UNCONDITIONAL DIVINE ELECTION IN DEUT 10:14-15?
June 27, 2019
READING TIME: 1 MINUTE
“Dave, does Deuteronomy 10:14-15 support the doctrine of unconditional divine election?
First of all, I’ll define “unconditional divine election” according to Calvinism.
Based on the false conclusion that man is totally incapable of believing in Christ of his own volition before he is born again, the second point of Calvinism then concludes that God must have “unconditionally elected” only certain people to be saved. This unconditional election is made strictly on the basis of God’s sovereign choice, completely apart from any foresight or recognition of man’s volition or choice to believe in Christ.
Contrary to the thinking of Calvinism, these verses don’t teach God elects people to eternal life (actually I don’t think any passages in the Bible teach this). Not all Jewish people have eternal life. God lovingly choosing someone doesn’t automatically mean he receives eternal life. This passage is simply a general comment about God’s choosing the Jews as a group, but there’s no explanation about what they were chosen for. There’s no mention of individuals, predestination, or eternal life.
Sources Used
Lazar, Shawn. Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life. Grace Evangelical Society.
Stegall, Thomas L. Must Faith Endure for Salvation to Be Sure?: A Biblical Study of the Perseverance versus Preservation of the Saints, Chapter 3. Grace Gospel Press.