RETURN to Morris Fork Baptist Church Homepage

Although the Biblical doctrine of election to salvation is one of the most despised teachings found in God’s Word, it is a very precious and awe-inspiring truth to those children of God who have learned it from the Holy Spirit. This long-neglected doctrine needs to be emphasized once again in New Testament churches everywhere.

I. What is ‘election to salvation’?

A. “God, of His own purpose, has from eternity determined to save a definite number of mankind, as individuals, not for or because of any merit or work of theirs, nor of any value to Him of them; but of His own good pleasure.” James P. Boyce

B. “Election is that eternal act of God, by which in His sovereign pleasure, and on account of no foreseen merit in them, He chooses certain out of the number of sinful men to be the recipients of the special grace of His Spirit, and so to be made voluntary partakers of Christ’s salvation.” Augustus H. Strong

C. “Election is that sovereign act of God whereby He chose out from the sinful human race certain to be the recipients of His special saving grace. It is solely His sovereign pleasure and on account of no foreseen merit in those chosen.” Henry C. Thiessen

D. “In short, the doctrine of election states that---before the foundation of the world---God chose certain individuals to salvation and ordained the means by which they are saved . . . Unconditional election asserts . . . that those who are saved are saved only because God out of His mercy and grace chose to save them---not with a view to anything He foresaw in the creature, but only for His own glory, His own pleasure, and because of His own purpose determined within Himself.” Thomas J. Nettles

E. “Election may be defined as that eternal act of God whereby He, in His sovereign good pleasure, and not on account of any foreseen merit in them, chose a certain number of persons from among the human race to be the recipients of special grace and of eternal salvation.” R. V. Sarrels

F. “Unconditional Election refers to the sovereign choice of some men unto salvation by God the Father, before the foundation of the world, not according to any foreseen merit or faith that He saw in the sinner, but according to His own good pleasure and purpose of grace.” Tom Ross

G. “Election to everlasting life is an absolute act of God’s sovereign grace without any respect had to our foreseen faith or holiness or obedience because election is the cause of our faith and holiness and not faith and holiness the cause of election.” Benjamin Keach

II. Where is ‘election to salvation’ taught in the Holy Bible?

A. In eternity past, God the Father elected certain members of Adam’s fallen race to salvation (Eph. 1:4-5, 11; II Thes. 2:13; II Tim. 1:9; I Pet. 1:1-2).

B. He gave them as His love gift to the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 6:37; 17:2,6,9,11-12,24).

C. He ordained them to eternal life (Acts 2:47; 13:48; 18:9-10; Jn. 10:16).

D. He recorded their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 13:8; 17:8).

E. He designated them as Christ’s sheep (Jn. 10:26-29).

F. He decreed that the Lord Jesus Christ would redeem them by shedding His blood and dying on the cross in their place for their sins (Jn. 10:11,14-16; Acts 2:22-24; 4:26-28; I Pet. 1:18-20; Rev. 13:8).

RETURN to Morris Fork Baptist Church Homepage