Lecture 12-3 System and Election

Question 1

There are multiple ways to approach Soteriology, the doctrine of salvation

Answer 1

i. Ordo Salutis (From Above): Theodore Beza, William Perkins, Francis Turretin, Charles Hodge (J.P. Boyce), J.L. Dagg, Millard Erickson, Wayne Grudem
ii. Ordo Salutis (From Below): John Calvin, Emil Brunner, Dale Moody, James Leo Garrett
iii. Phenomenological: Balthasar Hubmaier, James Pendleton
iv. Baptist Faith & Message
v. Classical Calvinism (The TULIP)
vi. Yarnell’s System: From Grace to Grace

Question 2

Be Careful I

Answer 2

Within Calvinism, there are ongoing debates about the logical order of the divine decrees. Cf. Erickson, p. 931. Since God is not bound by time, He is not bound by our sense of order. Moroever, some of the schemes imply God is the author of sin. Cf. Supralapsarianism.

Question 3

Be Careful II

Answer 3

Between Calvinism and Arminianism, there are ongoing debates about the exact nature of the ordo salutis. Such debates often forget that salvation is both a divine and a human act, involving both eternal and temporal aspects. An exact ordo salutis is impossible to construct from the witness of Scripture. Cf. William Perkins, A Golden Chaine

Question 4

Ordo Salutis (From Above)

Answer 4

Millard Erickson

              1. Antecedent: Predestination
              2. Beginning: Subjective Aspects
              3. Effectual Calling, Conversion, Regeneration
              4. Beginning: Objective Aspects
              5. Union with Christ, Justification, Adoption
              6. Continuation
              7. Sanctification, Christian Life
              8. Completion
              9. Perseverance, Glorification

ii. The Golden Chain

Question 5

Ordo Salutis (From Below)

Answer 5

James Leo Garrett, Jr.

              1. Repentance (curra Calvin; contra Bavinck)
              2. Faith
              3. Confession; Conversion
              4. Justification
              5. New Life
              6. Adoption; Forgiveness; Reconciliation
              7. Salvation; Redemption; Liberation
              8. Union with Christ; Assurance
              9. Discipleship
              10. Sanctification
              11. Stewardship
              12. Prayer
              13. Abiding in Christ
              14. Election

Question 6

Phenomenological

Answer 6

Balthasar Hubmaier

              1. (cf. Rom. 10; Matt. 28)
              2. Hear the Word
              3. Despair of Self
              4. Faith and Regeneration
              5. Baptism and Church Membership
              6. Carrying the Cross
              7. Lord’s Supper

Question 7

Baptist Faith & Message

Answer 7

Notice the dialectic of divine grace and active human response as you read articles 4-5

              1. Salvation
              2. Regeneration
              3. Justification
              4. Sanctification
              5. Glorification
              6. God’s Purpose of Grace
              7. Election
              8. Perseverance

Question 8

Classical Calvinism (The TULIP)

Answer 8

i. Total Depravity
1. Decree to Create follows Decree of Reprobation

ii. Unconditional Election
1. Concomitant Decrees of Election and Reprobation (i.e. Double Predestination)
2. Classical Calvinism Rejects Preterition

iii. Limited Atonement
1. Christ Died Only For the Elect

iv. Irresistible Grace
1. Divide God’s Revealed Will from God’s Secret Will
2. The Divine Calling is efficacia, Effectual

v. Perseverance of the Saints

Question 9

A Baptist System of Salvation (i.e. Dr. Yarnell’s)

Answer 9

Salvation is God’s entirely gracious movement of personal redemption toward man; it is grand in its singular beauty and beautiful in every facet of its jewel-like complexity. It is from grace to grace, just at it is from faith to faith.

         ii. “From Grace …”
              1. Primacy of Grace
              2. Justification
              3. Election/Predestination
         iii. “… To Grace”
              1. Beginning Salvation
              2. Continuing Salvation
              3. Completing Salvation

Question 10

Basic Texts on Election

Answer 10

i. John 6:44, 65
1. God’s purpose of grace

ii. Romans 8:28-39
1. Election as a reason for assurance (cf. Calvin)

iii. Romans 9:5-9, 32-33
1. God’s grace is historically focused on Christ, “the promise,” in whom faith will “not be disappointed”

iv. Ephesians 1:3-23
1. Elected in Christ (cf. Carroll, Barth)

