Support For Unconditional Election

Biblical support is based on two primary threads of evidence:

1.) God's absolute sovereignty

2.) Man's total corruption. 

If God is really sovereign, then nothing--including my stubborn will--can prevent him from accomplishing anything he plans or desires.  If I any totally corruption, then there's absolutely nothing I can do to save myself--even believing and trusting by faith.  Any argument you find supporting Unconditional Election will be based upon one or both of these two concepts.

The Sovereignty of God

Sovereignty tells of God's divine control over everything that happens. There is nothing outside the control of His loving Hand: not the designs of the wicked (even the plans of history's most evil dictators), not the way the earth works itself seemingly against the lives of men (such as the recent earthquake in Turkey), not the workings of demons (or even Satan), and not my own free will. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for the good of God's children and verses 38-39 implies that there is nothing beyond the control of God's sovereign hand. God's sovereignty is a huge source of comfort to the believer, for it helps him to know that no matter how chaotic any situation may seem, he really need not fear for God is still in charge and on the throne (and that combined with His love is unassailable) [Blue Letter Bible, Sovereignty of God].

God is infinitely superior in every way to everything he created.  No demons, angels, government, or human will--has sufficient power or authority to thwart God's plans and intentions.  Whatever he purposes he completely accomplishes--exactly as he wills and exactly as he foreknows it.  Sovereignty of God refers to the exercise of his supremacy over his creation. 

Being both omniscient and omnipotent, God is not only sufficiently powerful to assure whatever he plans will come to pass, but he foreknows with certainty that it certainly will.  If God's sovereignty were in any way limited (i.e., by man's "free" will) then God's power would be finite--limited not by his own nature, but by someone outside of himself.  It's conceivable in this situation that events could occur which God didn't foresee or intend.  A "free" agent working within God's creation (as defined by Arminism) necessarily creates uncertainty in an otherwise stable and predetermined creation; it would be something outside of God's control, and God's plans would be subject to it's uncertainty.  God's ability to accomplish what he purposed would be compromised--and he would, therefore, have the same frail weaknesses of the Greek and Roman gods. 

One sub-atomic particle outside God's control would introduce uncertainty into God's foreknowledge of future events.  With any uncertainty, we would have no guarantee God can continue to hold all things together (Colossians 1:17) or fulfill his promises exactly as predicted.  In fact, his promises and prophecies would only be "best guesses" if God couldn't assure his prophecy would indeed come to pass as foretold.  His foreknowledge (if accurate at all) would be mere observations of future events.  Without being able to change these events he'd be--like us--another frustrated rider on the bus of life.  The only difference between God and use would be that God could see the bump in the road ahead.  Unfortunately, if God's not allowed to drive he won't be able to avoid the bump either.

There has to be absolute certainty that God is in complete control of the creation he's made, or he just isn't really God.  Any "supreme" being who sets out to save all-men-without-exception because he loves them s-o-o-o much, then can only cobble together a pitiful handful because the rest just weren't cooperating--well, that kind of God just doesn't inspire too much confidence. 

So the real question is this:  How can God's absolute authority co-exist with the seemingly "free" will of man?  The answer is twofold.  First, the freedom of the sovereign always supersedes that of his subjects.  Man's "free" will actually arises out of, results from, but is inferior to God's free will.  Second, freedom doesn't mean people can do absolutely anything they want--freedom only means someone is free from external constraints.  God is free from external constraints (i.e., the choices and opinions of humans) to do whatever he wants.  However, his is still constrained by his own nature--he cannot lie, cheat, steal, or otherwise be unfair because he is a righteous God.  That is his nature!  He cannot even want to lie, cheat, or steal! 

Likewise, man is free to do anything his own nature allows--he is not restrained by any external forces.  However, he can't swim for miles under water unaided because that is not his physical nature.  Morally, he can choose whatever he wants to choose within the confines of his nature.  That's the problem:  Man's nature is sinful; he doesn't want to make those choices God demands of him because they are against his moral nature.

God placed the nation Israel in a conditional state in which Israel had to choose God (within their limited capacity) AFTER God had already elected and predestined them to be such--and prophesized ahead of time that they would! 

Scripture abounds with proof God controls the very thoughts and actions of men.  He uses them to accomplish whatever he purposes, and God is accountable to, and hindered by, no one.

Exodus 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and [I] will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: [if it were his pleasure to save all-men-without-exception he could have done it]

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Ezekiel 6:12 He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.

Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Daniel 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Job 23:13-14 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. [God causes those he elects to come to him!]

Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Psalm 135:5-12 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.  Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.  He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.  Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.  Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.  Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings ...And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps

Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?

Isaiah 43:13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

Isaiah 44:24-26 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 65:1 ¶ I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Jeremiah 18:4-6 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Haggai 2:23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and [I] will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

Matthew 20:15-16 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Acts 4:24 ... Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy [the Lord's] hand and thy [the Lord's] counsel determined before to be done.

Romans 9:10-24 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (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;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.  ¶ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.  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.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

1 Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ¶ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Arminianism appeals to our natural (fallen) nature--we're in control.  But while we admittedly have will to exercise (in fact, we are commanded to exercise!), you can see from the verses above that it is really God who is in control, "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." 

Depravity of Man

Palagians and Semi-Palagians (Arminians) must deny this total depravity of man.  Once admitted, the only viable option is Unconditional Election.  Although man is a sinner by nature--cut off from God, in bondage to sin, and bound by his fallen condition--they think somehow man can suck it up, exercise enough spiritual discernment, evaluate the options, and willfully choose to accept Christ's gift of salvation when presented (like the contestant in the Isaac Air Freight skit). 

