Quote of the Day

“People often argue that this doctrine of divine election and choice leaves no place for evangelism, for preaching the gospel, for urging people to repent and to believe, and for the use of arguments and persuasions in doing so. But there is no contradiction here any more than there is in saying that since it is God that gives us the crops of corn in the autumn, therefore the farmer need not plough and harrow and sow; the answer to which is that God has ordained both. God has chosen to call out His people by means of evangelism and the preaching of the Word. He ordains the means as well as the end.”

 – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Sovereign Election in Psalms

God’s sovereign choice of his people guarantees more than their eternal destination. Election guarantees their sanctification here and now, as well.

Out of the mass of sinful humanity, God has set apart a chosen people for Himself. Each of these elect individuals will become increasingly godly:

But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lordhears when I call to him. —Psalm 4:3

David teaches here that God “sets apart” the godly, an act that is synonymous with divine election. This choice was made before time began, and guarantees that all God’s chosen ones will be sanctified and become godly within time. God does not elect a person because he or she is godly, but in order that the person might become godly. Spurgeon comments upon this verse, “The godly are the chosen of God, and are, by distinguishing grace, set apart and separated from among men. Election is a doctrine which unrenewed men cannot endure, but nevertheless, it is a glorious and well-attested truth, and one which should comfort the tempted believer. Election is the guarantee of complete salvation, and an argument for success at the throne of grace. He who chose us for Himself will surely hear our prayers.”

—Steve Lawson, Foundations of Grace (Reformation Trust, 2006), 144.

Mercy of God in Election

Divine justice plays no part in sovereign election. It is all of God’s mercy.

God’s choice of undeserving sinners for salvation is an expression of His sovereign will and free grace. God does not owe salvation to any sinner. Saving grace is entirely unmerited; no sinful creature has any claim to it. All that sinful man rightly deserves is divine condemnation. So the lost human race desperately needs what it does not deserve. But because grace is a gift, God is free to bestow it upon whom He pleases without violating His justice. As He is absolutely sovereign, He chooses which sinners He will save:

“I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” —Exodus 33:19b

In this passage, God says nothing about His justice. He speaks only of His mercy. These two divine attributes—justice and mercy—belong to totally different categories. Election is always a matter of sovereign mercy, not justice. Without any obligation to bestow grace upon any individual, God shows Himself to be infinitely loving by choosing to show mercy upon some. Grasping the profundity of this verse, John MacArthur writes, “God is absolutely sovereign and does elect who will be saved without violating His other attributes. He determines who receives mercy.” Albert Barnes adds, “Jehovah declares His own will to be the ground of the grace which He is going to show the nation. St. Paul applies these words to the election of Jacob in order to overthrow the self-righteous boasting of the Jews (Rom. 9:15).” The point is clear—God chooses by sovereign mercy whom He will save.

—Steve Lawson, Foundations of Grace (Reformation Trust, 2006), 80.

Quote of the Day

“He chooses us, not because we believe, but that we may believe; lest we should say that we first chose him.”

– Augustine