By Myrna D. Hughes

How salvation is effectuated, is a widely debated issue in today's theological arena and has been for centuries. Exactly how much of a role does mankind play in his own salvation? Some say none, others say partial, and believe it or not, some say all. The Grace Gospel Church Ministry believes and teaches that salvation is the total work of God based exclusively on His sovereign will. We believe that He is the initiator and the sole actor, that mankind has no ability to assist in his salvation and therefore has no input. Our doctrinal position of the Sovereignty of God in salvation has prompted many to identify us as "Calvinists". To this we say no, we are not Calvinist as those who are opposed to the Sovereign Grace Doctrine usually negatively apply this label. It is noted that many scholars and great theologians such as Augustine, Luther and Edwards have debated the doctrine of predestination for centuries, but in spite of their endorsement, it is the Word of God, which constitutes the final authority. We believe that the Bible explicitly proclaims that it was God alone working in eternity, who provided all the workings of salvation on behalf of those He predestined. It was all accomplished exclusive of any works provided by mankind (Ephesians 2:8-9).

To this, some will inquire "What about man's free will?" This synergistic concept (the belief that it is God working with man to effectuate his salvation) is taught widely today in the majority of churches and even accepted as sound doctrine. In response to this, it must be noted that, a doctrine should be based on what the Word of God teaches. Many will vehemently profess that man's free will in salvation is a biblically sound doctrine and that the bible indeed teaches that man has a choice. They quote multiple passages, which supposedly reinforce their position, but this misapplication of the scriptures arises when proper bible exegesis is not implemented. When dispensational lines are ignored and scriptures are not kept in covenant alignment, many erroneous beliefs are formulated. Many reject the instructions regarding proper bible study given by the Apostle Paul (2Timothy 2:15). They believe that the entire bible is written for them (which is correct), and all of its content applies to them (which is incorrect), thus they do not study nor rightly divide the Word of God. Therefore, they will quote verses such as "Choose ye this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15). In actuality, in order to properly interpret this passage, one would have to consider the dispensation and covenant that governs it. Careful study of the context would reveal that this passage is not in reference to salvation, but rather Joshua was reminding the nation Israel, of all that God had done for them, i.e., delivering them from their many enemies and giving them land that was not theirs (Joshua 24:11-14). Then Joshua tells Israel that in view of all that God has done for them, if it seemed evil to them to serve God, then they must choose, which of the false gods they would serve; but as for him, and his household, he would serve the Lord. In light of the context, this is a prime example of mishandling the word of God (2 Cor 4:2). The facts of this passage are understood through proper handling of the Word of God, utilizing the correct methodology of bible exegesis (contextual, grammatical and historical), which bears out the Sovereignty of God in salvation and nullifies man’s choice or free will.

In order to better understand this doctrine it is imperative that we examine and define the terms sovereignty, free will and salvation

The actual theological term sovereignty is not found in the bible. Perhaps this is why its application to God is so widely ignored. If one were to take a general survey asking Christians to describe what God is in just one word, there would be an array of responses. For example: God is: love, good, great, awesome, omnipotent, omniscience or omnipresent. However, few if any would respond with God is Sovereign. The etymology of this word is traced to the 13th Century from the Old French soverain and from the Vulgate Latin superanus (unattested) or reign. The Word Reference defines this word as a noun depicting one who exercises supreme authority. When used as an adjective, it infers that which is excellent, supreme, unmitigated, paramount, absolute, independent and free. There is actually nothing else to compare God to other than Himself, thus to say God is God would be an appropriate description of Him; He is the epitome of superiority.

