Can We Live Like Hell if Election is True?

1. A common reaction to the doctrine of election is: “If election is true then I will do whatever I want because I’m already either predestinated to go to heaven or hell.”

1. Quick answer: Maybe you would, but I wouldn’t.

III.   People that answer like that show evidence of their damnation.

            Rom 3:8 – And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

1. Why we should not think like this.

            If we have been saved by grace, we should not want to live in sin.

            Rom 5:20 – Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

            Rom 5:21 – That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

            Rom 6:1 – What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

            Rom 6:2 – God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

            The same could be said by those who believe in “eternal security” or “once saved always saved”.

            Ask those who believe in eternal security why they just don’t live however they want after they have been saved, since they believe that they can’t lose their salvation.

            They will say that they want to keep God’s commandments and do good works because they love God and don’t want to anger or disappoint Him.

            The same answer applies to those who believe in election.

            If the only reason that you live godly is so that you don’t go to hell, then you don’t love God and you believe in salvation by works.

            Those who live in sin show the evidence of damnation.

            Rom 2:6-10 – Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10)  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

            Joh 5:28-29 – Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

            The evidence of election and salvation is in believing in Jesus and living godly, not in using grace as an excuse to sin.

            Jud 1:4 – For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

            Col 3:12-14 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

            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.