B. UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION

Gen. 3:15 And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her seed;

He shall bruise you on the head,

And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Gen. 15:4-13 Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. 7 And He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” 8 He said, “O Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?” 9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.

Ex. 20:2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Isa. 53:4-6 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,

And our sorrows He carried;

Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,

And by His scourging we are healed.

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us has turned to his own way;

But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all

To fall on Him.

Jer. 31:31-34 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Jn. 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Rom. 6:23b The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Cor. 5:21 God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Where are the conditions one must meet in these presentations of the Gospel? There are none. Now let's look at how the Gospel and the law are combined today, giving us Glawspel. If you believe or rather, you must believe. That's law and that's a condition you must fulfill if you would be saved. The Apostles didn't tell us how this belief occurs in us, but but that we must believe. 

Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

Acts 13:38-39 Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the Law of Moses.

Rom. 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe;

How well did you follow Jesus? Did you follow Him sufficiently to please God? Did you give enough of yourself? Did you remove all hindrances to following Jesus? Did you follow Jesus perfectly? Out of pure love for Jesus? Did you crucify the flesh so you could follow Jesus every second? Did following Jesus hurt like Jesus followed the Father's will? No. Not for a second. Remember, Jesus had not yet gone to the cross when He uttered those words. This statement wouldn't have made any sense to the disciples. The cross was an instrument of torture for criminals. Was Jesus telling these men to become criminals so they could bear the cross, and to what purpose? Is Jesus telling us to become criminals, and by what power do we pull this off?

Now, let's look at a typical example of mixing law and Gospel:

Gen. 17:1-2 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him,“I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.

2 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you,And I will multiply you exceedingly.”

We know from Abraham's story, he was a sinner. Romans 7:14-24 applied to him as it does us. Is God telling Abram that unless he walks before Yahweh blameless, he can forget the covenant maintenance and multiplied seed? If the patriarch's past is any indication of his future, he can forget about an exceedingly great posterity. In other words, Abram's future destiny hangs in the balance, based solely upon how he lives his life. Unless he is blameless in his daily life, everything ends with him. 

But Abraham doesn't walk blamelessly before God.

Gen. 20:1-2 Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar. 2 Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” (emphasis added)

Abraham's declaration is a half-truth, the same half-truth Abram told Pharaoh in Gen. 12. Rather, the promises God made were dependent upon His character and power, not Abram's. God's election of Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, et al, cannot be conditioned upon anything in man, otherwise, the fulfillment ends the second the promise is made. 

However, God has yet to fulfill His covenant promise of a son: 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be” (Gen. 15:6). If election is not from eternity past, then no promise God has made could find its fulfillment where fallen man is concerned. Why would a sovereign God make any covenant promise dependent on a sinner's behavior? 

Now, let's see how God intended the law and Gospel to work together. 

Lev. 19:36-37 (Gospel) I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt. (law) 37 You shall thus observe all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them; I am the Lord.’”

Lev. 20:8, 26 (law) You shall keep My statutes and practice them; (Gospel) I am the Lord who sanctifies you. . . . (law) 26 Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and (Gospel) I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine. (emphasis added)

Lev. 21:8, 14-15, 23 (law) You shall consecrate him, therefore, for he offers the food of your God; he shall be holy to you; (Gospel) for I the Lord, who sanctifies you, am holy. . . . (law) 14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or one who is profaned by harlotry, these he may not take; but rather he is to marry a virgin of his own people, 15 so that he will not profane his offspring among his people; (Gospel) for I am the Lord who sanctifies him.’”. . . (law) 23 only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. (Gospel) For I am the Lord who sanctifies them.’”

Lev. 22:9, 32-33 (law) They shall therefore keep My charge, so that they will not bear sin because of it and die thereby because they profane it; (Gospel) I am the Lord who sanctifies them. . . . (law) 16 and so cause them to bear punishment for guilt by eating their holy gifts; (Gospel) for I am the Lord who sanctifies them.’”. . . (law) 32 “You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; (Gospel) I am the Lord who sanctifies you, 33 who brought you out from the land of Egypt, to be your God; I am the Lord.”

