Election Or Free Will?

By Val M Scott

     Some who have learned the reformed views of “predestination” [or sometimes called the doctrine of  “election”] tell other Christians that it is the most important doctrine in the Church they will ever learn. However, this tenant is non-essential [it is not a teaching that can produce or dismiss salvation principles], it should not be so momentous. Maturity is advised if disagreements arise over the understandings herein. Satan has a long havoc history using this doctrine to create bitterness. Much division has taken place over these controversial doctrines.

How did such a non-essential teaching like election become so well at dividing brothers? Well, because strict focus on election makes it a doctrine that can change all the ways in which one views God and the Christian Faith. It is the timely debate of whether people are free to choose God, or whether their will is controlled by God’s sovereignty. In the short run, “election” is the belief that God before time began, picked and saved “some” to be saved, and consequently, the rest of humanity was “passed-over.” So as the world began, every event of man choosing God, or choosing to obey God is only because God chose the individual before time, and passed over the rest. Thus the term election is viewed more as a term reflecting God’s hatred of a world in sin, in whom He chooses out of mercy to only save “some.”

Dating back to the arguments of Augustine, the roots of “election” stem from an unbalanced interpretation of many scriptures that state we are chosen and elected before time. Without balancing these verses with the rest of the Bible, early interpreters decided that God sovereignly controlled the wills of all mankind. Dark Age Reformer John Calvin wrote:

“Not only the heaven and earth and all intimate things, but also the minds and wills of men are so controlled in such a way that they move precisely in the course He has destined[1].”

     The consequence of such teaching is often overlooked. According to Calvin’s statement, God led Adam and Eve to sin, and appointed them to fall into sin. This is the only logic if He “controls” the will of man. However scripture states that God is not the author of confusion or sin (1 Cor 14:33; James 1:13). God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). If the Fall occurred by the appointment of God, then sin occurs by necessity. If the wills of men are controlled by the will of God, then God, the Judge of all the earth, could not consign men to everlasting fire, for what was in effect His own deed. Election could be well explained by this little story:

Your Father comes over with a new family van, gets out and gives it to mom as a gift. Mom and the family pile into the van and wave goodbye to Father. Two blocks down the road, the van explodes to the glory and praise of the Father who pre-ordained the accident. Most are destroyed. Two survivors of the explosion have lost the use of their minds and experience constant suffering. Every one praises the Father and worships him.

Granted this story may seem a little extreme, but the rottenness of the message is pretty accurate the way election is being taught these days.

The Bible does teach election [or predestination], but many times there is a very ungodly imbalance when it is taught as a doctrine without presenting what the Bible says about mankind's free-will and responsibility. Free-will teaches that God gives man his own will to choose, and then based on his choices, God judges those decisions with rewards, chastisement, or condemnation. Free Will insists that it is against God’s moral nature and teachings to control a person and “pick and save” or “pick and damn” without their will, because "save" and "damn" are taught in the Bible as judgments of God who gives them justly, judging mankind one by one.   

Free Will could be well explained by this little story:

Your Father comes over with a new family van, and gives it to mom as a gift, but warns her about a fork in the road ahead. He tells her, "the left road has a cliff and robbers waiting, but the right road leads to the family reunion." Mom and the family pile into the van and wave goodbye to Father. They reach the fork in the road, but the left road looks beautiful with a golden city in the distance of it. The right road looks like a desert with cliffs. All in the van agree that Father was wrong, and the Mom takes the left road and is overrun with robbers who kill her and half of the kids and steal the van. The surviving kids walk back to the Father weeping and praising the Father. The Father is angry at all of them, but weeps as well for the loss.

Although this little story does not fully reveal everything about free will and the judgment that follows bad decisions, the core of the message not only makes sense, but is the same message of Jesus Christ who upon the cross said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Free-will cites Revelation 3:20; the call of Christ- “Behold I stand at the door [door of your heart] and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and sup with him, and he with me.” One very famous Christian painting is that of Christ standing at the door of a house knocking, and the door has no knob on the out-side. The painting has a history of salvation testimonies, where people say they were saved as they realized, "the door knob is on the inside, Christ is knocking, I must open the door.”

Believe Both Views?

It is important to note that the broad base of the body of Christ does not agree with the radical reformed views of election [that before time began, God decreed who will be damned and saved without giving them a choice]. Students who seek an understanding of the intimate inward dialogue of grace and freedom seek a more balanced approach to their theology. This is difficult for the staunch electionist. An electionist will argue, "did you choose to be born on Earth?" The answer is obviously "no", but where God does give us the choice, we must conclude He is not a liar, "Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve" (Josh 24:15). When God says, "Choose", He acknowledges in man a free will. If He said to a stone, "choose", the stone would begin to have free will. But we were created in His image and in His likeness (Gen 1:26), And again, where God gives us the choice, we must conclude He is not a liar. From beginning to the end of the Bible God commands mankind to repent and choose LIFE.

It may in a way be possible to believe both views- free-will and election at the same time. Entering into the realm of God's secret things where it is impossible to understand the Lord and His mysteries [Deut 29:29]. We accept the doctrine of the Trinity this way, not understanding fully how three persons of the Godhead can be one God, yet we take it by faith because it is the teaching of scripture. Some scriptures closely relate human choice and God's sovereign power. When Spurgeon was asked to "reconcile" the two, he replied, "How do I reconcile friends?" However, agreeing and teaching both views is debatable, and could result in a paradox of confusion.

