Question: Thank you so much for your reply. It was indeed a comfort. Yet however, how do I know I have been elected by God? And the other question is how do I increase my faith in Jesus?
Answer: Thank you for the follow up question and the opportunity to minister to you again. You ask a great question. Again, one with which many people have wrestled.
When it comes to the doctrine of election, we need to tread very carefully. It is a doctrine that is meant to bring comfort, not dismay. When Paul says, "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" (Romans 8:32), it's meant to bring the hearer comfort and peace, not to have them question, "I wonder if I'm among the elect?"
One of the things we have to understand about the doctrine of election is that only God knows the identity and the number of the elect.
- [44] "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44 NKJV)
- [14] "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ... [27] "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. [28] "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. [29] "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (John 10:14, 27-29 NKJV)
- [4] just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, [5] having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Ephesians 1:4-5 NKJV)
I can't look at someone and know with certainty whether they're elect. The only way I can have a degree of certainty whether or not someone is elect (not 100% certainty) is by looking at their lives. Jesus says you will know a tree by its fruit (Luke 6:43-44). James says faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Martin Luther said that we are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. What all these statements taken together are saying is that the one in whom the Spirit of God is working will evidence that work in two ways: (1) heartfelt sorrow for sin, causing us to hate and turn from it always more and more; and (2) heartfelt joy in God through Christ, causing us to take delight in living according to the will of God in all good works.
The Heidelberg Catechism (a Reformation era question and answer tool developed in 1563) asks in question 86: "Since, then, we are redeemed from our misery by grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we do good works?" The answer it gives is illuminating: Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own image, that with our whole life we show ourselves thankful to God for His blessing, and that He be glorified through us; then also, that we ourselves may be assured of our faith by the fruits thereof; and by our godly walk win also others to Christ. The one who has been saved by grace through faith is also the same person who is being renewed by the Holy Spirit after the image of Christ. One can almost say sanctification is a promise, not a threat. So, I can't know for certain you're elect, but I can look at your profession and practice and get a good idea.
But, how do I know whether or not I'm elect? I can have a general idea about you, but what about me? I'm going to suggest that's the wrong question to ask. As a pastor of a church, when we receive new members into the church, one of the questions we ask them is "Do you confess that because of your sinfulness you abhor and humble yourself before God, and that you trust for salvation not in yourself but in Jesus Christ alone?" That's the proper question to ask of ourselves, not whether or not I'm elect. The reason is only one who is elect will truly be able to answer that question in the affirmative. What about people who abandon the faith? That's why I added the word "truly." Are you trusting in Christ alone for your salvation? If yes, then you can be assured of your salvation. Why? Because that's what the Bible promises.
- [37] "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (John 6:37 NKJV)
- [3] A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. (Isaiah 42:3 NKJV)
- [7] Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7 NKJV)
- [28] "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 NKJV)
- [25] Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25 NKJV)
Brother, I understand the doubts that can arise in our own hearts, but as John says, "For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things" (1 John 3:20 NKJV). Jesus and the Father invite all who hear the good news to come to them, and the one who comes to them, they will never cast away. That's how you can know whether or not you're elect. Do you trust in Christ alone for salvation? If you do, by the promise of God, who cannot lie, you are saved. Take comfort in that.
I hope this helps.
