It has become very apparent as I speak to lay people in and around the area of Plattsburgh NY that man feels he has as much to do with, if not all, his own salvation. I can’t but stand astonished by the brazen audacity that humankind has when they look at the saving grace of our creator. Where was man in the creation? Where was he when Jesus hung on a cross? Nowhere to be found that is where he was. God created this world from nothing. (See Genesis chapter 1) Mankind was not created until the sixth day. When Christ went to the cross, bearing sins of man, the men he elected to be with him scattered. They left him. If left to their own devices they would go back to their sin.
Let us take a look at the London Baptist of Faith of 1689:
Chapter 3 Article 5:
Those of mankind who are predestinated to life, God chose before the foundation of the world was laid, in accordance with His eternal and immutable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will. God chose them in Christ for everlasting glory, solely out of His free grace and love, without anything in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him to choose.
(www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/bcof.htm#Contents)
The first question here is who has ever chosen themselves to life? Did we choose our parents; did we choose them to come together the very moment that we were conceived? Of course not! Who will choose the day of his death? The problem with those that choose to follow James Arminius is they put their will before the will of the “eternal and immutable purpose” of God’s will. A close inspection of the biblical text shows that God is the one that saves. In John 14:6 Jesus clearly points to the way of salvation when He says:
` “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.4 From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
The confession goes on to say that “without anything in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him to choose.” Simply said the created (man) has nothing to do with God choosing him unto salvation. A man can no better choose his eye color than choose himself onto salvation.
This topic is the “U” in the acronym TULIP. Unconditional Election is an unsettling point to many in Christianity. Mankind likes to have control over his destiny. It is that urge that got us in the trouble we are in in the first place. I meet with men on a weekly basis that are confused on this exact topic. I hear such statements as: “When I chose God, or When I came to faith…” Well what if the Bible does not support your assumption, what if God chose you? It becomes very confrontational when you take their choice out of the equation. How dare you say we had no choice? I would say; how dare you be so presumptive that you would have the ability to choose the great gift given to us by Christ. God did not go to the Cross on the chance you might choose Him, no he went to the cross knowing He chose you and the only way you would be saved is by his death on the cross.
Again this is something that is unsettling to some, but God’s word is very clear on this topic. I urge those that put their feet in the sand and say no I chose God, to re-evaluate your stance and come to know all that God has done for you. It will clearly change your perspective, but also your life!
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Jn 14:6–7). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
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