A Bible lesson by Ivor Jefferies
1. Why is it not unfair for God to choose certain people to be saved, and to leave others in their sins?
Read Matt. 20:15, Rom. 9:14-23.
Many people think that God chose us from a neutral group of humans, whereas the Bible calls us fallen rebels. God could have left us to perish in our sins as He did when the angels fell (2 Pet. 2:4, cf. 1 Tim. 5:21). The fact that He made a plan to save sinners is an act of supreme mercy. Therefore, rather than calling God unjust for saving only some, we should be amazed that He would save any.
2. God chose us according to his foreknowledge (1 Pet. 1:1-2). What does and does this not mean?
Read Isa. 46:10, Amos 3:2, Acts 2:23, Rom. 8:29, Eph. 1:11, 1 Pet. 1:20.
3. There are some who say that God chooses us for service, but not unto salvation? What does the Bible say?
Read John 15:16, 19, Rom. 8:29-30, 2 Thess. 2:13, 2 Tim. 1:9.
4. How does Romans 9 show that God chose individuals, and not only one nation (Israel) over another?
Read Rom. 9:3-6, 24, 29-33, 11:5, 7.
5. What does Scripture give as the final cause of people going to hell?
Read Matt. 23:37, John 3:19-20, 5:40.
But if election is true, is God not responsible for people going to hell? In one sense, yes; in another sense, no. A good judge is responsible for criminals going to prison, but whose fault is it that they are there in the first place? So the sinner is responsible for going to hell (Rom. 3:19), but God is the Judge who sentences him there (Matt. 25:41). Sadly sinners do not want eternal life (Acts 13:46). In order for them to be saved, God must overcome their unwillingness (John 6:44, 65, Acts 9). Those who get a hold of this are amazed that God chose them before they ever chose Him (Acts 13:47-48).
6. How will you help those who have certain reservations about election, and make the following statements?
- Election turns people into robots, since they do not have a choice. Matt. 11:25-28, John 6:37, 40.
- It doesn’t help to believe, unless you are chosen. John 3:16, Rom. 10:12-13, 1 Thess. 1:4-5, Rev. 22:17.
- Election leaves me with no hope that my family will be saved. Ezek. 18:32, John 17:20, Rom. 10:20, 2 Pet. 3:9.
- Election hinders evangelism. Acts 18:9-10, Rom. 9:1-3, 24, 10:1, 14-17, 2 Tim. 2:10.
- Election leads to unholiness. People think they can live any way please and still be saved, since God has chosen them. Eph. 1:4, 2 Thess. 2:13, Tit. 1:1, 1 Pet. 1:2.
- I simply do not understand election, therefore I struggle to accept it. Deut. 29:29, 1 Cor. 13:12.1
1 Perhaps you still have a ton of questions about election. Consider the matter humbly and prayerfully as you search the Scriptures, and trust the Holy Spirit to teach you the truth (John 16:12-13).