Scripture says: “we are laborers together with God” (1 Cor 3:9), and also that election is "according to God's foreknowledge" (1 Peter 1:2), However, verses of this sort favor God pleading with men to obey His will; or, that we must first yield to God that His power may flow through us to do His will:

“...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” Phil 2:12-13.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” James 4:8-10.

Similarly, even though man can do nothing without God, the Bible says it is man that works, and the Lord works with man:

“And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets”

 1 Cor 14:31-32.

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.” 1 Peter 4:11

 “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” Mark 16:20.

     Any acceptable theology of election must agree with the whole of scripture. It may not be as simple to study election this way for some who have grown up in the sovereignty-only camp [blaming God and not self for everything that happens]. “God controls all” is a much simpler explanation, than to reason in the scriptures of the struggle of the nature of God and human will, sin, responsibility, and the penalties of sin. There is temptation to lean to one side or the other; and if divine sovereignty is the solitary string on ones fiddle, God will get the blame for everything evil that goes on in the world...

Over no other doctrine in the Church has there been greater blood-shed than “election.” Splits even within denominations have occurred, thus the Free-will Baptist’s for example. It is the single greatest doctrine of division the Church has ever dealt with. And there has been many.

Persecution In The Church Over Election.

     In 1618 the entire Church divided over the issue of man’s ‘free-will’ and God’s ‘sovereignty.’ The division was fired by the theological writings of James Arminius (free will) and John Calvin (election). What many do not know is that the division exploded into a persecution after the Synod of Dort assembly, where the Calvinists’ summoned the Armenians supposedly to meet and come to a final conclusion of whether ‘free-will’ views would be allowed any more in the Church. This was not the case however. The Armenians were denied seats in the meeting and were instead called forth as defendants. Thus the Calvinist synod condemned the Armenian views of free will. The result was a persecution of unimaginable proportions. Two hundred Armenian pastors were ousted from their pulpits and some of them hanged. The Christian statesman John van Olden Barneveldt was beheaded; Hugo Grotius was condemned and imprisoned for life, but he escaped after two years. Many Armenian Christians fled the country. Six years later the persecution waned, and the free-will Christians returned to Holland, establishing churches and schools permitted by a decree in 1630, yet they were not officially tolerated until 1795. Thanks to God and the brave Armenian Remonstrance for challenging the fray with articulate theology, the Biblical views of free-will are accepted today among most denominations: Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Wesleyans, Anglicans, Penticostalists, Free-will Baptists, Four Square, and most charismatic and holiness believers.[2]  

Grace, Response, More Grace.

     Teachers of election often accuse free-will teachings as prideful for thinking people chose God at their time of salvation. However free-will believers do not claim they first chose God at all. They hold that man is fallen from grace, “but God giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Therefore God initiates seeking by seeking the humble heart (2 Chronicles 16:9; Isa 57:15). Yet He seeks a response from all, by sending His message to all- in His Spirit through the Gospel (Mark 16:15), “We love Him because He first loved us,” is the message of the redeemed (1 John 4:19). Free-will teaching declares that God calls all to repentance (Acts 17:30-31), but God only chooses those who say “I will”. (Matt 22:14) ...“whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev 22:17).

A strong argument has occurred over the essence of grace. The Word of God reveals that God’s nature does not make us accountable for grace not given to us (Luke 23:34). God makes us accountable only for that grace that is given to us (Exo 23:7). God does not punish the innocent;- but some argue “all are guilty!” True. But not true if God controls the wills of all. All are innocent if He controls the wills, because they have no choice. “Justice can have no place in rewarding or punishing mere machines”- John Wesley[3].     

God desires that His children love Him freely of choice, not manipulation (2 Chron 7:14). Grace is not grace if there is not a free agent to bestow it upon. We only give grace to those whom we cannot control. The essence of it necessitates freedom. For if no-one can withstand me, I cannot bestow grace. If no-one can withstand my grace, it is not grace. It must be called something else, like programming.

To an electionist believer the essence of grace from God loses this understanding into the paradox of trying to understand why God chooses only some to be saved. Calvinism teaches an oxy-moron: that grace from God can not be resisted. How then is it grace if there is not a free agent to bestow it on? Jesus lamented Jerusalem’s refusal of Him (Luke13:34). The Scriptures are filled with the message of human responsiveness to resistible grace. Otherwise Scripture could not meaningfully call the believer to avoid “an unbelieving heart that turns away from God” (Heb 3:12).

The Bible teaches that spiritually dead humanity has only one particular grace before salvation- freedom. According to God’s Word, “Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve” (Josh 24:15), and again, “Behold, I set before you this day life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life” (Deut 30:19). Universal grace is seen in God’s sending the sunshine and rain upon all (Matt 5:45-46). It is also the basis of all goodness everywhere. It is a grace that “lights every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9).

