All That the Father Giveth Me

We cannot know in advance of our coming to believe in Christ whether God has elected us to salvation or not. Some people are so troubled by this fact, that they are immobilised by their perplexity, and they cannot bring themselves to believe the gospel.

They are occupied by thoughts like these: “What if I am not elect? If I am not one of the elect, and I trust and hope in the great gospel promise that ‘whosoever believeth in him [God’s only begotten Son] should not perish, but have eternal life’ (John 3:16), what then? Will God keep this promise to me—and save someone whom he didn’t elect to salvation? Or will I not be saved because I am not elect—in which case God will not have kept this gospel promise?”

Such questions sometimes come from those who have no gracious work of God in their souls, whom God is not drawing to Christ. They use these questions as arguments against turning to God for salvation.

Our answer will not help these people. But the following two truths are a great encouragement to those who are coming to Christ:

Firstly, no person who is not chosen by God will come to the Lord Jesus Christ—the true Christ of the Bible. Such is fallen man’s spiritual deadness, that only those whom God enables to believe the gospel will believe it. In other words—to quote the unambiguous words of Jesus himself: “No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44; see also 6:65).

Secondly, no elect person will fail to come to Christ. Again, to quote Christ’s unambiguous words: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me”—and to these words he immediately makes this promise: “and him that cometh to me I shall in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

The Doctrine of Unconditional Election Promotes Humility, Not Pride

We must also point out that the Biblical doctrine of unconditional election promotes humility, not pride, despite what some people claim.

We know that we are not in the least part worthy of salvation. We know, therefore, that we should always praise God alone, for all the glory in our salvation belongs to him—soli Deo gloria. It is God who sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die for our sins. It is God who draws us to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. And it is God who gifts us to believe the gospel.

Our salvation was not accomplished by our own works, and it was not accomplished by our own decision to believe in Christ. Therefore, we have no reason to boast at all.

Therefore, we come to appreciate that the Biblical doctrine of unconditional election gives the greatest comfort to the saved soul. Indeed, we understand that it is part of the foundation upon which our whole faith is built and upon which all our hope rests.

We know ourselves to be unstable, mutable, and (while we remain in the world) too often burdened down with our continuing sins. We are without strength in and of ourselves to resist the world, the flesh and the devil. Therefore, if even the smallest part of our salvation depended upon something contributed by us (whether good works or faith), then perhaps tomorrow we could lose our salvation and condemn ourselves to hell.

Ah, no: it’s not that we could lose our salvation; for we know ourselves—we know that if our salvation were dependent upon ourselves in any part, then we would lose our salvation! If our salvation depends upon us in even the smallest part, we would lose all.

But if our salvation is all the work of God from beginning to end (including our unconditional election, and all of God’s marks of grace¹ in our souls), then no amount of temptation, distraction, memory lapse, coercion, torture, psychological manipulation, persuasion, affliction, brain damage, dementia or anything else that may happen can cause us to lose our salvation.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39).

Appendix

The Canons of Dort, Head 1 Article 13.

The sense and certainty of this election afford to the children of God additional matter for daily humiliation before Him, for adoring the depth of His mercies, for cleansing themselves, and rendering grateful returns of ardent love to Him who first manifested so great love towards them. The consideration of this doctrine of election is so far from encouraging remissness in the observance of the divine commands or from sinking men in carnal security, that these, in the just judgment of God, are the usual effects of rash presumption or of idle and wanton trifling with the grace of election, in those who refuse to walk in the ways of the elect.

Joseph Alleine, Alarm to The Unconverted, Or, A Sure Guide to Heaven, Chapter 2.

The subject of conversion is the elect sinner, and that in all his parts and powers, members and mind. Whom God predestinates, them only He calls (Romans 8:30). None are drawn to Christ by their calling, nor come to Him by believing, but His sheep, those whom the Father has given Him (John 6:37, 44). Effectual calling runs parallel with eternal election (2 Peter 1:10).

You begin at the wrong end if you first dispute about your election. Prove your conversion, and then never doubt your election. If you cannot yet prove it, set upon a present and thorough turning. Whatever God’s purposes be, which are secret, I am sure His promises are plain. How desperately do rebels argue! “If I am elected I shall be saved, do what I will. If not, I shall be damned, do what I can.” Perverse sinner, will you begin where you should end? Is not the Word [of God] before you? What saith it? “Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” “If you mortify the deeds of the body you shall live.” “Believe and be saved” (Acts 3:19; Romans 8:13; Acts 16:31). What can be plainer? Do not stand still disputing about your election, but set to repenting and believing. Cry to God for converting grace. Revealed things belong to you; in these busy yourself. It is just, as one well said, that they who will not feed on the plain food of the Word should be choked with the bones. Whatever God’s purposes may be, I am sure His promises are true. Whatever the decrees of heaven may be, I am sure that if I repent and believe I shall be saved; and that if I do not repent, I shall be damned. Is not this plain ground for you; and will you yet run upon the rocks?