{"id":361,"date":"2025-06-20T14:50:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T18:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/?p=361"},"modified":"2026-03-31T14:50:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T18:50:40","slug":"downstairs-doctrine-june-8-2025-brief-overview-on-the-biblical-doctrine-of-election-handout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/?p=361","title":{"rendered":"Downstairs Doctrine June 8, 2025 \u201cBrief Overview on the Biblical Doctrine of Election\u201d – Handout"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Description<\/strong>: A description used by John Macarthur is simple: \u201cThe doctrine of election simply means that God – uninfluenced and before creation, predetermined certain people to be saved.\u201d Let\u2019s look closer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is \/ Isn\u2019t Election?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Election is not salvation itself, but is unto salvation and a work of God:\n
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    1. Election is a positive decree from Almighty God. A \u201cpositive decree\u201d is a defined action from God in contrast to something He leaves alone or takes no action on. For example, God did not intervene with the heart of Pharaoh, therefore allowing him to harden what was already a hard heart. Pharaoh\u2019s hard heart was the lack of the positive decree from God. Romans 9:18 – \u201cTherefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.\u201d <\/em>Exodus 9:12 – \u201cAnd the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh<\/em>\u2026\u201d Here, God\u2019s judicial hardening is not the creating of evil (we will deal with this shortly), but the withdrawing of restraining grace, and the absence of God\u2019s grace creates hardness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. 2 <\/em>Thessalonians 2:13 \u201cBut we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning <\/em>chosen you <\/u><\/em>to<\/strong><\/u><\/em> salvation<\/u><\/em> through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth\u201d.<\/em> Again, God positively decreeing salvation to the elect by His grace.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Men are not saved when they are elected, but when they believe on Christ. Election takes place in eternity, but comes to fruition when the Father draws the sinner, and the Holy Spirit then regenerates (makes alive from spiritual death) the sinner. Then the elect are given obedience to respond in faith, and are granted repentance. This faith results from an external call (preaching) with the Holy Spirit creating the inward call (conversion). Justification and Adoption are works of God, and Sanctification is the cooperation of the believer being made able to be conformed to the image of Christ throughout their life. Glorification happens to the elect at death, then Sanctification ceases. Ephesians 1:4-5 – \u201cAccording as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world\u2026 Having predestinated us <\/em>unto<\/u><\/em> the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according <\/em>to<\/u><\/em> the good pleasure of his will.\u201d <\/em>John 6:44 – \u201cNo man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him\u2026\u201d <\/em>Titus 3:5 – \u201cNot by works of righteousness which we have done, but according <\/em>to his mercy<\/u><\/em> he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. The London Baptist Confession – Chapter 10.1- \u201cThose whom God hath predestinated <\/em>unto<\/u><\/em> life, he is pleased in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace. <\/em>God does not violate your will, but makes you willing by His grace. Romans 8:30 \u2014 \u201cMoreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.\u201d <\/em>Philippians 2:12-13 \u2014 \u201cWork out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to <\/em>will and to do<\/u><\/em> of <\/em>his<\/u><\/em> good pleasure.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. An example (not great but it makes a point), would be November 8, 1960. John F. Kennedy was elected to be the 35th<\/sup> President of the United States. He was chosen that day to be the president. He was inaugurated January 20, 1961, and actually became the president on that day at Noon Eastern Time. He was not the president after winning the election, but only at inauguration. Again, not a perfect illustration, but shows the difference between election and the moment of salvation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Election is not the cause of anybody going to hell, – election is unto salvation:\n
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        1. The lack of election to the reprobate is not a positive decree in itself, but the lack of a positive decree. The 1689 London Baptist Confession is careful to refuse strict double predestination, meaning that God does not declare the reprobate as damned from eternity. The Confessions refuse this interpretation, because double predestination implies that God is the cause of evil. The London Baptist Confession rightly resists the extreme view of \u201cequal ultimacy\u201d \u2013 or that God predestines some actively to eternal life and others actively to damnation in the same equal way. Rather, the reprobate is \u201cpassed over\u201d – left to the just punishment of their sin. God does not place wickedness into them. Romans 9:22-23 – \u201cWhat if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath <\/em>fitted<\/u><\/em> to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which He hath prepared beforehand for glory\u2026\u201d <\/em>The preparation of those vessels of wrath, is the sinful filling by the wicked and their own effort \u2013 God permits it, but they are their own active agent in their destruction all the while filling the capacity of wrath in themselves. James 1:13-14 – \u201cLet no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.