Does God Choose Faith?

In the devotional series elsewhere on this site, I’m currently discussing Romans 9, where Paul expands on GOD’S purpose of election. In 9:11 he formulates it concisely:

“For though the children had not yet been born and had done neither good nor evil (so that GOD’s purpose of election might stand, not from works but from the One calling)…”

After explaining this verse, the following quote was presented to me during a discussion:

“God certainly elects people, but only because they are believers! There is no other reason! God chooses faith! That God once chose Abraham, an uncircumcised heathen from Ur of the Chaldees, was not because of his background, but simply because he was a believer.”
(From: ‘The Restoration of Israel’, p.18; Ab Klein Haneveld, 1984)

A slogan, not a Bible verse

Objections like this (“God chooses faith”) are not unfamiliar to me, and that’s why I think it’s useful to take a closer look.

First of all, this catchy phrase is not a quote from Scripture. That in itself is telling. Because anyone who wants to express a Biblical truth concisely should do so in the words of Scripture itself. So that one can say with authority: “It is written!” But this saying doesn’t fall into that category. It’s a slogan, not a Bible verse. Not even a paraphrased one.

GOD justifies faith

The slogan “God chooses faith” resembles the phrase “God justifies faith.” And there’s certainly something to be said for the latter. Indeed, GOD credits faith as righteousness. That is a Biblical statement, repeated many times throughout Scripture (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3,9; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23).

Not yet born

The flaw in the slogan “God chooses faith” is that it suggests God chooses people because they are believers. One might argue that, since God knew in advance that Abraham would believe, He chose him on that basis. But consider this: even in that case, election would be based on a human act (i.e. believing). That reasoning directly contradicts Paul’s argument in Romans 9. Referring to Jacob and Esau (verse 11), he says that before they were born, GOD had already chosen the younger. And to emphasize this, he adds that both had “done neither good nor evil.” Why does Paul stress that? He gives the answer himself: “so that GOD’s purpose of election might stand…” In other words, if GOD’s choice were based on a good deed by Jacob (for instance, his faith), it wouldn’t be GOD’s sovereign purpose. That’s what’s written—it’s one or the other. Since election explicitly precedes birth, it cannot be based on anything that happens after birth.

Fate & chance

What could Jacob have done about being born second in the twin pair? Obviously, nothing! We don’t choose to be born. Nor where, or to whom, or when. Or how. Yet all these factors are crucial in shaping us and our lives—and we have no say in them. It is our lot and it “falls to us.” Indeed, GOD the Disposer of all things determines it. Even “chance” is not outside of GOD. Nothing is! Everything we are and have, we are as creations of GOD. No one made himself.

GOD opens eyes, ears, and hearts

Faith and unbelief also fall into this category. Pharaoh disobeyed God (“Let My people go”), yet in that disobedience, he fulfilled GOD’s counsel. Many (if not all) resist God’s will (thelema in Greek), but no one has ever resisted GOD’s counsel (boulema in Greek; Rom. 9:19). Not even Pharaoh. GOD hardens whom He wills, and He has mercy on whom He wills (Rom. 9:18). Of the Jewish leaders we read in John 12:39–40 that they could not believe, because GOD had blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts. It is GOD who closes eyes, ears, and hearts, but also opens them so the Word can enter (Acts 16:14).

Then why does He still blame us?

Naturally, these reflections inevitably raise the question: if GOD determines all things—good and evil—how can He still hold anyone accountable? Paul, after laying out GOD’s sovereign election, is fully aware of this objection. But instead of defending himself, he turns the argument around! Who do we think we are to call GOD to account!? The fact that GOD makes “vessels of dishonor” and “of wrath” (Rom. 9:21–22) and judges them as such, is just as much His right as making “vessels of honor.” A novelist or scriptwriter creates dark characters and plots with war, disease, death, etc.—but is he therefore guilty of the suffering? That would be absurd! It is His creative honor and an expression of craftsmanship! For no good writer can do without evil. The negative (contrast) is a necessary ingredient in bringing forth a masterpiece.

GOD chose an unbelieving Saul

If I am able to believe, it’s not my achievement but GOD’s work in convincing me. That’s why Paul says (Eph. 2:8): it is the gift of GOD, so that no one may boast. GOD had set Saul apart from his mother’s womb to evangelize among the nations (Gal. 1:15–16). Was that because Saul was a believer? On the contrary—he was “the foremost of sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15), a sworn enemy of the Gospel. That’s why GOD’s grace overwhelmed him (1 Tim. 1:14), so that Saul had no choice left. That is election!

Those He predestines, He also calls

While the proclamation of Christ today goes out and is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the nations, Christ is for “the called ones” the power and wisdom of GOD (1 Cor. 1:23). Such “called ones” are a relative few. But what does “called” mean? Paul says they are called “according to GOD’s purpose” (Rom. 8:28), and thus “foreknown” (8:29) and “predestined” (8:30). And “those He predestines, He also calls. And those He calls, He also justifies.” Do you see that predestination precedes calling? And that those whom He calls (without exception) are justified by Him. Indeed, “through faith,” which is itself a gift of GOD.

Exclusive & inclusive

Election may be an exclusive truth (> Jacob yes, Esau no). But we should never forget that election serves a greater goal. GOD didn’t choose Abraham because He had no interest in the rest of the world. On the contrary—Abraham was chosen so that through him “all families of the earth would be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). GOD chooses an individual or a people to bless the rest. For GOD’s ultimate goal is all-inclusive. All people will be justified (Rom. 3:23–24; 5:18), made alive (1 Cor. 15:22), and saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10). That is the universal final goal GOD has in mind, and nothing and no one can or will stop Him from achieving it.

Not fate!

Acknowledging GOD as the Disposer of all things is the opposite of fatalism. Fatalism stems from the idea of blind fate. But the awareness that GOD is GOD and good—and that He disposes and appoints all things—is ultimate joy. He is “the happy GOD” (1 Tim. 1:11), for all that He purposes, succeeds. Those who may believe today are firstfruits. Faith has fallen to them now, like winning the lottery! But everyone else will follow. All in GOD’s time, and “each in his own order”!

Delen: