Many Christians speak of salvation in terms of election and grace. However, the bible provides more information about salvation than election alone and the bigger picture involves faith, belief and an element of personal choice.
Now, it is not agreeable to talk about freedom of choice in many Christian circles. This is because as it is considered that since the fall of man, humanity is so completely depraved that they are unable to choose to do any good thing.
A fallen person then, would be unable to believe that God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, bore their sins on the cross and that through believing in His redemptive work they would receive eternal life.
Therefore, from this perspective people can only be saved through God’s grace. This statement is true but focuses on only part of the picture of salvation. This is because God desires a people for His own possession (1Peter 2: 9-10), and that we each must choose to believe on Jesus Christ to become members of the people of God and to gain entry to the Kingdom of Heaven.
You see, it all comes back to what happened with Lucifer in heaven. Lucifer was perfect in every detail until sin was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15). Although God created him perfect, Lucifer (Satan), chose to disobey the will of God and sought to usurp the throne of God. To attempt to achieve this he led one third of the angels in a battle against God. He lost the war and was forcibly ejected from Heaven (Revelation 12:3-4).
He then came to Earth and decided to attack God’s creation there and by tempting Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and to disobey God (Genesis 3:1-6). In doing this, he brought about the fall of man and usurped their throne to become the prince of this world.
Now, because Satan was created perfect and decided to rebel against God as were Adam and Eve. It is now very important to God that man makes a choice to either believe on Jesus Christ and live or to reject Him and die. It must be a free will choice. Which is not to say that God will not assist man to make that choice through grace.
This is because, man has experienced sin and its consequences in this one life on Earth (1Corinthians 15:42). Every man is to live and die once and then the resurrection To those who choose to believe on Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross. They are resurrected to Eternal Life. To those who reject Jesus Christ. They are resurrected to judgement and the second death, eternal fire.
Thus, it is not only a matter of predestination and election from the foundation of the world although this is an essential part of salvation. It is also critical that man be able to exercise freedom of choice in the matter of salvation.
The method of delivery of that freedom of choice is the Holy Spirit. He brings the conviction of sin into the heart of the lost person who hears the gospel message (John 16:8). Under conviction, he enables them to make a decision, either to believe on Jesus Christ and to receive eternal life or to reject Jesus Christ and to receive eternal damnation. The choice is theirs.
So it is, that those who would believe on Jesus Christ would also want to spend eternity in the universe run according to the will and law of God (Psalm 16:11). Those who reject Christ would not want to spend eternity in His kingdom. As is evidenced by those who implore the rocks to fall on them and the hills to cover them when Jesus returns at the end of the tribulation in the book of Revelation.
It is often put forward by those who favour a Calvinist approach to predestination and grace, that all is provided that is needful for salvation through God’s grace and that all is achieved through the fulfilment of the sovereign will of God. However, there is also a mention of the will of man in the bible (Revelation 21:6).
If we read the bible clearly and without bias and were we to consider the concept of a ‘People of God’s Own Possession’ as if they were in a train on a railway line. Then each of the rails in this track would have a name. One would be called Election and Predestination, and the other rail would be called Freedom of Choice to Believe.
God desires a people who will obey His will. This is mentioned in Revelation chapter 22 verse 17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” KJV
The meaning of this verse is a positive decision on behalf of the believer to obey the will of God and to strongly desire to avail themselves of the glorious rewards of eternal life, bestowed on the people of God in the Kingdom Age to come.
So, what is the outcome of election and faith in my opinion. Well, I believe that we are chosen of God and surely elected in the sovereign will of God. I also believe, that we must choose God and believe on Christ Jesus with all of our hearts, with all of our souls, with all of our minds and with all of our strength. Then we must love our brother as we love ourselves.
Sovereign Election and Free Will Beings – Both Are True In God.
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