One of the fundamental articles of faith of the true Baptist Church states: "We believe in the doctrine of Election according to the foreknowledge of God." The subject of election is taught both in Old and New Testaments, and has to do with the eternal purpose of God with respect to His family.

The Apostle Paul gives a fundamental lesson on election in the 9^th chapter of Romans, beginning in the 9th verse. "For this is the word of promise, at this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10. And not only this: but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth;) 12. It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. 13. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15. For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16. So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." The lesson taught by the example of Jacob and Esau is a lesson of God's chosen people. The reason that God loved Jacob was because of His own purpose according to election. The reason that God hated Esau was because of His own purpose according to election. God's love for Jacob and His hatred for Esau was not based upon the good in Jacob or the evil in Esau; "The children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil."

God's election of His people was in His Son, Jesus Christ. He has eternally known them, even before the world was, when as of yet there was none of them. Therefore, it was the eternal purpose of God to have the entire family which He foreknew, and loved with an everlasting love, presented before Him in love and in His presence in heaven. God being all wise, He knew that His children would die under the law of sin and death when Adam would by his own choice fall and transgress the commandment in the garden of Eden. God further knew that there would be no way that His children could redeem themselves or atone for their sins. This did not stagger the love of God for His children nor His eternal purpose to house them in heaven. In the eternal counsel of God, He covenanted with His holy Son to redeem the children, and therefore, Christ being the elect one, God elected or chose the entire family of God (sons of Jacob) in His Son Jesus before the world was.

Paul in writing to the Ephesians states this plainly in Chapter 1:4, 5, 6 "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. 6. To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved." It is evident that election is an immutable decree of God, and the source or cause of election is in God alone. (God's everlasting favor (love) for His people and the praise of the glory of His grace are undoubtedly the motivating causes of His election of His people in His Son to eternal life. God's election is unconditional. It is not based upon the will of man nor are there conditions placed for man to meet in order to be elected. The election of God is perfect. and included every heir of God. The choosing or electing of the sons of God is not as some would state that before time God looked down through time and ejected His people out of the fallen race of man. God's election of His people in Christ was based on His love for them, and there has never been a time when God did not love His children. Election in Christ came before the fall, not after.

It is of utmost importance that the doctrine of election be clearly understood by those who would desire to know the truth about the subject of redemption. Without election, there would be no redemption. All men are depraved 'by nature, and according to the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:10-18, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one; 11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips. 14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; 15. Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16. Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17. And the way of peace they have not known. 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes." It is easily seen by this text that man is dead in trespasses and sins and has no fear of God before his eyes. Therefore, in order for any to be redeemed (saved) there had to be a will separate and apart from man's will. Remember, that in the opening text of this article that it was "not of him that willeth or of him that runneth," and in this last text, "there is none that seeketh after God."

It is evident from the Ephesians epistle that eternal redemption is according to the purpose of God who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. God does not seek the counsel of men to try to decide what He wants to do.

Isaiah 40:14: "With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?" Furthermore, since election is according to the purpose of God, it is comforting for the poor sinner to hear that "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." (Isaiah 46:10 It was according to the "good pleasure of His will" That God predestinated those that He foreknew (loved before hand) to be conformed to the image of His son. Their security therefore, is in the election of grace in Jesus Christ the elect one. The sons of God are called "the elect" (Roman 8:33, Col. 3:12, I Peter 1:2) and Christ is called the "elect one" (Isaiah 42:1). Peter in 1^st Peter 1:2 called them elect.

He addresses the strangers scattered about and calls them "(elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." In this one text, we see the divine purpose of God according to election, and furthermore, we see the various functions of the three persons in the Godhead! Their election in Christ was because of God's foreknowledge (having loved them beforehand), Because they are thusly the "elect" of God, the Spirit sanctifies (sets apart) them and they are born again. The blood of Jesus Christ was shed for them (the elect) and they stand without blame in the mind and purpose of God.

The Apostle Paul also in Romans 8:28-33 tells us that nothing can be laid to the charge of God's elect. 28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Remember that He loved Jacob and announced His love for him before he was born and had done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand. 29. "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." It is perfectly dear that the objects of God's love, the elect, are many, not just a few. Notice also the relationship of the elect with one another and with Christ. They are "brethren." Hence it is that the word "brethren" is synonymous with the word "elect." Christ is not ashamed to call the elect "brethren," and it behooved Him to be made like His brethren. 30. "Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified." Following on into this verse, we see the unbreakable counsel of God and His eternal love for His people. As the objects of His love, they are called the elect, the brethren. the predestinated, the called, the justified, and the glorified. Since the final purpose of God's election is the redemption of His family, the family is also called the "redeemed." And yet further, since those that were elected (chosen) in Christ before the foundation of the world were loved by the Father in all eternity past. they were given to the Son as His bride. Hence, the elect are the bride of Christ. Christ speaks of the elect as "all that the Father hath given me," and says that He "will lose nothing but raise it up again at the last day" (John 6:39).

The Apostle Paul, as he considers the eternal purpose of God in the election of those that He loved in His Son, Jesus Christ, asks the question, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth" (Romans 8:33). Elder John Robbins