Of Predestination (2)

We now proceed with a more detailed explanation of the doctrine of predestination, beginning by defining election and reprobation. According to Rev. Kersten, “election is the decree of God by which He in perfect sovereignty determined in which persons, known to Him by name in Christ, He has decided to magnify His mercy gloriously unto their salvation, and also by which means He Himself shall bring those persons to salvation.” A briefer definition might be, “the choice of God, in the exercise of sovereign grace, made of certain individuals of mankind to enjoy salvation by Jesus Christ.”

Rev. Kersten defines reprobation as “the decree, whereby God from eternity, in His sovereign good pleasure, foreordained in which rational creatures He shall glorify Himself by His avenging justice to their eternal punishment in hell.” An alternate definition might be, “the choice of God, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by, and to ordain certain individuals to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.” “To reprobate” means “to reject,” and it is a term used to express that act of God by which, when all mankind were before the eye of His omniscience, He rejected some, while He chose others.

The election of some to salvation in preference to others has always been a doctrine which has many enemies. Throughout the ages there have always been men who have accused God of being unfair if election is true, and there have always been those who have abused this doctrine as an excuse to abandon all religious endeavor. The first thing we must do then is to examine our Bible to see what the infallible Word of God says. There are many passages in Scripture which speak of certain persons under the character of the “elect”:

1. As chosen in Christ—“Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord…” (Romans 16:13a).

2. As chosen to salvation—“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13a).

3. As predestined to the adoption of children— “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Ephesians 1:5).

4. And to be conformed to the image of His Son—“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Romans 8:29a).

5. As elect according to the foreknowledge of God— “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:2a).

6. As vessels of mercy whom He hath before prepared unto glory—“And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:23).

Each of these phrases obviously refers to some act of God in relation to the persons mentioned in these texts, by which they are distinguished from others. When a choice is made, it obviously implies that of a number of persons, some are taken, and others are left. There can be no such thing as the election of a whole class as separated from every other class of people. Election is a relative term and necessarily involves the idea of rejection. The election which the Bible teaches cannot be considered merely as a general purpose to furnish all mankind with the means of salvation. It is an express purpose to confer salvation upon certain individuals, but more on this in Question 6.

(This installment marks the end of this series.)

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