Three Reasons Christians Should Relish the Doctrine of Unconditional Election.

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The title of this superb article highlights the first chapter of Ephesians even though the article itself is based on Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17.  The subtitle of this S. Lewis Johnson excerpt is, Countering Arminian Objections Against Unconditional Election.

"The Purpose of This Gift (The gift of the elect given to the Son by the Father)

It demonstrates God’s sovereignty. And we should not pass on without a word or two concerning the designs of this election. First, God demonstrates His absolute sovereignty in His act of election. Proud and arrogant man cannot abide this and regularly objects. Paul in Romans 9:14, 19 offers up man’s complaints and decisively indicates the divine reply to human rebellion against the sovereign good pleasure of God. In these verses the apostle lays as the foundation of God’s counsels about man’s eternal state His sovereign will and pleasure (cf. vv. 19–23; Job 32:12–13).

The natural man, like the Arminian theologian, likes to think and say that God loved Jacob, because He foresaw that he would be a holy wrestler with God and a great believer, and that He hated Esau, because He foresaw that he would be a profane man, would sell his birthright for a mess of pottage, grieve his father with an unholy marriage, and seek to slay his brother, the holy-to-be Jacob. How contrary to Paul’s reasoning in verses ten through thirteen!