Calvinism declares that spiritual death means a man cannot seek God at all. Without the grace of free-will this may be so. However, observe the Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or the Mormon’s. Think of the American Indians, they lift there hands to heaven and pray to “the great spirit.” It’s not Jesus, but they are very devout. Every tribe of the earth has a religion with some higher power or god, and they have laws and traditions with their religions. It would seem that man seeks God. Whether in religion, the occult, movies, booze, drugs, lust, etc. Desires for sin take man prisoner, causing him not to seek the True God who's Law has been broken (Rom 3:10-12). It is God humanity seeks when they take Satan's counterfeit’s. The world needs to hear the right message, in the right Spirit (Rom 10:13-15). They need the Law and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that "when any one hears the Word, it is satan who snatches away the Word that was sown in their heart" (Matt 13:19). Jesus teaches how a person receives the Word and gets saved; and in all His examples of why a person does not receive the Word, God is never even slightly suggested as a perpetrator. To the contrary, it is God's enemy.

Election Defined.

     According to free-will, God does elect [chooses, and raises up by His own power] certain individuals to certain works. He will choose who is a Moses, or a John the Baptist, (etc.) as He did with the posterity of Jacob before he was born (Rom 9:11). This does not, however, cease them from being free agents of their own will. The Moral Laws of the Bible teach believers to yield to the Lord in obedience, to surrender the will to His control. Thus, a believer thinks rightly that God is in control of himself only as he allows Him control, other-wise God chastises, or in large scale God destroys mankind altogether; hence the Biblical Judgments (Gen 6:5-18;11:5-9; Rev 9:13-21). From this very Biblical understanding, Election is defined according to God’s foreknowledge of His own strivings with mankind for obedience. In other words, He knows who chooses Him from before time began, and they became the "elect."

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 1:2.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...” Romans 8:29

That God sees our choices by His foreknowledge concludes that we are co-laborers together with Him:

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” 2 Peter 1:10.

Do not think that God has chose you and not the sinner that is still lost. He has called and chosen the world by Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19). He chose the world first by the redemption plan (1 Timothy 4:10). By His foreknowledge, He saw all who would respond (Romans 8:29).

Foreknowledge is not God choosing for us. One does not sin because God knows it in advance, but God knows it because the person is choosing to sin. God’s foreknowing in no way necessitates human action (Gen 22:9-12), it simply foreknows human actions, their determinants and consequence. God’s foreknowing recognizes our sin, but does not cause it.      

The Bible teaches the gospel message of grace is given to all humanity, as where the electionist saint does not believe this. Electionist’s believe that God only wants a chosen few to make heaven, and that God desires hell for the rest. But is this view biblical? Does God desire the wicked to burn in hell regardless of their chance to repent? In the Old Testament God made it clear that he did not desire the death of the wicked:

“Say unto them, As I live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Eze 33:11.

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” Eze 18:20-23.

Jesus Himself, when He came near the city of Jerusalem, He beheld the city, and wept over it (Luke 19:41; 13:34; Rom 10:21). That God  finds no pleasure in the death of sinners is also clear from Peter’s statement, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

The Apostle Paul also declares the same: “God our Savior...will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:3-6). This is not only what Paul writes with his pen, it’s also what he preaches to the Athenians: “...the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31). Note particularly the two occurrences of “all.” There is a huge list of verses that show God came to save all, and died for all, than the very few verses used for election. (Heb 2:9; Matt 22:9; James 1:5; Matt 18:11; John 1:29; 2 Peter 2:1).

In John 5:16-18, a whole mob of angry Jews sought to kill Jesus for healing on the Sabbath day and for claiming His Deity. You’d think Christ would rebuke them as He often did the Pharisee’s. But Jesus responded to them “...these things I say, that you might be saved... Search the scriptures, for in them you think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And you will not come to me, that you might have life” (John 5:16, 34, 40). This passage shows Christ’s desire- “these things I say, that ye might be saved,” but He also states the truth- “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Christ desires their hearts, but knows they will not. It is evident that He desires, but does not control the hearts.

It is not only in academic statements, but also in the general character of many of God’s commands and exhortations that God’s desire for the salvation of all mankind is seen. The Old Testament has many universal invitations: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters and drink, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy without money and without price” (Isa 55:1). Jesus invitations were also without restriction: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). These and like passages are so clear and strong, that if, contrary to what these verses imply, it is not God’s intent that all persons be saved, He must be insincere in His offer.

Seven Arguments Against “Calvin’s Election

     #1. The greatest argument is found in the message we are called to preach. “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15.....  o.k, God say’s “I want you to preach to every creature.” That is established. We preach to all. This is not the point that reveal’s election false. It comes as one obeys this Word. What does God command? He does not command us to preach election, but the gospel- (message of hope to the hopeless). A thorough study of John 3:16 shows the message we are called to preach to all is, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him [believes in who? a God of love] shall not perish but shall have everlasting life”.

The heart of the gospel contains the answer. We are to preach- “For God so loved the world,...that whosoever...” So the answer is in demonstration! If God commands us to preach, “whosoever believes shall be saved,” then this is the very fact that gives the message HOPE (that anyone can believe). Stand up before a mass of humanity and tell them “God has already chosen who is saved and He has passed over the rest of you! No-one can choose Christ, God has chosen who will go to heaven and hell regardless of your choice.” To the pessimistic sinner, the glass is already half empty. He thinks, “That excludes me for sure". A sinner upon hearing election is pressed to ignore the Lord's plea for His soul. Election kicks the sinner when he’s down, instead of offering to pick him up. It offers no hope, therefore it is not part of the gospel message. For some, the core of Truth in this matter will only come as they begin to preach to the lost, taking a burden for them to be saved. “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him should be saved” John3:17.

