Calvinism 101: Session 5
Unconditional Election: Jesus’ Perspective from the Gospel of John
“You did not choose me, but I chose you.” That is amazing grace!... This passage refutes the vain opinion of those who say that we were chosen before the foundation of the world because God foreknew that we should be good, not that he himself would make us good. – St. Augustine on John 15:16
I believe the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love. – Charles Spurgeon, A Defense of Calvinism
T – Total Depravity
U – Unconditional Election
L – Limited Atonement
I – Irresistible Grace
P – Perseverance of the Saints
Calm Your Soul in the Presence of Divine Mystery
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.
- Ps 131
We need the facts of God established, not the mystery unraveled.
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. – Deut 29:29
Belonging to God as the Grounds for Receiving Jesus
I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word… I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. – John 17:6, 9
- Note: John 17:20 specifies that Jesus isn’t only praying for the disciples but for all believers.
- “The people whom you gave me out of the world” are those that Jesus reveals the Father (manifested your name) to. What does it mean to be “given” to the Son? They come to know the Father; they experience repentance and faith.
- “Yours they were, and you gave them to me”—before the disciples were Jesus’—before he manifests the Father’s name to them—they were already the Father’s.
- There is a group of people who are God’s, and because they are, the Father gives them to the Son.
Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” – John 8:47
- Consider: what is the ground Jesus offers for why someone is able to hear the words of God?
- Consider: what is the ground for why some cannot hear?
- You are not “of God” because you hear—you hear because your are “of God.” So too, being “not of God” is the ground for why you cannot hear.
- Note: Does being “of God” just refer to all human beings? No, because there are those who are “not of God.”
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. – John 10:24-29
- Notice: Jesus has told them and showed them his miracles, yet they do not believe. Why? “Because you are not among my sheep.”
- If they were His sheep, they would hear His voice and follow Him.
- So, you are “among my sheep” before you believe, because Jesus says that not being of his sheep is the reason why they do not believe, and it is because you are “His sheep” that you then are able to hear His voice.
- Consider: “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice,” – John 10:16
Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. – John 18:37
- Whether or not you listen to Jesus’ voice depends on whether or not you are “of the truth.”
Objection: Doesn’t Jesus Draw All People to Himself?
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. – John 12:32
- The ESV has supplied the word “people” here, but the Greek text literally states: “…will draw all to myself.”
- So, the question is, what is the “all” He is referring to? All human beings without exception? All kinds ofhuman beings without distinction? All his elect?
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. – John 6:44
- Our willingness is not a condition we meet to be chosen by God; our willingness is itself a work of God.
But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” – John 6:61-65
- The implication here: the reason the defectors do not believe is because of John 6:44, which must mean that the effectual drawing is not given to all people.
“Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His free grace and love alone, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto; and all to the praise of His glorious grace.” – WCF 3.5
Where We are Going…
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”” – Rom 9:14-20
Be Amazed at Mystery, Not Frustrated
Then Israel came to Egypt;
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And the LORD made his people very fruitful
and made them stronger than their foes.
25 He turned their hearts to hate his people,
to deal craftily with his servants.
- Ps 105:23-25
- Here, the psalmist sings of how God “turned” the “hearts” of Egypt to hate them (think of Pharaoh)—which causes all kinds of moral and philosophical questions for us. But consider how the psalm begins and ends
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4 Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
…
So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
44 And he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,
45 that they might keep his statutes
and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD!
- Ps 105: 1-5, 43-45
- The psalmist, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, saw no dilemma, no legitimate reason to accuse God of injustice or unfairness, but instead sees God’s hand at work even in a mysterious, painful providence as a reason for praise and joy.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
- Rom 11:33-36
“The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending to the will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God; and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.” – WCF 3.8
