For all the questions that may be raised about the doctrine of divine, unconditional election, what is particularly striking about Ephesians 1:4 is its clarity and simplicity.
That God was the one doing the choosing is unmistakable. That man is incapable of offering anything meritorious for his salvation, is also clear. God chose before the foundation of the world.
Jesus Himself offered an illustration of the truth of election with the resurrection of Lazarus. When Lazarus died, there not only was nothing he could do to effect his resurrection, but he was incapable of hearing anyone, responding to anyone or making any movement. He could not think, desire, move or respond in any form. That’s what it means to be dead. (And when the word dead is used to describe our spiritual condition, it has the very same implications — a dead man can make no movement toward God; he is utterly incapable of any spiritual response to God.)
But, when Jesus called Lazarus — Lazarus, come forth — He both equipped Lazarus to hear the command and gave Him the ability to respond to the command. With the command also came the gift of life. And so it is when God choses one for salvation — He grants to that individual the ability to hear the truth of the gospel and gives him life so he can respond to the gospel. (Aside: I’m not attempting with this discussion to establish an order or progression in a timeline of salvation; I hold that all these actions — e.g., effectual call, faith, and life — are contemporaneous.)
Now Lazarus did have to obey the call of God for salvation, but he did so on the basis of God’s provision for him to obey that call and he did so not reluctantly, but joyfully. So it is for those who are believers in Jesus Christ. They must respond to the call of God in faith — “by grace you have been saved through faith“ — but that faith, while the means of salvation is not the ultimate cause of salvation. That cause is the gracious choosing and life-giving act of God.
If you are a believer in Christ, your salvation — from beginning to end — is the gracious gift of a sovereign God. And if you are a believer, then this gift is a great source of joy and rejoicing and the means by which you might rest in security that the One who saved you cannot lose you and will always keep you (e.g., Rom. 8:28-29; 1 Pt. 1:3-9).
Words of Grace 