Are Biblical Salvation and Election the Same?
Many Christians wrestle with the relationship between election and salvation. Scripture clearly speaks of both - God's sovereign choice of a people for Himself and the free offer of eternal life to all who believe. Are these the same, or is there a vital distinction? And how does Jesus' prayer in John 17:24 fit into this picture? This study explores those questions, showing from Scripture how God's eternal purpose of election relates to the personal experience of salvation, and how both truths reveal His grace and call for faith.
Clarifying the Key Terms
Salvation - In the New Testament this is the gracious work of God by which a sinner is forgiven, justified, and given eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. (see John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10 )
Election - This describes God's sovereign choosing of a people for Himself. Paul speaks of believers as:
chosen ... before the foundation of the world - Ephesians 1:4 and
elect according to the foreknowledge of God. - 1 Peter 1:2
Both terms are biblical, but they are not identical.
Election and Salvation: Related but Distinct
Election is God's initiative; salvation is the applied result.
God's electing purpose:
He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. - Ephesians 1:4
Yet salvation occurs in time and as people believe:
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. - Ephesians 1:13
This shows election is a divine plan, while salvation is the personal experience of grace. Election does not remove human responsibility. Scripture still calls every person to repent and believe:
God ... now commandeth all men every where to repent. - Acts 17:30
Jesus laments over Jerusalem's unwillingness (see Matthew 23:37 ), indicating that human refusal is real. Being elect does not mean someone is saved apart from faith. Paul endures all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 2:10
This shows election points to those who will in fact believe, but they still obtain salvation by coming to Christ.
Can an Elect Person Ultimately Reject Christ?
Scripture does not depict God's elect ultimately rejecting Christ, because God's purpose is effectual:
Whom he did predestinate, them he also called ... justified ... glorified. - Romans 8:30
However, there can be outward members of the visible church who appear chosen but are not. (see 1 John 2:19; Matthew 7:21-23 ) Warnings like Hebrews 6:4-6 speak to the visible community, urging perseverance, but do not imply God's eternal purpose fails. So while anyone can reject Christ, the New Testament consistently portrays God's eternal election as resulting in the salvation of those truly elected.
John 17:24 and the Scope of Jesus' Prayer
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. - John 17:24
Earlier in the same prayer, Jesus prays specifically for those the Father has given Him. (See John 17:2, 6, 9 )
This phrase consistently points to believers given to the Son. Yet He also prays
for them also which shall believe on me through their word. - John 17:20
This extends beyond the apostles to all future believers. Thus John 17:24 primarily concerns the elect - those given to Jesus - but it already anticipates the full, future company of believers. It is not a general prayer for the unrepentant world. ( John 17:9 )
Key Takeaways
Different but Inseparable - Election is God's eternal choice; salvation is the lived reality of grace through faith.
Faith Is Essential - No one is saved apart from believing in Christ. (see John 3:18; Romans 10:9-10 )
Assurance in God's Purpose - Those truly given to Christ will come to Him and be kept. (see John 6:37-40 )
Biblical election and salvation are closely linked but not identical. Election is God's sovereign plan; salvation is the gracious experience of those who believe. John 17:24 fits this pattern, showing Christ's desire for all whom the Father has given Him to finally see His glory.
Supporting Scripture:
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Ephesians 1:4 - According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
1 Peter 1:2 - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Ephesians 1:13 - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Acts 17:30 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Matthew 23:37 - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
2 Timothy 2:10 - Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Romans 8:30 - Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
1 John 2:19 - They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Matthew 7:21-23 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Hebrews 6:4-6 - For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
John 17:24 - Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
John 17:2 - As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:6 - I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
John 17:9 - I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
John 17:20 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
John 3:18 - He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 6:37-40 - All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.