SEMESTER 2
218 – Soteriological Election – A Bible Doctrine
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY II LESSON # 18
SOTERIOLOGICAL ELECTION, A BIBLE DOCTRINE
INTRODUCTION:
1. By soteriological election, I simply mean that God did from eternity sovereignly choose certain individuals to, by all His ordained means, become the recipients of eternal life.
2. This statement is greatly hated and denied by many religious people today.
3. Whether we affirm or deny it, the concept stated above should be determined only by Scripture.
4. It shall be the proposition of this lesson that Scripture affirms the statement.
I. SCRIPTURAL FREQUENCY
1. My original (negative) concept called for more ignoring than expounding of Scripture.
III: The deep conviction I came under after explaining Romans 9:7-24
.
2. Once we are confronted with the doctrine’s existence, it stares at us from every page of Scripture, Old and New Testaments. About 130 total appearances in the New Testament alone.
II. SCRIPTURAL IMPLICATIONS
1. One good rule for Bible interpretation is: Ask yourself, `What does it seem to say?'
2. Whereas, complete sovereignty necessarily implies that all election is sovereign, many Scriptures on other subjects drive us to the sovereign election conclusion.
i. Eternally prepared vessels of mercy. (Rom 9:15,18, Rom 9:21 – 24)
ii. God not calling the wise, but the foolish. (1Co 1:26-30)
iii. The opening of Lydia’s heart. (Act 16:14)
iv. Sovereign action in areas of healing, etc. (Mar 1:4)
III. SPECIFIC STATEMENTS OF SCRIPTURE
1. That the elect are not deceivable. (Mat 24:24)
2. That Jesus will save His people. (Mat 1:21)
3. That the saved are given to the Son. (Joh 6:37)
4. That those whose prayers God hears are elect. (Luk 18:7)
5. That the justified are the elect. (Rom 8:33)
6. Christian exhortation addressed to the elect. (Col 3:12)
7. “The faith” being attributed to “the elect.” (Tit 1:1)
8. Saints addressed as the elect. (1Pe 1:1,2)
9. Churches referred to as elected. (1Pe 5:13)
10. Election of Jacob used to illustrate mercy. (Rom 9:11)
11. The New Testament “remnant” referred to as elect. (Rom 11:5)
12. The election who obtained life contrasted to Israel. (Rom 11:7)
13. The effectual working of the gospel an evidence of election. (1Th 1:4,5)
14. Given as something Christians should assure themselves of. (2Pe 1:10)
15. Given as being those who were to obtain salvation through Paul’s ministry. (2Ti 2:10)
16. An individual saint thus described. (Rom 16:13)
17. Those who received the gospel so described. (1Co 1:27)
18. Christians eternally chosen. (Eph 1:4)
19. Chosen unto salvation. (2Th 2:13)
20. The “rich in faith” described as chosen. (Jam 2:5)
21. The redeemed referred to as chosen. (Rev 17:14)
Conclusion: Whatever the grounds of this election, two things are sure:
1. This election is definitely relevant to salvation.
2. Such scriptural repetition absolutely demands attention.