But because man is also a person, he is called to choose the free salvation, to repent and believe. The biblical doctrine of election is closely linked to the concept of divine initiative in salvation. But a doctrine of election which eliminates a meaningful choice on man 5 part is false. Man is a creature. He is therefore saved through God's gracious election in Christ.
Man is also a person.
All God's promises come with conditions that must be met, and this is true also of the thing known as election. As a matter of fact, Israel failed in regard to the condition and as a result lost its election. The same may be said of Judas, whose election as a disciple was canceled because of mal-performance. In any event, the theological concept of election, or of predestination, must not be allowed to cancel out man's peculiar endowment as a creature geared to option. The same principle holds true in the matter of the biblical doctrine of covenant.