WHAT’S “UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION?
March 29, 2019
READ TIME: 1 MINUTE
In response to my Romans 8:33 post, somebody asked what unconditional election is.
Here’s a definition of “unconditional election” from my friend Dr./Pastor Tom Stegall (Duluth Bible Church):
“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.”
I don’t think the Bible teaches anywhere that God chooses people to believe or predestined them to believe. Rather, He chooses to save those who choose to trust in His Son. God also elected/chose individuals for practical service and to accomplish a certain task.
SOURCES USED (the listing of sources does not constitute a total endorsement of the content).
Lazar, Shawn. Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life (p. 103). 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.