Modern Churchianity is a perversion of Biblical Christianity. Whereas Christianity is founded upon Christ, Churchianity is founded upon churches and denominations. And whereas Christianity resorts to Holy Scriptures for its beliefs, Churchianity resorts to its creeds and confessions. Churchianity therefore denies many of the doctrines of Christ and the Scriptures.
One of the foremost examples of such a Biblical doctrine denied, and even despised by Churchianity is that of election unto salvation. This doctrine teaches that God, before the foundation of the world, for His own glory and through His free and sovereign grace, predestined a host of unworthy sinners to salvation who otherwise would not have been saved.
Many of Churchianity's ministers deny that the doctrine of election unto salvation is found in Holy Scriptures. One must therefore conclude that they have never read the Bible!
We read in Ephesians 1:1-6 concerning the "saints ... and faithful in Christ Jesus": "... the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ... chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace ...." And we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 concerning these same believers in Jesus Christ: "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation ...."
We read of "the purpose of God according to election" in Romans 9:11; of "the election of grace" in Romans 11:5; that "the elect have obtained [grace]" in Romans 11:7; of "election by God" in 1 Thessalonians 1:4; that "the elect ... may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus" in 2 Timothy 2:10; that believers are called "the elect of God" in Colossians 3:12; of "the faith of God's elect" in Titus 1:1; that Christians are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father" in 1 Peter 1:2; of the people of God being a "chosen generation" in 1 Peter 2:9; of "calling and election" in 2 Peter 1:10; that the children of God are "called, chosen, and faithful" in Revelation 17:14; and of the futility of raising "a charge against God's elect" in Romans 8:33.
God declares in Isaiah 65:9 that "My elect shall inherit [My mountains]." And God declares in Isaiah 65:22 that "My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."
Jesus Christ declares in Matthew 20:16 and 22:14 that "many are called, but few are chosen"; and in Mark 13:20 that "the elect" are those "whom [the Lord] chose"; and in John 13:18 that "I know whom I have chosen." Jesus Christ says of His disciples in John 15:19 that "I have chosen you out of the world"; and in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you." Jesus Christ declares in Matthew 24:31 that He will at the last day "gather together His elect"; and in Luke 18:7 that "God [will] avenge His own elect." Perhaps Jesus Christ warns us of Churchianity's ministers when He declares in Matthew 24:24 that "false christs and false prophets" will try "to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
Election unto salvation is certainly a Biblical doctrine!
Many of Churchianity's ministers aver that the doctrine of election unto salvation is a "damnable heresy." Their assertion would make God and His ministers "damnable heretics," since God has revealed this doctrine and His ministers teach it.
And far from being a "damnable heresy," the doctrine of election unto salvation is a blessed truth. Remember that Paul the apostle in Ephesians 1:3f included election unto salvation among the "spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ"; and that he was in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 "bound to give thanks to God always" for election unto salvation. The psalmist David therefore wrote in Psalm 65:4, "Blessed is the man whom You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in your courts."
Many of Churchianity's ministers who admit that election unto salvation is a Biblical doctrine refuse to teach it because, they say, "It is too deep and dark a subject." In saying it is too dark a subject, they admit that they themselves are devoid of spiritual light to teach it. In saying it is too deep a subject, they declare that their own congregants are too shallow-minded to understand it. Such ministers and congregants will therefore be unable to obey the exhortation in 2 Peter 1:10 to "be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure."
Many of Churchianity's ministers who admit that election unto salvation is a Biblical doctrine aver that it has no place in preaching and evangelism. To the contrary, Paul the apostle began his evangelistic message recorded in Acts 13:16ff by saying ".....The God of this people Israel chose our fathers ...." And surely Paul included the doctrine of election unto salvation when he declared in Acts 20:27, "I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God."
Many of Churchianity's ministers who admit that election unto salvation is a Biblical doctrine aver that the teaching of it hinders church growth. This is true only in the building of their sort of churches, those in which one of the most integral doctrines of God's Word is denied and despised. This doctrine did not hinder the growth of apostolic churches.
Many of Churchianity's ministers who admit that election unto salvation is a Biblical doctrine deny that we may know who the elect are. They are certainly wrong.
Peter the apostle addressed his first epistle to persons he knew to be "elect according to the foreknowledge of God" (1 Peter 1:2); and assured them that they were "a chosen generation" (2:9); and wrote also of "She who is in Babylon, elect together with you" (5:13). And Peter admonished his readers to "make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10). John the apostle addressed his second epistle to one whom he knew to be an "elect lady" (2 John v.1), and assured her that "The children of your elect sister greet you" (v.13). Paul the apostle was personally assured that "The God of our fathers has chosen you" (Acts 22:14). And Paul wrote an epistle to persons of whom he said, "knowing, beloved, your election by God" (1 Thessalonians 1:4). In another epistle Paul requested his readers to "Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord" (Romans 16:14). Luke wrote of "the apostles whom [Jesus] had chosen" (Acts 1:2). We may indeed know who are God's chosen people!
Why do Churchianity's ministers deny and even despise the doctrine of election unto salvation? Because this doctrine abases the pride of man and exalts the grace of God. This truth was expressed in a hymn by Joseph Hart (18th century):
Why so offensive in their eyes
Does God's election seem?
Because they think themselves so wise
That they have chosen Him.....
"Election!" 'tis a word divine;
For, Lord, I plainly see,
Had not Thy choice preceded mine,
I ne'er had chosen Thee.In order to believe and love this doctrine, one must acknowledge that Jesus Christ spoke the truth when He declared in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you." Such a believer and lover of the truth will not hesitate to sing the hymn of Josiah Condor (1856):
'Tis not that I did choose Thee,
For, Lord, that could not be,
This heart would still refuse Thee,
But Thou hast chosen me:
Thou from the sin that stained me
Washed me and set me free,
And to this end ordained me,
That I should live to Thee.'Twas sovereign mercy called me,
And taught my op'ning mind;
The world had else enthralled me,
To heav'nly beauties blind.
My heart owns none above Thee;
For Thy rich grace I thirst;
This knowing, if I love Thee,
Thou must have loved me first.Do you rejoice in the Biblical doctrine of election unto salvation?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REDEEMER BAPTIST CHURCH
2801 CLEVELAND BOULEVARD - LOUISVILLE, KY 40206DANIEL E. PARKS, PASTOR