Election
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Armenian
Armenian
— The Armenian view of salvation is
— Through grace, God restores free will concerning salvation
— Each individual is able to either accept or resist the Gospel
The tenets (beliefs) of Arminianism
— Partial depravity. Every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin, but not to the extent that humans beings are unable to place faith in God of their own accord
— Man’s free will through prevenient (prior) grace to cooperate with God’s salvation
— Conditional election based on God’s foreknowledge. God only chooses those he knows will believe. No one is predetermined to either hell or heaven.
— Universal atonement. Christ died for everyone, even those who are not chosen and will not believe. Jesus’ death was for all humanity and anyone can be saved
— Resistible grace. We can resist God’s pull toward salvation if we choose to
— Conditional Salvation. Salvation can be potentially lost. Our salvation is conditional if we actively reject the Holy Spirit. Maintenance of salvation is required for a Christian to retain it
Calvinism, a response to Arminianism
— Total Depravity
— Unconditional Election
— Limited Atonement
— Irresistible Grace
— Perseverance of the saints
Popular
— This is a popular view because our experience seems to bear it out
— We remember hearing the gospel and responding in faith
— We have no idea (at that point) what the bible says about how we come to salvation
Salvation is of the Lord
— A divine work
— Designed and ordained by the Father
— Accomplished by the Son
— Applied by the Holy Spirit
— All three persons of the Trinity are in agreement on the plan of redemption and its execution
J. I. Packer
— Writing on the difference between Armenian and Reformed Theology
“The difference between them is not primarily one of emphasis, but of content. One proclaims a God who saves; the other speaks of a God who enables man to save himself. One view [Calvinism] presents the three great acts of the Holy Trinity for the recovering of lost mankind—election by the Father, redemption by the Son, calling by the Spirit—as directed towards the same persons, and as securing their salvation infallibly. The other view [Arminianism] gives each act a different reference (the objects of redemption being all mankind, of calling, those who hear the gospel, and of election, those hearers who respond), and denies that any man’s salvation is secured by any of them. The two theologies thus conceive the plan of salvation in quite different terms. One makes salvation depend on the work of God, the other on a work of man; one regards faith as part of God’s gift of salvation, the other as man’s own contribution to salvation; one gives all the glory of saving believers to God, the other divides the praise between God, Who, so to speak, built the machinery of salvation, and man, who by believing operated it. Plainly, these differences are important, and the permanent value of the ‘five points,’ as a summary of Calvinism, is that they make clear the points at which, and the extent to which, these two conceptions are at variance.”
— In an attempt to resolve the confusion, a meeting was convened in 1618 in the Dutch city of Dort - the so called Synod of Dort (1618)
— The Armenian viewpoint was debated resulting in this statement by the Armenian theologians who declared that Christ’s death did not ensure the salvation of anyone for it did not secure the gift of faith for anyone, there is no such gift. What it did was create rather create a possibility of salvation for everyone if they believe.
— To counter the Arminians, the five points of Calvinism was drawn up at Dort
By Election - Ephesians 1:4-6
( 1:4-6 ) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Election In verse 4 he predestines us. In verse 11 he calls us
Three Methods
1. God’s Theocratic Election
God Chose Isreal to be his chosen people. It wasn’t because they were better than any other people
— “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” ( Deut 7:6 )
— Not because they were more numerous than the other nations (Deut 7:7), not based on merit, but because he loved them
— In other words, in the counsel of His will, he elected them before the foundation of the world
No bearing on Salvation This theocratic election did not guarantee salvation— Being descended from Abraham did not mean you were also a spiritual descendant— Paul makes that clear in Rom 9:6-7. Being “faithful” does not equate to simply having Abraham as your father
Romans 9:6–7 NKJV6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”
2. Vocational Election The second type of election is vocational— God’s choosing your career or ministry— God called the Levites to be priests— Did not guarantee salvation— Jesus called the 12 to be his apostles— Only 11 were saved— Paul was chosen to be an apostle to the Gentiles (c.f. Acts 9:15, Rom 1:5, Eph 1:1 - by the will of God).— Jesus called the apostles (Mk 3:13)
Mark 3:13 NKJV13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.
