Positionalism: the Biblical Doctrine of Election
by Bruce R. Cole Vol. XXIV, No. 8, September 2011
There are times when I wonder if we have not become a denomination of Athenians: “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” (Ac. 17:21). Dr. Land’s article,”WHOSOEVER WILL: Another view of the biblical doctrine of election,” in the January 2011 The Baptist Banner is a case in point. Although I agree there is a difference in the election of Israel as the chosen people of God and the election of sinners, throwing a “third difference” into the mix does not advance the debate. Neither do statements like, “Abrahamic Election is corporate, is to special people status, and is not related to anything.” Such ambiguous statements add nothing but more confusion.
The article discusses God’s “Eternal Now” existence, His foreknowledge, and His experience of all things as punctilios present moment. We must all agree with these truths. However, when the conclusion is made that, “The ones He has always experienced accepting and worshipping Him are elect,” and that “He works in an especially solicitous way to make their call effectual and they will believe vs. must believe,” some caution must be taken.
I caution first that saying “they will believe” sounds very much like the coercion of irresistible grace, only somewhat modified.
Second, I would disagree that those simply accepting and worshipping God are elect. If we believe Jesus is Lord and Savior, and that “By grace are you saved through faith” (Eph 2:8), then election is not based on simply accepting and worshipping deity. Election follows faith and comes only after a believer trusts Jesus as his personal Savior and is baptized into Christ. Only those who have been “born again” and are “in Christ” are the elect of God (Eph 1:4-7).
Third, although I believe at some point God must take the initiative, the illumination of the truth of the Gospel can only come after a person has responded with some degree of faith.
Fourth, The conclusion that “man is not so depraved he has to be the object of ‘irresistible grace’” diminishes the doctrine of depravity. Man is totally depraved. He is not only “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1); “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14).
Finally, I fail to see any biblical evidence for the claim, “We are not saved by ‘our’ faith, but by our God-enhanced, Spirit-completed faith.” My understanding of John 3:16 does not permit the interpretation, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that those whose faith is God-enhanced and Spirit-completed should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Greek word, πιστε?ω (pisteuô), refers to man’s faith and commitment, especially to Jesus Christ. It does not refer to a divinely induced faith. The Bible teaches, man must of his own volition repent and believe to be saved: “the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent” (Ac 17:30). This excludes any God-enhancing or Spirit-completing process.
There is another way to view the doctrine of election that is less confusing and more biblical than what is presented by Dr. Land. It is called Positionalism, and is an election model based upon man’s faith in God and his position “in Christ.”
Positionalism begins with the premise that Jesus Christ alone is the elect of God—God “raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And has put all things under his feet, and given him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all” (Eph 1:20-23; See also Phil 2:5-11 and 1 Pet 2:6 where Jesus is called “a chief corner stone, elect, precious”). Those who trust Christ were chosen “in Christ” before the foundation of the world. They are “accepted in the beloved.” They have been redeemed “through his blood,” and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise into his Body (Eph 1:13-14). The Bible teaches that “in him” they have obtained an inheritance. It is because of their faith and position “in Christ,” that they have Eternal Life. And because they are “in Christ,” they have the assurance, “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Eph 1:10).
The Positionalism model of election is completely biblical, disregarding no Scripture, and treating every passage with integrity. It can be defined in the following seven points:
Total Depravity – Man is totally depraved. He is not only “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1); he is so totally depraved he cannot be reached with the truth of the Gospel: “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14); Hence the need for illumination and a new birth.
Universal Atonement – Jesus died as an atonement for all sin: “the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6). “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree” (1 Pet 2:24). Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross is sufficient for all men. Not only for those who believe in him, but for those who do not believe. Sin has been dealt with and is gone: “He put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb 9:26). The demands of the Old Covenant Law and Commandments have been satisfied and are gone: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col 2:14). The empty tomb testifies to these truths. And because sin is gone and the Law and Commandments are gone, faith in Christ’s finished work at Calvary is the New Testament criterion for salvation. “Jesus is Lord!” is the confession of that faith.
Free Will – Man is free to accept or reject Christ’s offer of salvation, apart from any decision or coercion from the godhead. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Ac 17:30). “Whosoever will” may be saved.
Provisional Sovereignty – It is important to understand that the one who is proclaimed to be Lord of All is the same one who “was made flesh and dwelt among us.” He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:7). He is a man, the man Christ Jesus. It is the man Christ Jesus that has been granted provisional sovereignty over the kingdom of God, and over all that is, visible and invisible, including the right to grant eternal life: “For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man” (Jn 5:26-27). “Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, that you might have life” (Jn 5:39-40). “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Mt 28:18). “Therefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11). When history has played out, and the end of the world comes, Jesus’ provisional sovereignty will be relinquished: “For he must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all” (1 Cor 15:25-28). Until that time it is the risen Lord Jesus Christ with whom we have to deal.
Revelation as a means of Calling the Elect – General Revelation is the first step toward man’s salvation: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Psa 19:1-3). “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Rom 1:19-20). General Revelation alone is enough to awaken the human spirit to the existence of God, and to condemn man for not responding to that revelation. We are told in Hebrews 11:6,“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” This reference is to General Revelation, which is the first means of calling sinners to God’s offer of salvation. Whenever a person responds to General Revelation by believing that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, that person will receive Special Revelation. It is at this point, only after man has responded in faith to General Revelation that the Holy Spirit takes the initiative and illumines the truth of the Gospel. Man is saved “by grace through faith;” and Ephesians 2:7 reminds us that grace is the revelation of God’s kindness toward us through Jesus Christ. It is grace that is the gift of God, not faith. Man is called to it through General Revelation, and comes into it by his own volition, “through faith.”
Positional Election – Those who are saved are the elect children of God only because they have come to Christ, have been baptized into his Body, and are sealed “in Christ” unto the day of redemption. Man is not saved by any works of righteousness which he has done, or because God has chosen his eternal destiny. Man is saved only because he has put his faith in Jesus Christ and is spiritually positioned “in Christ.”
Eternal Security – Man’s eternal security rests in his position “in Christ.” Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand” (Jn 10:27-29). “Wherein he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will” (Eph 1:8-11).
The divide between a Holy God and sinful men can be bridged by the Positional model of election, and by the doctrine of Provisional Sovereignty. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and men: “ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5, emphasis is added). God exercised His sovereign will before the foundation of the world in choosing a plan of salvation not a person for salvation. According to His plan, man must first exercise his free will by responding to General Revelation and believing that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Then, man will be given the opportunity to respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and call to salvation. That is man’s responsibility. And all those who respond to God will be born again. They will be found “in Christ,” and are elected to eternal life in him.
When it comes to reconciling the Sovereignty of God and the Free Will of Man, it would be much better for our denomination if we all would accept the plain answers found in the Word of God. We should forget T.U.L.I.P., and any other attempt by man to reconcile Calvinism and Arminianism. The two cannot be reconciled; and any other Tulip is going to smell the same.