and the one who picks

"What is Election?"
* "Election is an act of God before creation in which He chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of His sovereign good pleasure." (Wayne Grudem, Christian Beliefs)
- Election there to encourage us
- Election one part of God's sovereign plan for salvation
- Election not same as predestination
- Matt24:31, Acts13:48, Eph1:5-6, 1Thes1:4, Titus1:1, 1Pet1:1
* Misunderstandings about doctrine of election
- Election not fatalistic or mechanistic {Eph1:4}
- Election not based on God's foreknowledge of faith (conditional election) {Rom8:29a, Rom9}
* Objections to doctrine of election
- We are really not free: we're not forced to make choices; God works through our choices no matter what
- Unbelievers never had a chance to believe: Bible never says this (always goes back to rejection of God); Rom9:19-20
- God is unfair: It would be unfair for God to save anyone; do not take His grace & mercy for granted {Rom9:15-16}
- God doesn't want everyone to be saved: Untrue {1Tim23-4, 2Pet3:9}
* How does NT present election?
- As comfort to believers: nothing random, and once chosen, always chosen {Rom8:28-30}
- As reason for praise {Eph1:5-6, 2Thes2:13}
- As encouragement in evangelism {2Tim2:10}