"Elect of God" - does not that thought only promote human pride which is an enemy of Christ? Is it not arrogance to suggest, "I am saved by God's choice"? Have not many who believe in election grown haughty and puffed up in that doctrine?
While it is true that some have made acquaintance with a doctrine and become self-inflated big-heads by it, any man who claims to believe in God's sovereign election and is elevated in his pride by it does not understand election! In fact, he who says he believes in sovereign election and is not put in the dust by it does not know the doctrine, and thus cannot believe it. Here is why.
The Biblical doctrine (or teaching) of election starts with God - not man. Here is real pride: "I chose God!" But the scriptures teach that "I" did not choose God (John 15:16). He did the choosing (2 Thess. 2:13). Only a fool would take personal credit or pride in something someone else did.
The teaching of the Bible on election lays man in the dust of total wickedness. It sees him absolutely ruined in Adam's fall (Rom. 5:12). It sees no merit whatsoever in human flesh (Rom. 3:19-20; 8:8). It sees man in his natural state the enemy of God and in total rebellion against Him (Rom. 8:6-7; Col. 1:21). The glory of election is in the holy God choosing to save men who are utterly and totally depraved (I Cor. 1:28-29). Who can find reason for pride in the total corruption of his flesh?
The scriptures not only present man's utter depravity but his unwillingness to be any different. He is a sinner because he loves sin, and he loves sin because he is a sinner (John 3:19). He is a slave to sin (John 8:32), but a willing slave (Rom.6:16). So far has he gone into sin that he cannot turn back without divine assistance (John 6:44, 65). He fell so far from God and godliness in Adam that his very nature is corrupt, so that it is his custom to do evil (Jer. 13:23). He is like a child who swims too far from shore to return in his own strength but is so fascinated with the ocean that he enjoys being there. He is beyond himself but satisfied with himself, being swept to destruction but happy about it.
Election, as the Bible teaches it, attributes the salvation of men entirely to God and bases that salvation solely upon the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9). Man does the sinning and God does the saving (I Tim. 1:15). God so moves upon wretched, rebelling sinners that they willingly come to Him, believing the gospel they once hated, clinging to the Christ they once crucified, and bowing to the Lordship of Christ that they once denied (Acts 26:1-19).
The basis of God's election, according to the Word of God, is not one whit in man (not in his merit, qualifications, values, religion, or anything else) but entirely the good pleasure of God (Eph. 1:4-6). He chooses to save men not in their righteousness (for they don't have any - Rom. 3:10) but entirely in the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 3:24-26).
Where in this glorious teaching of God's election is there room for a single gram of pride or arrogance on the part of any man? Nowhere! No, the only place where human pride is found is in a doctrine that suggests human ability, to any extent at all, as a part of God's redemptive plan. Pride says, "God owes every man an equal chance;" election says, "God owes no man anything but His holy justice and the result of it (death in eternal hell)." Pride says, "God cannot save sinners until they let Him;" election says, "God is greater than sinners; He will save whom He pleases." Pride says, "God has done all He can do; now the rest is up to you;" election says, "You are a sinner through and through; salvation is all up to God!" Pride says, "Make Christ Lord;" election says, "Christ IS the Lord; sinner, bow down!" Pride exalts man; election exalts Christ.
Pride's greatest sin is putting God in obligation to man. England's greatest preacher once said, "I will let no man exceed me in obligation to the Most High. Brethren, we are all debtors, and I count myself most of all a debtor. I BOAST THAT I HAVE NOTHING TO BOAST OF!"
Election's song is this: "boasting excluded, pride I abase; I'm only a sinner, saved by grace!"
jw