ELECTION

1. ELECTION A Basic Understanding By Joseph R. Nally Section on Election Marks by Ra McLaughlin

2. Question I do not understand election. Everything is too difficult to understand. If this, than that and if that, then this. I seem to run in circles when studying this issue. Please help.

3. Answers The doctrine of election is rather difficult to understand. Though objections vary from conversation to conversation, people’s main objection to it seems to be that God is unjust in election. People assume that God does not have the right to choose; when in actuality He does (Rom. 9). What is additionally disturbing is an improper view of election leads one to an improper view of God’s sovereignty and thus it leads to an improper view of many other things that emanate from God – including salvation.

4. Answers Paul uses an illustration in Romans 9 of Pharaoh – the enemy. Just as a judge is not unjust for punishing criminals, God is not unjust in punishing His enemies (2 Thess. 1:6). In part, this is what Scripture is teaching when it discusses election. Moreover, when Paul uses his theological short hand method in Romans 9, some miss the importance of not recognizing that Pharaoh was from another race, another seed, an enemy of God and was “condemned already” (John 3:18).

5. Election - Short Version • In the beginning, there were good guys that were suppose to rule God’s Kingdom perfectly. • These and their seed were the elect. • During the Fall, the enemy seduced the good guys. • The good guys messed up and sinned (the Fall). • After the Fall, the enemy continued to invade God’s Kingdom. • The bad guys seed is mixed with the good guys. • Elect and Reprobate appear to be one race. • However, this enemy does not belong in God’s Kingdom, God’s race. • In the end, God is just in separating the bad guys from the good guys and casting out the bad guys.

6. Election – Expanded Version • 1. Adam and Eve (elect) were told to be fruitful and multiply. •  A. ONLY the elect were to be in this world, in God’s Kingdom.  • B. ONLY God’s people will ultimately fill the new Heavens and new earth – Rev. 20-22

7. Election – Expanded Version 2. However, by God’s design, there is a momentary pause in the plan: •  A. Adam sinned – the Fall – and the elect race was mixed with an non-elect race. 1. Eve became the mother of ALL LIVING (elect and non-elect – Gen 3:20) • B. See the parable of the wheat and tares (Matt 13).

8. Election – Expanded Version 3. War on the Earth • Satan’s seed is presently making war with Christ’s seed (Gen. 3:15)     • 1. There is a war of TWO people groups – elect and non-elect (Rom. 9:11-15, 21-24).             • 2. There is a war of TWO kingdoms – Kingdom of God vs. Kingdom of Satan (Matt 4; John 8:36).                    • 3. There is a war of TWO nations –Holy Nation (John 8:23; Pet. 2:9) vs. all others.              

9. Election – Expanded Version • B. God ordained this war • To more fully reveal His love to His own people • John 15:13 • God says a FULLER manifestation of love is laying down one’s life for another • But Jesus could not have died UNLESS sin entered the world • So without God being the author of sin, but ordaining that sin should come into the world, Adam, created w/o sin, by his own will was permitted to sin, so God could manifest to His own people the full nature of His love.

10. Election – Expanded Version 2. God can ordain something w/o being its author • Example Say that I created (ordained) a 4 legged chair. Say it was perfect. Then say I gave it to you. You decide to remove one of the legs from the perfect chair. I ordained a perfect 4-legged chair, but you now authored a 3-legged chair, by removing good, from good. You authored imperfection. – God created a perfect world (Gen 1:31). Adam removed good from good (a good piece of fruit from a good God-created tree in the Garden), and authored evil (Gen 3).

11. Election – Expanded Version 3. God did not sin by creating an opportunity for evil (as everything He made was good – Gen 1:31). • Example Manufactures build cars that can go faster than the speed limit. The speed limit may be 55, but your car may be able to go 120 mph. The manufacture does this on purpose so your car can run more efficiently (because its potential is more than the  intended use of the car it will last longer and perform better). However, just because the car can go 120, does not given you permission to drive that fast when the law specially states 55. God gave Adam a 120 mph world (purpose: (a) manifest His love and (b) destroy evil) and told him to drive it at 55 mph – but he decided to speed and the fine for his speeding ticket is rather steep.

