:8)
i. A distinct reference to names not written, by implication states some names were written.
ii. “Names written” states individuality in this group.
iii. “Before the foundation of the world,” clearly puts this revelation into the election, or purpose category.
3. God saves men as individuals.
i. God is immutable (Mal. 3:6) and worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. (Eph 1:11)
ii. Thus whatsoever He does, He always intended to do.
iii. Therefore, we are bound to conclude that every individual God individually saves, He always purposed to individually save. This is indeed election.