     The Gospel Message

     We've all been given a ministry because of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). We desire people to be reconciled to God. Read these verses carefully. Paul is talking about soul-winning:

 “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;... For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.”  2 Corinthians 5 11-20.     

Notice what the love of Christ constrains [forces] them to judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead! See the love of Christ! He makes it clear Christ died for all, not just the elect- because all were dead, not just the elect. It will shock some to see that one of the messages we are called to preach to the lost is that Jesus is already their Savior, and if they will choose Him, He is not imputing their trespasses to them.

“...God...hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19

“For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.” 1 Timothy 4:10

“And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2

“We...know that this indeed is the Christ, the Savior of the world.” John 4:42

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” 1 John 4:14

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” John 1:29

“And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47

It is clear that Christ is the Savior of the whole world, not just those that believe. Only one thing... the salvation is IN CHRIST. These scriptures tell any honest seeker that God has chosen the whole world IN CHRIST, but only those who repent and trust IN CHRIST are counted. While the Law of God condemns sinners to humility, there is only one “sin” that convicts the world to action. Jesus said:

“And when He [the Holy Spirit] is come, He will convict the world of sin,... Of sin, because they believe not on me;...” John 16:8-9

God does not convict the world for their sins, He condemns them for their sins and instead convicts them to trust IN CHRIST for reconciliation. God is not imputing any trespasses against those IN CHRIST. It makes sense that the only sin the Holy Spirit convicts the world for is Rejecting the Forgiveness of the Savior, "because they believe not on me". This is what sends people to hell. But one may argue, "No, people go to Hell for lying, stealing, and breaking God's Laws!" Yes true, but why is that? Because they reject the conviction of forgiveness through Christ. This is what John 16:8-9 says. The Law may condemn, but the Spirit of God convicts to repent and trust in Jesus. Therefore Christ teaches that the Holy Spirit convicts the whole world of their unbelief in Jesus.

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:12-13

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30

What is the message we have for the lost world? Once they understand they have need of forgiveness, tell them this: God loves you. God forgives you. God wants you. Come to Him. Receive the love. Receive the forgiveness. Receive this cleansing. Nothing less than this tone of voice will draw sinners from darkness. "Election" would have confusion about this. We cannot be in confusion about our mission to the world.

 #2. God commands us to love our enemies. This is a strong argument against “election.” Election’s premise that God only chooses some to be saved is based on God’s anger, hate, and wrath upon a world in sin. Election teachers quote scripture to outline God’s wrath: “God is angry with the wicked every day” Psalm 7:11. They say that those whom God does not choose are objects of God’s wrath, and consequently He hates them, “as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” Romans 9:13. God’s hatred of His enemies is a vivid picture in election. God does not save them because He hates them. But what of the fortunate few elect? Election says “it is God’s mercy that He saves any at all.” Well and true, but does God have this attitude? Is this picture of a God who hates His enemies [the world] but decides in mercy to save a few correct? God says “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven...For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?...Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” Matt 5:44-48. The Bible says “God is love,” and “God loves the world,” but how does this agree with the hateful god of election? God gives no chance of salvation to the Devil and demons. Why does He have mercy and save humans? Answer: It is a fact that men are blinded by Satan, and tempted in flesh by invisible enemies (2 Cor 4:4; Luke 22:31; Psalm 103:13-14). It is a fact that God has mercy on mankind for this reason (Luke 23:34; 1 Tim1:13; Acts 7:60; Matt 55:44). God desires to help blind people. God gave the Law so that all the world may become guilty before God (Rom 3:19) Why?

“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.” Romans 11:32

Notice the two occurrences of the word ‘all.’ All means all, and that’s all- all means. The above verse concludes that God chooses all to be saved- yet we know that all do not respond to His kindness. Those who do... are chosen. Point is, if the reason for God’s mercy is that people are blind [as the above verses state], and all are blind, God would desire to save all. God commands us to love our enemies. Does He command us to do something that He does not? Man is blind and crippled. Does God hate the blind and crippled? But we know that God is Love and sent His Son for this reason.

     #3. Predestination makes preaching unnecessary, irritating and absurd. Why should we preach for people to decide if all things are fixed apart from all human response? If divine decree is absolute over men's wills, then we should fold our hands. Preaching is vain. Suffering is vain. Indeed, this view of sovereignty makes even the cross of Christ vain. For if God sovereignty controls the wills of all, then all is a game. What does goodness and grace mean if God controls all? What is conviction or grace good for if not for free-will?

     #4. Election doctrine can tend to undermine holiness by taking away a primary motive for holiness outlined in scripture- which is, “the hope of future rewards and the godly fear of shame.” Believers are eternally secure in Christ, however we should never think that there cannot be loss of reward in the day of Judgment. Believing falsely that your lot is already cast creates a particular weakness to the temptation not to grow in godliness, or to feel the need; especially because sin can drag enthusiasm to an all time low. “If God has determined everything that is to occur [says Millard Erickson], does it really make any difference what humans do? Ethical behavior becomes irrelevant. If we are elect, does it matter how we live?” The doctrine of rewards in heaven for good works is put to confusion. The motivation for reward is lost if we are mere machines. If God controls the will, why is there rewards in heaven for good works or loss for not working? (1 Cor 3:13-15; Rev 22:12). 