All of scripture through all dispensations teach that God is Sovereign, that He alone has the absolute authority to execute His will, plan and purpose without challenge, opposition or questions from anyone outside of Himself. Ask any Christian, is God sovereign, and most will answer in the affirmative without hesitation. They will readily affirm His sovereignty in creation (Gen 1:1-2:1; Col 1:16; Rev 4:11) and His sovereignty in the dispensing of blessings (Deut 28:1-13; Eph 1:3). But when mention is made of His sovereignty in salvation, thus decreeing the fact that He has a right to do as He wills with His own (Rom 9:20-22), many will abandon their position on His absolute sovereignty and very few will agree that it is God alone, by His foreordination, which determines man's eternal fate. When it comes to salvation, some believe that God must act in consultation with man, which actually in effect subjects God's will to the choices of men. If the Sovereignty of God is restricted by man's free will then God is not sovereign. Our response to this mirrors the Apostle Paul, i.e., God forbid or how absurd! This now brings us to the definition of free will:

The free will of man is also referred to as his own volition. To better understand these terms, clarification is required in defining both the words volition and will. First let's look at the bible's definition of will, as it comes from the Greek word thelo {thel•o} which denotes determination or purpose. The word will is used frequently in the bible but volition is not. The definition of volition per the Merriman, Webster dictionary is:

1. An act of making a choice or decision; also a choice or decision made.

2. The power of choosing or determining.

The words free will and volition are often used interchangeably to describe the manner in which man's salvation is obtained. This would imply that man has the ability/power of determining/choosing whether he will be saved or not.

Now we will examine the fallacy of this concept, as there is no scripture to substantiate that man has a free will. Mankind may be a lot of things, but free to choose God is not one of them. Let's take a look at what the bible says about man.

1. Man is a slave to and has only the ability to sin (Rom 3:10-18).

2. Man is spiritually dead and inclined only to the spirit that works disobedience (Eph 2:2-4).

So what can a dead man do for himself? The answer is absolutely nothing. The only ability mankind has, is the ability to sin. We are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners. Where did the concept originate that man has the ability to choose? When this question is asked, many have responded by reflecting back to the beginning with statements such as "Adam and Eve had free will, and they had the ability to choose between good and evil".

Based on the doctrine of predestination/foreordination, (God's sovereign plan whereby in eternity He has already decreed all that is to happen in the entire universe which He created), we consider a very important question: Though they were in the state of innocent, did Adam and Eve have the ability not to sin? In other words could they have possibly not disobeyed God? The answer is a resounding no. Note that Jesus (the Lamb of God) was slain before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8). This did not occur because God looked down the annuls of time and knew man would sin and then provided Jesus Christ as a back up plan, just in case man made the wrong choice. Adam's disobedience was inevitable (Rom 8:20), just as the gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus was imminent (Rom 5:14-15). There is no plausible reason to make the statement, "if Adam had not of sinned". Adam's sin was part of God's eternal plan in the provisions for salvation (Rom 5:16-19). The fact of the matter is that the terminology used to represent the occurrences in the garden is misleading. "The fall" (this terminology is not found in the bible) portrays the concept of something that is out of control or that accidentally happens as if Adam’s actions were not controllable by God. An enlightenment of the doctrine of foreordination eradicates this conception as it establishes that God was fully in control, in that all the occurrences transpired according to what He had determined.

Some teach that predestination is determined by God's foreknowledge, or in other words, God’s election unto salvation is based upon His prior knowledge of man's choice. The bible teaches that it is the Sovereignty of God, according to His will, in which He made choice (election) of certain men to salvation (Eph 1:4-5). Those who deny the Sovereignty of God in election erroneously believe that all men have access and even the right to receive salvation and that God desires for all to be saved. The Bible, contrary to this, teaches that salvation is a gift based solely upon God’s grace (Eph 2:8-9) and His mercy, which He bestows upon only those whom He wills (Rom 9:18). God is under no obligation to save any, He would have been justified in condemning all men to hell, for the bible teaches that because of sin, all are worthy of death (Rom 6:23). It is only because of His love that He provided a means of salvation and reconciliation for His elect (Rom 5:8-10). Here someone may be thinking, "but God loves everyone doesn't He"? That principle is not taught any where in the scriptures, the Bible from Genesis through Revelations has multiple examples of God's love, grace, mercy and preference of some, and His judgment and wrath towards others. The 9th chapter of Romans lays out succinctly, the doctrine of election, revealing that nothing that man can do, brings about one's salvation, but rather it is God's choice in predestination. The example is given of Jacob and Esau, twins, who prior to being born, not having done any good or evil; God loved one and hated the other. Before one says surely the word hate is incorrect, the Greek word mees•eh•o is rendered, "to hate", "pursue with hatred" or "detest". Can man say "this is not fair, this makes God unrighteous"? The Apostle Paul’s reply is translated in the KJV, "God forbid"; in our language we would say, how absurd! He then refers us back to the Old Testament, where God tells Moses his purpose for raising up Pharaoh i.e., to illustrate that He shows kindness to whom He wills and He hardens whom He wills (Rom 9:11-18).

