Last week we examined the first of two spectra upon which fall the answers to the question of "How are people saved?" The first spectrum was grace/faith vs. Law/works. In other words are we either saved by grace through faith or are we saved by our works, often meaning obedience to God's laws. The second spectrum which we will examine today is the election/chosen vs. choice/free will spectrum.
We will begin with election/chosen. Within the Biblical story there is always a sense of God choosing people; choosing people for God's purposes as well as choosing people for salvation. We see this in the stories of individuals; Abram (chosen to be blessed and to bless the world); David (chosen not only to be king for a day, but as the father of an eternal lineage of kings); and the prophets (chosen to bring God's word to the people). None of these people applied for their jobs, God called and chose them. We see this being chosen in terms of the whole people of Israel as well. Through the covenant with Abram, God made it clear that the Israelites were a people chosen/elected for a task (to bless the world). Since God's covenant was irrevocable Israel knew that God would always save her. Thus within Judaism there was a strong sense that their salvation was based on having been chosen by God.
This same theme echoes throughout Paul's New Testament Letters as regards Christians. The greatest example of this sense of salvation through being chosen comes to us in Romans 8:28-30. "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.
And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified." What Paul appears to be telling his readers is that salvation is a gift from God that comes to those whom God has chosen/elected. Salvation is therefore all about being chosen.
We turn now to choice/free will. Within the Biblical context there are numerous stories about people making their own choices (free will) as regards their relationship with God. The Adam and Eve story (Genesis 3) allows us to view the first two humans making a conscious decision to disobey God. "…Eve took some of the fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband and he ate." Their decision forced them from the safe confines of the garden and the eternal life it offered, to a life to drudgery and death. A positive example of choosing occurs at the end of the book of Joshua. Joshua is the account of the conquest of the land of Canaan by the Israelites once they emerge from the wilderness. The quote I am offering comes from the last chapter of the book (24:15). The speaker is Joshua, the dying leader of the Israelites. Now that the land has been conquered, the people of Israel have to decide if they will be obedient to God. "If you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." The impression we are given is that the people are free to choose salvation by choosing God, or to choose death by following other gods.
In the New Testament we see choices being made by numerous individuals. Judas chooses to betray Jesus). We see Peter choosing to deny Jesus. We see Pharisees choosing not to believe in Jesus. We see Nicodemus, Zacchaeus and the disciples choose to follow Jesus. Even Paul in the book of Romans (1:21) write as if people chose not to believe in God. "…for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but became futile in their thinking." The Book of James (1:13-15) goes so far as to say that we tempt ourselves (thus intentionally choosing death over salvation). "Let no one say when they are tempted,
"I am tempted by God."…but each person is lured and enticed by his own desire…which brings forth death." Again it appears that we can choose salvation or death.
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