Chosen by Grace – Why Predestination Should Give You Confidence, Not Fear - by Alistair Chalmers

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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The author is a Calvinist, and as is typical for Calvinists he does not intend to explain the Bible, he's wanting to explain Calvinism. Calvinists will never teach the Bible unless they can teach some aspect of Calvinism.

This essay uses about 1500+ words, comprised mostly of bare assertions. Assertions about Calvinism. Predestination, to be specific. A doctrine that cannot give anyone confidence, as we will explain below.

Predestination is one of the so-called "doctrines of grace," roughly represented by the acronym TULIP:

Total Depravity

Unconditional election

Limited atonement

Irresistible grace

Perseverance of the saints

The reader will likely notice that the author directly or indirectly references almost all of these five doctrines. Again, that is what Calvinists do, talk endlessly about Calvinism.

Though the author quotes a few Scriptures, they are standard Calvinist go-to verses. Because the author misrepresents these verses, we must deem this Bad Bible Teaching.

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Predestination. For some Christians, the very word brings comfort. For others, it brings confusion. And for many, it raises questions they have wrestled with for years. (We do not judge doctrines by the comfort they give. They are judged by their fidelity to Scripture. Further, doctrines should not cause problems, they should be the solution to problems.)

“Did God really choose people before the foundation of the world?”

“If that’s true, do our choices matter?”

“Can I know that I’m one of the elect?”

And perhaps the question that comes up more than any other:

“If God chooses people to be saved, why didn’t He simply choose everyone?” (These are excellent questions. Will the author biblically answer them?)

These are not merely academic questions. (Previously the author applied feelings to his doctrines. Now he wants to switch to the intellect.)

They touch our understanding of God, the gospel, assurance, evangelism and worship. (Actually, they touch on how well one toes the Calvinist line.)

They affect how we pray, how we share our faith and how we rest in Christ.

As Christians, we should never be afraid of difficult doctrines if they are biblical doctrines. (That's the big "if.")

Our task is not to decide whether we like them, but to understand them as God has revealed them. And when we do, we often discover that the truths we once found intimidating become some of the richest sources of comfort. (But, but... Isn't comfort related to feelings? The author stated, Our task is not to decide whether we like them... but then claims comfort from them. Arrgh.)

God is not embarrassed by election (Who is worried about God's embarrassment? What an odd statement.)

One of the striking things about the Bible is how naturally it speaks about God’s sovereign choice. (The author will never explain "sovereign.")

Paul writes “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4, ESV) (Who are the "us" in this verse? Actually, Paul told us: 

Ep. 1:11-12 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined... 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Oh. Only the very earliest first century Christians could possibly be the "first to hope in Christ." Later Christians like the Ephesian church [as well as the Christians through the centuries] were "included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation." [Vs. 13] 

"Us" and "we" as contrasted with "you." Paul was clearly telling us that not everyone was predestined.)

Jesus tells his disciples “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16) (Indeed, Jesus chose His disciples. Why does the author include us? We weren't there.)

Again Jesus says “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37) (Who did the Father give to Jesus? Those who believed Him at that time in history. We weren't there.)

Peter addresses ordinary Christians as “elect exiles” (1 Peter 1:1) (Sigh. Was Peter writing to you and I? No. Let's continue the quote where the author left off: To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia... This is not us.)

Election is not presented as an embarrassing theological footnote. It is woven into the fabric of the New Testament. (Agreed. But the question the author will never investigate is, who are the Elect? This seems like an important consideration.)

Interestingly, whenever Scripture speaks about election to believers, it almost always does so pastorally rather than polemically. The purpose is not to create anxiety but assurance. Paul doesn’t begin Ephesians with election to start an argument. He begins there because he wants Christians to praise God.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Ephesians 1:3). Election leads to worship. (Sigh again. Paul began all his letters with some sort of salutation and various statements about blessing or thankfulness. But somehow the salutation and praise to the Father in Ephesians is connected to election? What?)

Grace is only amazing if salvation is undeserved

(Where in the Bible does God ever make a statement about deserved or undeserved regarding salvation? God ahead, dear reader. Search it out. There is no statement by Jesus, an apostle, a prophet, or any word spoken by God that tells us about deserved or not deserved. We discuss this in detail here.)

Perhaps the biggest mistake we make when thinking about predestination is assuming that God owes salvation to everyone. (It seems unlikely that any Christian believes that anyone is owed salvation.)

The Bible never begins there. 

Instead, it tells us that all people have sinned (Romans 3:23). Every one of us has rebelled against our Creator. Every one of us deserves judgement, not mercy. (It seems unlikely that any Christian believes that they have not sinned.)

That changes the question. 

Instead of asking, “Why doesn’t God save everyone?” we should first ask, “Why does God save anyone?” (Is it really a matter of semantics? Why can't we ask both questions?)

