What Are Election and Predestination?

Basics of the Reformed Faith

by Richard D. Phillips

The doctrines of election and predestination are often misunderstood outside Reformed circles. This booklet clearly and simply explains these truths, showing their biblical basis and practical application.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2006

About the author

Richard D. Phillips (MDiv, Westminster Theological Seminary) is the senior minister of Second Presbyterian Church of Greenville, South Carolina. He is a council member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, chairman of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, and coeditor of the Reformed Expository Commentary series.

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Is Election?
The Doctrine of Election
6: Eph. 1 is an important passage for this topic; the Greek word eklectos has to do with "choosing"; the foundation of our security is "God's own free and gracious choice of us"
8: "the covenant of redemption"; an important question is, "Why do some believe while others do not?" [see here for why this question is so important]

The Bible's Teaching, Not Man's
9: this doctrine doesn't derive only from Calvin, or even Augustine; while it's helpful to know that this position has been the majority view throughout many centuries of church history, it's more important to know that this position is a Scriptural one; see Eph. 1 and Rom. 9
10–11: other NT and OT support doesn't keep the doctrine from being difficult to accept for some

Humility, Not Pride
12: election is necessary because of our total depravity [ironically, Arminianism, which emphasizes human ability, rejects total depravity, yet claims that Calvinism is inherently prideful; again, see here]

Holiness, Not License
13: holiness marks the elect (and leads to confidence), so election does not lead to license

Assurance, Not Presumption
15: assurance is in Christ, not anything or anyone else

Glory to God Alone
17–18: those who reject God's sovereignty in this area necessarily rely on something else: personal merit, strength, etc.

What Is Predestination?
The Doctrine of Predestination
20: "Predestination means God's determining something in advance"; "God elects persons and predestines things"
21: God didn't simply predestine a holy people—He predestined us (Eph. 1:4–5)
21–22: if God predestined people based on His foreknowledge (a word which does appear before the word predestination in Rom. 8:29) of how people would respond to the offer of the gospel, then predestination is pointless/meaningless—God didn't decide anything, He just figured it out; but salvation isn't based on our act of believing, but on God's character and purpose; we are predestined in love: read, "Having fore-loved us, he predestined us"

Predestination and Human Responsibility
23–25: the Bible teaches both God's sovereignty and human responsibility, and we don't need to reconcile them (Calvin says don't push past what the Bible teaches); the meeting of divine and human results in mystery (e.g., Incarnation, inspiration, salvation); we're not puppets; Judas's sin was prophesied (Ps. 41:9, Zech. 11:12–13), yet he was still responsible; God determined Jesus' death, yet wicked men who crucified Him were still responsible (Acts 2:23); "God ordains not merely the ends but also the means"—so we preach the gospel with confidence, knowing that God will certainly bring a harvest (Is. 55:11)

Is It Fair?
26–27: re: fairness, see Jacob and Esau in Rom. 9; justice (a better word than fairness) toward guilty humans results only in condemnation; humanity isn't neutral, and God doesn't owe salvation to anyone; in passing over some, God is not unjust or unfair, because everyone who is punished deserves the punishment; the salvation of any is sheer grace

Adoption as Sons
27: we are predestined for adoption, a concept taken from Roman civil law; sons are heirs (we should keep the male distinction—"sons"— in this case, to maintain the idea of heirship (which was passed down to sons, not daughters); this is not problematic for women, because men need to think of themselves as the bride of Christ; "Roman adoption was so radical a separation that all past debts and obligations were wiped out"; Phillips lists 5 privileges of sonship through adoption

Love So Amazing

Notes
32: references to Calvin, A. A. Hodge, Pink, Boice, Packer, Owen, Tozer, and others

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and right to the point. I love this series of short summaries, perfect for loaning or giving to students who want a little more depth than I can go in class but are not quite ready for Frame's Systematic Theology!!!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief introduction to the Reformed doctrine of predestination. It covers a lot of ground, including several objections. It's not as organized as it could've been, nor does it make as strong a case as could be made.

Notes
Election
Verses: Eph 1:4-5; Rom 9:10-11; Acts 13:48; 1 Pet 1:1; 2 Pet 1:10; John 15:16; 6:37-39, 65; Is 46:9-10; Deut 7:8-8; John 1:13; Titus 3:3-5; Rom 8:30; Jonah 2:9.

Predestination
Verses: Eph 1:5; Rom 3:23; 8:29; 9:11-16.

Bible teaches divine predestination and human responsibility without reconciling them.

There's always mystery where divine and human meet. E.g., Christ's human and divine natures, human and divine authorship of Scripture.

Predestination and genuine choice taught in Eph 1:5, actions of Judas, actions of Jesus, actions of Jews who killed Jesus (Acts 2:23).

"It is not as if God looked down on a neutral humanity, deciding to make some believers and others reject him. Rather, he looked upon a humanity already guilty in sin and unbelief. … God passes by some sinful rebels, allowing them to continue their chosen hell-bound course to the praise of his justice. Others he saves to the glory of his mercy." See Rom 3:23; 9:11-16.

[Sandy Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Presbyterian friend sent me this book. I'm so happy that she did and that I read it from cover to cover in about an hour. I understand better the doctrines of Election and Predestination, not completely, but better. I'll read it again to get an even better understanding. I have always been afraid of these doctrines, but I'm not now.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple explanation of two great truths. I appreciate how it addresses some of the common arguments against these truths in a clear and easy to follow way.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Election and predestination, though both clear teachings of Scripture, often find themselves at the heart of controversy and confusion. In this booklet, Phillips does an excellent job of briefly explaining and discussing his view on these critical teachings, even answering common objections that arise. Also useful for consideration are Phillips’ explorations of what the doctrines of election and predestination mean for believers. Too brief to be thorough and thus unlikely to convince those of alternate persuasions.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, short overview of the theology of election. Nothing mind-blowing and amazing, but simply addressing some of the common objections to the theology of God’s sovereignty and how salvation takes place.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm... Probably a good intro to the concept of predestination, but I found it unconvincing and based on a number of circular arguments.

[Kenneth Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a clear and precise explanation of two important Bible doctrines. Check it out!