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【Elect, Identity of】When C.H. Spurgeon preached on “election” somebody said to him, “Why don’t you just preach to the called, to the elect?” He replied, “Well, if you’ll run around and pull up everybody’s shirttails so I can see if they have an ‘E’ stamped on their back, I will.”

Only God knows who is elect and who is not.

【Election】There was a boy who did not have much athletic ability. Every time he and his friends would play some game he was always the last to be chosen. One day two new fellows came to play with them and were allowed to be team captains because they were older. The first team captain chose the boy who had always been chosen last before. Why? Because they were brothers, and he loved his brother.

So it is with God. He chose us not because of our abilities, but because he loves us.

【Election】The mere preaching of the gospel does not save an individual. The gospel message must be activated by the election and calling of God for an individual to be drawn to him. It would be as if one had thrown a rope to a drowning man. The throwing of that rope could not save the man unless someone were at the other end drawing him into shore.

This is what God has done. By his election, God draws to himself the one who has heard the message. The man may have the rope, but he still needs the efficient force of God drawing him in. Who, therefore, deserves the praise for salvation, the man who grabbed the rope? No—the God who draws him in!

【Election】The resolution of election and free will has troubled theologians for centuries. One found an explanation in a picture of the door to heaven. On the side of the door facing the one who was about to enter heaven were written the words “Every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13). One the side of the door facing those who were already in heaven were written the words “called through his grace” (Gal. 1:15).

【Election】The general call of the gospel is like the sheet lightning we sometimes see on a summer evening—beautiful, grand—but who ever heard of anything being stuck by it? But the special call is the forked flash from heaven; it strikes somewhere.—C.H. Spurgeon

【Election】Many a young man thought that he had chosen the young lady who became his wife—only to find out after the wedding that she had first chosen him.

【Election】It is a good thing that God chose me before I was born, because he surely would not have afterwards!—C.H. Spurgeon

【Election, Definition of】C.H. Spurgeon told of a time when he was preaching to a group of Methodist brethren. In his own words he gave us an account of what transpired:

“Preaching a few months ago in the midst of a large congregation of Methodists, the brethren were all alive, giving all kinds of answers to my sermon, nodding their heads and crying, ‘Amen! Hallelujah! Glory be to God!’ At last a part of text led me to what is styled high doctrine. So I said, this brings me to the doctrine of Election. There was a deep drawing of breath. Now, my friends, you believe it. They seemed to say, ‘No, we don’t’ But you do, and I will make you sing ‘Hallelujah’ over it. I will so preach it to you that you will acknowledge it and believe it. So I put it thus: Is there no difference between you and other men? ‘Yes, yes, glory be to God!’ There is a difference between what you were and what you are now? ‘Oh, yes, yes!’ There is sitting by your side a man who has been to the same chapel as you have, heard the same gospel; he is unconverted, and you are converted. Who has made the difference, yourself or God? ‘The Lord!’ said they. ‘The Lord! Glory! Hallelujah!’ Yes, cried I, and that is the doctrine of Election; that is all I contend for, that if there be a difference, the Lord made the difference.”

【Election, Predestination and】Election is God’s deciding who gets on the plane bound for heaven.

Predestination is his charting the route the plane will take, the schedule, the accommodations both during and after the flight, and each passenger’s safety. With God as the pilot of the plane and the plane itself, all who board the plane make it to heaven. Predestination means God himself makes sure the elect actually board the plane. Their response of faith in Christ is like checking in at the gate with a boarding pass.

The gospel call, in contrast, is like advertising for the trip. The church is commissioned to get the word to the whole world. Unfortunately most people treat God’s free offer as “junk mail” and throw it in the trash. However, those whom God has elected to salvation he also moves to accept his free offer. Many are called, but few are chosen. Yet all who are chosen are predestined to end up in heaven.

【Election of Judas】A man once asked a theologian, “Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot to be his disciple?” The reply was insightful, “I do not know, but I have an even harder question: Why did Jesus choose me?