I have learned that every Christian
believes in election. Moving from that
point the unity fractures. It has been
the common understanding among Calvinistic/Reformed Christians to root their
understanding of election in Romans 9 (the chapter I have just expounded upon). That Calvinistic (so-called) understanding is
stated this way:
"Unconditional Election is the
doctrine which states that God chose those whom he was pleased to bring to a
knowledge of himself, not based upon any merit shown by the object of his grace
and not based upon his looking forward to discover who would "accept"
the offer of the gospel. God has elected, based solely upon the counsel of his
own will, some for glory and others for damnation (Romans 9:15,21). He has done
this act before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4-8)."[1]
You will notice that the opening sentence
of the above definition is supported by Romans 9:15,21. Dissenters will deny this approach and cry,
"Foul!" They will argue that
Romans 9 is clearly about God's choice of Israel as a nation and the resultant
disposition of that. They will argue
that to suggest any type of individual/personal election from this chapter is eisegesis at best, and probably heresy.
For a
scholarly academic treatment of this subject I refer you to Dr. Thomas
Schreiner's work in the Journal
of the Evangelical Theological Society. C.
Michael Patton also has an excellent argument, posted online. For a shorter
treatment, keep reading. Here are 5 reasons
that I believe I can root unconditional election of individuals with supporting
texts in Romans 9.
#1.
Romans 1-8, the all-important context.
As you read Romans 8:28
would it ever cross your mind to think that Paul is addressing the nation of
Israel? No, of course not. The immediate context to Romans 9 is about
individual salvation. Paul has just said, “No, in
all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am
sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor
things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord.” (Romans 8:37–39, ESV).
If the salvation of individuals is secured
by the promises of God and chapter 9 reports that God has rejected, in most
part, the nation of Israel – what are we to make of that? So the national discussion is simply a response
to the affirmations about individual security. The question on the table of
both individual or corporate issues is the trueness of God.
#2. When Paul discusses the national
situation of Israel he immediately invokes illustrations from individuals
within Abraham's family. He points out the election of Jacob over Esau (Rom.
9:10-13) etc. The implication is
national, but the example is individual.
In fact all of Paul's examples are individuals.
#3. Rom.
9:24 speaks about God calling the elect “out of” the Jews and the Gentiles. This would be a meaningless addition to the
argument if Paul was talking about the nations themselves.
#4. In Romans 9:16 (ESV), we read, "16 So then it depends not on human
will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." The KJV rends human "man". The noun is singular obviously referring to
individuals.
#5. Paul has no
argument in this chapter if he is referring to a national election. If that be the case, the opening sentence,
". . . For not all who are descended from Israel
are Israel"[2] is a ludicrous statement. If Paul's primary premise is true (that God
has rejected much of Israel according to the flesh) then either all Israel is
saved or none – if it's about national election. John Piper is right: "In Paul’s mind the election of Isaac over
Ishmael and Jacob over Esau established an ongoing principle whereby God elects
unconditionally the beneficiaries of his blessing not only in the establishment
of the nation Israel by Jacob and his sons, but also within that very nation so
that ‘all those from Israel, these are not Israel.'"[3]
There are
esteemed and scholarly opponents to this view.
But despite their credentials and good intentions they have failed to
grasp the flow of Paul's argument proceeding from Romans 9:1-5 and the
supporting evidence he marshals in the rest of the chapter. So one of the massively important
implications of Romans 9 is that the Word of God is clearly affirming that for
all who are saved by grace through faith “. . . it depends not on human will or exertion, but
on God, who has mercy.” (Romans 9:16, ESV).
There are some other implications that I
will conclude with, in the next Blog.
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Previous Blogs on this topic:
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1
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Romans 9:1-2
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2
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Romans 9:3-5
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3
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Romans 9:6–9
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4
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Romans 9:6–13
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5
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Romans 9:13
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6
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Romans 9:14-16
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7
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Romans 9:17-19
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8
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Romans 9:20a
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9
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Romans 9:20-21
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10
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Romans 9:22-23
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11
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Romans 9:24-29
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12
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