Page 70 - TH200 Abundant Life A4 Final

Abundant Life in the Son: A Study of Salvation

God’s intention for Israel. Along with the privilege of election was the
responsibility of responding to God’s love in faith and obedience. And
while Israel as a nation was elected, individuals were accountable for
their own response to God’s revealed will.

Read Ezekiel 18:1–32 and 33:7–20 carefully and consider the biblical
position on election. God wanted Ezekiel to know that while He indeed
chose the nation of Israel, each person was responsible to live in
obedience to God’s laws (Ezekiel 18:4). Failure to live up to God’s
requirements could only lead to death (Ezekiel 18:13). These Scriptures
teach us about the will and working
of our gracious and holy Heavenly
Father. They also reveal His holy
While Israel as a character and His views toward sin.

nation was elected, And they warn us so that we will not,
like Israel, be separated from God
individuals were (see Romans 11:17–23).
accountable for their
In the New Testament, the Greek
own response to words for election occur about 50

God’s revealed will. times. These words are eklegomai
(to choose), ekloge (the act of
choosing or choice), and eklektos
(the chosen or selected ones). About
half of these words teach us about the exercise of God’s will in election.
The principle of free choice is especially prominent. The verb indicates
the direct personal interest of the one who does the choosing—in this
case God himself. In election, God never predetermines the future
of any person, nor is election to be separated from the responsible
decision of each person.

Views of Election

The Determinism View

Some people see election differently from what we believe is consistent
with the total teaching of Scripture. They feel that God willed in eternity
each individual’s destiny. They believe that God determined that some
should be saved and receive eternal life and some should be eternally

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