Articles
Unconditional Election
Jesus said, "in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9).
Unconditional election, another doctrine of man that was popularized by John Calvin, is the doctrine of predestination or foreordination.
"God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass...By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto life, and others foreordained to everlasting death. These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished" (The Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church, USA).
What did all that say? Basically, this false doctrine of man teaches that God arbitrarily chose those who are going to be saved in heaven and those who are going to be lost in hell before the foundation of the world, and NOTHING can be done to change God's sovereign degree.
This false doctrine of man makes God a respecter of persons. How? The doctrine of Unconditional election teaches that God chooses some men to be saved and the rest are going to be lost in hell REGARDLESS OF WHAT EITHER MAY OR MAY NOT DO!
The verbally inspired Word of God teaches, "For there is no respect of persons with God" (Romans 2:11). The apostle Peter taught, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34-35)...And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (I Peter 1:17).
God will judge EACH man according to "every man's work". In other words, those that practice righteousness will be judged as righteous and will receive the crown of life. Those that practice wickedness will be judged as unrighteous and will be condemned to eternal hell (Matthew 25:31-46).
This doctrine also nullifies the great commission that Jesus Christ gave to the apostles and the work that He gave the church to do. Jesus commanded "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20). Why go and "teach all nations" if God has already chosen those who are going to be saved and those who are going to be lost and that being unchangeable?
Salvation from one's sins is CONDITIONAL, not unconditional election. Jesus said, "ye shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).
