What is Conditional Election?

WHAT IS CONDITIONAL ELECTION?

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

The doctrine of conditional election teaches that salvation is available to the sinner based on his fulfillment of certain conditions set out by God in Scripture. The foremost condition is that the sinner must of his free will repent upon his conviction of sin and turn to Christ. On this basis therefore, the sinner receives God's pardon and is assured of eternal life. 

There are several Scriptures that attest to this doctrine. John 3:16-17 is perhaps one of the most outstanding texts of Scripture that anchor the conditional election doctrine. The sinner must believe in Christ. Romans 10:8-10 says “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

The above passage clearly affirms that the sinner has a part to play in God's plan of salvation. This is undeniable.

Unconditional election on the other part stands in contrast to this doctrine. It teaches that God selected a given number of sinners for eternal life from the foundation of the world. This doctrine is popularly held by deterministic soteriology groups who teach that the sinner cannot do anything in response to God's grace. They argue that the the sinner is so depraved in sin that they cannot come to faith unless God grants him the "irresistible grace" which is reserved for the elect. Salvation is viewed in this context as a mornergistic process attributed to the actions and will of a sovereign God who exclusively determines the fate of sinners even before they are born! 

One of the key passages cited by proponents of the unconditional election doctrine is Ephesians 1:4-6 that says " just as He chose us in Him [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He [a]made us accepted in the Beloved."

A close look at this text reveals a number of theological flaws. 

First, while the election is said to have been concluded at the foundation of the world, the same text affirms that the election is done in Him (Christ). This inescapably brings to bear the works of the cross which were accomplished at a given historical date and time in human history. 

The election or choice of sinners was only effected in Christ, through the works of redemption and by His sinless blood. No sinner could therefore have bypassed Calvary in receiving salvation. The idea that God chose believers from the foundation of the world simply speaks of his foreknowledge in Christ. It is not a deterministic fait accompli notion that arbitrarily assigns privilege to a given set of sinners to the exclusion of others who are damned before birth.

Secondly, the adoption in Christ is a futuristic event [cf. Romans 8:18-25]. It is awaiting Christ's coming for its fulfillment. 

Two other texts that are employed by proponents of unconditional election are Romans 8:29-30, 9:11. My view is that neither of these texts support the doctrine of unconditional election when read in their passage contexts. Romans 8:18-30 relates to an exhortation on Christian suffering while Romans 9:11 is part of a long treatise by Paul that runs through Romans 9-11. It is about Israel's need for the gospel. 

The final submission of Paul's thesis is thus: "...God has committed them all [Gentiles and Jews] to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all." (Romans 11:32).

My concluding view is that the conditional election doctrine finds its support in Scripture. Every sinner must repent and turn to Christ to be saved. This truth does not make God less sovereign or take away any glory due to Him. It affirms His sovereignty in graciously granting sinners the opportunity to come to Christ without coercion, compulsion or prior distinction and discrimination.

God is not glorified by the eternal damnation of sinners in hell. 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2026