Eileen Beckett examines the doctrine of election as taught in Scripture, particularly Ephesians 1:4, arguing that God's sovereign choice of believers before the foundation of the world is central to understanding salvation by grace alone. She articulates three essential elements of election: personal election (individual names written in the book of life), sovereign election (based on God's pleasure rather than foreseen works, per Romans 9:16), and organic election (God's choice of the church as a unified body in Christ). Beckett emphasizes that denying election amounts to denying the doctrine of sovereign grace and contends that understanding this truth produces genuine Christian unity centered on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What does the Bible say about election?
The Bible teaches that God has chosen individuals for salvation before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).
Ephesians 1:4, Romans 9:10-13
How do we know the doctrine of total depravity is true?
Total depravity is supported by biblical evidence showing that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Romans 3:23
Why is the doctrine of sovereign grace important for Christians?
Sovereign grace emphasizes that salvation is entirely God's work, encouraging believers to trust in His mercy rather than their own efforts.
Romans 9:16
Chosen!
Chapter 2
I have found this book a treasure of the Truth, I love the way HH puts into words the very truth of our salvation in all its aspects. Have you ever been blessed that way, you read someone’s wording and you have had the exact same thoughts and you shout amen because you are in total agreement. That, my friends, is the true unity of our faith, unity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world” – Eph 1:4
The doctrine of election is Biblical but it certainly isn’t popular in most of Christendom. This doctrine has been denied and touted as a doctrine from hell, but then we know that the truth has never been popular and men go about inventing their own truths over and over again wrapped in new ideas and new words.
“God has from all eternity sovereignly determined who shall be saved in Christ Jesus, ordained all the ways and means unto their salvation, and that, too, in distinction from others whom He purposed not to save.” -HH
I found it most interesting that he broke this truth down into three elements and I had never heard it quite this way but I see all three elements in this, our election from eternity!
Personal Election:
Our names have been written in the book of life from all eternity and so it is a personal election. Many people try and say that election was only for a nation and not individual people and yet Jacob was a real person as was Esau and Isaac was a real person as was Ishmael…… “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed”. -Acts 13:48
Sovereign Election:
There are many who believe in the sovereign election of individuals but base that election, not on God’s Sovereign pleasure, but on the foreseen good works of the ones elected. I see more and more how man must get himself in there somehow, one way or another and so I see also studying grace is that much more important…because if it is of works, it is not grace. “For it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. -Romans 9:16
Organic Election:
Although election is personal, God chose a church, the body of Christ, a holy temple in the Lord. “It is one grand whole, representing one idea, the glory of God in Christ, conceived by the perfect artificer; and the position but also the number of all the members of that whole is determined n the eternal wisdom and purpose of Him who worketh all things according to the counsel of His own will”.-HH
We are a united people in Christ, what a glorious truth this is and what a reminder to us of that unity.
“And presently, when all the elect shall have been gathered, and the church of all ages shall have been perfected and glorified, it shall stand at the head of the new creation, in which all things shall be united in Christ, and God shall be all in all! That is election!- HH
The doctrine of election has been called cor ecclesiae, the heart of the church, may we never be ashamed to proclaim it in all its beauty and truth for if you deny this doctrine you deny that salvation is by Sovereign Grace.
Oh the wonder of it!
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