Dr. Harry Ironside told of a man who gave his testimony, telling how God had sought him and found him. How God had loved him, called him, saved him, delivered him, cleansed him, and healed him. It was a tremendous testimony to the glory of God.

After the meeting, one rather legalistic brother took him aside and said, “You know, I appreciate all that you said about what God did for you, but you didn’t mention anything about your part in it. Salvation is really part us and part God, and you should have mentioned something about your part.”

“Oh,” the man said, “I apologize. I’m sorry. I really should have mentioned that. My part was running away, and God’s part was running after me until he found me.”

Election is God’s deciding who gets on the plane bound for heaven.

Predestination is his charting the route the plane will take, the schedule, the accommodations both during and after the flight, and each passenger’s safety. With God as the pilot of the plane and the plane itself, all who board the plane make it to heaven. Predestination means God himself makes sure the elect actually board the plane. Their response of faith in Christ is like checking in at the gate with a boarding pass.

The gospel call, in contrast, is like advertising for the trip. The church is commissioned to get the word to the whole world. Unfortunately most people treat God’s free offer as “junk mail” and throw it in the trash. However, those whom God has elected to salvation he also moves to accept his free offer. Many are called, but few are chosen. Yet all who are chosen are predestined to end up in heaven.

Election is God’s deciding who gets on the plane bound for heaven.

Predestination is his charting the route the plane will take, the schedule, the accommodations both during and after the flight, and each passenger’s safety. With God as the pilot of the plane and the plane itself, all who board the plane make it to heaven. Predestination means God himself makes sure the elect actually board the plane. Their response of faith in Christ is like checking in at the gate with a boarding pass.

The gospel call, in contrast, is like advertising for the trip. The church is commissioned to get the word to the whole world. Unfortunately most people treat God’s free offer as “junk mail” and throw it in the trash. However, those whom God has elected to salvation he also moves to accept his free offer. Many are called, but few are chosen. Yet all who are chosen are predestined to end up in heaven.

[26] We322 should not judge this matter according to our reason, nor according to the law, nor on the basis of outward appearance. Nor should we have the temerity to search the secret, hidden abyss of divine foreknowledge. Instead, we are to pay attention to the revealed will of God. For he has revealed to us and “made known to us the mystery of his will,” and has accomplished it through Christ, that it may be proclaimed (Eph. 1[:9*, 10*]; 2 Tim. 1[:9–11*]).

[27] However, this is revealed to us, as Paul says in Romans 8[:29*, 30*]: “Those whom God has foreseen, chosen, and preordained, he has also called.” Now, God does not call apart from means. He calls through the Word, which he has commanded us to preach, the word of repentance and the forgiveness of sins [Luke 24:47*]. St. Paul also testifies to this very thing when he writes, “We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5[:20*]). The guests whom the king wants to have at his son’s wedding he calls through servants whom he sends out (Matt. 22[:2–14*]). Moreover, he called some at the first hour, some at the second, third, sixth, ninth, and even at the eleventh hour (Matt. 20[:1–16*]).

[28] rTherefore, if we want to consider our eternal election to salvation profitably, we must always firmly and rigidly insist that, like the proclamation of repentance, so the promise of the gospel is universalis, that is, it pertains to all people (Luke 24[:47*]). Therefore, Christ commanded preaching “repentance and the forgiveness of sins in his name to all nations.” “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” for it (John 3[:16*]). Christ has taken away the sins of the world (John 1[:29*]); his flesh was given “for the life of the world” (John 6[:51*]); his blood is “the atoning sacrifice for … the whole world” (1 John 1[:7*; 2:2*]). Christ said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11[:28*]). “God has imprisoned all in unbelief, that he might have mercy on all” (Rom. 11[:32*]). “The Lord does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3[:9*]). He is “Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him” (Rom. 10[:12*]). “Righteousness” comes “through faith in Christ” to all and “for all who believe” (Rom. 3[:22*]). “This is the will of the Father, that all who … believe in Christ shall have eternal life” (John 6[:39*, 40*]). Therefore, Christ commanded that the promise of the gospel must be proclaimed to all those to whom repentance is preached (Luke 24[:47*]; Mark 16[:15*]).