Means of Election
In saving people unconditionally, God must guarantee all the means that he has for men to be saved. This means that true faith must be guaranteed. The source of this guarantee arises from the infinite worth of Christ's death to be applied to what God intended it for; like the salvation of a particular people. This is worked out by the Holy Spirit, which convicts the world of sin and righteousness. In doing this, the Holy Spirit opens hearts and eyes. This makes sinners both willing and able to exercise faith in the gospel. The goodness and grace of the gospel becomes irresistible to a rational person, so faith results. It is the result of a new nature that comes from being born again or regenerated by the Holy Spirit preceding faith. People are saved unconditionally while they are still enemies of the Cross. Yet, sinners do not remain enemies of the cross because of the things that follow election: God's calling to faith, justification by faith, and glorification.
Read more about this topic: Unconditional Election
Famous quotes containing the words means of, means and/or election:
“A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)
“Hope is a bad thing. It means that you are not what you want to be. It means that part of you is dead, if not all of you. It means that you entertain illusions. It’s a sort of spiritual clap, I should say.”
—Henry Miller (1891–1980)
“Well, I am chiefly interested in the renomination, so don’t get disconsolate over that. If we lost the election I shall feel that the party is rejected, whereas if I fail to secure the renomination it will be a personal defeat.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)