As it is written, Jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated. What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Romans 9:13-18, ESV
The doctrine of election is one of the more controversial teachings of Scripture. It does not contradict the fact that people must make a free and willing decision to repent and believe the Gospel in order to become Christians. Yet it undergirds that truth with the deeper truth that God has made some free and willing decisions of His own.
At the end of the day, election is God's judgment, God's mercy, and God's will. Last time we looked at the judgment of God. Today we will taste of His mercy.
No one deserves to be saved, forgiven, or given eternal life in Heaven. But, it happens all the time! It is because some people are good? Is it because some people are smart and wise and make the right choices? Or, is it because of the sheer mercy and grace of God?
Our text today makes it rather obvious. Election is the merciful and gracious choice of God to save some from this human race which runs us headlong into Hell. Heaven is the reward, indeed, but not one earned. It is an unearned, unmerited gift from God, the very definition of mercy and grace.
Election is mercy and election is grace. Election is God giving us the gift of being pardoned from the punishment we deserve, or mercy. Election is God giving us the gift of compassion, love, salvation, which we did not deserve, or grace.
Jacob, or Israel, was a man no better than his brother, Esau. In fact, he may have been worse. Jacob was a sissy, a mama's boy, a coward, a liar, a deceiver. But God chose to love Jacob, choose Jacob, long before Jacob had done anything good or bad, and give Jacob mercy and grace. Then Jacob made his calling and election sure (ref. 2 Peter 1:10) by loving God, worshipping the true and living God, responding to and obeying God's word, and teaching others to do the same.
Moses, man of God, was a man no better than his stepbrother, Pharaoh. Moses was given to unbelief, wandering, pride. He loved the privileges of Egypt until he didn't, when God called his name and pointed him to a more glorious kingdom. God chose to love Moses, choose Moses, long before Moses was born and put in that basket. He gave Moses mercy and grace. Then Moses made his calling and election sure by loving God, worshipping God, receiving and obeying God's word, and teaching others to do the same.
Beloved, you and I are no better than anyone else who has ever run the human race on planet earth. We are all dashing off a pier extending into the Atlantic Ocean, trying to jump across to the other side of the world. Some, to be sure, will jump a little farther than others. But we will all fall woefully short (ref. Romans 3:23). We all deserve to drown in our hatred, rebellion, and sin against the God who created us. But, some of us are snatched from the sea and secured for a new Heaven and earth.
If God has set you apart for His love, if God has chosen you, if God has saved you, then you will know. You will love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You will worship Him, publicly and privately. You will hunger for His word, and when fed upon it, you will seek to obey it and apply it to your life. You will tell others about Him. And, you will be merciful, because election is God's mercy.
Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church. Call him at 501-525-8339 or email [email protected].