How Did Jesus Respond to a Question About Election?
And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:23-24)
Now consider with me what Jesus could have said. He could have answered, yes, a few and left it at that. He could have not answered, remaining silent on the issue. But he does neither. Rather, Jesus instead of answering the obvious (I.e. what he had already preached) he says “Strive to enter!” This man along with others according to Robertson Word Pictures…had an academic theological problem, namely, the number of the elect. How does Jesus answer? He propounds the importance of perseverance and even pain if necessary in the striving to be saved. The word “strive” means to agonize; it speaks of contending for a prize in the games. The word is kindred to the agony that Christ experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Just following this response Jesus gives us a picture of a place where people are separated from God. So, there is something worth agonizing over, much is a stake. Therefore, if we have a question regarding the elect and how many and things like these we ought first to consider and agonize over being part of that body. In addition, we should perhaps respond similarly to questions regarding election, at least when it comes to asking how many. God's Word gives us a clear statement of response to such an issue, namely, Jesus said, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:23-24)
Pulpit posts on Election
Pulpit Magazine posts an article on election today. It is interesting because just as soon as I finished posting the previous article on election I found this one. I am very thankful for Pulpit's work in the Lord. It only helps those seeking to learn the Bible more and most of all to know God through Christ better. Here is a clip of their article:
Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past He chose those who will be saved. Election is unconditional, because it does not depend on anything outside of God, such as good works or foreseen faith (Romans 9:16). This doctrine is repeatedly taught in the Bible, and is also demanded by our knowledge of God. To begin with, let’s look at the biblical evidence.
The Bible says prior to salvation, all people are dead in sin — spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3). In this state of death, the sinner is utterly unable to respond to any spiritual stimulus and therefore unable to love God, obey Him, or please Him in any way. Scripture says the mind of every unbeliever “is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8, emphasis added). That describes a state of total hopelessness: spiritual death.
The effect of all this is that no sinner can ever make the first move in the salvation process. This is what Jesus meant in John 6:44, when He said, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
This is also why the Bible repeatedly stresses that salvation is wholly God’s work. In Acts 13:48 we read, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
I encourage you to read the whole article at Pulpit because they also deal with the idea of foreknowledge in relation to election; MacArthur, the author of the article, explains that it has to do with a love relationship from eternity. He concludes very well saying:
In summary, we can say that God has had a special love relationship with the elect from all eternity, and on the basis of that love relationship chosen them for salvation. The ultimate question of why God chose some for salvation and left others in their sinful state is one that we, with our finite knowledge, cannot answer. We do know that God’s attributes always are in perfect harmony with each other, so that God’s sovereignty will always operate in perfect harmony with His goodness, love, wisdom, and justice.
The Gift of Election
I recently had a friend ask me about the teaching of election in the Bible. As he put it he was "perplexed" about the subject. So, I would like to take a couple of days to consider the topic not exhaustively because there are plenty of materials on that (see monergism.com, desiringgod.org, etc.) Rather, I would like to share about this doctrine personally in how it has encouraged me especially on this day.
It encourages me that God chooses people not based on nobility or merit or strength or any such thing, but on the basis of his infinite mind and for his glory. Why does this encourage me? Because such a person as I would not stand a chance of knowing this infinitely excellent God worthy of admiration and love. God Himself in times past before my birth chose me and this is something to be glad about! Paul put it this way:
But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me... (Galatians 1:15-16)
God says of Jeremiah the prophet:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you..." (Jeremiah 1:5)
The idea of election is not an idea of an ugly and bad God choosing who he wants and leaving the rest to be damned even though He has every right to do so (see Luke 13:1-5). Rather election is a teaching of God's love to those who have failed him most. One example of this is Peter who had denied Christ three times and once with cursing (Matt. 26:75). It was this Apostle who taught on election very gladly. He said,
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, (1 Peter 1:1-6)
What I see in Peter is that He loved the doctrine of election because He loved the God who elects such sinners like him. It is no wonder then why tradition tells us that Peter was instrumental in writing the Gospel of Mark. It is understood that Peter told Mark the information recorded in the Gospel there. Mark was a man who failed on the mission field (Acts 15:37-38) and was in need of the same doctrine of election that Peter understood. These two then were a perfect match for encouragement and Christian love.
So, the teaching of election is not a teaching of a bad and ugly God with ill intentions toward mankind, but rather a gracious and loving and beautiful God worthy of our admiration.
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
In fact, election is just an aspect of the grace that Paul speaks about in Ephesians 2 saying:
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-13)
Indeed, election is a gift, a grand gift at that!
