By Michelle Adrian | Photo by Halle Adrian Photography

Many struggle with the doctrine of election versus free will. However, I believe that often in this debate we miss the beauty behind God’s election of his people. As I write this, I will hold the argument that J.I. Packer makes in his book Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God,

“Nor, again, am I going to spend time proving to you the particular truth that God is sovereign in salvation. For that, too, you believe already. Two facts show this. In the first place, you give God thanks for your conversion. Now why do you do that? Because you know in your heart that God was entirely responsible for it. You did not save yourself; he saved you. Your thanksgiving is itself an acknowledgment that your conversion was not your own work, but his work. You do not put it down to chance or accident that you came under Christian influence when you did…You do not attribute your repenting and believing to your own wisdom, or prudence, or sound judgment, or good sense. …There is a second way in which you acknowledge that God is sovereign in salvation. You pray for the conversion of others. In what terms, now, do you intercede for them? Do you limit yourself to asking that God will bring them to a point where they can save themselves, independently of him? I do not think you do. I think that what you do is to pray in categorical terms that God will, quite simply and decisively, save them.”

Throughout time the concept of election has been argued to be an unloving and arrogant position to hold on salvation. However, as we study Scripture, we find a loving, beautiful, and profound truth about the salvation we find in Christ. I am convinced that a greater understanding of this truth will inevitably lead to a greater appreciation of the Gospel. Nothing has comforted me more in the dark valleys of life than the precious truth we discover within the sovereign grace of God.

Beautiful Truths Within The Doctrine Of Election

1 | We Witness God’s Mercy

In the Old Testament, we see over and over again, that God chose one and not the other. God chose Abel not Cain, Isaac not Ishmael, Jacob not Esau, David not Saul. It truly is a mystery as to why God chooses some and not others, because not one of the men named here was remotely good. For example, Jacob (a name implying deceiver) stole his brother’s inheritance, and David was an adulterer and murderer. The doctrine of election leaves no room for arrogance because God choosing us has nothing to do with us and everything to do with him. He is a merciful God who loves his people and has decided to spare us from the wrath he once had reserved for us. 

This is a glorious outcome! We deserve the entire wrath of God, which is described as an eternal punishment in Matthew 25:46. However, this isn’t something we should easily  pass by– it is something we would considerably benefit to meditate on. Although God was merciful to us, his justice still required the penalty of sin to be paid. Jesus is the one who bore God’s wrath on our behalf. Now, I know for those of you who have been in the faith for many years, that previous sentence has possibly lost its weight. If this is you, I encourage you to truly consider these words: Jesus – The Father’s only Son, whom he loved, whom he has been in perfect union with for all of eternity past, who has been completely perfect—bore God’s wrath. Can you try to imagine that? A wrath that is described as an eternal punishment poured out in one moment. I cannot begin to comprehend the horror Jesus experienced on the cross on my behalf. Altogether, it is devastating and the most precious truth I know.

This should bring us to our knees asking, “Why me, Lord?” Together with David in Psalm 8 we ask, “Who is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” And it quickly turns to praise as we recognize that even though we do not deserve it, He has been merciful to us! God has chosen us—thieves, deceivers, murderers, adulterers, fornicators, idolaters, abusers—to receive mercy. Why? It is only because he is good and kind. We can join in with David singing, “O Lord, our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9).

When we get caught up in the argument of why we hold to the doctrine of election we often forget the “manner” in which God is sovereign—he is mercifully sovereign! In God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God Mark Jones reminds us, “Thus, when speaking of his providence and the manner in which he governs all things, we must always keep in mind all his attributes. In this way, we may appreciate the manner in which he governs all things, not just the fact that he does.”

2 | Our Faith Is Secure

Through the doctrine of election, we find assurance of our faith because election implies that salvation is unchanging. Due to the nature of the elector (God), our status of salvation is permanent. If salvation were up to us, who is to say that our status wouldn’t change? If it were up to me, an ever-changing, imperfect sinner, how would it be secure? If salvation were determined by the sinner, would it not suggest that that very sinner would need to choose to believe in Jesus every single day (and conversely, would be able to lose his salvation)? He would need to choose to believe the gospel every day in every circumstance in light of Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved.” Do you ever choose something other than Jesus? I do. I am drawn by the things of this world and am often deceived that there is something more satisfying than Jesus to be found. How could I ever find assurance if my salvation relied upon myself? But instead, I can rejoice knowing that though I fail and turn from Jesus, my salvation is unchanging; Jesus offers me the truth of the gospel every day. I can confidently repent of my sin and live in the newness of life that he offers. This is a daily battle to choose the Gospel, but I am assured that my mutability doesn’t affect my salvation. Rather than be crushed by my inability to choose Jesus I am empowered by the Holy Spirit to choose him daily. 

It is God who chooses, therefore, our salvation is secured and the words of Romans 8 ring triumphantly:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?… For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:35, 38-39

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! Not you. Not me. We find comfort in this truth because in his election we are secure.

Who Can Be Saved?

Many have twisted the doctrine of election to mean that if you’re not chosen, well that’s it, there is nothing you can do, there is no hope for you. But that is the furthest thing from the truth! Psalm 145 says, “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them” (Psalm 145:18-19). Romans 10 says, “for ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Romans 10:13). Anyone can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved! Salvation is available to all, but not all will respond in obedience to him. “But if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). 

If you desire to know God, it is God who put that desire in you first. You can hear that call and believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the one who paid the penalty for your sin, the one who was raised from the grave, defeating death and reigning victorious for all eternity. He has invited us in, let us believe and rejoice!

I encourage you to reflect on these truths as you consider the lyrics of this song:

When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast

I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast

He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so
He will hold me fast

Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast

He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so
He will hold me fast

For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast

Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
‘Til our faith is turned to sight
When He comes at last!

He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so
He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so
He will hold me fast

“He Will Hold Me Fast” by Keith & Kristyn Getty

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Michelle Adrian spends her time leading worship alongside her husband, caring for her two adorable children, and expressing herself creatively through painting, playing the piano, and singing. She enjoys bouldering and going for walks in beautiful North Vancouver.