Church of the Good Shepherd Equip Class 

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026 

Class 6: Election & Predestination

I. Prefatory Remarks: Principles for Thinking Biblically 

1) We are dealing with the infinite Creator, therefore we must come to grips with the fact that many things will be mysterious and paradoxical to us (Ps. 145:3; Isa. 40:28; Rom. 11:33; 1 Tim. 6:16; Job 38:1-2; 42:1-2; Ps. 131:1; Num. 23:19). 

2) Scripture clearly teaches the absolute sovereignty of God and the responsibility and freedom of the creature (Matt. 11:24-27; John 6:37; Isa. 10:5-7). 

3) Scripture clearly teaches God is sovereign even over sin, yet that does not make God the author of sin (Eph. 1:11; Isa. 45:7; Amos 3:6; Job 2:10; 1 John 1:5; James 1:13-15, 17). 

4) God has not revealed everything that we would like to know, so we must say what the Scriptures say — nothing more, and nothing less (Deut. 29:29). 

5) The doctrine of election and predestination are presented to us in Scripture as the ground of our comfort and assurance of our redemption and God’s unconditional and everlasting love for us (Rom. 8:28-39; 9; Eph. 1:3-6; 1 Thess. 1:4-5; 2 Pet. 1:10; 1 John 5:13). 

God’s Decree (Gen. 50:20; Job 38-42; Ps. 33:11; 115:3; 135:6; Prov. 16:33; Isa. 37:26; 46:9-10; Matt. 10:29-30; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 17:26; Rom. 11:36; Eph. 1:11) 

The Plan of Salvation (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; Titus 1:1-2) 

The Works of God (Acts 15:18; 2 Tim. 1:8, 9; Titus 1:1-2; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:3-6) Rom. 8:29-30 

Election: The elect are spoke of in the Scriptures as individuals and a group: thye are described as ‘the elect’ (Matt. 24:22, 24, 31; Mark 13:20, 22, 27; Luke 18:7; Rom. 8:33; 9:11; 11:7; 11:28; 1 Tim. 5:21; 2 Tim. 2:10; Titus 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:10; 2 John 1:1, 13), ‘elect exiles’ (1 Pet. 1:1), ‘chosen ones’ (1 Chr. 16:13; Ps. 105:6, 43; 106:5; Col. 3:12), ‘chosen’ (1 Cor. 1:26-29; James 2:5), those who are ‘called according to [God’s] purposed’ (Rom. 8:28) ‘a people for God’s possession’ (Titus 2:14; Ezek. 37:23; Ex. 19:5; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Ps. 135:4; Mal. 3:17; 1 Pet 2:5, 9), those ‘who are His’ (2 Tim. 2:19; Num. 16:5; Nah. 1:7), those ‘known by God’ (Gal. 4:9; 1 Cor. 8:3; Ps. 139:1), those ‘appointed to eternal life’ (Acts 13:48), those ‘whose names are written in the Book of Life’ (Luke 10:20; Heb. 12:23; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 20:12; 21:27; 22:19), Christ’s ‘sheep’ (Ps. 23; 95:7; 100:3; John 10), those ‘given’ to the Son by the Father (John 17:1, 6, 9, 24; 6:37, 39; 10:29; 18:9; Heb. 2:13), those who are ‘of God’ (8:47). 

Predestination: (Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11). 

1) The doctrine of unconditional election means that God’s love for me is true and free. 2) The doctrine of unconditional election means that God will never change His mind about me. 3) The doctrine of election and predestination is the ground of my assurance of salvation. 4) The doctrine of unconditional election is the ground of my holiness. 

5) The doctrine of unconditional election and predestination give me the utmost confidence that my evangelism will be successful.