Not All of the Elect Will Believe, but They Will Still Go to Heaven

I recently got an email from a truth-seeker who watched my video called Did Christ Die For Everyone? and had some good questions as a result. I thought I would turn my response into a blog post so that others might benefit by it, if the Lord wills.  The questions are bolded in italics with the answers following.

“I understand that, as the Bible says, Christ died for those whom God the Father gave Him. Therefore, Christ died for all sins of those sheep that were given Him, including their sin of unbelief (otherwise, prior to believing all human race would have been condemned to hell).“

It is correct that Christ died only for those whom the Father gave Him, as the following verses make clear.

Joh 17:2 – As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Joh 10:15 – As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Joh 10:26-29  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

It is also true that Christ died for all of the sins of the elect, including unbelief, which is a sin (Joh 16:9). The scripture says that “Christ died for our sins” (1Co 15:3), not all but one of them. All men have committed the sin of unbelief prior to their conversion, so if Christ didn’t make atonement for that sin then it alone would be sufficient for God to damn them to hell for all eternity (Rom 5:18).  And since Christ died for the sin of unbelief, it is therefore atoned for just like every other sin for which He died.

“Does this mean that some of his sheep can die (mortal death) in their sin of unbelief and still go to heaven?“

Yes, it does, for the scriptures give examples of such, and logic demands it. The following are three scriptural examples of unbelieving elect children of God who went to heaven when they died.

Example 1: Solomon

King Solomon wrote three books of the Bible and therefore was a prophet who was one of the “holy men of God [who] spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2Pe 1:21). He is included in “all the prophets” who will be “in the kingdom of God” with “Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob” (Luk 13:28). He was “beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin” (Neh 13:26). This happened at the end of his life, as it is written, “when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1Ki 11:4). There is no record or indication in scripture that Solomon repented of his idolatry and unbelief prior to death; in fact, the last recorded act of Solomon was his attempted murder of Jeroboam.

1Ki 11:40 – Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

Solomon was an elect child of God whom God loved (2Sa 12:24) and chose to be His son (1Ch 28:6), yet all indications in scripture are that he died as an idolater. But, as has already been proven, he is in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ because Christ died for his sins, including his sin of unbelief.  Though Solomon was not faithful in his latter years, God was, for the scripture says, “if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2Ti 2:13).

 

Example 2: Elect, yet unbelieving, Jews

Another example of children of God who did not believe the gospel (and were even in fact enemies of it) but were nevertheless beloved of God and recipients of His gifts and calling which He would not repent of were the elect, unbelieving Jews which Paul wrote of in Romans 11.

Rom 11:27-29 –  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Many of the Jews were not God’s elect.

Rom 9:6-8 – Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Though not all the Jews were God’s elect, the Jews “which God foreknew” (Rom 11:2) who were part of the “remnant according to the election of grace” (Rom 11:5) were God’s elect children whom He chose and saved by grace apart from their works (Rom 11:6). Of those elect Jews, some were unbelievers and even enemies of the gospel, but they were nonetheless loved of God, and therefore God would not repent of His gifts and calling of them (Rom 11:28-29).

One of those gifts that God would not repent of and change His mind concerning was “the gift of God [which] is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23). The calling which God would not repent of (change His mind concerning) is the effectual calling from spiritual death unto spiritual (eternal) life by the voice of Jesus Christ (otherwise known as regeneration or quickening) which those Jews were the recipients of, being the elect of God.

Joh 5:24-25 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Rom 8:28-30 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Because these elect, yet unbelieving, Jews were foreknown, predestinated, called, and justified by God, they will be glorified at the resurrection at the second coming of Christ because they are beloved according to election, and “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom 11:28-29).

 

Example 3: Israel in the wilderness

Yet one more example of God’s elect who did not believe the gospel, but yet were saved children of God who went heaven when they died were the Jews who came out of Egypt and then died in the wilderness because of unbelief.

1Co 10:1-5 – Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

These Israelites were regenerate children of God who were spiritual partakers of Christ as the above passage clearly states. They started off as believers when they left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea.

Exo 14:31 – And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

Heb 11:29 – By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

But they backslid into unbelief, yea even unbelief of the gospel.

Heb 3:16 – 4:2  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Those Jews were elect, regenerate, believing partakers of Christ, but they fell into unbelief and lost the temporal blessing of entering into their earthly promised land. Although they lost temporal blessings in this life because of their unbelief, they did not lose their eternal inheritance because it is not based on their works or faith, but on God’s works and faith.

2Ti 1:9 – Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2Ti 2:13 – If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

2Ti 2:18-19 – Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

“Or, at some point in their life before dying they would have to believe in the Gospel of Jesus?“

No, because eternal salvation is by grace not works (anything a person does) (2Ti 1:9; Tit 3:5). However, although the Bible gives examples of unbelieving, elect children of God such as those mentioned above, it does not tell us that we are among them. If a man wants to have assurance of eternal life, it is through belief of the gospel, not unbelief.  Faith is the evidence, not the cause, of eternal life.

Joh 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Joh 6:47 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

1Jn 5:1 – Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Those who will be assured of their calling and election will believe the gospel of Christ and add to that faith the other Christian virtues which we are commanded to exemplify in our lives.

2Pe 1:5-11 – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Those who do not believe the gospel show no evidence of eternal life, but rather show evidence of eternal damnation (Joh 3:18, 36).

“Can a person in this life believe in the Gospel of Jesus and be a goat instead of a sheep (without knowing it, and therefore end up in hell)? Is this possible?“

No, if a person truly believes the gospel of Jesus Christ, he is a sheep, not a goat. There are goats who claim to believe the gospel of Christ, but don’t truly believe it from the heart.

Mat 7:21-23 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This is why it’s important to not just profess faith, but to do the will of God as Jesus said in the passage just quoted.  True faith is demonstrated by good works which are done out of a genuine love for God.

Jam 2:17-26 – Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

“Can a Muslim who rejects the Gospel be a sheep (hence with all sins forgiven him/her) and die in unbelief and end up in heaven? Or he would have to believe in the Gospel, even on the last day of his earthly life, for him to go to heaven?“

Based on the examples I have given, it is possible for a Muslim who rejects the gospel to end up in heaven if Christ died for his sins, but such a man would have no evidence or assurance in his life that he has heaven awaiting him.

“How can I know 100% I’m a sheep and not a goat?“

Believe the true gospel of Christ with all your heart in sincerity (Joh 5:24; 1Jo 5:1; Act 8:37; Eph 6:24); add to your faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity to make your calling and election sure in your own heart (2Pe 1:5-11); do the will of God as revealed in the word of God (Mat 7:21-23); demonstrate your faith by your works (Jam 2:17-26); and repent of your sins and be baptized into a true church (Act 2:37-42). 

None of those things will make you a sheep (an elect child of God), but they will give you the evidence and assurance that you are one.

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For more information on this topic, see sermons on Unconverted Elect and Unbelieving Children of God.

Also, for dozens of other sermons, blogs, and video blogs on the doctrine of sovereign grace, go here: Sovereign Grace.