\u201d<\/em> God does not choose the reprobate to damnation by a positive decree, just as God does not tempt man, or do violence to his will.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Men go to hell because of their sin. That is what sends them there, as all men are born into sin, and freely practice sin by their nature \u2013 and if they die in that unsaved condition, they are eternally damned. Sin is the efficient cause of damnation, not a negative election. Romans 6:23 – \u201cFor the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.\u201d <\/em>Romans 3:23 – \u201cFor all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.\u201d <\/em>John 3:18-19 – \u201cHe that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth <\/em>not<\/u><\/em> is condemned already\u2026 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men <\/em>loved darkness<\/u><\/em> rather than light, because their deeds were evil.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. LBC Chapter 3.3 \u201cBy the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being <\/em>left to act in their sin to their just condemnation<\/u><\/em>, to the praise of his glorious justice.\u201d <\/em>This confessional statement mirrors Proverbs 16:4 – \u201cThe LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.\u201d <\/em>AndPsalm 76:10 – \u201cSurely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.\u201d<\/em> God\u2019s justice is magnified, not because He creates evil in the heart of man, but because He righteously judges men for the evil they freely do.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Election belongs to the system of grace:\n
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          1. LBC Chapter 3.6 \u201cAs God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; <\/em>neither are any other redeemed by Christ<\/u><\/em>, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, <\/em>but the elect only<\/u><\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            1. Election does not prevent the salvation of anybody who wants to be saved\n
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              1. Fallen man in his natural condition does not \/ cannot want Christ until the Holy Spirit works. Natural man does not perceive the things of God, because they are spiritually discerned. Once God changes the will of the man in regeneration, he is willing to come to Christ, and does so freely of his own regenerated will.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. The natural man, left to himself, cannot and will not choose Christ. His mind is darkened, his will is enslaved to sin, and his affections are set on earthly things. 1 Corinthians 2:14 – <\/em>\u201cBut the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.\u201d <\/em>Romans 3:10-11 – <\/em>\u201cAs it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. Once God changes the will of the man in regeneration, he is willing to come to Christ, and will do so of his own accord, and not in violation of his will. Ezekiel 36:26-27 – <\/em>\u201cA <\/em>new<\/u><\/em> heart also will I give you, and a <\/em>new<\/u><\/em> spirit will I put within you\u2026 and I will put my spirit within you, and <\/em>cause you to walk in my statutes<\/u><\/em>.\u201d <\/em>John 6:37 – <\/em>\u201cAll that the Father giveth me <\/em>shall<\/u><\/em> come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.\u201d <\/em>John 6:44 – <\/em>\u201cNo man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              4. We see the harmony of divine sovereignty and human responsibility: God works in the heart so that the man comes willingly. Psalm 110:3 – <\/em>\u201cThy people shall be willing in the day of thy power\u2026\u201d <\/em>Philippians 2:13 – <\/em>\u201cFor it is God which worketh in you both to <\/em>will and to do<\/u><\/em> of his good pleasure.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              5. Election stands or falls with the doctrine of God’s sovereignty and man’s depravity\n
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                1. If God is Holy (and He is), and sovereign (and He is), and if man is depraved (and he is), then all these matters are in God\u2019s sovereign control<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                2. If man is depraved and God is sovereign, then it stands to reason that either all will be saved, none will be saved, or some will be saved. We know that some are saved. Those that are saved are the elect sovereignly chosen by God.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                3. Matthew 20:28– \u201cEven as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for <\/em>many<\/u><\/em>.\u201d<\/em> Doesn\u2019t say \u201call\u201d. There will be many out of every tribe, tongue, and age to be redeemed. Not \u201call\u201d \u2013 again, God\u2019s sovereign choosing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                4. As the number of elect angels is known to God, so is the total number of elect persons. Revelation 7:9 – \u201cAfter this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which <\/em>no man<\/u><\/em> could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                5. There are no final numbers referenced in holy writ: Revelation 20:11– \u201cAnd I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                6. The elect are manifest in repentance, faith, and good works\n
