Meney critiques the popular Arminian view of conditional election—which holds that God foresees how individuals will respond to the gospel and elects them based on that foresight—arguing it fails to address fundamental fairness questions regarding those who never hear the gospel, live under different circumstances, or face varying opportunities for conversion. He contends that obsession with "fairness" has corrupted evangelical preaching, leading to a "free-offer" gospel that contradicts biblical doctrine, and advocates instead for the Reformation understanding of salvation articulated at the Synod of Dort: the five points of TULIP (Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints), which properly emphasize God's sovereignty and the sinner's complete inability and antipathy toward grace.
What does the Bible say about election?
The Bible presents election as God's sovereign choice to save certain individuals for His glory, as highlighted in passages like Ephesians 1:4-5.
Distinguishing between the biblical understanding of election and the more popular view of conditional election, where God elects based on foreseen faith, is essential. The Reformed viewpoint underscores that God's election operates from His sovereign initiative, reflecting His justice and mercy. This doctrine invites believers to marvel at the grace of God in choosing and saving His people, acknowledging that it is not through our works but through His unmerited favor that we come to faith.
What does the Bible say about election?
The Bible teaches unconditional election, affirming that God sovereignly chooses individuals for salvation without any conditions based on their actions.
Ephesians 1:4-5, Romans 9:15-16
How do we know unconditional election is true?
Unconditional election is affirmed through various Scriptures that highlight God's choosing based on His will, as seen in Romans 8:29-30.
Moreover, Ephesians 1:4-5 clarifies that our election is not based on foreseen faith but solely on God's love and grace. The historic Reformed understanding gracefully affirms that while it may seem difficult to reconcile with human perspectives of fairness, God's ways are higher than ours. This doctrine encourages humility and gratitude among believers, recognizing that our salvation rests entirely in God’s sovereign hands, underscoring the beauty and depth of His grace.
How do we know limited atonement is true?
Limited atonement asserts that Christ's sacrifice was specifically intended for the elect, effectively securing their salvation.
John 10:14-15, Hebrews 9:28
Why is limited atonement important for Christians?
Limited atonement clarifies that Christ's sacrificial death was specifically for the elect, ensuring their redemption, as confirmed in John 10:15.
In understanding limited atonement, Christians can appreciate the depth of Christ's sacrifice as it relates directly to their own salvation. It highlights the assurance that all for whom Christ died will surely be saved, fostering a sense of security and confidence in God’s promise. This doctrine is crucial for grasping the fullness of the gospel, as it affirms that Christ's atonement is both particular and effective, providing believers with the assurance of their redemption.
Why is irresistible grace important for Christians?
Irresistible grace teaches that God's calling to salvation is effective and cannot be rejected by those chosen by Him.
John 6:37, Psalm 110:3
What is irresistible grace in Christianity?
Irresistible grace refers to the truth that God's saving grace effectively draws the elect to salvation, as seen in Ephesians 2:8-9.
Understanding irresistible grace assures believers that their spiritual transformation and awakening to faith are divinely orchestrated. It is God who does the work of regeneration, granting faith and repentance. Rather than viewing grace as a mere invitation that can be accepted or rejected, the Reformed perspective maintains that it is a powerful and effectual work of the Holy Spirit that brings the elect from darkness to light. This sovereign action leads to a transformative relationship with Christ, where believers can have confidence in their standing before God, knowing it is grounded in His unyielding grace.
How does perseverance of the saints work?
Perseverance of the saints holds that those truly saved will continue in faith until the end, as evidenced in Philippians 1:6.
This understanding encourages Christians to remain steadfast, knowing that their faith is not reliant on their own strength but is upheld by God's faithfulness. It reflects the truth that genuine faith will manifest itself in a life that perseveres through trials and tribulations. The concept of perseverance is not merely about enduring but signifies a growing relationship with Christ where believers are continually conformed to His image, ultimately assuring them of their eternal security and hope in Him.
'I don't believe in election'.
'But its in the Bible.' 'What do you mean you don't believe in it?'
'I don't believe in it the way you do.'
'Well, how do you believe in it?'
'Certainly not that God chose only some people for salvation so that whatever they did they would be saved and everyone else lost. That's horrible and unfair. I prefer to think of it as God looking into the future and seeing how people would react when they hear the gospel, then conditionally electing them to heaven or hell based on that response. Anyway, doesn't Paul speak somewhere of foreknowledge?'
For many people the logic expressed above is copper-bottomed. It satisfies their idea of fairness and equitableness. After all, God would not do something that was unfair, and, they feel, people being damned without having a chance to be saved is just about as unfair as can be imagined.
Answer this...
Alright, let's press the logic a little. What about those who never hear the gospel? Are their 'chances' of salvation diminished by never hearing Jesus' name? What about those who died before Christ came into the world, or those who lived and died before the gospel ever reached their country? What about unevangelised lands today? Where do infants, imbeciles and aborted foetuses show up?
A different basis?
It is popular to imagine that people who never hear the gospel are judged on a different basis and under different criteria than those who hear and reject the Christian message. But if this is so why do we take the gospel to them at all? Such people could legitimately claim that we are simply jeopardising the blissful ignorance from which they might secure some merciful dispensation from God on the basis they never heard the gospel and had no opportunity to accept Christ?
What of people steeped in Islam or Buddhism? Do such people have the same chance of salvation by Christ as those who live under freedom of religion? Is it 'fair' that one person is a child of the manse and another a child of the public house? What of those who have been born into squalor and degradation, who revert to crime in the absence of an alternative. Do they really have the same chance as your children?
