Arbitrary election and the sovereignty of God

January 28, 2021 (Thursday)

 

Thinking cap required day. Let’s talk theology. There are some who believe that an individual’s eternal destiny is determined by “arbitrary election.” This doctrine is designed to protect, expand, or enhance the theology of the “sovereignty of God.”

 

There is no question, in my mind about the “sovereignty of God.” Except I think I have a stronger definition than the brittle form many of us grew up with. Basically, I see the sovereignty of God as God doing whatever He wants, whenever He wants, in any way He wants without limitation. This means it doesn’t matter what humans (or random atoms) do. Thus, God is absolutely independent and absolutely unlimited.

 

The sovereignty of God works on three levels. It could be suggested it works differently on every level. The first is the flow of history. One example is the plan to save us through the blood of Jesus, “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” [1 Peter 1:20 ESV] In this verse, “foreknown” means God knew before it happened, not caused it.

 

The second level of the sovereignty of God is in nations. We see this in Romans 9 where Paul is arguing for the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s sovereign plan. Paul starts, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” [Romans 9:7b ESV] He’s pointing out a split between the promise and the physical decedents.

 

Another split happens between Esau and Jacob, “though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls” [Romans 9:11 ESV]

 

Paul liked to seal his arguments in classical style, “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” [Romans 9:17 ESV] Go back and read the clash between Pharaoh and Moses. There are times Pharaoh hardens his heart (four times), there are times God hardens his heart (six times). Each of these three examples are the sovereignty of God at work in the national level to accomplish the overall flow of history.

 

The last level of the sovereignty of God is on the individual level. Here is an example, “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love” [Ephesians 1:4 ESV] Notice the awkward sentence structure. Ephesians 1:4 is not about the individual being chosen, it’s about the will of God. Before the foundation of the world, the plan was for the followers of Jesus to be “holy and blameless.”

 

If God’s sovereignty includes being absolutely independent and absolutely unlimited in history, nations, and individuals, then arbitrary election is contrary to the sovereignty of God.

 

The question you have to ask yourself, is Jesus was wrong? “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16 ESV] Why would Jesus tell us that God loves EVERYONE (“the world”) and that EVERYONE (“whoever”) who believes in Him would have eternal life? That’s the sovereignty of God, not limited to an arbitrary choice.

 

If you are still paying attention, I doubt it makes a difference which side of the coin you are on. The coin is going the same place (see C.S. Lewis). Are you trusting Jesus or your theology for salvation? (For the record, I am not arguing for a “universal redemption” or some means of saving ourselves.)

 

Why is this important? Because some may imagine themselves to be chosen to be saved when there is no evidence (see 2 Corinthians 5:17 for example) they are saved. Because some may take pride in their imagined standing. Because some, in their delusion or pride, will be condemning themselves to eternal Hell.