Take comfort, dear Reader! This post has nothing to do with the presidential election now past, but everything to do with the comforting doctrine of election or predestination.
In ministry, we end up wrestling with the doctrine of election more often than we might realize. We encounter people who hold to a “Once saved, always saved” view of salvation. We get asked questions like “How can I be certain that I’m saved?” or “How can God be a loving God if some go to hell?” The doctrine of election is often a challenge, because it defies human reason which tries to understand election from the point of view of the hidden counsel of God as opposed to the point of view of what Scripture simply has to say. For the believer, however, it’s a teaching of pure Gospel comfort – Out of pure grace, God chose me to be his own before time began!
For those times when you’re faced with questions about election, I’d like to recommend some counsel from a former Lutheran shepherd, Martin Chemnitz. I’ve been recently reading through his Enchridion, and came across one of the clearest in-depth explanations of the Scriptural doctrine of election I’ve ever read.
Chemnitz uses a question and answer format for Enchiridion, so it’s easier to digest. Being Chemnitz and a translation, however, the reader needs to be warned it is theological heavy lifting. The effort and time you spend in that study, however, is priceless, because not only will it benefit your hearer, but bring pure Gospel comfort to your soul as well!
You can find Chemnitz’ discourse on “Predestination or election of those who are to be saved” in the individual volume of Ministry, Word, and Sacraments – An Enchirdion, pages 85-96, translated by Luther Poellot and published by Concordia Publishing House (CPH) in 1981.
That particular volume is now out of print, but CPH has recently collected Chemnitz’ works, so the pagination has likely changed, but you can find it here. (Any readers who happen to know the new pagination are welcome to post it in the comments!)