Question 11

Defining the Terms of Election: Foreordination

Answer 11

God’s direction of all things

Question 12

Defining the Terms of Election: Predestination

Answer 12

God’s direction of salvation

Question 13

Defining the Terms of Election: Election

Answer 13

God’s direction of the saved

Question 14

Defining the Terms of Election: Reprobation

Answer 14

God’s direction of the condemned

Question 15

Defining the Terms of Election: Pretirition

Answer 15

God elects but merely “passes over” the condemned. For the Preterist, essentially God positively elects but does not decree reprobation. Predestination and election are basically synonymous. Cf. Augustine and BF&M.

Question 16

Defining the Terms of Election: Double Predestination

Answer 16

God both actively elects some sinners to salvation and actively reprobates other sinners to condemnation. Cf. John Calvin and Dort.

Question 17

Defining the Terms of Election: Christological Election

Answer 17

Election is first and foremost of Christ and by participation of those in Christ

Question 18

What is Election? I

Answer 18

Election is Christological: Eph 1.3-23 (“in Christ”); Rom 9.7-8, 29 (“the seed”)

Question 19

What is Election? II

Answer 19

Is Election of Persons to Salvation from Eternity? Rev 5.9 (no, of Christ for atonement); Rom 16.13 (no, for service); 2 Thess 2.13 (beginning of ?); Rom 9.10-13 (no, for historical purpose of Christ)

Question 20

What is Election? III

Answer 20

Election is Eternal: Eph 1.4; 2 Tim 1.9; 2 Thess 2.13

Question 21

What is Election? IV

Answer 21

If there is Personal Election, It is Probably Not Based on Foreknowledge: Rom 8.29; Acts 13.46, 48

Question 22

What is Election? V

Answer 22

Election is Immutable: Heb 6.17-18

Question 23

What is Election? VI

Answer 23

Election is Interconnected with the Other Graces of Salvation: Rom 8.30; 2 Thess 2.13; 1 Pet 1.2; Eph 2.10

Question 24

What is Election? VII

Answer 24

The Preacher Must, for the Lost, Focus on the Calling Aspect of Election: Rom 9.24-26; Rom 10.5-17; Acts 3.19

Question 25

What is Election? VIII

Answer 25

Reprobation, if true (though it is not revealed), cannot mean God made men to damn them without reference to their freely-chosen sin. God is not the author of sin.

Question 26

Baptist Faith & Message, art. 5

Answer 26

“Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.” * Note there is no position on individual election vs. Christological election.

Question 27

Incorporation into the Elect I

Answer 27

Expositing Eph. 1:1‑14, Carroll noted that Paul repeatedly correlated election with being “in Christ.” “When was this choice made? Before the world was…. In whom was it (election) bestowed? In Christ, the beloved,” said Carroll.

Question 28

Incorporation into the Elect II

Answer 28

“The blessings that I am to receive as a Christian were not bestowed upon me, the hateful, but in Christ, the beloved. I will get to them by getting into him, and be complete in him.”

Question 29

Incorporation into the Elect III

Answer 29

According to this view, election is discovered through being incorporated into Christ, who is the Elect One, “chosen before the creation of the world” (1 Pet. 1:20).

Question 30

Incorporation into the Elect IV

Answer 30

All people are sinners, having been identified with and incorporated into the first Adam from birth, but are incorporated into the second Adam, Jesus Christ, by virtue of our faith response to the initiating grace of God (cf. Romans 5-6). B.H. Carroll, An Interpretation of the English Bible: Colossians, Ephesians, and Hebrews (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1973), 77.

Question 31

James Pendleton on Calling and Election

Answer 31

“God begins with election, but man cannot. He must begin with calling, and when he makes that sure, the election is sure. The calling is the only attainable proof of the election. It will be seen, therefore, that the question of election is, in the hands of a sinner, the most unmanageable of questions. The reason is, it is none of his business, and he can do nothing with it.”

Question 32

James Pendleton on Reprobation

Answer 32

i. “Does God make men to damn them?”
ii. “No intelligent believer in the divine purposes will say that God has made any of the sons of men with a view to their damnation without respect to their sins….”
iii. “It is nothing more than his determination to treat those who live and die in impenitence as they deserve to be treated…. The lost soul will know and feel that it suffers its deserts—no more no less.”