Is Unconditional Election Unfair?

October 27, 2024 Preacher: John Bell Series: Sunday School: Soteriology

A common objection to unconditional election is that it’s unfair.


• Isn’t God unfair to choose to save only some humans not based on any human condition but solely on his sovereign good pleasure?
• Isn’t there injustice on God’s part that some people are not elect?

Paul directly answers this objection in Romans 9:14–18, and Jesus indirectly answers it in Matthew 20:1–16.

God Is Fair When He Sovereignly Has Mercy on Whomever He Wants (Rom. 9:14–18)
• Sentence 1 (9:15) = proof 1 that there is no injustice on God’s part.
• Sentence 2 (9:16) = inference of 9:15.
• Sentence 3 (9:17) = proof 2 that there is no injustice on God’s part.
• Sentence 4 (9:18) = inference of 9:15–17.

God Is Fair When He Is Undeservedly Kind to Some and Not Others (Matt. 20:1–16)

When God deals with people, the following two statements are true:

1. God is always fair. That is, God is always righteous or just. God is never unfair, unrighteous, or unjust.

2. Sometimes God is undeservedly kind. That is, sometimes God is merciful and gracious to people who are both undeserving (i.e., they don’t deserve God’s kindness) and ill-deserving (i.e., they deserve the opposite of God’s kindness; they deserve God’s wrath).