If salvation depended on what we deserved, heaven would be empty. (Question for the author: Do the Elect, by virtue of God's predestination, "deserve" salvation?) 

The wonder of the gospel is not that some are judged. (?? Who thinks this?)

Justice would require that. The wonder is that God, in astonishing mercy, determined to rescue sinners at unimaginable cost to himself. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

Election magnifies grace because it reminds us that salvation was never earned, deserved or initiated by us. (Election does no such thing, since most every Christian would admit that salvation is not earned.)

As Jonah discovered “Salvation belongs to the LORD!” (Jonah 2:9)

Why didn’t God choose everyone?

This is perhaps the hardest question.

The honest answer is that Scripture does not give us every detail of God’s secret purposes.

Deuteronomy 29:29 reminds us “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us…” (That's not what this verse is about, sir. In this passage Moses was exhorting Israel to live holy lives according to God's commands. By the time we get to this verse we understand that Moses was declaring that Israel possesses the Law as something uniquely revealed to them. The Law belongs to Israel forever.

Another way to put this is, what God possesses is given to become the possession of Israel. They do not possess what has not been given. 

Further, the things we do not know is not the same thing as God's secret will, because we cannot assume that what we do not not know correlates to God's secrets. 

Finally, the "secret things" are no longer secret:

Col. 1:25-26 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fulness — 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

The Secret Thing is now disclosed to the Church, that is, the redemptive, salvific power of Jesus. The secret is not secret any longer.

Therefore, the verse the author cites has nothing to do with Election.)

The Bible tells us that God is perfectly just (Genesis 18:25). It tells us he is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4). It tells us he desires people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30), takes no delight in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11), and genuinely calls all people to come to Christ (Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 11:28). (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

It also tells us that before the foundation of the world he chose a people for himself (Ephesians 1:4). (We already dealt with this above.)

How every aspect of God’s sovereign will fits together is something finite minds cannot fully comprehend. (The author will never explain "sovereign.")

Romans 9 is perhaps the clearest chapter on God’s sovereign freedom.  (The author will never explain "sovereign.")

Anticipating our objections, Paul asks “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” (Romans 9:20)

That is not a dismissal of honest questions. Rather, it is a reminder that the Creator is under no obligation to explain himself to the creature. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

At the heart of Romans 9 is this truth – God would have been perfectly just to leave every one of us in our sin. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

The fact that he rescues many displays his mercy. The fact that he judges sin displays his justice. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

If he had saved no one, he would still be righteous. The fact that he saves countless sinners at the cost of his Son is breathtaking grace. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.

The author has explained nothing that is uniquely related to predestination.)


But doesn’t this make evangelism pointless?

Not at all. (The author does not explain why someone would ask such a question. The question is rooted in the fact that if Election is true, then that means everyone who God selects to be saved will be saved. Everyone else God has selected for hell will go to hell. His holy decree cannot be violated. 

This means that evangelism, holy living, going to church, generosity, and every other command of Scripture has no bearing whatsoever on who will be saved and who will not be saved.

Thus doctrinally speaking, nothing anyone ever does changes Election.)

In fact, history suggests the opposite. (An Appeal To History, not the Bible. What people decided to do or not do has nothing to do with answering the question biblically.)

Many of the greatest evangelists and missionaries held firmly to God’s sovereign grace. (The author will never explain "sovereign.")

Men like George Whitefield, William Carey, Charles Spurgeon and Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached passionately because they believed God had people who would respond to the gospel. (Still dodging the question...)

Paul stayed in Corinth despite fierce opposition because the Lord told him “I have many in this city who are my people.” (Acts 18:10) (Sigh. Let's quote a bit more of the passage: 

Ac. 18:10 For I am with you, and no-one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.

Oh, my. 

"God has people" is not synonymous with "God elected people for salvation." The author is reaching for something, anything, that will bolster his false doctrines.

Let's look at the Greek:

1360 [e] dioti διότι because Conj

2992 [e] laos λαός people N-NMS

1510 [e] esti ἐστί there are V-PIA-3S

1473 [e] moi μοι to me PPro-D1S

4183 [e] polys πολὺς many Adj-NMS

1722 [e] en ἐν in Prep

3588 [e] tē τῇ the Art-DFS

4172 [e] polei πόλει city N-DFS

3778 [e] tautē ταύτῃ  . this DPro-DFS

The Greek here is rather simple. It doesn't even imply election. Plainly, this verse means that God knows that there are many people in this city who will not harm Paul, and/or they will even protect him. 

The author is attempting to force his doctrine into this verse. This is not about those who are predetermined to be saved. We are beginning to think the author is not a competent Bible teacher.)