                    \n
                  1. Graces wrought in man are not the causes of election, but the evidence of election. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 – \u201cRemembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, <\/em>your election of God<\/u><\/em>.\u201d <\/em>The works of those believers testified to the truth of their election.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  2. 2 Peter 1:5 – \u201cAnd beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, <\/em>give diligence to make your calling and election sure<\/u><\/em>: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    Who, When, Why:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \n
                    1. Who does the electing? Who chooses the persons to be saved?\n
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                      1. If men are chosen as the recipients of mercy unto salvation, who is the Chooser? Scripture speaks plainly – it is God.<\/em>God is the Chooser, His people are the chosen. John 15:16 – <\/em>\u201cYe have not chosen me, <\/em>but I have chosen you<\/u><\/em>, and ordained you\u2026\u201d <\/em>2 Thessalonians 2:13 – <\/em>\u201cGod hath from the beginning <\/em>chosen you to salvation<\/u><\/em> through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      2. The theology that says \u201cGod votes, Satan votes, you cast the deciding ballot\u201d is wrong. This idea negates God\u2019s sovereignty and magnifies man\u2019s will and is contrary to Scripture. Ephesians 1:4-5 – <\/em>\u201cAccording as <\/em>he<\/u><\/em> hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world\u2026 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of <\/em>his<\/u><\/em> will.\u201d <\/em>There is no \u201cdeciding ballot\u201d, as this would make salvation a work of man: predestination is outside the effort of man.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      3. When was electing done?\n
                          \n
                        1. The prior point 1B -Ephesians 1:4 \u201c<\/em> before the foundation of the world\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        2. Election and the foreordination of the salvific work of Christ happened long ago: John 17:24 – <\/em>\u201cFather, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am\u2026 for thou lovedst me <\/em>before the foundation of the world.<\/u><\/em>\u201d <\/em>1 Peter 1:20 – <\/em>\u201cWho verily was <\/em>foreordained before the foundation of the world<\/u><\/em>, but was manifest in these last times for you.\u201d <\/em>And again – election was before the foundation of the world as was the work of Christ to secure it: Revelation 13:8 – <\/em>\u201c\u2026the Lamb slain <\/em>from the foundation of the world<\/u><\/em>.\u201d <\/em>2 Timothy 1:9 – <\/em>\u201cWho hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling\u2026 according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus <\/em>before the world began<\/u><\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        3. Why was electing done? Was it because of something good in the sinner?\n
                            \n
                          1. No. None would have been elected, for none are good. Romans 3:10-12 – <\/em>\u201cThere is none righteous, no, not one\u2026 There is none that doeth good, no, not one.\u201d<\/em> There is nothing good or holy in the sinner, as holiness is the result, of election. Ephesians 1:4 –<\/em>\u201c\u2026that <\/em>we should be holy<\/u><\/em> and without blame before him in love.\u201d <\/em>No progress toward holiness \u2013 no change \u2013 no election.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          2. Election is the cause of repentance and faith, not the result. Acts 13:48 –<\/em> \u201c\u2026and as many as were <\/em>ordained to eternal life<\/u><\/em> believed.\u201d<\/em> To say God chose the elect based on foreseen faith is to undermine His sovereignty. Romans 9:11 – <\/em>\u201c(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.)\u201d <\/em>No repentance and faith in the person \u2013 no change \u2013 no election.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          3. To say that God chose men to salvation because He looked down the corridors of time and foresaw that they would repent and believe and be saved, is to attribute foolishness to the infinitely wise God. The Arminian is in error here as he minimizes the sovereignty of Omnipotent Omniscient God.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                            The 1698 London Baptist Confession can be found here: https:\/\/chapellibrary.org:8443\/pdf\/books\/lbco.pdf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                            Description: A description used by John Macarthur is simple: \u201cThe doctrine of election simply means that God – uninfluenced and before creation, predetermined certain people to be saved.\u201d Let\u2019s look closer: What is \/ Isn\u2019t Election? Who, When, Why: The 1698 London Baptist Confession can be found here: https:\/\/chapellibrary.org:8443\/pdf\/books\/lbco.pdf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=361"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":362,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361\/revisions\/362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}