One of my favorite systematicianย writes:

“An examination of some of the relevant passages reaps the following fruit of teaching. Believers have been chosen by God โ€˜to the praise of his gloryโ€™ (Eph. 1:11, 12); to โ€˜show forth the praisesโ€™ of the One who called them (1 Peter 2:9 KJV); to live holy blameless lives (Eph. 1:4); to be fully sanctified, i.e. โ€˜conformed to the image of his [Godโ€™s] Sonโ€™ (Rom. 8:28, 29); to โ€˜go and bear fruitโ€™ (John 15:16). It is hence, an error to think of election apart from the high and holy ends which God had in mind when He did it.

The success of the plan of redemption could not be guaranteedโ€”as all Godโ€™s eternal counsels areโ€”apart from divine initiative at every stage of the plan (ordo salutis). On account of sovereign election, God knew from the beginning who would populate heaven and a renewed earth. โ€˜[T]he Lambโ€™ was โ€˜slainโ€™ from โ€˜the foundation of the worldโ€™ (Rev. 13:8) and the inhabitants are โ€˜those who are written in the Lambโ€™s book of lifeโ€™ (Rev. 21:27). These facts of Scripture in no wise encourage any one to presume on Godโ€™s grace in this regard, because divine sovereignty and human responsibility are juxtaposed in many a biblical declaration, perhaps never more starkly than in this verse: โ€˜But Godโ€™s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: โ€œThe Lord knows those who are hisโ€, and, โ€œLet everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquityโ€ย โ€™ (2 Tim. 2:19).” (Robert Duncan Culver, Systematic Theology: Biblical and Historical, 677).


I know that folks may not find Election as comforting or hope-giving as myself, but this is a free country. Plus, I’m told I’m a card-carrying Calvinst, so I’m supposed to talk about predestination a lot, right? Anyway, I find itย extremelyย important to note what Culver so eloquently writes: “It is hence, an error to think of election apart from the high and holy ends which God had in mind when He did it.” God has a plan and he is carrying it out, with an end goal in mind. For myself, that ultimate goal is his own glory.

For those interested in learning more about the doctrine of Election, the two most helpful books on the subject that I have read are:

The Reformed Doctrine of Predestinationย by Loraine Boettner – This is a classic treatment of the subject by one of the premier 20th century Reformed theologians. This was a hugely influential book in my life, as I read it when I was a committed Arminian. Boettner’sย argumentsย were simply tooย persuasiveย to dismiss.

Chosen for Life: The Case for Divine Electionย by Sam Storms – This is, in my estimation, the best “modern” treatment of the subject. It irenically makes a case for the Reformed position on election over and against Arminianism,ย Amyraldianism, etc. This is a must read.

I’d start with Sam Storms. He’s excellent. But don’t hate on the older generation. And if youย reallyย want to dig deep, read Calvin!

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