And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:23-24)
Now consider with me what Jesus could have said. He could have answered, yes, a few and left it at that. He could have not answered, remaining silent on the issue. But he does neither. Rather, Jesus instead of answering the obvious (I.e. what he had already preached) he says “Strive to enter!” This man along with others according to Robertson Word Pictures…had an academic theological problem, namely, the number of the elect. How does Jesus answer? He propounds the importance of perseverance and even pain if necessary in the striving to be saved. The word “strive” means to agonize; it speaks of contending for a prize in the games. The word is kindred to the agony that Christ experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Just following this response Jesus gives us a picture of a place where people are separated from God. So, there is something worth agonizing over, much is a stake. Therefore, if we have a question regarding the elect and how many and things like these we ought first to consider and agonize over being part of that body. In addition, we should perhaps respond similarly to questions regarding election, at least when it comes to asking how many. God's Word gives us a clear statement of response to such an issue, namely, Jesus said, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:23-24)
Pulpit posts on Election
Pulpit Magazine posts an article on election today. It is interesting because just as soon as I finished posting the previous article on election I found this one. I am very thankful for Pulpit's work in the Lord. It only helps those seeking to learn the Bible more and most of all to know God through Christ better. Here is a clip of their article:
Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past He chose those who will be saved. Election is unconditional, because it does not depend on anything outside of God, such as good works or foreseen faith (Romans 9:16). This doctrine is repeatedly taught in the Bible, and is also demanded by our knowledge of God. To begin with, let’s look at the biblical evidence.
The Bible says prior to salvation, all people are dead in sin — spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3). In this state of death, the sinner is utterly unable to respond to any spiritual stimulus and therefore unable to love God, obey Him, or please Him in any way. Scripture says the mind of every unbeliever “is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8, emphasis added). That describes a state of total hopelessness: spiritual death.
The effect of all this is that no sinner can ever make the first move in the salvation process. This is what Jesus meant in John 6:44, when He said, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
This is also why the Bible repeatedly stresses that salvation is wholly God’s work. In Acts 13:48 we read, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
I encourage you to read the whole article at Pulpit because they also deal with the idea of foreknowledge in relation to election; MacArthur, the author of the article, explains that it has to do with a love relationship from eternity. He concludes very well saying:
In summary, we can say that God has had a special love relationship with the elect from all eternity, and on the basis of that love relationship chosen them for salvation. The ultimate question of why God chose some for salvation and left others in their sinful state is one that we, with our finite knowledge, cannot answer. We do know that God’s attributes always are in perfect harmony with each other, so that God’s sovereignty will always operate in perfect harmony with His goodness, love, wisdom, and justice.
The Gift of Election
I recently had a friend ask me about the teaching of election in the Bible. As he put it he was "perplexed" about the subject. So, I would like to take a couple of days to consider the topic not exhaustively because there are plenty of materials on that (see monergism.com, desiringgod.org, etc.) Rather, I would like to share about this doctrine personally in how it has encouraged me especially on this day.
It encourages me that God chooses people not based on nobility or merit or strength or any such thing, but on the basis of his infinite mind and for his glory. Why does this encourage me? Because such a person as I would not stand a chance of knowing this infinitely excellent God worthy of admiration and love. God Himself in times past before my birth chose me and this is something to be glad about! Paul put it this way:
But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me... (Galatians 1:15-16)
God says of Jeremiah the prophet:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you..." (Jeremiah 1:5)
The idea of election is not an idea of an ugly and bad God choosing who he wants and leaving the rest to be damned even though He has every right to do so (see Luke 13:1-5). Rather election is a teaching of God's love to those who have failed him most. One example of this is Peter who had denied Christ three times and once with cursing (Matt. 26:75). It was this Apostle who taught on election very gladly. He said,
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, (1 Peter 1:1-6)
What I see in Peter is that He loved the doctrine of election because He loved the God who elects such sinners like him. It is no wonder then why tradition tells us that Peter was instrumental in writing the Gospel of Mark. It is understood that Peter told Mark the information recorded in the Gospel there. Mark was a man who failed on the mission field (Acts 15:37-38) and was in need of the same doctrine of election that Peter understood. These two then were a perfect match for encouragement and Christian love.
So, the teaching of election is not a teaching of a bad and ugly God with ill intentions toward mankind, but rather a gracious and loving and beautiful God worthy of our admiration.
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
In fact, election is just an aspect of the grace that Paul speaks about in Ephesians 2 saying:
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-13)
Indeed, election is a gift, a grand gift at that!
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