12. Election – Expanded Version • B. God ordained this war • To more fully reveal His love to His own people – John 15:13. • To destroy the works of the Devil – 1 John 3:8.

13. ELECTION A More Comprehensive Version

14. God Made an Elect Race in Adam and Eve Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

15. Adam and Eve were Elect from BEFORE the Foundation of the World

16. Evidence After the Fall (Gen 3), God made clothes for Adam and Eve AND clothed them – thus spilling innocent blood (symbolizing the Cross of Christ - Gen 3:21). Note that God clothed them, they did NOT cloth themselves. Adam and Eve were NOT saved by their own works, but the very work of God alone! (Eph. 2:8-10; John 1:13, etc.).

17. Evidence Immediately after the Fall, Adam and Eve played the blame game saying they were not responsible for their own sins (Gen. 3:12-13). After their salvation, God’s Spirit in them (Phil. 2:13) is seen in their acknowledgment of their sons are from the Lord and the training of their sons to worship: Genesis 4:1, Eve revealing her faith said, “I have gotten a man from the LORD” Genesis 4:2-4, teaching their sons to worship/offering. Genesis 4:25 Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel

18. This Elect Race is Known as “the seed of the woman.” Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

19. God Told His Elect Race to “be fruitful and multiply” and to Rule His Kingdom. Genesis 1:26-28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Ps. 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

20. This Universe Eternally Belongs to One Seed – “the seed of the woman.” • Abraham’s seed (Gal. 3:16,26-29). • This is the true church (Eph. 5:25; even the OT Church – Acts 7:38). • These are the elect (Eph. 1:3-4, 11). • This is the wheat as opposed to the tares (Matt. 13:24-30). • The tares look like wheat, but have nothing inside.

21. These are the Sheep as Opposed to the Goats (Matt 25:32-46). • Jesus knows His sheep (John 10:14) • Jesus calls His sheep by name (John 10:3; Rev. 13:8; 17:8). • His sheep know the voice of their Shepherd and follow Him (John 10:4, 27). • The Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep – not the goats (John 10:11, 15). • Those who are not sheep cannot believe (John 10:26).

22. After the Fall, Eve became the Mother of ALL LIVING. Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. • Eve will now give birth to: • the seed of the serpent (tares, goats) • the seed of the woman (wheat, sheep). • We see this in Cain and Abel (Gen. 4).

23. A Tale of Two Seeds The Old and New Testaments trace the seed of the woman and their Redeemer as opposed to the seed of the serpent and their fallen one. • Adam vs. Satan (Gen. 3) • Noah vs. the world (Gen. 6-10) • Abraham vs. Egypt (Gen. 12) • Moses vs. Pharaoh (Exodus) • David vs. Goliath (1 Sam 17) • Christ vs. Satan (Rev. 12:4; Matt 4 –and thru-out his ministry)

24. Others • Joshua vs. Enemies in the Promised Land • Samuel vs. Saul

25. Others

26. Ultimately the Universe shall be One Race – The Elect. Mark 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. c.g. Rev. 20-22

27. God is Just in Punishing an Invading Race, Kingdom, the non-Elect Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? Romans 9:15, 18, 22 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. … Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. … Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

28. All the Seeds of the Serpent are the Enemy Matthew 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. • The non-elect. • An invading race (Gen. 3:15). • An invading kingdom (Matt. 8:12; 11:12; 12:25-26).

29. This Universe was Eternally Meant for One Kingdom – the Kingdom of God (KOG) • KOG (Matt. 6:10) vs. kingdoms of this world (Matt. 4:8) • Gospel of the Kingdom (Matt. 4:23) vs. gospel of false Christs, and false prophets (Matt. 24:24; Mark 13:22) • Repent for the KOG is at hand (Matt. 3:2) vs. the seduction of the elect (Matt. 24:24) • KOG knowledge vs. kos knowledge (Matt 13:10-15; 1 Cor. 1:18-2:16; Rom. 8:5-9 vs. Gen. 11:9) • KOG miracles vs. kos miracle (Matt. 11:20-26 vs. Ex. 7:8-12)

