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You are here: Home / Evangelism / Why unconditional election is good news

Why unconditional election is good news

May 3, 2011 by Christina

One of the greatest misconceptions regarding the doctrines of grace or Calvinism is that it undermines zeal for evangelism.  Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the doctrines of grace, rightly understood, will actually produce a boldness because the truth of salvation has been settled.  The miracle work of conversion belongs to God and not man.

The doctrine of unconditional election teaches that God saved us — not on account of any merit or goodness in us but rather of His own sovereign and unconditional choice.  God “saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time…” (2 Timothy 1:9).

When I look back upon the days that led to my own profession of faith in Christ, I am one-hundred percent certain that I would not have been considered a candidate for salvation by anyone’s standards! But, that’s how it is with Jesus! There is no such thing as the “religious sort” or the “religious type”.  His grace is free and He lavishes it upon those whom He has chosen from the foundation of the world.

John Benton, in his booklet “Evangelistic Calvinism: Why the Doctrines of Grace are Good News” discusses how the “doctrines of grace are in fact five beautiful diamonds from which the glories of Jesus wonderfully shine to attract those who are lost in sin.”  In this brief excerpt he explains one of the reasons why the doctrine of unconditional election, rightly understood and proclaimed “will knock down every barrier to bring sinners to Christ.”

“God does not choose a certain type of person to save and transform into a Christian.  God’s choice is free.  The witness of Scripture is that he has chosen all types, from sensuous party-going Samson to cunning, lying Jacob, and from beautiful, gentle Esther to the murderous religious bigot, Saul of Tarsus.  He has chosen poor and rich, respectable citizens and despicable criminals, heterosexuals and homosexuals, all as objects of his transforming grace.  There are no age, class, gender or racial limits. The Bible specifically informs us that he has chosen people from every language, tribe, and nation to be the heirs of his salvation.  There are no restrictions to free grace.  

We can therefore say to sinners, ‘If God has chosen all types, then why not you?’ “

Now tell me…isn’t that good news?

Whoever you are, whatever you’ve done — you can come, just as you are to a righteous God who graciously and mercifully justifies ungodly and unholy sinners!

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Filed Under: Evangelism, Unconditional Election

Comments

  1. Barbara Thayer says

    May 3, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    Christina….I loved this post! It is GOOD NEWS! To think that He chose me before the foundation of the world is incredible. He loved me before I ever loved Him. How people can misunderstand unconditional election I do not know. But I think you did a great job of clarifying this. Thank you for faithfully presenting this doctrine of grace in a clear manner. Blessings!

  2. Diane says

    May 4, 2011 at 1:20 am

    Yes, it IS good news! Speaking to others about Christ is so much easier when the burden isn’t on us to convince them into the Kingdom.
    When I was a new believer other Christians would often say “this or that person would make a really good Christian” based upon something about their personalilty. It was crazy to think that way.
    This looks like a great little book Christina.

    Blessings sister!

  3. the Ink Slinger says

    May 4, 2011 at 1:27 am

    It is good news indeed! Amen! Great post, Christina!

  4. persis says

    May 4, 2011 at 7:29 am

    Thanks for the quote, Christina. But for unconditional election, there was no way I would have been saved.

  5. alH says

    May 4, 2011 at 9:22 am

    Wonderful grace of Jesus,
    Greater than all my sin…

    Posted this link on FB.
    Thank you

  6. Trisha says

    May 5, 2011 at 10:10 am

    Beautiful and encouraging post, Christina! And, thank you for sharing about this book.

Trackbacks

  1. Flotsam & Jetsam (5/5) | the Ink Slinger says:
    May 5, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    […] Good News – Christian shares why the doctrine of unconditional election is such good news: “The miracle work of conversion belongs to God and not man.” […]

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