Lev. 23:42-43 (law) You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, 43 so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths (Gospel) when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

Lev. 25:37-38, 42-43, 55 (law) You shall not give him your silver at interest, nor your food for gain. (Gospel) 38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. . . . (Gospel) 42 For they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt; they are not to be sold in a slave sale. (law) 43 You shall not rule over him with severity, but are to revere your God. . . . (law) 55 For the sons of Israel are My servants; they are My servants (Gospel) whom I brought out from the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Lev. 26:10-13, 42-45 (law) You will eat the old supply and clear out the old because of the new. (Gospel) 11 Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. 12 I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. 13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect. . . . (Gospel) 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.  (law) 43 For the land will be abandoned by them, and will make up for its sabbaths while it is made desolate without them. They, meanwhile, will be making amends for their iniquity, because they rejected My ordinances and their soul abhorred My statutes. (Gospel) 44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them; for I am the Lord their God. 45 But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the Lord.’”

Dt. 6:5 (law) You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Dt. 30:6 (Gospel)“Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

Phil. 2:12-13 (law) So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (Gospel) 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (emphasis added)

Israel has already come out of Egypt. God took them by the hand and led them out (Jer. 31:31-32). They are no longer bound by Egyptian servitude. They are now God's slaves, servants of righteousness. The law serves the Gospel. You shall thus observe all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them; I am the Lord. It was by God's power that Israel was to obey, just as it was by His might Israel came out of slavery. We are kept by that same power. Thus, verse 37 was to become a rule of life for God's kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:6; cf. Dan. 7:27; 1 Cor. 4:8; 6:1-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 3:21; 5:10; 20:6; 22:5). 

Christ stands in the background, the One who walks blamelessly before God in our room and stead. Isaac was born because of what Christ would do on his behalf. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer (Gal. 3).

Let me repeat this because it takes hearing it more than once. When our Lord tells us that we must be born again or believe in Him whom the Father has sent, the writers are giving us law, not Gospel. When Yahweh tells Israel they must love the Lord their God with their whole being, that is law. But when Yahweh says He will circumcise their hearts so they can love God completely, that is Gospel. Law and Gospel must be distinguished and not enfolded into one another, holding them in tension. The law is never gracious, and the Gospel is never conditional. God manifested this distinction in time with His election, but God's saving purposes occur because of His eternal election. As we have seen above, man is so totally bound in his sin that he cannot possibly eradicate his nature of evil during his life. Romans 5:12 tells us that the instant Adam sinned, the world became guilty in or because of Adam's sin. With these truths in mind, God must choose those He will save, and that before time, otherwise no one could or would be saved.

Moreover, what does unconditional mean? Without conditions. In other words, God doesn't base His election of His people before time began on any condition they can meet in themselves as we have seen above. What stipulation in God's laws could Israel, you, or I meet? Let's ask it this way. Have you ever loved God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself for one second? All divine laws come down to these two.

Current theological trends proceed on the conviction that we, from ourselves, can choose God while meeting the conditions of faith and repentance. But as we have seen above, man is extensively corrupt and incapable of good because God sums up all His stipulations in the Great Commandment. 

Because man is not running toward God but away from Him as a spiritually dead, corrupt being, how can man's ultimate end, God's wrath, justice, and Hell, be averted? Man loves his sin. Sin has enslaved him. Think of it this way: when Israel lived in Egypt, could they will themselves leave their captors? No. They lived as slaves to Pharaoh. This example is a historical picture of our slavery to sin. When God sent Moses, the mediator, to deliver them from bondage, Israel's will to leave proved insufficient to free them. Why did God bring Israel out of bondage? Dt. 7:7-8 “The Lord did not make you His beloved nor choose you because you were greater in number than any of the peoples, since you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." God covenanted with Abraham (Gen. 15:18-21) to remember His people not yet born based on His covenant with their father, Abraham. 

Think about all the nations and people never chosen and called by God. Notice these verses below. 

Gen. 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house,Gen. 21:12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy (Ishmael) and your slave woman; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. 

Gen. 25:22-23 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why am I in this condition?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people will be stronger than the other; And the older will serve the younger.” . . . Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” 

1 Sam. 16:5-12 He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is standing before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.” 9 Next Jesse had Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.” 10 So Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the boys?” And he said, “The youngest is still left, but behold, he is tending the sheep.” So Samuel said to Jesse, “Send word and bring him; for we will not take our places at the table until he comes here." 12 So he sent word and brought him in. Now he was reddish, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 

Acts 16:13-14 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were thinking that there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. 14 A woman named Lydia was listening; she was a seller of purple fabrics from the city of Thyatira, and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 

Rom. 9:6-8 For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants shall be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 

Eph. 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. 

God has chosen some men over others. As Professor Murray has noted, "The Scripture informs us that this love of God from which the atonement flows and of which it is the expression is a love that is distinguishing. (John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, p. 3). 

