Theology of the Church, Mentor's Guide, MG03

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T H E O L O G Y O F T H E C H U R C H

God’s election of the saved in Jesus Christ assumes that they have heard the good news of the Gospel, and responded to the Gospel in repentance and faith. We are saved through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and through belief in the truth of the Gospel; we must hear and believe in order to be saved (2 Thess. 2.13). From this and many other passages, it is clear, then that the preaching and teaching of the truth of Christ is critical for salvation, and therefore for making sure God’s call of election (Rom. 10.14-17; cf. Acts 18.9-11). One of the critical issues dealing with the doctrine of election (as well as its sister idea “reprobation,” or God’s rejection of those who have not been elected) is whether or not the election of God is corporate and communal, individual and personal, or some kind of hybrid election in between. We emphasize throughout this lesson that we are elected in Christ, and that this sense of election is both practically and spiritually the heart of the doctrine. Texts in the New Testament support claims on both sides, that election has both an individual as well as a communal aspect. For instance, the plain statements of Ephesians suggests that the election is in some sense communal, shown by Paul’s references to “us” and “we” (1.4-5, 12). Furthermore, in one of the most often quoted texts in reference here, Romans 8.28-30, Paul uses a plural pronouns, “those,” whom God foreknew, were the ones that he predestined, called, justified, and glorified. Again, Romans 9 speaks to election in terms of Israel’s election, and personal election as an element within it. This assertion, though, is set against Paul’s statement in Romans 9.8 where he indicates that “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel” (9.6, 8), and then masterfully argues the point in an individual example of Jacob and Esau (9.7, 11-13). Those who would argue strongly for individual election would cite a number of verses, including such texts as John 6.37-40; 10.14-16, 26-29; 17.2, 6, 9, 24. Again, for the sake of our lesson, we are emphasizing the need to focus on the Christ centered nature of election, and our election in Christ.

9 Page 92 Outline Point III-D