Some may think election removes our free will, or vice versa. This devotional looks at how both do occur.
Nuggets
- God does not force us to accept His gift of salvation.
- We are supposed to choose to not want to sin.
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Free will is one of the things in which Southern Baptists believe. But it is all wrapped up — for some — in election. But should it be?
What does the Baptist Faith and a message 2000 say?
“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” (Baptist Faith and Message 2000).
Resource
Let's Put It into Context
Election is that God chose mankind to offer the free gift of salvation. Some angels sinned, but God did not elect to send His Son to die for their sins. They will be eternally damned for their disobedience to God.
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Mankind, on the other hand, has a Savior Who has given His life to pay the penalty for our disobedience. He willingly left His home in glory, died a horrible death so that His blood might be shed, and rose triumphantly over sin.
Because our Savior completed God’s Plan of Salvation, some churchy words happen to us.
Regeneration is being changed from spiritually dead to spiritually alive and the internal new birth and requickening that God brings about through the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Spiritual death is the separation from God that occurred as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s original sin.
- The spiritually alive are those who have ABCDed, so they are no longer separated from God.
Justification is the act through the merits of Christ that makes us free from sin because we are following God’s moral laws. Jesus justifies us when we put our lives in His hands.
Sanctification is the transformation of mind, body, and soul, which begins with regeneration; gradually changes our nature and morals through the promptings of the Holy Spirit; and ends with perfected state of spiritual wholeness or completeness.
- Perfection means we reach a state of maturity because the combination of the spiritual graces form, when all are present, spiritual wholeness or completeness — holy, sanctified, and righteous.
- Spiritual graces are worldly morals that have been submitted to God to further His kingdom instead of enhancing this world.
- Sanctified means to be set free from sin.
- Righteous means we are free from sin because we are following God’s moral laws.
Glossary
God will glorify us by inviting those who have submitted their lives to be obedient to Him into eternity with Him. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Rom. 8: 29-30 ESV).
Where Does Free Will Come In?
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn. 1: 12-13 ESV)
But God does not force us to accept His gift of salvation.
He allows us free will to choose to obey Him or disobey Him.
Read that again. It says all who did receive Him. It doesn’t say all received Him. It says we have to choose.
We are not entitled to be children of God just because we are breathing. God wants us to make a conscious decision to follow and submit to Him.
Election also does not mean that we can never be disobedient again after we have gained salvation. God could have made us perfect (i.e., mature) upon conversion, but He chose not to do so.
Instead, we are to work out our salvation. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, or it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2: 12-13 ESV).
John addressed that a different way. “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 cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (I Jn. 1: 7-10 ESV).
If those who walk in the light (i.e., are saved) say they don’t sin, they are liars. They do sin.
Aren’t We Supposed to Not Want to Sin?
Oh, yes. We are supposed to choose to not want to sin.
We are supposed to imitate Jesus and be so committed to God that we are obedient.
But we are still human, so we will still sin. There is no way that, because we are now the elect, we don’t sin.
That will only happen when we are changed. “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (I Cor. 15: 51-53 ESV).
We won’t stop sinning while we are in perishable bodies. Election does not eliminate sin from our lives.
Making the Connections
No, election and free will are not contradictory. Election talks about mankind as a whole. Free will is personal.
We need both to be offered the Plan of Salvation. God has to want our relationships restored, and we must choose to do that.
How Do We Apply This?
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11).
Father God. We praise You that You have elected that mankind can find salvation for our sins. But You are not a dictator, forcing Yourself on us. You allow us to choose whether we accept Your gift. Help us to imitate Your Son so that we be obedient to You. Amen.
What do you think?
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