What is the doctrine of election?

Answer

An election is a period when individuals select who they desire to occupy specific positions, starting from the President downwards. It is a decision-making process. The biblical concept of election conveys that God chooses to rescue certain individuals, and, consequently, if He does not select everyone, then there are individuals who are not chosen. Those whom He has chosen to rescue are known as “the elect” (see, for example, Mark 13:20).

The Bible instructs that God selects individuals based on His own intentions and His wish to demonstrate grace to unworthy sinners. Ephesians 1:4–6 states, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” He chose out of love, in alignment with His pleasure and will, so that He would receive glory. God’s election is not influenced by the actions of the elect.

God did not choose everyone. If He had, then everyone would believe in Christ. He selected some, and He allowed others to follow their own desires. If left to ourselves, all of us would persist in our defiance and refuse Christ. God opted to pursue some, convict them of their necessity, and guide them towards faith. It is due to God’s choice that anyone embraces faith in Christ. Jesus stated, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day” «No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. », (John 6:44).

This is a challenging truth to comprehend. We are enticed to believe that we are fairer and more merciful than God and that He should have chosen everyone. We must resist that temptation. We are not in a position to judge G

God does not reject those who cry out to Him for salvation desperately because He has not chosen them. Those whom God does not choose continue to do as they please—they rebel against God and try to keep their distance from Him. He simply allows them to follow the path they have freely chosen. However, He has chosen to intervene in the lives of some and win them over. He does this to demonstrate His love and kindness to undeserving individuals.

Some individuals believe that God “chooses” based on the decisions He knows the elect will make: He knows who will and will not accept Christ, and He makes His choice accordingly. However, this would imply that people are the ultimate decision-makers, with God merely following our lead. Biblically, it is the opposite. God selects some based on His own purposes, and then, in response to His work in their lives, they choose Him. His choice comes first and is fundamental. Without God’s election, no one would turn to Him.

Many Christians initially react negatively to the doctrine of election. Yet, upon further contemplation, most believers acknowledge that God was actively working in their lives, drawing them to Himself long before they realized it. They understand that without His intervention, they would have remained in disbelief. Looking back, the hand of God, working in both significant and subtle ways, becomes more apparent.

Some individuals oppose the doctrine of election, arguing that it hinders missionary and evangelistic efforts. If God has chosen to save certain individuals, then they will be saved regardless of whether anyone shares the gospel with them—so why make the effort? This objection overlooks the fact that hearing and accepting the gospel is the means by which God saves those He has chosen. Paul believed in and taught election (a doctrine found in the New Testament), yet he was exceptionally zealous in his missionary work. He understood that God had chosen to save people through the proclamation of the gospel.Through the gospel, Paul proclaimed it boldly and was persecuted for it. He explains, “I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” «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. », (2 Timothy 2:10). Paul endured persecution so that the elect will be saved because they cannot be saved without hearing and believing the gospel. Through evangelism, God allows people to participate in His great plan of drawing a people unto Himself from every nation and language on earth. The doctrine of election frees us to share the gospel without pressure or fear of failure. When we share the gospel clearly, we have been obedient, and that is a success. The results are left to God.