Crusade junkies
Is it fair that some people get to hear a thousand gospel sermons and others hear only one? And what if they happen to have toothache on that one occasion? Is it fair that one person gets to hear Billy Graham and another has to make do with some small town nobody with an abrasive accent? Is that fair?
The logicians have thought of that, too. For them, conditional election is not only based on God's knowing what individuals would chose in the future. It is not restricted to God knowing what they actually do, but, and get this, it allows for what they would do under perfect or optimal conditions.
I have heard this idea seriously espoused by Arminians. God, they say, not only knows what people do with Christ but He knows what they would have done had they not been subject to all the hindrances of sin. God therefore discounts all the hurdles of time, age, intellect, poverty, religious affiliation etc., etc. He then elects on the basis of what people would do with Christ if they had perfect knowledge and perfect opportunity. Why not? Its fair.
A peculiar papist dimension
Roman Catholics have a quaint adaptation of this 'equal chance for all' logic. Some believe that Jesus Christ personally visits every single person at the moment of their death and gives them one final opportunity to receive salvation.
And if that does not seem fair-that both good and bad get a final chance-they have even refined it to accommodate good works. The 'odds' of this chance is determined by how good the person has been in their life under whatever moral code they happen to have lived. Live honourably by your law or moral standard and your chance to be saved at the precise moment of death is increased. Fail to live well and the odds are proportionately diminished. Neat.
Gospel offers-free and fair?
Ironically, this slavish devotion to equity and fairness is the very same ethos that prompts the widespread idea of free-offer preaching amongst so-called reformed evangelicals. They tell us that regardless of election, predestination and the eternal decrees of God, there remains a genuine, well-meant and sincere 'offer' of salvation in all gospel preaching that the sinner is able to accept or reject.
It is this construction of gospel ministry that encourages many evangelical churches to engage in free-will style gimmicks to attract people to church. After dinner sermons and breakfast buffet epilogues might appeal to novelty hungry men and women of the world, but they are concocted by professing believers who have a totally wrong notion of what the gospel message actually is.
The gospel is not a 'take it or leave it' offer. It is a quickening lifeline to God's lost sheep. It is the call of the Master-shepherd, the empowering tool of God the Holy Spirit as He actually and effectually saves the elect of God and only the elect of God. To the non-elect, the reprobate, the gospel is not an offer of grace but the stench of hell in their nostrils. The Apostle Paul calls it the savour of death.
Bondage of the will
Part of the trouble with today's crippling subjection to 'fairness' is a failure to start at the right place when thinking about gospel preaching. Most preachers imagine they are speaking to impartial listeners. They assume that if they make a cogent and attractive presentation they are giving their listeners the best chance possible of receiving Christ. They are trying to reach the will by convincing the intellect. When this fails some are not above trying to reach the will via the emotions. Both routes are bound to fail for the simple reason that a sinner's will is not impartial. It is solidly opposed to Christ.
A tulip of great worth
Many years ago delegates at the Synod of Dort (see page 9), systematised the essential nature of evangelical doctrine under five heads of doctrine. In time these became known as the doctrines of grace and by the acronym TULIP. This stands for Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints. Do not fear the theology of these terms, they comprise the essence of gospel truth. Get to know these doctrines and you will be well equipped to understand the nature of the gospel.
The delegates realised that contrary to the teachings of Jacobus Arminius, when we preach Jesus Christ we must preach Him in the context of true Bible doctrine.
Total depravity
Consequently, true preaching proclaims 'Total depravity'. It teaches not only the inability of the sinner but the natural antipathy of the sinner against God. Sinners are repulsed by grace. They hate the one true God. They hate Christ and despise His sacrifice. They tread His blood underfoot. They are neither sympathetic to nor accommodating of the gospel. Ever so politely they live and demonstrate Total depravity.
Unconditional election
True preaching proclaims Unconditional election. It acknowledges God's right and freedom to select whomsoever He chooses to salvation. It humbly accepts God's wisdom in eternal matters. It does not rate fallen man's notions of what is fair and what is not. It accepts that God's electing grace and gift of salvation is based on nothing done by man or thought by man. It is bestowed freely and totally without conditions.
Limited atonement
True preaching proclaims Limited atonement. It rejoices in an atonement that actually accomplishes the redemption of elect sinners. Those whom God has chosen are those for whom Christ died. The benefits of Christ's death are bestowed only on those whom God has elected to salvation. Hence the extent of the atonement is restricted or 'limited' to those only for whom the Lord died. Only the sins of the elect are paid for by our Lord's sacrifice. For everyone else judgement will be eternally applied in hell.
Irresistible grace
True preaching proclaims Irresistible grace. It teaches that God's sovereign purposes to save certain chosen sinners will certainly be accomplished. Despite man's natural rebellion and total depravity God will powerfully and irresistibly bring salvation to His chosen people by the effectual call of the Holy Spirit and the preaching of the true gospel.
Perseverence of the saints
True preaching proclaims Perseverence of the saints. It sees the implication of all of the foregoing truths and believes that despite sin, all those elected by God, redeemed by Christ, irresistibly called by the Holy Spirit, are eternally secure and will persevere through all the trials and temptations of this life to enter eternal life in the presence of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The power of God unto salvation
When it comes to preaching (and hearing) the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, only the full-orbed doctrines of sovereign grace do justice to God's wonderful plan of salvation. Say it with flowers!
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