The comprehension of this chapter in Romans brings about clear illumination that man's free will plays no part in salvation (Rom 9:16). Either one is foreordained and will believe unto salvation (Acts 13:48) or one is appointed unto blindness (Eph 4:17-18) and cannot believe. Paul also makes the point of God's Sovereignty by answering the question, "If no one can resist God's will, why does He still blame us?" He replies" O man, who are you to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this"? Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for honor and some for dishonor?" (Rom 9:19-21).

It can be noted that the scriptures validate the doctrine of the Sovereignty of God in salvation but the doctrine of man having a free will in salvation is not. The fact that the majority in Christendom believes this to be true is of no importance, but what the scriptures teach is of the utmost importance. The Bible teaches that in eternity, God foreordained the elect unto salvation (Rom 8:29). This alone should eliminate the idea that man, in any way could determine or choose his salvation. To say that God functioned as a mere fortune teller by looking down into time and thus acted upon knowing who would choose him, as the basis of foreknowledge in salvation, is ludicrous. This not only denies the sovereignty of God but it is antithetical to scripture, for the bible also teaches that God, in love both chose and foreordained/predestined (set our boundaries) us in eternity, according to His will. Eph 1:4-5 reads from the (KJV), vs. 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Now the reading from the Greek text, vs.4 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, for us to be holy and blameless in the sight of Him. 5.In love having foreordained us to sonship, through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of the will of Him.

There are those who will argue that God did not elect individuals to salvation in eternity, but rather to a system (the Church), this is often referred to as corporate election. In this view, God established the organism of the Body of Christ in eternity and then the opportunity to become a member is available to anyone who would choose Him. Clarity on this point is gleaned with proper bible exegeses in these verses, wherein the recipient of God's election (us) is in the 1st person plural identifying a group comprised of individuals whom He elected. This brings us to the term, salvation.

Many do not understand what the essence of salvation is or when it occurred. This is evident by the response of many when asked the question, "when did your salvation occur? They will identify some point in time, rather than the fact that the work of salvation was initiated and completed in eternity when God was alone. Salvation is not nor ever was a joint effort. We were saved in eternity, when God determined it. The essence of salvation is deliverance, therefore when God chose us in eternity; we were delivered from the penalty of sin and eternally positioned in the Body of Christ. It is in the created increment of space called time that it was manifested and we become cognizant of what God has already done. Acknowledgment of this would eliminate the synergism that is so prevalent today. So many erroneously believe that God is waiting for them to first choose Him and then contribute some type of work on their behalf to effectuate what He has already done. To say salvation is without works is not true, for much work went into our salvation, but it was all done by God. When man attempts to add anything to the work, which has already been accomplished by God, grace is no longer grace (Romans 11:6). Those who expound the grace doctrine without this illumination do not fully grasp what the doctrine of grace entails, as it requires one to truly preach and teach that salvation is by grace (unmerited favor) alone. It is imperative that one understands that salvation is solely gifted by God and He foreordained in eternity all those who would receive this precious gift. The concept of man’s free will in salvation is completely antithetical to the sovereignty of God. In other words, it is as far as the east is from the west. Some view the teaching of the doctrine of predestination/ foreordination to be hard and callous, thus ignoring the Theocracy of God, which establishes His right to create some as vessels of wrath and others as vessels of mercy. Understanding the Sovereignty of God and the doctrine of predestination will bring peace and comfort, for it underlines all that He has accomplished on our behalf and the extent of His love towards the elect. In light of this, we are to offer ultimate praise to His glorious grace (Ephesians 1:6).