     #5. By election the moral attributes of God are subverted. The sovereignty of God is supposedly affirmed by destroying God’s foremost attributes- mercy, compassion, truth, justice, and love. How can one be just or merciful who makes a decree to damn prior to any possible responsiveness? The merciful God appears as a capricious tyrant more deceptive than the devil himself, and the human person an automation.

Election makes the devils work unnecessary. If true, God would be worse than the devil. For it presents God as taunting His helpless creatures by offering that which He does not intend to make possible, dangling salvation before all, yet allowing in only a tiny group.

The electionist says that we should not judge God by what we think is just and right, nor should we bring God down to our moral standards to try and understand why He chooses only ‘some.’ After all, He is God, and He alone rules and makes the rules. True, but has the electionist read God’s moral standards? It is God Himself who says not to choose one over another:

“Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great...” Deut 1:17.

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge” Lev 19:15.

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons” James 2:1.

“But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons” Col 3:25.

“And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him” Eph 6:9.

“For there is no respect of persons with God” Rom 2:11.

“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons” Acts 10:34.

“These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment” Prov 24:23.

God says to put Him in remembrance of His Word (Isa 43:26). He has magnified His Word above His all His name (Psalm 138:2). God says: “do good to them that hate you” (Matt 5:44; Rom 12:20). His Word sets His standard of what is JUST and RIGHT. God’s standards! The Bible says “Therefore to him that is in his ability to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). God is teaching us HIS STANDARD of righteousness in these passages. In other words, “This is how I see ‘right,’ I want you to see the way I do.” Why does it seem wrong to pick and damn, or pick and save? Because it is wrong by God’s own Word and Standards.

     #6. Election demotes the sovereignty of God by making God the prisoner of His own plan. His predestination of certain individuals to salvation commits Him personally to a detailed, predetermined, unilateral course of action and He ceases to be a person dealing with persons. The human drama becomes God’s Hollywood movie with Himself as the true author of sin and death. This is the blasphemy which makes it easy to reject "election". 

The problem in understanding a God who chooses before time is that God witnesses all eternity at once. He is the Great I AM, observing everything in an “eternal now,” innocent of the charge that His knowing makes Him the direct causative agent of evil. Election exegesis binds God too tightly in a linear conception of time, who of His transtemporal nature has no before or after. From God’s point of view the past tense is merely a way of speaking. Therefore it could be said that God’s choice takes place when we choose of free-will to His universal call.

     #7. Election belittles the death of Christ. Christ did not die on a cross so that men would go to hell! While the Bible is emphatic that Christ died for all, election makes Christ look as a cheap ransom for a select few by reducing the value of human life. If Christ died for only a few, His death necessitates the damnation of the rest. However, to refute this we must remember, to His killers He cried out, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” It is said that, “Christ would have died to redeem just one sinner form hell.” The premise of such a statement shows so plainly how Christ values human life. If He values men so greatly to die for one, His main objective is to save all. Especially from such an unimaginable damnation as hell. Brethren, the one Christ died for was Adam-  “Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one [Christ] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” (Romans 5:18-19)   

Romans 9 Commentary

By Val M Scott

     Electionists have a handful of scriptures they cite while ignoring the rest of the Bible. In Bible interpretation the first rule in understanding a verse, or set of verses in scripture is to study the context the section sits in. Verses in Romans 9 are often taken away from the context of the rest of Romans and used as pretext for the extreme electionist view. Here is offered a commentary to render intelligible an often misunderstood chapter.

ROMANS 9:1-10 Paul’s heart for Israel breaks for their salvation. What is the most imbedded thought in Israel? Election! Paul knows the Jews [Christian Jews and non-Christian] are proud of their election as a nation, so he uses this topic to teach them humility and that God can choose the rest  of the world, not just them. Through election Paul explains CHRIST. In short he says, “God raised you up Israel, to bring Christ from you (Jesus Christ through Israel, came into the world), but this was to save the world, Gentiles!”

Paul’s continuing theme in Romans, that salvation is not of works, but God can fix the terms of how He shows mercy- by grace through faith! It takes much to convince the Jews they are not the only nationality God chooses. Romans 9 is not Paul’s dispute that God picks and saves and picks and damns individual souls before time; it is Paul’s continuing correlating argument that God is moving out from Israel [Laws and works salvation] to save the Gentile world [grace through faith salvation].

In the continuing tradition of all his writing, Paul says in essence- “God’s choice is not just the Jews- but the world.” Christian teachers err when we read this chapter thinking that Paul is speaking of individual sinners in election. We know Paul’s ministry is to the Gentiles (Rom 11:13). His argument on election is to show the Jew-“God has mercy on whom He wills!” Hardening happens to prideful;- Israel is prideful thinking they are the only true God nation. Christ came, but Israel in pride rejected Him, Christ then turns to the world, and the world in humility embraces Him. Election is used only to show how salvation belongs to every other nation as well.

