Donald K. McKim describes unconditional election as, "God's electing some solely on the basis of God's freedom and love and not on the basis of any merit or efforts on the part of humans." Unconditional election (or for the purpose of this thread just "election") is rooted in God's will of decree. By God's will of decree I mean the ways by which God enacts the divine plan of salvation in history. God's will of decree is not so much an actual decree made by God, as it is the mind of God in relation to the elect; their call and regeneration as it happens in time.
Why do I state, "God's will of decree is not so much an actual decree made by God"? One does not need to hold to Reformed Theology to believe in God's omniscience. God knows all things. God does not acquire knowledge. All things come forth from God, not the converse. While this is true of all things, for the purpose of this discussion it is specifically true of the election of individuals to salvation. We speak of God's election of individuals to salvation as originating in God's will of decree. From eternity the sum total of the elect has always existed in the mind of God. This inherent divine knowledge began to be expressed, in time, after God's work of creation. It is first seen in Gen. 3:15 with the promise of the seed of the woman. It is revealed with continued frequency until, in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son (Gal. 4:4). As the New Testament canon was completed the word of Christ and the Apostles revealed this "inherent divine knowledge" in decretive terms (c.f. Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 9:13, 16; Ephesians 2:5, 12).
God's will of decree is not based on any future act of man, such as belief (c.f Acts 15:18; Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18). God did not look down the corridor of time and elected (chose) those who chose Him. To suggest otherwise is to force a condition upon divine knowledge. It creates a formal fallacy which will continually skew a proper understanding of the divine role in the calling and saving of individuals. Romans 9:11 places divine purpose ahead of human will. Paul writes, "so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand".
God's will of decree also refutes the corporate election view. God is establishing His Church through the calling and saving of individuals, who have always existed in the eternal mind of God. God has not first called an empty set; a "if your build it they will come" entity (the Church) that is being filled by those who come to faith in Christ independent of election.
Unconditional election then, is based on an understanding of God as all sufficient and all knowing. It does not begin with man or even end with man. It begins and ends with God. God is the subject and man is the object.
Why do I state, "God's will of decree is not so much an actual decree made by God"? One does not need to hold to Reformed Theology to believe in God's omniscience. God knows all things. God does not acquire knowledge. All things come forth from God, not the converse. While this is true of all things, for the purpose of this discussion it is specifically true of the election of individuals to salvation. We speak of God's election of individuals to salvation as originating in God's will of decree. From eternity the sum total of the elect has always existed in the mind of God. This inherent divine knowledge began to be expressed, in time, after God's work of creation. It is first seen in Gen. 3:15 with the promise of the seed of the woman. It is revealed with continued frequency until, in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son (Gal. 4:4). As the New Testament canon was completed the word of Christ and the Apostles revealed this "inherent divine knowledge" in decretive terms (c.f. Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 9:13, 16; Ephesians 2:5, 12).
God's will of decree is not based on any future act of man, such as belief (c.f Acts 15:18; Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18). God did not look down the corridor of time and elected (chose) those who chose Him. To suggest otherwise is to force a condition upon divine knowledge. It creates a formal fallacy which will continually skew a proper understanding of the divine role in the calling and saving of individuals. Romans 9:11 places divine purpose ahead of human will. Paul writes, "so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand".
God's will of decree also refutes the corporate election view. God is establishing His Church through the calling and saving of individuals, who have always existed in the eternal mind of God. God has not first called an empty set; a "if your build it they will come" entity (the Church) that is being filled by those who come to faith in Christ independent of election.
Unconditional election then, is based on an understanding of God as all sufficient and all knowing. It does not begin with man or even end with man. It begins and ends with God. God is the subject and man is the object.
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