Ordo Salutis: Election

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’

John 6:44

Why are you a Christian? What led you to place your faith in Christ Jesus? Consider the reasons that come to mind in response to this question. Is it your eloquence in speech or your ability to absorb vast amounts of information? Maybe your talent lies in evaluating options and reaching correct conclusions through analytical prowess. Could it be that your moral compass is finely tuned? Has your passion for evangelism played a role in your considerations? Where do you place your grounds for boasting?

The pursuit of self-aggrandisement, which characterises the present era, is far from a recent phenomenon; its origins trace back to the Garden of Eden. The temptation to become “like God” (Genesis 3:5) emerged there and escalated in successive generations to the construction of the Tower of Babel, a testament to the human desire to “make a name for themselves” (Genesis 11:4).

Adam’s rebellion against God’s design didn’t merely introduce sin into the flawless creation; it brought with it the inescapable shackles of death (Romans 5:12). This transgression expanded from an individual act to a universal condition, linking humanity inexorably to sin and its consequences.

The question of why one chooses to be a Christian, therefore, rapidly escalates to a cosmic scale. The Apostle Paul aptly conveys this enormous scope in his declaration, “You were dead in the trespasses and sins…, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 2:1-3). This sweeping indictment leaves no one unimplicated. All humanity is found wanting before a God who is holy to the highest degree.

Having established this overarching context, let’s now ground ourselves in a biblical perspective to further explore this question. From the lofty heights of divine judgment, we shall delve into the Scriptures for enlightenment and understanding.

Let us not forget the unequivocal sovereignty of the God portrayed in the Bible—the triune God, the one and only God. He reigns with unparalleled supremacy and possesses absolute power and authority. As stated in 1 Timothy 6:15-16, He is the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” existing in an unapproachable light and possessing eternal immortality. As Psalm 135:6 affirms, God executes His will according to His own pleasure, exercising dominion over heaven, earth, seas, and all depths. It is this God to whom Paul refers when he declares:

“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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

Ephesians 1: 3-6

This passage unravels a mind-bending reality, granting us a glimpse beyond the veils of time itself. It shatters the boundaries of our finite comprehension, revealing God’s sovereign hand in selecting specific individuals for redemption and everlasting life. Astoundingly, this divine choice was made before the creation of the world, magnifying the eternal expanse and timeless essence of God’s redemptive masterpiece.

The truth of Election underscores the need to quash any tendency towards boasting in any aspect of our salvation. There is absolutely nothing that we can contribute to this equation except our guilt and sin. It is an undisputed fact that even when presented with every opportunity, sinful man remains incapable of choosing God. The idea that man contributes to his own salvation (as advanced in altar calls and other Armenian propositions) is an affront to the holiness of the God who chooses us. The nature of salvation is completely monergistic, where it is solely initiated, sustained, and ultimately fulfilled by God. Sinful man does not possess even the slightest ability within himself to choose a holy God. Importantly, it is crucial to understand that God’s choice of individuals for salvation was not contingentupon Him foreseeing who would choose to believe in Him. God’s divine election was not an act of God peering down the tunnel of time, discerning those who would willingly follow Him, and then making His choices based on that foreknowledge. Rather, our Lord Jesus Christ declared,

“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:25:30

Know for certain that, if indeed you are a Christian, it is crucial to acknowledge that your faith does not stem from any inherent qualities or accomplishments within yourself. No amount of talent, zeal, eloquence, ethnicity, or social status can claim credit for bringing you even a single step closer to receiving God’s grace. You were not halfway up the ladder and then God did the rest. You were not partially on the path to salvation, waiting for God to fill in the gaps. Nor were you treading water in a vast ocean until God tossed a lifeline in your direction. In reality, you were utterly devoid of God and devoid of hope. You were deemed as worthless, lacking understanding, burdened with shame, cursed, and comparable to an open grave (Romans 3:10-18). But, as Martyn Lloyd–Jones famously said, “BUT GOD… These two words, in and of themselves, in a sense contain the whole of the gospel“:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:4-7

The profound truth of God’s purpose in Election serves as a powerful force to obliterate any inclination towards pride and boasting. Moreover, it should ignite and propel us in our evangelistic endeavours. Armed with a proper understanding of God’s sovereignty and His divine Election, individuals need not be gripped by fear of failure or pursue boundless success. Instead, our aim should be unwavering faithfulness in obeying our Lord’s command to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Instead of seeking within yourself for the reasons behind your faith in Christ, turn your gaze outward towards God.

In closing, consider the second verse of the great congregational hymn, “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” by Edward Perronet:

“Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,

Ye ransomed from the fall,

Hail Him who saves you by His grace,

And crown Him Lord of all.

Hail Him who saves you by His grace,

And crown Him Lord of all.”