Romans 9:11-12

(For the children [the election twins Jacob and Esau] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

     V-11-12  Notice he says "neither having done any good or evil" rather than "neither being good or evil", for there's no doubt that both were evil in the curse of original sin. Some may think Jacob was sanctified in the womb, but according to their own merit they were alike and equally belonged to the mass of perdition. Paul says, “...the purpose of God according to election...” The purpose of God is not election itself. The purpose of God is to choose or elect the promised seed based on- “The elder shall serve the younger.” God always chooses based on this: “The first shall be last, and the last shall be first,” which we know means the proud shall be last, overtaken by the one with humble faith. This is proof of God's choosing based on His foreknowledge of the humble or proud, and no way declares that He makes a heart one or the other. “The elder shall serve the younger,” means that God chooses based on who has humble faith, and not who is first. Esau was stronger in the flesh than his brother Jacob. Esau struggled to be born first out of the womb, yet Jacob is shown to have endurance: 

“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD....And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob...” Genesis 25:22-26. [emphasis mine]

(v.12) The elder — Esau. Shall serve the younger — Not in person, for he never did; but in his future generations. Accordingly the Edomites were often brought into subjection by the Israelites (Genesis 25:23). Because they were twins, and God must choose one to carry the promise, God sets the standard that He chooses based not on the one with works [first], but by the one with faith [last]. “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen,.. That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Cor 1:27-28. Jacob had faith from the Lord that he was to be first, even from birth. This is why even with trembling and confusion he was able to take his brothers birthright and blessing.

Romans 9:13

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

     V-13 Some think these verses on Jacob and Esau lay the foundation that God selects individual’s to salvation or hell, and creates them good or evil so He can hate them or love them before they are even born or do anything. This blunder throws the context of the entire chapter and is the heart of confusion for the hyper electionist view.

Verse thirteen is reference to Malachi 1:2-3 and refers to nations [Israel and Edom] and not to individual sinners. (Romans 5:8 and John 3:16) make it clear that God loves sinners. These verses have to do with national election:

“And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger” Genesis 25:23.

The boys [Jacob and Esau] are in election- two nations- not two individuals. The “calling” in this verse is not to individual salvation. God’s hatred of Edom [Esau] doesn’t mean that individual Edomites cannot be saved, any more than His love for Israel [Jacob] instantly saves all Israelites. Jesus once told us that our love for Him would provoke us to “hate” our mothers, fathers, wives...etc (Luke 14:26). This is not emotional hate, but that we choose God before them regardless of emotion. In this sense God chooses Jacob because in God’s wisdom, humility and faith better ensamples the national line of promise.

Romans 9:14-16

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

     V-14-16 “Is there unrighteousness with God?” He elected Israel, but rejected other nations. Is it unjust in God to give Jacob the blessing rather than Esau, or to accept believers and them only? This is well consistent with justice and does not negate human freedom; for God has a right to fix the terms on which he will show mercy. Paul demonstrates this with Moses. When Moses asked God to show him His glory (Ex33:19), God said, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” [namely on those who submit to His terms, who accept it the way He has appointed- by faith.] Note that it was Moses that asked to see God’s glory first. God chose to show Moses His glory after Moses asked. While granting Moses’ prayer to see His glory, God asserts the great principle that His gifts are acts of mercy. Also, God elected Moses to lead Israel from bondage when Moses proved to be very unwilling to go. Notice in Exodus 3:4-;4:18 when God called Moses, his calling did not force his will:

“God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.... And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt,...And I am come down to deliver them.... Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh... And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh,... And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, ... And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, ...what shall I say unto them?...  Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them..., I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt... And they shall hearken to thy voice... And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him,...  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee..., that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.... And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent,... I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him....I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send [send someone with me]. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well.... And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people:... And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.... And Moses went ...” Exodus 3:4-;4:18. [emphasis added]

Is this the picture of will-control? God the Father is person to person with Moses wrestling with his weak will. Even Jesus when He walked on earth and was eye-ball to eye-ball with His disciples saying “follow me” had a better response. They saw His goodness and felt His majesty and chose to follow. But this is different. This is the burning presence of God the Father that shook mount Sinai and torched it black with fire! Moses was very weak willed, and God still worked with him, even when Moses refused to speak in verses 13 and 14. “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” God’s mercy is shown in that He strives with mens will in election but does not choose for them (see Genesis 6:3; Heb 12:25). Willing and running may indicate the possession of grace, but they are not the originating cause. God had mercy on Moses because God is Mercy. The Gentiles [as we will see] are typed with Moses here, in that they [just as Moses] find it difficult to will- and run- like the Jews in the Law, but they can readily receive grace and mercy. 

Romans 9:17-18

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

     V-17-18 Paul then types the Jews with the hardening heart of Pharaoh. Why does Paul bring up the hardening of Pharaoh? Answer: To bring conviction upon the Jews who’s hearts [as pharaoh’s] have hardened against Jesus. Why did the Jews hearts harden against Christ? Because their hearts were already prideful about God before He came. For just as God used Pharaoh’s hardening to display His power and declare His name through the earth, it is through the Jews hardening against Christ that He turns to the Gentiles [the world] that He might show His power and that His name be declared throughout all the earth (Rom 11:11-30). If God controlled the wills of men this would not have had to happen this way at all.

“...blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in...For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief” Rom 11:25,30.

