There is the funny story that a man died and went to heaven only to find out that heaven was divided into two groups. There was the predestination group whose main emphasis was God chose me. Then there was the free will group that emphasized their choice in coming to God.
When he realized he must be in one group or the other he went to be with the predestination group. They asked him, why did you come here? He replied I just chose to come to this group. They did not allow him in the predestination group. If you believe in choice you belong with the other group.
When he went to the free will group, they asked the same question. Why did you come to this group. He told then he had to come to their group, he had no choice. That did not fit with their group, so he was not allowed in.
There are groups so divided on grace and election here on earth so there is humor in thinking that the division will continue in heaven. It is the most divisive of all theologies. It divided John Wesley and George Whitfield. That is the famous division over election, but many others have been divided in the issues of God’s purpose of grace. As Whitefield said in 1741, The movement had been forever divided between the followers of Wesley and the followers of Whitefield.
It has been said that if you have come to your position on election with ease then you have not really looked at it in depth.
Election
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love. (Ephesians 1:4)
In talking about election, it should not be separated from its companion truth which is freedom. We balance election with human freedom. Jesus is the door of salvation. Election is not the door of salvation Jesus, is the door. Jesus said, no man comes to the Father except by me. (John 14:6)
Remember that the Bible says Jesus is the door of salvation, not your election or predestination. Does God will anyone to be lost? No.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
It is not slowness, but patience that delays the final consummation of history and holds open the door to repentant sinners and even repentant scoffers.
Does God will all men to be saved? Yes.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
The word all is linked to verse 1, I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— (1 Timothy 2:1) Intercession for all men is because of God’s willingness to save all.
“Election is not to be thought of as a bare choice of so many human units by God’s action independently of man’s free choice and the human means employed. God elects men to respond freely. He elects to reach men through their native faculties and through the church, through evangelism and education and missionary endeavor. We must include all these elements in election. Otherwise we split the decree of God into parts and leave out an essential part.” Quote of E. Y Mullins
Election is not God from eternity choosing certain individuals for salvation and some for damnation determining their destiny. When we separate election from man’s free will it is like cutting out only part of a portrait. If we do take into account the whole portrait the painting is distorted.
Election is not a matter of God determining man’s fate, it is a matter of God purposing man’s salvation. It is not about each person’s fate determined in advance for him. Election never appears in Scripture as mechanical or blind duty. Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all people.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
Why do some perish? They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
Election is God’s purpose and initiative in man’s salvation. God is the one who acts. God’s initiative is there in revelation of His Word and in redemption. There was never a time God did not purpose our salvation.
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4)
The doctrine of election refers to a plan of salvation for all men.
What about the call of Abraham? In the call of Abraham, we see God’s worldwide purpose of grace. The covenant with Abraham was rooted in the overall redemptive purpose of God.
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3)
Abraham was not elected for exclusivity but to bless all the earth with salvation in Jesus Christ. This was true in Isaac chosen over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau. The purpose was the salvation for all. God made Israel and exclusive people for a salvation that would be for all the families of the earth.
The doctrine of election refers to this plan of salvation for all men. Christ died for all.
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. (2 Corinthians 5:11)
Perseverance
The Bible teaches there is certainty of salvation. This is called security of the believer. It is known as once saved always saved. There will be the paragraph on grace from the Baptist Faith and message below. The first statement on perseverance says, “All true believers endure to the end.”
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
It says you have been saved. The action is done and continues into the future. It speaks of a finished work. Perseverance means all true believers endure to the end. There is not perseverance because you were born into a Christian family. You are saved by grace through faith.
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. (1 John 2:19)
Perseverance does not mean that true believers will never sin again. But son will not be the habit of their lives.
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:6-10)
Some Christians become gripped with fear and are standing with uncertainty regarding their relationship to Jesus Christ. We need to help that have the certainty of their security as believers so that they live with assurance of salvation.
Those who believe in Christ should not hope they are God’s child they should know it. It is important to be clear on assurance of salvation. If there is doubt, then there is unnecessary anxiety. It will be insecurity that sidetracks the believer from dedicated service.
Jesus pledged that all who believe in him will be raised on the last day.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)
Heaven and the believer are being kept for each other.
and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:4-5)
Paul said God will sustain and keep believers until the end.
He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)
Theologically assurance of salvation is grounded on the character of God and the finality of his revelation in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death made effective atonement for our sins. His resurrection establishes our own exaltation with him. In union with Christ, we are given to share in the communion with God.
We need to look at what it means, falling away from grace.
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:4)
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12:15)
These verses that mention falling away from grace to not mean a true believer loses salvation. What it means is falling out of the sphere of grace. It means leaving the sphere of grace for the sphere of law. These falling away passages are in the context of warnings against superficial Christianity.
The issue of election has been divisive as in the case of Whitefield and Wesley. After George Whitefield died it was John Wesley who preached his funeral. They will be united in Christ in heaven at the throne of Jesus Christ for eternity. Because of our faith in Christ, we have assurance of the same eternal future.
Below is the statement on grace and election from the Baptist Faith and Message.
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https://bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/
God’s Purpose of Grace
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.
All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Genesis 12:1-3;
Exodus 19:5-8;
1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22;
Isaiah 5:1-7;
Jeremiah 31:31ff.;
Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34;
Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48;
John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6,12,17-18;
Acts 20:32;
Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36;
1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28;
Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11;
Colossians 1:12-14;
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14;
2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19;
Hebrews 11:39–12:2;
James 1:12;
1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10;
1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.