3. Election unto Salvation The calling that relates to our salvation— This is the election in Him (1:4)— Jesus refers to this in John 6:44
John 6:44 NKJV44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
(6:44) draws himDraws ( Helkuo, ελκυση) This is an irresistible force Used in Greek literature of a desperately hungry man being drawn to food
First Truth:Commands us to respond — There are two truths— The first is that, God commands us to respond when he calls us— There are many calls for in the bible where God commands the unsaved to respond to His call — “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Josh 24:15)
Joshua 24:15 NKJV15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
— “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters” (Is 55:1)
Isaiah 55:1 NKJV1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.
— John the Baptist said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 3:1-2)
Matthew 3:1–2 NKJV1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
— Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 4:17)
Matthew 4:17 NKJV17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
— Jesus also said, “Come to Me” (Matt 11:28-30)
Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Second Truth:We must first be chosen by God in order respond to the Gospel Only the Chosen No one receives Christ who is not first chosen by God— Paul says those who were first elected (predestined) are to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29)
Romans 8:29 NKJV29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
— He also illustrates with Jacob and Esau God’s election (Rom 9:11)
Romans 9:11 NKJV11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),
— Salvation is not part man, part God— Salvation is all God— “From Him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation” (Ps 62:1-2)
Psalm 62:1–2 NKJV1 Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
Jesus gives both Truths in One Verse — Jesus gives both truths in one verse (John 6:37)
John 6:37 NKJV37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
My small brain These are two irreconcilable truths — God’s sovereign election and mans’s responsibility of choosing Christ — Paul breaks out in praise for God’s unfathomable wisdom (Rom 11:33)
Romans 11:33 NKJV33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
The Time( 1:4 ) Before the foundation of the world — From all eternity. Always a part of God’s eternal plan— The Father gave a redeemed humanity to the Son (John 6:39)
John 6:39 NKJV39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
— The Father gave Christ all authority over redeemed humanity (John 17:2)
John 17:2 NKJV2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
— Jesus doesn’t pray for the world but for the elect (John 17:9)
John 17:9 NKJV9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
— And they are chosen are kept by the Father (John 17:11)
John 17:11 NKJV11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
— Given by the Father that they may see the Son’s glory (John 17:24)
John 17:24 NKJV24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Election’s Purpose(1:4) That we should be holy and without blame before Him To Present us Holy Present us without blemish— We have been given His own unblemished and spotless nature— The unworthy have been declared worthy — It has always been part of God’s foreordained plan to present to the Son an unblemished love gift of the church having no spot or wrinkle (cf. Eph 5:27)
God’s Purpose God’s purpose in choosing us was to make us— Like himself — Holy— Pure— Blameless— Righteous— Perfect ( Eph 1:4)
His Motive
(1:4) In love
— He was motivated solely by this love to adopt us as children
— The ultimate purpose is to the praise of his glory of his grace (1:6)
— Praise (recognition), Glory (excellence), Grace (undeserving)
(1:5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will
Our adoption The result of our election is our adoption as sons and daughters— He makes us more than citizens of heaven (Philip 3:20), servants (1 Cor 9:19 Col 1:7), friends (John 15:15). He makes us family. Rom 8:15
Romans 8:15 NKJV15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
The Goal - Glory
Q: Why did God do all this?(1:6) To the praise of the glory of His grace Ultimate Purpose
His motive was love (1:4) but his ultimate purpose was to His glory— God delights in putting His glory on display— Paul said in Philip 2:13 “God is at work in [us]… for his good pleasure”— Paul prayed for the Thessalonians in 2 Thess 1:11-12 — “That our God would count you worthy of this calling...that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him”Even the beast Even the beast of the field will glorify God— Isa 43:20 The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostrichesThe Heavens — “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Ps 19:1 )
Psalm 19:1 NKJV1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Additional Resources
The Armenian View of Salvation: What is the Arminian view of salvation? (administracioncanaria.com)
Calvinism vs Arminianism: Which is correct? Calvinism vs. Arminianism - which view is correct? | GotQuestions.org
J.I. Packer. Packer on Calvinism & Arminianism.
R.C. Sproul. What is reformed Theology?