Notice the order. They were already God’s people in his eternal purpose before they had believed. That didn’t reduce Paul’s evangelistic zeal. It fuelled it. (Paul's evangelistic zeal is not explained by Election. Election is contrary to Paul's passion, not complimentary of it.)

Election guarantees that evangelism will succeed. (No, election renders evangelism irrelevant.)

If salvation ultimately depended upon human willingness alone, (No Christian makes this claim.)

none of us would ever come. 

We are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). Dead people do not revive themselves. 

But God raises the dead.

The gospel is the means he uses to call his chosen people to himself. (Is the author saying that Election is conditional on the Gospel? How exactly does that work?)

That gives us confidence to keep speaking, even when people reject the message. (Why engage in an action that makes no difference? The author has dodged the question.)

How can I know if I’m chosen?

This is another question that troubles many sincere Christians. The Bible never tells us to discover whether we are elect by trying to peek into God’s secret decree.

Instead, it points us to Christ. Jesus says “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37) (Um, sir. No one "comes" to Jesus, they are the Elect, remember? Salvation is not contingent on someone's actions, remember sir? Let's correct the verse so that Jesus' statement doesn't contradict predestination: "The ones I chose will come to me...")

Notice the invitation. (How does an invitation harmonize with predestination?)

Not, “Work out whether you’re elect.” Simply, “Come.” (Which must imply that "come" is conditional. "Not come" is the obverse, indicating an exercise in human will. The author has cited a verse that betrays him.)

Anyone who turns from sin and trusts Christ can have complete confidence that they belong to him. (Many people have had this confidence, but later turned out to be false converts.)

In fact, your very desire to come to Christ is evidence of God’s gracious work in your life. (Many people have had this desire, but later turned out to be false converts.)

W shouldn’t spend our time trying to see into so kind of secret book of election in heaven. We should look to Christ, because his arms are open to every repentant sinner. ("Every repentant sinner" is one of the Elect. Repentance doesn't matter. It's an illusion.)

The question is not, “Am I elect?” The question is, “Have I trusted Christ?” (Many people have had this trust, but later turned out to be false converts.)

If the answer is yes, then Scripture assures you that your salvation began not with your grip on him but with his eternal love for you. (Many people have answered yes, but later turned out to be false converts.)

Election gives security, not insecurity

Many Christians quietly fear that one day they might lose their salvation. (Perhaps. But people like the author ought to fear that they might be false converts. It's either the danger of losing one's salvation or the danger of being a false convert. There is no assurance either way.)

Predestination speaks directly into those fears. (No, it doesn't. One cannot know if one is predestined for salvation.)

If your salvation began because God chose you, not because you were wise enough, good enough or spiritual enough, then your security rests not on your faithfulness but his. (Yes, if God indeed chose you. But you cannot know this.)

Paul writes “Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30) (So, who are "those whom he predestined?" This seems to imply that there are some He did not predestine. We discuss this verse in detail here.) 

Notice that every group is identical. No one drops out. No one is lost along the way. The God who began the work completes it. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

That is why Romans 8 climaxes with the glorious declaration that nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38–39). Election is not meant to make Christians wonder whether they belong to Christ. It is meant to assure those who do belong that nothing can ever take them away.  (Many people have has this assurance, but later turned out to be false converts.)

A doctrine that should make us humble

Perhaps the greatest practical effect of believing predestination is humility. No Christian can boast. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

No believer can secretly think they were a little wiser, a little more spiritual or a little more deserving than someone else. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

 As Paul asks “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Everything is grace. Every prayer answered. Every step of sanctification. Every moment of perseverance. Every glimpse of Christ. Every hope of heaven. All of it is gift. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

Election strips away pride and leaves us marvelling at mercy. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)


Standing in wonder

There will always be mysteries surrounding God’s sovereign purposes.  (The author will never explain "sovereign.")

We should not pretend to have answers where Scripture remains silent. But neither should we apologise for what Scripture clearly teaches.

Predestination is not a cold philosophical theory. It is a warm pastoral truth. (Nonsense assertions.)

It reminds struggling believers that before they ever sought Christ, he had set his love upon them. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

Before they ever cried out for mercy, he had purposed to save them. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

Before the world began, their names were known to him. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

That does not make us proud. It makes us thankful. It does not make us passive. It sends us into the world with confidence to proclaim the gospel. And it does not lead us to spend our lives speculating about God’s hidden purposes. Instead, it leads us to gaze upon Christ, rejoice in his grace, proclaim him freely to all, and worship the God who saves sinners entirely by grace. (Most every Christian would agree, even apart from predestination.)

For in the end, predestination is not really about us. It is about the glory of a God who planned salvation before time began, accomplished it through his Son, applies it by his Spirit, and will one day bring every one of his people safely home.

And that is not a doctrine to fear. It is a doctrine to sing about. (It's a doctrine to reject.)