READING TIME: 2 MINUTES
Sept 5, 2019
David, does John 15:16 teach unconditional election.
Some point to passages like John 15: 16 (“You did not choose me; I chose you…”) as proof texts for the Calvinistic belief of individual election to salvation when Jesus is speaking to His servants who are being prepared to take the invitation to the rest of the world.
The Gospel writers used the verb eklegomai (“choose”) several times about the Lord’s choice of His twelve Apostles, which of course, included Judas Iscariot (Luke 6:13; John 6:70; 13:18; 15:16, 19) None of these says anything about a doctrine of election to eternal salvation since the Eleven were already saved before He chose them as Apostles and Judas was a counterfeit. The Lord even referred to this fact in John 6:70. It is incorrect that some Calvinists use John 15:16 as a proof-text for the notion of unconditional election. To extrapolate the meaning of this verse to all believers in a doctrinal way is seriously misguided and irresponsible, even though by application we can affirm that all believers have been appointed to bear abiding fruit, which is desired, but not automatic.
For more information about the viewpoint that John 15:16 teaches unconditional election, see John Piper’s lesson titled: “Five reasons to embrace unconditional election” (http:// www.desiringgod.org/ articles/ five-reasons-to-embrace-un-conditional-election. Also see this article by John Piper: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/five-reasons-to-embrace-unconditional-election.
I believe that God chooses individuals for salvation, but 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) (I’m thankful to Pastor/Dr. Tom Stegall for this statement on divine election; personal correspondence December 14, 2017).
Sources Used
Flowers, Leighton. The Potter’s Promise: A Biblical Defense of Traditional Soteriology.
Olson, C. Gordon. Getting the Gospel Right: A Balanced View of Salvation Truth, 279.