    But what of the “hardening” of Pharaoh? Some places we are told that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Ex. 8:15, 19, 32), and other times that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27). We must never think that God enjoyed watching a tyrant like Pharaoh. He endured it. God said to Moses, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people...and have heard their cry...for I know their sorrows” (Ex. 3:7). God does not raise up devils. There is no suggestion that the Egyptian monarch was doomed from the time of his birth. What happened was this, in adult life he proved to be wicked, cruel, and extremely stubborn. In spite of the most solemn warnings, Pharaoh kept hardening his heart. God could have destroyed him instantly, but He didn’t. Instead, God preserved him alive in order that he might display His power in him, and that through him God’s name would be known world-wide.

Instead of killing them, God often makes examples of the wicked. This is what happened to Pharaoh. God’s offer of mercy was shown to Pharaoh in all the times that Moses said, “Let My People Go.” For God did not have to ask (2 Peter 3:9). God did not harden Pharaoh’s heart with delight- He merely forced his prideful heart to do what was already committed in his stubborn will to do. There will never be a person in hell that did not choose to go there through there own sins and continuous refusal to repent.

By God’s continual asking, He gave Pharaoh opportunity to repent, and the Bible says Pharaoh hardened his own heart first, and after these times God additionally hardened Pharaoh’s heart, but not joyfully..., the same sun that melts ice hardens clay. The same wind that propels the sailboat in a direction, can knock over a sail that resists it. Pharaoh's heart was proud, and proud hearts do not soften when good prevails against them. God is Love; and His essence fills the humble hearted but in most cases hardens the prideful heart. Pharaoh was being exposed by Moses as an evil-doer. Jesus said “For every one that doeth evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed as evil” (John  3:20). Have you never shared your faith with someone proud and it makes them even more angry? God’s very presence by the nature of His extreme Holiness, melts or hardens hearts based on their proud or humble state. This is not however, God turning a heart evil or good apart from their responsibility. V-19 “Therefore hath he mercy on whom He will [That is, He shows mercy on his own terms, namely, on them that humbly believe]. And whom he wills [namely, them that believe not] He hardens” — leaves to the hardness of their hearts (Romans 1:28).     

Romans 9:19-21

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonor?

     V-19-21 The mention of Pharaoh implies that his case is parallel to that of the unbelieving Jews; Paul suggests that because of their religious pride they will be hardened, and through their hardness, accomplish God's purposes. “Why doth he still find fault? For who hath resisted His will?” Who is Paul implying asks this question? In context it is the Jew who asks it. Paul’s debates recorded in the Bible are never to Gentiles, they are to Jews, saved and not saved. The Christian Jews were irritated that God would abolish the Law and elect Gentiles sinners, and they still wanted to keep the Jewish Laws of circumcision for salvation (Gal 2:1-3;Col 2:20-21). Paul begins to rebuke the Christian Jews with statements they are very familiar with. When the Jews hear the words ‘potters wheel’ they understand and remember God’s appeal to let Him form them as a nation.

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

[Notice that because the vessel was marred or “spoiled,” the potter had to make it again another vessel. Notice also that He speaks of a nation as a vessel, and not an individual person.]

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil [not moral evil, but calamity] against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good. And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart” Jeremiah 18:1-12.

Here is another strong witness that Paul’s words about election in Romans 9 speaks not of individuals but of nations in election. We must understand that the Jews know that the parable of the ‘potters wheel’ is Paul’s answer to their question- “Why doth he still find fault, for who hath resisted His will?” God answers: “Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?... If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil [unbelief], I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” God pleads with them to let Him form them a vessel of honor. So then, “Who hath resisted His will?”- Answer: Adam, Israel, and every sinner ever born (Rom 10:21). God is not the author of sin and confusion. Sin and resisting God is the heart problem of the universe. For God has declared that He does find fault with and will punish for their sins, all unbelievers. It could even be argued with caution that Christ began to resist His will- but without sin-

“And he [Jesus] went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt... [And later] ...again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words” Mark 14:35-39.

“Who hath resisted His will?” Jesus? No thank God! It is a sober reminder that the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. Jesus in bearing our sins touched this area and was troubled (John 12:27; Mark 14:32-34).

    Although I do not agree with all the non-essential teachings of reformer James Arminius, in 1593 he penned a fabulous commentary on this portion of Romans 9 in which he exhausts his reasoning of other biblical themes to rightly divide the Word for his detractors. Dissecting the intelligence of election theology and spreading it out piece by piece for inspection, Arminius uses lawyer dialect to appeal to the biblical theologian:  

“The objection is this: “Why doeth he yet find fault?” The reason of this objection is added: “for who hath resisted his will?” Which things, proposed in the form of an interrogation, may be stated thus: “Therefore, He can not justly find fault, since no one can resist His will.” The objection will be filled up, by the addition of the antecedent, from which this consequent is deduced: “God hardeneth whom He will.” Therefore, He can not justly find fault with those, who are hardened. The connective reason between these two is this: “Since no one has resisted His will.” Hence, exists a continual proposition of this kind — If no one can resist the will of God, then He can not justly find fault with those, whom He hardeneth according to that will. Let this conditional proposition be converted into a simple or categorical statement, “God can not justly find fault with those who are hardened by His own omnipotent will.” Such is the objection. Let us now consider what force it has; that from the examination, it may be evident how it can be refuted, and the way for its suitable refutation, may be prepared. These two things, then, are to be considered. First, “God can not justly find fault with the hardened.” Second, “Because He has hardened them by His omnipotent will, which can not be resisted.” The examination of the former consists in the discussion of this question. “Who are they with whom God can justly find fault?” The former question will be solved, if it may be explained, what is the proper cause of the divine anger. The proper cause of the divine anger, and that, on account of which God can justly find fault with any one, is sin. But sin is the transgression of a law, that is, of one which is just, for, if a law be not just, it is not a law, and therefore, its transgression is not a sin. That a law may be just, it necessarily requires these two conditions, that it be enacted by him who has authority to command, and that it be enacted for him who has the power or rather ability to obey, not only duna>mei but ejnergei>a| that is, has ability of such a character as is hindered by no intervening decree, from doing that which he can do. Whence it is apparent that “sin is a voluntary transgression of the law,” which the sinner, since he could avoid it (I speak now of the act), commits, of his own fault. On account of sin of this kind, and with a sinner of this kind, God can justly find fault.”[4]