God has elected certain people from all eternity and not others. Extensive corruption leads us to see that salvation is a divine initiative. Since regeneration is a monergistic or God alone working as opposed to a divine and human work, God is the sole author and finisher of salvation. This biblical conclusion leads us to the question: why does God regenerate some people’s hearts but not others? This truth introduces the doctrine of Election. This doctrine causes great controversy and struggle because it strikes against the fallen heart’s disposition described in broadly Christian traditions. So, let’s look at this as objectively as possible. 

We know that man likes to take credit for the things he has. The doctrines of extensive corruption and unconditional election emphasize that salvation is totally of grace. 

Eph. 1:3-11 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

Vs. 4 – Before the creation of the world, a pre-set destiny.Vs. 7 – In accordance to the riches of His grace.Vs. 9 – According to His kind intentions.Vs. 11 – Predestined according to His plan and purpose. God has chosen certain people for salvation for all eternity. Read Romans 8:28-30 

 Again, in Romans 8:28-30, we see predestination combined with foreknowledge. Some people have latched onto this term “foreknowledge” to explain away the doctrine of predestination. They say God foreknew or foresaw certain men down through the corridors of time when they heard the Gospel, saw that those sinners exercised faith in Christ, and elected them to salvation based on their decisions. God won't establish His choice of sinners on men's will (Jn. 1:13; Rom. 9:16), something they do (Mt. 5:21-23; Tit. 3:5), or believe in apart from being born spiritually from above (regeneration; Jn. 3:7-8), in and of themselves. 

First, in Rom. 8:29, good works, faith, repentance, and other actions aren’t mentioned as conditions of merit. The object of foreknowledge (eternal, intimate, personal knowledge of an individual) is particular people, not their actions or faith. Since Paul doesn't mention works in this chain of redemption, it is incorrect to add or read them into the text. 

Secondly, in this passage, everyone foreknown is predestined to salvation. Therefore, this is not a general foreknowledge of all humankind or nations. Paul has written to individuals in the Church of Rome. This is an unbreakable chain from foreknowledge to glorification. In Romans 8:29, foreknowledge also means foreloved. In verse 33, God justifies, not a person's works. 

2 Tim. 1:9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 

The Father called us not based on works or foreseen works. Salvation is of the Lord! Acts 13:48 The only ones who believe are those appointed to eternal life, not based upon foreseen faith. 

Jn. 6:44 “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." 

Draw means drag, not woo or entice, as some claim. Everyone whom God draws/drags out of sin He raises on the last day. Jn. 6:63 It can’t be any plainer than that. No one can come to Christ unless the Father has granted it. (by Buddy Woods) 

1. Christian Tradition Teaches 

This doctrine makes it sound like God is turning millions away from salvation when He could save those people. But instead, He's receiving only the elect. Unconditional election is an awful teaching.

1. A Biblical Response 

Many today make it sound as if people are thronging around the gates of heaven, banging to get in, when the opposite is true. None seeks God. No, not even one, Romans 3:11. The truth is God stands in heaven with His arms outstretched, inviting all to come, and all those God invites are running in the opposite direction as fast as they can go. 

In Romans 9, we see God choosing Jacob over Esau. God claims He hates Esau even before either child was born or did anything good or bad. Many focus on Esau and say how unfair God is. We fail to see that God would choose either of these wretched children or set His love on one over the other. 

With this in mind, if there be any in heaven, God must choose this and not that one, that one and not this one, all of whom are running away from Him. If that seems wrong on God's part, then you don't understand what God is telling you about Himself. He has the right as God to do with what is His own, meaning everyone and everything. Reread Romans 9. And if you still find God's self-revelation offensive, then who must change their theology? You are God? 

And since God Himself restricts the atonement, Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for all your sins. Let me ask the question I asked in the Introduction. What do you deserve? Our belief about God must come from what He tells us about Himself. What He tells us is, 

Rom. 9:13-24 Just as it is written: “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? Far from it! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I show compassion.” 16 So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very reason I raised you up, in order to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the earth.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, you foolish person, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? 21 Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object for honorable use, and another for common use? 22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with great patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon objects of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 namely us, whom He also called, not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles, 

Q.    Without election, who can be saved? 

A,    No one. 

So what?

PTSD puts us between a rock and a hard place. Our brain has been rewired for action to keep us alive. Our brain doesn't ask us how we think we ought to act when triggered. Our brain reacts! It's ready to fight, to kill. That usually means a sinful reaction. The wages of sin is (still) death (Rom. 6:23a) The person who sins will die (Ezek. 18:20). However,