Election and Predestination: Pure Fallacy or Pure Doctrine?

I am often struck by some of the things I hear other Christians say. I seem to regularly encounter believers who react violently to the notion that God chose a people to show mercy upon and that he predetermined that heaven would be their eternal home. While I will admit that I was raised in an environment that never questioned the doctrine of election and predestination, and thus was never poisoned against this biblical truth, I still find myself astounded by the degree of opposition that some Christians have regarding this very clearly taught and repeatedly articulated biblical doctrine. One recent objection follows:

"I am a Baptist, but I don't believe in this primitive doctrine of predestination. Pure fallacies." (Anonymous)

To such a statement I can only respond:

• Do you believe that God's people have obtained an inheritance in Christ being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will? (Ephesians 1:11) Paul certainly did. 

• Do you believe that God predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will? (Ephesians 1:5) Paul certainly did. 

• Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has promised to give eternal life to as many as the Father has given unto him? (John 17:2) Jesus certainly did. 

Correct answers to those questions make it absolutely certain that the eternal salvation of God's people is the direct result of God having chosen a people upon whom to show undeserved mercy. It is absolutely certain that He hath predestinated their salvation as a matter of certainty by covenant.

This so-called "primitive doctrine of predestination" is a crystal clear teaching of the word of God. To regard it a "pure fallacy" is really nothing short of an out-and-out denial of an unavoidable element of gospel truth found in the bible. For any who oppose election or predestination, I would ask you to soberly revisit the matter and ask yourself the question: Do I really reject election and predestination because the bible does not teach it, or because I have been TAUGHT that the bible does not teach it? In my experience, there are a great many people who are surprised to discover that they are in the latter group, upon closer examination.

I would encourage everyone to search the scriptures to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11). Below you will find a number of the scriptures upon which this much-maligned but well-founded doctrine is based for your consideration...

PREDESTINATED 

Ephesians 1:5 - Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

Ephesians 1:11 - In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

PREDESTINATE

Romans 8:29 - For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

Romans 8:30 - Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 

ELECT

II Timothy 2:10 - Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 

Titus 1:1 - Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 

I Peter 1:2 - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

II John 1:1 - The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 

II John 1:13 - The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. 

ELECTION 

Romans 9:11 - (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 

Romans 11:5 - Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 

Romans 11:7 - What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 

Romans 11:28 - As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 

I Thessalonians 1:4 - Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 

II Peter 1:10 - Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 

CHOSEN

Matthew 20:16 - So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. 

Matthew 22:14 - For many are called, but few are chosen. 

Mark 13:20 - And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 

John 6:70 - Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 

John 13:18 - I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 

John 15:16 - Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 

John 15:19 - If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 

Acts 9:15 - But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 

Acts 10:41 - Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 

Acts 22:14 - And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 

Romans 16:13 - Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 

Ephesians 1:4 - According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

II Thessalonians 2:13 - But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 

II Timothy 2:4 - No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

I Peter 2:4 - To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 

I Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

Revelation 17:14 - These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 


DEFINITIONS

PREDESTINATION - to predetermine, decide beforehand, eternally decree, foreordain, or appoint beforehand.  It has respect to God's monergistic acts involved in the eternal salvation of his covenant people (Ephesians 1:4-5), not to every single solitary event in human history (Ecclesiastes 9:11).


ELECTION - the act of picking out or choosing. As in the selection of a people upon whom God would show mercy (Romans 9:11).