Sovereign, Electing Grace

In our national statement of faith we affirm that “salvation is by the sovereign, electing grace of God.”[1] What is this?

It has a linguistic, biblical, theological and historical meaning.

Firstly, when handling the doctrine of election it must be remembered that it, like the Trinity and Creation, election is a “high mystery” of the Faith to be handled with “special prudence and care” (1689. 3.7).

Linguistic
Sovereign: Sovereign means to have complete claim and control (e.g. arctic sovereignty). The Lord is sovereign. He is a King who reigns. His sovereignty extends even to salvation. “Salvation belongs to the Lord.”
Electing: To elect means to choose (e.g. electing a new government). To sovereignly elect/choose in salvation means that salvation is rooted in God’s choice.
Grace: Is God’s unmerited favour toward sinners. Since we are totally depraved, dead (Eph 2) and not seekers of God (Ro 3), we could only be saved if God chose to sovereignly save us in accordance with His grace.

Biblical
Students of the Bible should be familiar with these words and concepts. Without accepting this doctrine there will be many things in the Bible that will remain closed and confusing to us. Election is a plain and unmistakable teaching of the Bible. There are numerous passages that speak of God’s free choice in salvation.

1. Deut 7:6–7: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples.”
2. Ephesians 1:4–5: “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us[a] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
3. 2 Timothy 1:9: “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began”
4. Rev 13:8 and 17:8: “names have not been written in the book of life before the foundation of the world.”

It is difficult to kick against the goads, or the plain meaning of Scripture.

Theological
In theological terms, what does this mean? How might we summarize what the Bible teaches about election?

Election means that God chose to save some, not based upon a foreknowledge of faith or merit, but sovereignly, freely and in accordance with His own good pleasure to the praise of His glorious grace; whereas He passes over others to the praise of His justice (1689.3.1).

Historical
The meaning of election must also be understood historically. Christians from Paul, Augustine and reformers like Luther and Calvin, and later Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Anglicans and Baptists all understood election in this biblical-theological way. In fact, if it wasn’t in the Bible it is such a doctrine that no one would believe it. Our 1953 Fellowship statements flows on from our spiritual heritage in the Convention of Ontario and Quebec which stated in 1925 their belief in, “The election and effectual calling of all God’s people.”

Just as the words “man” and “woman” have a meaning, we cannot reinvent the meaning of the phrase “sovereign, electing grace.” It’s meaning is rooted in its linguistic, biblical, theological and historical contexts.
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FAQs
Election, while biblical, may be more easily accepted when some FAQs are addressed.

1. Pride and humility: It is often a matter of pride we reject this doctrine. Rather we are called to humbly believe all that Scripture teaches.
2. Human responsibility: Election is often seen as an offence to our human responsibility (and indeed our pride calls out, “but what of our free will!”). Surely we have free choice but not free will (Ro 6); as sinners enslaved to sin we can only chose to sin. We need God’s grace in order to believe.
3. God’s character:  God is good and wise and we must submit that His choices are best (Ro 9). Election does not make God out to be a monster but rather gracious, for without election no one would be saved.
4. Understood together: Election must be used properly for in its undiluted form it is a strong doctrine. John Newton, author of ‘Amazing Grace,’ once likened election to sugar. He said, “I use my Calvinism [election] in my writings and my preaching as I use this sugar”— taking a lump, and putting it into his tea-cup, and stirring it, adding, “I do not give it alone, and whole; but mixed and diluted.”[2]
5. Election and the Gospel. We preach the Gospel universally, even as we teach that election is particular. We don’t know who the elect are and are called to preach the Gospel universally and indiscriminately trusting the Lord will save His own through this faithfulness. There was a door, which over it read, ‘Come whoever will.’ Upon entering it and looking back the other side of the door read, ‘Elect.’
6. Election is not the same as justification. While we are elected to be saved we are not saved until the moment the Spirit opens our eyes (e.g. Lydia) and we believe. In that moment we are justified and not before.
7. For Believer not Unbelievers. Election is never the focus with unbelievers. It is always brought in when dealing with believers to encourage humility and worship and assurance in difficulties.
8. Not Abstract. Election is not abstract but deeply personal, loving and purposeful (Eph 1:4).

 


[1] “Salvation,” in Affirmation of Faith. <https://www.fellowship.ca/WhatWeBelieve> (2023).

[2] G. Redford, and J.A. James, eds., The Autobiography of William Jay. (London: 1854; reprint, Edinburgh, 1974), 272.