Article 10: Election Based on God’s Good Pleasure

But the cause of this undeserved election is exclusively the good pleasure of God. This does not involve his choosing certain human qualities or actions from among all those possible as a condition of salvation, but rather involves his adopting certain particular persons from among the common mass of sinners as his own possession. As Scripture says, “When the children were not yet born, and had done nothing either good or bad …, she [Rebecca] was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated’ ” (Rom. 9:11–13). Also, “All who were appointed for eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).

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As we saw in the previous articles, the Canons point out that the only biblical basis for God’s choice of a multitude of sinners so vast they cannot be counted to become vessels of honor and not remain vessels fit for destruction (Romans 9:22-23) is to be found solely in God’s own inscrutable will (Isaiah 46:8-10; Psalm 115:3; 135:6). Likewise, the reason why God passes over others allowing them to perish is known only to himself (Romans 9:14-16). Whenever this topic is discussed, we must keep firmly in mind that since all of Adam’s children are sinners by nature and by choice (Romans 5:12-19) and therefore guilty before him, no one deserves to be chosen unto eternal life. Instead, we are by nature children of wrath (cf. Ephesians 2:1-3).

To put it yet another way, the only reason why any are chosen to be redeemed from their sin is to be found in God’s eternal purposes and not because there is something within the creature which causes or motivates God to choose us. The canons affirm the clear teaching of Scripture–God’s election of sinners to be saved is based upon God’s sovereign pleasure and purpose, and not upon anything good within our hearts or wills, since we are seen as fallen in Adam when we are chosen.

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