It’s tragic that something meant to humble us has instead become a source of pride. Some mock the idea of election, claiming it silences evangelism or breeds laziness among believers. Others defend it so fiercely that they forget the grace it represents. But behind all the noise stands one unchanging truth: God is sovereign, and salvation belongs to Him.

Adrian Rogers once said, “Who are the elect? I can settle that in 30 seconds. The elect are the ‘whosoever wills.’ If you want to be saved, come. Come to Jesus.”

That statement beautifully captures the heart of sovereign grace. Election isn’t about exclusion; it’s about invitation. It isn’t a wall that keeps sinners out—it’s a door wide open to whosoever will.

Yet many stumble because they believe that if God elects, then our efforts to share the gospel are meaningless. Others go to the opposite extreme, believing they are the reason people come to Christ—as though salvation depended on their effort, their words, or their zeal.

But Scripture reveals something far greater: a God who not only ordains the end but also ordains the means. The same God who calls men to Himself also commands His church to proclaim His gospel. It is not either/or—it is both/and. His sovereignty works through our obedience.

Until we understand this, we will continue to wrestle with pride disguised as passion, and we will miss the wonder of divine grace. God’s sovereignty doesn’t diminish our calling—it defines it.

When the Lord whispered to my heart, “I am, and you’re not,” He wasn’t silencing my purpose; He was settling my pride. And when that truth settles deep within us, we can finally rest in His plan, obey His call, and give Him all the glory for every soul He saves.

Why Election Magnifies, Not Minimizes, Sin

Some accuse the doctrine of election of softening the reality of sin. But the truth is just the opposite. Election declares that sin was so deep, so enslaving, and so final that no man could have ever chosen God apart from His mercy.

“There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.” — Romans 3:10–11

If we could have come to God on our own, there would be no need for grace, no cross, and no election. But because sin left us dead, grace had to come first. God’s sovereign choice was not based on our goodness — it was born out of His compassion for our lostness. So when we preach election, we are not ignoring sin; we are magnifying how serious it truly is — and how amazing God’s grace must be to overcome it. And that brings us to the first truth we must grasp if we are to understand election rightly: the Source of Salvation.

1. The Source of Salvation

Election reminds us that salvation begins in the heart of God, not in the effort of man. Before a preacher ever spoke, before a sinner ever believed, God foreknew those who would respond.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined…” — Romans 8:29

When a faithful servant shares the gospel, that act of obedience does not create salvation; it reveals it. God has already seen the moment when that heart would hear and believe. He ordains both the message and the messenger, the hearing and the believing.

To think that we, by our zeal or words, win souls is to miss the truth that we are simply the messengers of the One who draws men to Himself.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” — John 6:44

2. The Pride That Divides

Much of the frustration toward election comes from a misunderstanding of who holds the power in salvation. Some believe that acknowledging God’s sovereign election diminishes evangelistic fervor. In truth, it deepens it. When we understand that salvation is God’s work, not ours, we preach with both confidence and humility.

The pride that says, “Look what I’ve done for God” is as old as Cain’s altar. It is the human heart wanting credit for divine work. Yet Scripture reminds us:

“So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” — 1 Corinthians 3:7

We obey because we were chosen to obey, and we proclaim because the love of Christ compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14).

3. God’s Sovereignty Does Not Cancel Obedience

Election is never an excuse for passivity. It is the assurance that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. The same God who chose us also commands us to go. The Great Commission is not in conflict with divine election — it is its fulfillment.

When we preach, we are not trying to persuade God to save someone; we are participating in the very plan He ordained before time began. Our obedience becomes the instrument through which God accomplishes what He already purposed.

4. “He Is, and I Am Not”

“He is, and I am not.” That statement captures the heart of election. God once spoke to me, “I am, and you’re not — are you good with that?”  That is the question every believer must answer. Until we are settled in the truth that He alone is God, we will continue to wrestle with doctrines meant to humble us.

When that truth sinks in, pride dies, worship rises, and evangelism becomes an act of grace rather than an act of ego.

5. The Balance of Truth

Those who mock or dismiss election often fear it erases human responsibility. But Scripture holds both in perfect harmony:

“How shall they hear without a preacher?” — Romans 10:14

“As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” — Acts 13:48

The preacher’s obedience fulfills the hearer’s appointed moment. Sovereignty and responsibility are not enemies; they are partners in redemption.

Conclusion

Sovereign election doesn’t discourage evangelism — it purifies it. It reminds us that our role is faithfulness, not fame. We plant, we water, but only God gives life.

So when someone boasts, “Because of me, so many were saved,” we must gently remind them: No one is saved because of us — only through us. The glory belongs entirely to the Lord who said once said to me, “I am, and you are not.”

“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:31