John Calvin—A man who didn’t invent the acronym TULIP (but I think he would have liked it)

                                        

                        Unconditional Election

Definition: God does not base His election on anything He sees in the individual. He chooses the elect according to the kind intention of His will (Eph. 1:4-8; Rom. 9:11) without any consideration of merit within the individual.

Did John Calvin teach this doctrine?

Ummm…yeah, definitely.

Calvin asserts,

“Do they ask how it happens that of two men indistinguishable in merit, God in his election passes over one but takes the other? I, in turn, ask: “Do they think that there is anything in him who is taken that disposes God to him?” If they admit that there is nothing, as they must, it will follow that God does not consider the man but seeks from His own goodness the reason to do him good. The fact that God therefore chooses one man but rejects another arises not out of regard to the man but solely from His mercy, which ought to be free to manifest and express itself where and when He pleases.” (Institutes, pgs. 958-959)

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Do I affirm the "U"? Absolutely.

Why?

Is it because I am a fan of John Calvin? No (though I am a fan).

Is it because I was taught this growing up? Definitely not (I was not taught this in my Baptist church).

Is it because I don’t believe in the concept of “free will”? No (I believe in it….I chose to write this blog post, didn’t I?)

Is it because I embrace some sort of fatalism (i.e. the doctrine that all events are predetermined by fate and are therefore unalterable)? No (I reject the of concept of fatalism because it assumes either a non-personal deity or NO deity).

The reason I believe in the doctrine of unconditional election is because the Bible teaches it.

Romans 9:10-16 And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹ though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad- in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call- ¹² she was told, "The older will serve the younger." ¹³ As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." ¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." ¹⁶ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

You may ask, "But isn’t the doctrine of Unconditional election unfair?" No.

Here is the primary reason that this doctrine is fair: 

Every individual has sinned against their Creator and therefore, all people deserve spiritual death.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In other words, if God’s only goal was being “fair”, then everyone would receive what they deserve, which is eternal separation from God.

Fortunately, God is not only just, but also merciful. Mercy is withholding punishment or not getting what you deserve.

Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). 

Yet someone might say, “That seems great if you are one of the "elect". But who (or what) gives God the right to make such a choice “to choose one and not another”?”

Well, according to the Bible, this is not a question that the creature (or creation) gets to ask the Creator.

Romans 9:19 You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" ²⁰ But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" ²¹ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use?

In other words, God has the right to do what He wants because He is the Potter and we are the clay.

Two final thoughts:

—What do have to do to receive this undeserved mercy?

Nothing. Just repent of your sins and believe (trust) in Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

—Unconditional election is a mysterious, yet comforting doctrine.

This doctrine assures us that our evangelism endeavors will be successful.

It assures us that our salvation is secure.

It is a doctrine that simultaneously humbles the Christian and elevates the mercy of God.

It is the doctrine that makes the words of Amazing Grace….well, possible and amazing.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found, 

Was blind, but now I see.

***Next blog post I will deal with the "L" of TULIP.