Arminius argues that if God’s predestination of the damned is based on his anger, then it must be based on His foreknowledge of personal disobedience, because disobedience is the only reason for His anger. God does not anger at a person before they exist. He witnesses all time at once. He is the Great I AM, observing everything in an “eternal now,” innocent of the charge that His knowing makes Him the direct causative agent of evil. God in His reality has no before or after. From God’s point of view the past tense or future is merely a way of speaking. Therefore it could be said that God’s choice takes place when we choose of free-will to His universal call. 

     God elects nations [Israel], to set the pattern for all other nations. He also must elect leaders [Moses], to lead and give Law. But God also elected Jesus (1 Pet 1:19-20; 2:6; Gal 4:4), and in Him the Gentiles [all nations of the world] by grace through faith.

Romans 9:22-26

What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

     V-22-26 “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:” The fact that God “endured with much longsuffering” declares His will for them to be saved (2 Peter 3:9; Eze 18:20-23). The word “fitted” in verse 22 does not suggest that God makes people a “vessel of wrath.” The verb is in what the Greek grammarians call the middle voice, making it a reflexive action verb. So, it should read: “fitted himself for destruction.” Darby’s English translation reads: 

“And what if God, while choosing to make manifest the terrors of

His anger and to show what is possible with Him, has yet borne

with long-forbearing patience with the subjects of His anger who

stand ready for destruction” Rom 9:22.

God prepares men for glory (v.23), but sinners prepare themselves for judgment. Or else judgment is not judgment. God does elect certain individuals to certain works, but He does not, and may it never be taught, that He creates a Pharaoh, a Herod, a Hitler, a devil- never. James Arminius said of this:

“When God is said to make vessels of wrath or vessels of mercy, to harden a man or to have mercy on him, then necessarily three things are to be considered, two explicitly, one implicitly, being interposed between the other two as a medium or means. First it is necessary that a man should exist, and be a vessel. Secondly, it is necessary that before he can be a vessel of wrath or of mercy, he should be a vessel of sin, that is, a sinner. Thirdly, that he should be a vessel of wrath or of mercy.”[5]

As stated from the beginning, Paul’s focus in Romans 9 is to convince the Christian Jews that God has elected the Gentiles also (v.24-26). Election as a topic is used to show how God chooses the humble over the prideful, but mainly used to show the Jews [Christian or not] that God can choose other nations to be His people. He does not use election to speak of choosing individuals souls to salvation or hell, but even if so, it is shown that the process that He uses is not disconnected from the free choices of individuals. The examples of Moses, Pharaoh and the Potters Wheel upon study reveal that God wrestles with the stubborn wills of mankind even in election. Even the study of Jacob and Esau shows that Esau was prideful and not trusting in God for the Blessing. This leans more to the fact that election is more according to God's foreknowledge (Romans 8:29).  If these portions of Romans 9 are kept in context with the whole chapter, and with chapter 10 and with the rest of the Bible, we cannot veer off into an ungodly doctrine of fatalism.  

Finally, just to drive the context of Romans 9 home perfectly, if you read through Romans 10 as well, it outlines that salvation is by grace through faith, and chapter 10 ends by saying that Israel should have known Christ, but was prideful and stubborn willed, salvation then came to the rest of the world.

But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.    

The Theology Of The Electionist.

Election is bad exegesis. Normal analogy of Bible interpretation is that we allow the clear teachings of scripture to interpret and validate uncertain or controverted teachings of scripture in a balanced way. We rightly divide the Word of Truth. Those who take election premises as the key to all other Biblical testimony find it increasingly hard to state an apologetic for other crucial Biblical teachings such as obedience, faith, hope, and love. They cite texts on election, but systematically ignore those on God’s universal love for sinners. Reformer John Weslely was convinced that, “the origin of this doctrine is not in scripture but in a narrower unecumenical tradition of interpretation that does not account for the fuller witness of scripture as received by the pre-Augustinian ancient church.” In this way the election premise wrongly ratchets scripture toward seeming to contradict itself. For it is scripture that so often appeals to responsible freedom, and calls all to respond to God’s saving work. Pitting scripture against scripture, electionists increase the difficulty of study in making sense out of many Biblical teachings. Every scripture must be interpreted in the light of what other scripture says on the same subject. It must harmonize with all other subjects. The Bible as a whole cannot agree with "Calvin's unconditional election" because as a whole the Bible reveals God co-operating, striving with and punishing the disobedient; pleading with, making covenant, and rewarding the faithful. The Bible as a whole reveals the truth of a loving God pleading with men of free-will.