Day 26: God’s Grace and Decree: Salvation Begins with God

Scripture

“Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Ephesians 1:4 ESV

“The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” Psalm 33:11 ESV

Confessional Summary

The Canons of Dort confess election as God’s gracious, eternal purpose in Christ. God chose a people “before the foundation of the world” out of the whole human race, “according to the sovereign good pleasure of his will,” not because he foresaw something worthy in them or because faith was the decisive cause, but so that “the whole glory” belongs to God’s grace (Canons of Dort, Head I). Dort also insists this doctrine is not given to produce curiosity or pride, but to lead believers into humility, reverence, worship, and deep assurance.

Westminster speaks in the same key. God, “from all eternity,” did “freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass,” yet “neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established” (Westminster Confession of Faith 3.1). Westminster refuses two distortions at once: the denial of God’s sovereign decree on the one hand, and the twisting of decree into fatalism or moral carelessness on the other. God’s decree is “most wise and holy” (Westminster Confession of Faith 3.1), and it never turns grace into permission to sin.

These confessions want believers confident that salvation rests on God’s mercy, while also making clear that the God who elects also sanctifies. Grace is the root. Holiness is the fruit.

Reflection
Election is not just a topic of debate. It is fuel for worship. If salvation begins with God, then boasting dies. You do not become a Christian because you were smarter, nicer, or spiritually better. You were chosen in Christ. That should humble you. The doctrine is designed to kill pride at the root.

And if salvation begins with God, fear begins to die too. Your faithfulness to God is not the foundation of your hope. His faithfulness to you is. You cling to God because he first held you. That does not make effort unnecessary. It puts effort in its place. You can fight sin without thinking every failure means God is done with you.

Ephesians will not let you separate election from holiness. God chose his people in Christ before the foundation of the world with a purpose, that they should be holy. So if someone uses election to excuse sin, they are using the doctrine against the Bible. Grace is not a license. The same grace that saves also trains. It does not merely pardon. It changes.

Psalm 33 says God’s counsel stands forever. Salvation begins with God, not with you, and it ends where God intends, not where your strength happens to fail. That steadies your repentance. It strengthens your obedience. It supplies your endurance. You are not building your life on shifting emotions or fragile resolve. You are responding to a settled mercy. Taken together, that is the heart of the doctrine.

Application
Let grace humble you today. Name one place where you have been subtly proud, either of your theology, your obedience, or your spiritual performance. Confess it.

Then pursue holiness as the fruit of grace. Choose one concrete act of obedience that fits Ephesians 1:4. Put one sin to death. Make one clean choice. Have one hard conversation in truth and love. Not to earn God’s favor, but because you already have it in Christ.

Prayer
Lord, thank You that salvation begins with Your mercy, not my merit. Kill my pride and quiet my fear. Make me humble, grateful, and holy, so that my life matches Your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.