READING TIME: 2-3 MINUTES
November 19, 2019
Does Colossians 3:12 teach unconditional divine election?
Colossians 3:12: “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (NASB).
This verse is not teaching unconditional divine election, which is the “U” in TULIP (Calvinism’s five points). This is the belief that since man can do nothing in response to God, God chooses who will be saved and effects that salvation.
Properly translated the verse may be rendered, “Therefore, as elect/select ones [and as] saints and those who have been loved of God, put on affection, compassion, goodness, humility, gentleness, patience.” Again, there is no suggestion that the Colossians believers were unconditionally chosen by God for eternal salvation. Paul is simply telling them to live up to their calling as their appropriate service (along the lines of Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 3:1-3) and this is, once again, synonymous with the desire of God that believers be holy and blameless in his presence as seen in Ephesians 1:4.
In a bit more detail, this verse does not teach that election is a decree of God, that it is eternal, that it is unconditional, or that it results in salvation. The word “elect” in this verse is simply a title for NT believers signifying valuation or worth and appraisal or assessment. Thus, its use parallels the election of Jesus Christ and the angels. As in Luke 18:7, nothing is said in this verse about how, why, or when anyone came to be called “elect.” The Calvinist would want us to think that just because the verse contains the word “elect” that his doctrine of Unconditional Election must be biblical. It is clear from this verse and many similar verses that no one is elect until he is saved. The elect are said to be justified (Rom 8:33), they are depicted as holy and beloved (this verse), and they have faith (Titus 1:1).
In terms of what the Bible says about the individual believer and election, I believe that God chooses individuals for salvation, with the condition that He did not choose them apart from their own choice to believe in Him. In other words, nowhere in Scripture does it say He chooses people to believe or predestined them to believe. Rather, He chooses to save those who place their faith or trust in His Son. Since God is omniscient and has always known all things, there was never a time when He did not know that we would believe and so it would have been impossible for Him to choose us apart from His knowledge of our choice to believe in His Son. I don’t believe His foreknowledge was causative as Calvinism teaches (i.e., He didn’t make us believe); however, it is exhaustive (i.e., He must have foreknown all those who would believe in Christ).
Sources Used
Badger, Anthony B. Confronting Calvinism: A Free Grace Refutation and Biblical Resolution of Radical Reformed Soteriology, 181.
E-mail correspondence with Dr./Pastor Tom Stegall about election; December 14, 2017.
Hixson, Whitmire, Zuck. Freely by His Grace: Classical Grace Theology. Chapter 5, by Charlie Bing. Grace Gospel Press.
Olson, C. Gordon. Beyond Calvinism & Arminianism: An Inductive Mediate Theology of Salvation. 3rd Edition Expanded, Revised, & Updated. Global Gospel Publishers, 325.
Vance, Laurence M. The Other Side of Calvinism. Pensacola, FL: Vance Publications, 1999, 376-377.