Eternal Election

The Fundamentals Of The Christian Faith

Lesson 24

Eternal Election

"He hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." - 2 Timothy 1, 9.

1. What is the central teaching of Scripture?

"We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." - Romans 3, 24.

The central teaching of Scripture is the doctrine of God's grace in Christ Jesus toward fallen and lost mankind.

2. How does Scripture, then, comfort the believer who trusts in God's grace through Christ Jesus toward lost mankind?

"According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Ephesians 3, 11.

By giving us the doctrine of eternal election.

3. What is the doctrine of eternal election?

"He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." - Ephesians 1, 4-5.

Election is an eternal act of God, by which through pure grace and for Christ's sake He purposed to endow all who are saved in time with the spiritual blessings of conversion, justification, sanctification and preservation unto life eternal.

4. For what purpose does God give the doctrine of eternal election?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ!" - Ephesians 1, 3.

It is to comfort believers, with the thought that whatever spiritual blessings they receive in time, God has decreed for them from eternity, by grace for Christ's sake, and it is to assure them that a stronger One than they will see them safely through the temptations of this life.

5. What is the relationship between faith and eternal election?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spirutual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him beofre the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence." - Ephesians 1 3-8.

The right relationship of faith to eternal election is this: Saving faith, wrought by the Holy Ghost, is the means by which the purpose of election is accomplished. In other words, God in His eternal counsel of grace decreed to save His elect saints through faith in Christ Jesus.

6. Is the doctrine of eternal election taught also in the Old Testament?

"Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that He may perform the Word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiff-necked people." - Deuteronomy 9, 5-6

The doctrine of eternal election appears also in the Old Testament from Israel's election as the people of the Old Testament Church, which was typical of God's eternal election of grace.

7. What two-fold comfort can the believer find in the doctrine of God's eternal election in Christ Jesus?

A. It shows him how earnestly God desires the eternal salvation of every Christian.

B. It shows him how god at all times preserves His Church on earth against the fury of Satan, the onslaughts of the wicked world, and the deceitfulness of the believers on corrupt flesh.

8. Does Holy Scripture teach an election to damnation?

"As many as were ordained to eternal life believed." - Acts 13, 48.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." - Saint Matthew 23, 37-38.

Holy Scripture knows no "reverse side" of God's eternal election of grace. While the one (election unto eternal life) is clearly taught in many passages, the other (election unto eternal damnation) is plainly repudiated.

In accordance with Holy Scripture, we believe, teach and confess: All who are saved are saved by grace; but all who are lost are lost through their own opposition to the Holy Ghost. "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help." - Hosea 13, 9.

9. Can the doctrine of the eternal election of grace be understood by human reason?

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unserchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" - Romans 11, 33.

The doctrine of eternal election cannot be understood by human reason. It is a mystery of our Christian faith, concerning which Saint Paul directly states, "How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"

Test Paper - Lesson 24

1. What is the central teaching of Holy Scripture? .........................................................................

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2. Complete the following Bible passage: "All have ......................................................................,

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..................................................................................." - Romans 3, 23.

3. Please tell in your own words what the doctrine of eternal election is?.......................................

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4. What is the purpose for which God has given the doctrine of election in His Word?
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5. Complete the following Bible passage: "Blessed be the God and Father ...................................,

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....................................................................................................................." - Ephesians 1, 3.

6. Is the following statement true or false? The doctrine of election is most comforting to the believer who is genuinely concerned about his salvation ..............................................

7. Show how the doctrine of eternal election is taught also in the Old Testament...........................

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8. Complete the following Bible passage: "O Israel, thou hast ......................................................;

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........................................................................................" - Hosea 13, 9.

9. Does the Bible teach an eternal election to damnation? ........................................

10. What is the relationship between faith and eternal election? .....................................................

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Make every effort to fill in the answers from memory. If you are not sure of certain answers, you may look them up in the lesson. Your paper will be graded according to the following standard: 10 correct: perfect; 9 correct: excellent; 8 correct: very good; 7 correct: good.