Unconditional Election, as defined by Calvinism, is the belief that before the foundation of the world, God chose specific individuals to be saved, not because of anything they would do, but purely because of His own purpose and grace. According to this view, God's choice is not based on any foreseen faith, virtue, or merit in those people but is solely a result of His mercy and sovereign will.¹

Now, if "Unconditional Election" simply meant that God doesn't consider our goodness, past actions, or works when deciding who is welcomed into His kingdom, then it would be worth affirming. This kind of unconditionality is a beautiful aspect of the Gospel—it’s a message of hope for everyone, regardless of background. We see this demonstrated in the Bible when "chief sinners" come to repentance: the thief on the cross, the Philippian jailer, and Saul's transformation into Paul all highlight the power of God's grace.

However, the key contention with the Calvinist view of  Election  is that, according to them, "God chose before the foundation of the world the specific individuals whom He would regenerate, giving them new life and freeing them from their depravity so they can choose Him."¹ In this interpretation, the call of salvation is not truly offered to all people but only to those whom God has chosen to supernaturally select. Those whom He has not chosen are then excluded from salvation—their depravity, in Calvinist thinking, makes it impossible for them to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ without being first regenerated by God.

This approach effectively removes the "for all" part of the Gospel by suggesting that God, by His own sovereign choice, predestined only a select few to receive salvation. By extension, this also means that God deliberately passed over the rest, leaving them without hope. For many non-Calvinists, this presents a serious theological problem—one that contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture and misrepresents the loving and just character of God as revealed in His Word.

Because God’s election is grounded in Christ, His call to repentance and faith is extended genuinely to all. Throughout Scripture, God promises that  Whoever Turns and Believes Will Be Saved . The Calvinist view would require us to accept the idea that God would publicly invite all people while, at the same time, withholding from most the very possibility of responding. Such a view makes His invitations appear insincere and undermines the trustworthiness of His Word.

Instead, we hold that every call to repent and believe is authentic because it reflects God’s true heart. We believe the Bible clearly teaches that  God Desires All to Be Saved  and come to the knowledge of the truth. The open invitation of the Gospel reveals His love, His fairness, and His longing for reconciliation with every sinner. When people reject Him, it is not because God has barred them from grace, but because they have resisted His gracious offer.

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Biblical Election

Now,  Election  and  Predestination  are biblical terms. Although we firmly reject the Calvinist definition of election, non-Calvinists should not say that we don't believe in "Election", (As I have heard some say). All Christians should believe in a definition of election that aligns with the Bible; however, we need to correct what is the Calvinist misunderstanding and restore the biblical understanding of God’s elect.

In the Bible, election was never a doctrine in the way we often think about it today. It was simply a word—a term that means "to choose." Over the centuries, We have added thousands of years of doctrinal baggage and theological debates that have added layers of complexity that can obscure the simple meaning of the term as the original authors intended. While God certainly makes choices, the real debate lies in what God is choosing—whether He is choosing specific individuals, nations, messengers or something else entirely. Read more about biblical  Election  outside of a Calvinistic perspective.

When referencing the old testament, the word "Elect" is usually referring to God's choice of Israel as his nation to bring blessings to the world. This should be our primary understanding of a "doctrine" of election; however, most of the debate of this word occurs in the new testament context when referring to God's election on who is saved.

Addressing the Key Verse

One of the most cited passages regarding unconditional election is found in  Ephesians 1:1-13 . The key difference between Calvinist and non-Calvinist readings of this passage is about how God is choosing in the redemptive process. Calvinists often interpret this passage as saying that God has predestined specific individuals TO BE in Christ; however this is not what the passage states, the correct interpretation of this passage, one not influenced by Calvinist doctrine, shows that God has not predestined the elect TO BE in Christ but is rather stating what choosing to predestine those who are in Christ.

Calvinistic Election: God elects individuals to be in Christ and thus be saved.

Biblical Election: God elects those who are in Christ, all who freely respond to the Gospel call, to receive the blessings of salvation. 

The Bible is clear that the gospel call to be in Christ is unconditional and open to everyone.  God's Call to All  However, God’s election to save is conditional on whether individuals accept this call and are in Christ. It is up to each person to respond to the Gospel, to repent, and to put on the righteousness of Christ  Romans 13:14 . As Paul teaches, those who are in Christ are predestined for salvation—not because God pre-selected them before the foundations of the world to be in Christ, but because of God's promise that all who are in Christ would be saved. And it is this condition that he established before the foundation of the world. The situation we find ourselves in is not a Plan B.

The Gospel message is available to everyone, and as believers, we are called to remain in Christ and encourage others to do the same. This is because, while we cannot save ourselves from our sins, Christ has made an offer to do 100% of the redemptive work for those who believe and put on his righteousness. We must turn to Him, as He has provided the way, and He is the only way (John 14:6), for us to be reconciled to God.

Conclusion

The heart of the debate over election is whether God has sovereignly pre-selected who will be saved or whether God, in His sovereign grace, has extended salvation to all, allowing each individual to choose to accept or reject it. The true biblical understanding of election shows a God who desires everyone to come to repentance and who offers salvation freely to all who would accept it. Far from being selective, God’s grace is abundant and all-encompassing, genuinely available to all who hear His call and respond.

1. Definitions pulled from: https://www.gotquestions.org/predestination.html | https://www.crossway.org/articles/help-im-struggling-with-the-doctrine-of-predestination/