Chosen by God by R. C. Sproul is the go-to book on the classical understanding of the doctrine of election. Sproul writes in a logical fashion, working through all that the doctrine entails, and building a solid biblical case for it. If you are familiar with Sproul’s preaching, you can hear his voice in the pages. Despite Sproul’s use of philosophical and logical categories, this is very accessible, and designed for the lay person who does not feel like they have a firm grasp on election.

I recently preached on James 1:18 (“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creation”) as well as Romans 9. In light of those sermons, several people asked me what resources I’d recommend on the doctrine of election/predestination. Here are my top 10:  

Ten must read resources on the doctrine of election/predestination:

1. “What we Believe about the Five Points of Calvinism,” by John Piper. This resource, which is available free on-line, is a great place to start. Piper shows how all five points of Calvinism (TULIP) fit together, and how each are connected. Toy with one, and the whole ball of yarn unravels. But what makes this resource so valuable is that he also carefully defends each point against common objections. Each generation has its own objections to the truth of election, and this resource persuasively appeals to today’s readers to see the glory of our salvation through the doctrine of election. This is the place to start.

2. Chosen by God, R. C. Sproul (Tyndale, 1994). This is the go-to book on the classical understanding of the doctrine of election. Sproul writes in a logical fashion, working through all that the doctrine entails, and building a solid biblical case for it. If you are familiar with Sproul’s preaching, you can hear his voice in the pages. Despite Sproul’s use of philosophical and logical categories, this is very accessible, and designed for the lay person who does not feel like they have a firm grasp on election.

3.The Potter’s Freedom, by James White (Calvary Press, 2000). Subtitled, “A Defense of the Reformation and a Rebuttal of Norman Geisler’s Chosen But Free,” this book goes after the American evangelical notion of a “middle way” between conditional election and unconditional election. Geisler’s book Chosen but Free is the worst book I’ve ever read twice. Sadly it is widely accepted as an alternative to the Bible’s teaching on election. White gives it the thorough response that its acceptance demands, yet this book is very helpful for those who have never read Geisler. Because Geisler’s arguments are widely held, don’t shy away from this book simply because you never read Chosen but Free. And if you own Chosen but Free, buy this book immediately, and keep it on your shelf touching the Geisler book, thereby neutralizing its presence.

4. Biblical Doctrine, by John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue has an exceptionally helpful section on soteriology (pp. 484-683—section 7). What makes this section so good is how it ties election into the entire doctrine of salvation. It introduces the concept of election by reminding the readers of the  Decree of God (pp. 489-493). If one understands that doctrine, then the doctrine of election naturally follows. MacArthur/Mayhue then show how the concept of election connects to the atonement as well as justification. This section itself is book-length, and exceptionally well done. In fact, I think it is my favorite part of the whole book.

Read More