One Arminian writer I found stated:

Human evil exists, but the view that human nature is essentially evil lacks both biblical and experiential support. What about the countless good deeds that are performed each day all over the world? ...terms such as "indisposed" and "disabled" fit within the biblical picture of the human condition, provided they are properly qualified; but "utterly indisposed," "opposite to all good," and "wholly inclined to all evil" are well outside the biblical picture of creatures who are told by God Himself that they are capable of choosing good over evil.  [Stinson, What Does the Bible Say] 

God commands humans to submit to Him and obey His commandments in literally scores of passages. The fact that men have not obeyed does not mean that they are completely incapable of obeying.  [Stinson, What Does the Bible Say] 

But the Bible says,

I Cor. 2: 14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned

John 6: 44 No man can come unto Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day

John 6: 65, 66 Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father. From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him

John 1:13 All who are born again are said to be 'born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God

Once the doctrine of Total Depravity/Inability (Original Sin) is admitted, then the logical conclusion has to be Unconditional Election.

If it is true that all men are by nature in a state of guilt, rejection, and hostility toward God--from which they are wholly unable to deliver themselves--it logically follows that if any is to be saved, God must do the saving!

Strictly speaking we may say that man has "free" will only in the sense that he is not under any outside compulsion which interferes with his freedom of choice or his just accountability. In his fallen state he only has what we may call “the freedom of slavery.” He is in bondage to sin and spontaneously follows Satan. He does not have the ability or incentive to follow God. Now, we ask, is this a thing worthy the name “free”? and the answer is, No! Not "free-will" but self-will would more appropriately describe man’s condition since the fall. [Boettner, Objections]

Adam wasn't enslaved by sin, bound by sinful desires, or separated Spiritually from God.  He could either choose to obey God or not.  Having made that wrong choice, however, he found his options severely limited.  Like DNA, all of mankind since then has inherited Adam’s acquired sin nature--and his subsequent lack of choices. We are bound by our sinful nature just as God is bound by his own righteous nature. 

Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [how much stronger can God say it?]

Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. [God said this AFTER the flood, when only Noah and his family (who he had just saved) were the only humans alive!]

Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:28-31 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful

Romans 3:10-18 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

John 8:34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."

Not only is man, by nature, wicked and depraved, Spiritually non-understanding, and definitely NOT interested in seeking God, Man can't possibly make a "free" choice if he wanted to because he is a slave. It is impossible of man to do so.

Romans 8:7-8 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not

Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Ephesians 4:17-19 …walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

We're all on the "highway to hell" with our pedal to the metal.  Not only can we NOT get off, we don't WANT to get off ...we don't even want to slow down!  We encourage and applaud those joining us on this one-way ride.  In reality, we're falling to the floor already dead--unless God chooses to raise us to life.

Like dead Lazarus, it is impossible for natural (fallen) man to Spiritually understand the Gospel message--he's DEAD!  He can't "freely" choose to come to life and walk out of that tomb--even with lots of help.  God first performed a miracle in Lazarus which enabled him to hear Jesus' words, then Jesus gave him the power to stand up and obey.  Likewise, people not already empowered by the Spirit of God CANNOT understand spiritual things, and will NEVER walk out of the grave no matter how much we try to help them.

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

John 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

John 17:2-3, 6, 9-10 As thou [Father] hast given him [Son] power over all flesh, that he [Son] should give eternal life to as many as thou [Father] hast given him [Son].  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee [Father] the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.  ... I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.  ...I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

Acts 2:28 Thou [God] hast made known to me [David] the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Romans 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

1 Peter 1:1-2,5 ¶ ...Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto [for] obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you....  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto [for] salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

1 Peter 2:8-9 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The modern evangelistic conception of walking to the front of the church, deciding for Christ, or signing committment cards is purely Arminian in origin [MacLean, Another Gospel].  I cringe whenever I endure one of these l-o-n-g drawn out, emotional, soft-music-playing-in-the-background, "If you love your mother, come forward" alter calls trying to manipulate the poor sinner into intellectually or emotionally making a Spiritual decision to choose against his strongest motivator.  In effect, they are being asking to rise and walk out of their grave without benefit of God resuscitating him first.  In the movie "Princess Bride" Leslie is killed by the villain, but later is brought back to life because he was only "mostly dead."  That's the Arminian view of fallen man's spiritual condition--"mostly dead."

Let us appeal to the actual experience of the Christian reader. Was there not a time (may the remembrance of it bow each of us into the dust!) when you were unwilling to come to Christ~ There was. Since then you have come to Him. Are you now prepared to give Him all the glory for that (Ps. 115:1)? Do You acknowledge you came to Christ because the Holy Spirit brought you from unwillingness to willingness? You do. Then is it not also a patent fact that the Holy Spirit has not done in many others what He has in you? Granted that many others have heard the Gospel, been shown their need of Christ; yet, they are still unwilling to come to Him. Thus He has wrought more in you than in them. Do you answer, Yet I remember well the time when the Great Issue was presented to me, and my consciousness testifies that my will acted and that I yielded to the claims of Christ upon me. Quite true! But before you "yielded," the Holy Spirit overcame the native enmity of your mind against God, and this "enmity" He does not overcome in all. Should it be said, That is because they are unwilling for their enmity to be overcome-ah, none are thus "willing" till He has put forth His almighty power and wrought a miracle of grace in the heart. [Pink, God's Sovereignty and Human Will].

While paying lip service to the concept of the fallen nature of man, Arminians actually deny the will of man is so corrupted by his fallen nature and limited by his sinful moral condition that he cannot choose to hear Jesus' voice and walk out of the tomb any time he wants to!  But since his natural condition is not only controlled by sin but, "...at enmity with God" [Romans 8:7], he can NEVER choose to do so unless God supernaturally intervenes first.