30. The Serpent Seed Pay Tribute to Only One Satan • He goes by many names which are an indictment of who he and his seed are:

31. Indictments and Names of Satan

32. Indictments and Names of Satan Savior is NOT on his list!

33. Satan’s Seed Condemned Imitators of their master: John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

34. Satan’s Seed Condemned Condemned Already: John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

35. Satan’s Seed Condemned Why? They obey not the Gospel: 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

36. Satan’s Seed Condemned Why? They deny the Lord Jesus: Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

37. Satan’s Seed Condemned By What Authority? Romans 9:18-22 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

38. Satan’s Seed Condemned By What Authority? God has designed all his eternal counsel to bring glory to himself (Eph. 1:5, 11), but he has not designed all of it to bring emotional pleasure to himself (Ezek. 18:22; 33:11). For example, the Bible specifically tells us that some of his eternal decrees are designed to allow Him to express His wrath (e.g. Rom. 9:22-23). God is glorified by expressing His wrath, but He is not therefore happy about it—He is angry, saddened, and yet glorified.

39. Satan’s Seed Condemned For What Reason? Reprobation exists in order that election may be realized. Reprobation is necessary to bring the chosen to the glory which God in His infinite love has appointed for them. (Herman Hoeksema, Place of Reprobation in the Preaching of the Gospel). Proverbs 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

40. Satan’s Seed Condemned For What Reason? Proverbs 11:8 The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead. • The idea here is that the ungodly serve to deliver the righteous out of trouble, to glorify them. And having done so they perish for their sins. Proverbs 21:18: The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. • Here again we have the idea that God gives the wicked as a ransom, which He pays to glorify the righteous.

41. Satan’s Seed Condemned For What Reason? Isaiah 43:4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.

42. Satan’s Seed Condemned Even nature itself gives testimony to reprobation Animal Kingdom: • The mother gives life to her child, not infrequently at the expense of her own. • It is virtually always true that one generation lives and dies to make room for the next. • There are species of animals in which the male dies after mating. The male is cast off (reprobated) to give life to the young.

43. Satan’s Seed Condemned Even nature itself gives testimony to reprobation Plant Kingdom: • When a farmer sows seed in his field, he sows much more than he needs. When the seed falls into the earth and dies, there appear not only the kernels of wheat, for which the seed was planted, but also the stem, the straw, and even the chaff. • Without the stem and the chaff the grain could never have germinated and ripened. • The stem and the chaff serve the grain, the seed. Yet both will presently be burned by fire in order that the grain may be gathered into the barn. • Here also we find election and reprobation, and in such a way that the latter serves the former, and is necessary to it.

44. Satan’s Seed Condemned A Holy Purpose: To show His wrath and make His power known: Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.

45. Satan’s Seed Condemned A Holy Purpose: Destroy the works of the devil: 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

46. Satan’s Seed Condemned A Holy Purpose: To more fully manifest His love to His chosen people: John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. • There would have been no Cross if there had been no sin! • The extent of God’s love would have not been as fully known!

47. Reprobation Deserved The enemy in NOT innocent, but guilty! Romans 3:10-11, 23 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. … For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

48. Reprobation Deserved God’s seed is not innocent either, but elected: "How can a loving God knowingly save a fallen person who hates Him (Rom. 3:10-18) and is worthy to spend eternity in Hell (2 Pet. 2:1-9)?" Since all men are sinners from birth and deserve eternal judgment in Hell, God could not save a single soul unless He had elected them before they were created (John 1:13; Eph. 1:1-11; Rom. 9; 11:5; Col. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 1:2; 1 Pet. 5:13, etc.). Therefore, because of the Covenant of Redemption before the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:18-21) God can and will save only the elect. He indeed is loving in that He choose to save any.

49. Reprobation Deserved God’s seed is not innocent either, but elected: Romans 9:11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

50. Reprobation Deserved The enemy in NOT innocent, but guilty! God is not only a loving God (John 3:16), He is also: • HOLY (Ex. 15:11; Psa. 103:1; Isa. 6:3) and • JUST (Deut. 32:4; Job 4:17; 8:3; Psa. 89:14, etc.).