Thank you for the question on election and missions, “How can you reconcile the doctrine of biblical election and the mandate of mission?”
The doctrine of Biblical Election is part of God’s mysterious plan. God knows the beginning and the end. He is the Creator God of the Universe and everything in it. Since God is sovereign and omniscience, he is the only one who knows who will be saved and who will not be saved. This is one side of the coin of God’s sovereignty and the flip side of the coin is man’s choice. The mission committed to his followers is to proclaim the Gospel of salvation to all peoples of the world. From the human perspective, each person is given the opportunity to believe or accept God’s forg)iveness of sins. It is whoever will and the mandate of mission is to offer to whoever hears. Those who respond to the Gospel of salvation are the ones whom God has chosen.
A. The Biblical Doctrine of Election:
John 6 says this, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day“ (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are from the New International Version.
Ephesians 1 says this, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory” (NIV).
Romans 8 says this, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified“ (NIV).
From some of the key verses in the Scriptures, the above citations states that God already foreknew those who will be saved through the steps to glorification. God has a plan for his creation and it is being fulfilled in this world to bring many sons to himself.
B. The Biblical Mandate of Evangelism.
John 10 says this, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (NIV).
Acts 1 says this, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (NIV).
Matthew 28 says this, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (NIV).
The above citations are familiar passages to most Christians on the mandate for making disciples through sharing the Gospel. Jesus command is for his followers to make disciples by going through the world and to share the Gospel of salvation.
It may appear to be a contradiction that since God has already knows who will be saved, then why go and share the Gospel? The answer is that God has determined the means whereby the elect will hear and believe. God has given his followers the privilege of being a co-laborer with God in sharing the Good News with everyone. There is no greater joy or privilege than to share the Gospel with family, friends, and even strangers. It’s presenting the Gospel to that person and see how the Holy Spirit will work or not work in that person’s life. It is God who saves the person. Christians are the messengers of the Good News.
SUMMARY: The mandate of evangelism is the MEANS whereby the elect will respond to the Gospel, while others will be non-responsive to the Gospel. The hearers response to the Good News will reflect whether one is part of God’s family or not.
For more perspectives: