In John 15:16, Jesus provides an extremely clear statement about what it means to be chosen and why certain people are chosen by God, and by Himself. Here is what He says:
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you (John 15:16).
Calvinists confidently claim that this text contains an irrefutable affirmation that Unconditional Election to eternal life is by God’s sovereign choice alone. On this text, Spencer writes:
The bluntest affirmation that man does not do the choosing of God, since his depraved nature is capable of being “positive” only toward Satan, is that of Jesus … (Spencer, TULIP, 41).
Palmer concurs:
Christ’s negative remark is just a forceful way of saying that although a Christian may think that he is the decisive factor in choosing Christ, the truth is that ultimately it is Christ who chose the believer. And then, after that, the believer chose Christ (Palmer, Five Points of Calvinism, 28).
While we can agree with the Calvinist that Jesus’ words are blunt and forceful about the choice that He made, we must disagree with the Calvinist that the choice Jesus is talking about is in regards to who receives eternal life.
Quite to the contrary, Jesus Himself clearly states what His choice entails. The problems in understanding this verse arise when only the first half is quoted. If we allow Jesus to finish His sentence, we see that He explains why He chose those whom He did. He chose He chose them so “that you should go and bear fruit” (John 15:16).
The sovereign choice of Jesus in John 15:16 is not a choice of some out of the mass of humanity to receive eternal life, but rather, the choice of some out of all His followers and disciples to have a deeper fellowship with Him so that they might serve Him and become more productive followers.
The choice of Jesus in John 15:16 is not to eternal life, but to service.
The Choice of Jesus in John 15:16 is to Service
That the choice of Jesus in John 15:16 is to service and not to eternal life is seen by comparing this text with the passages that actually describe the even where Jesus chose His apostles.
One of these is found in Mark 3:13-14, where we are told that Jesus chose twelve apostles “that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” Very clearly, these twelve were chosen to a specific task and purpose, which included proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
This is how we can also understand Jesus’ statements to these same apostles in John 15:16. He is reminding them of the purpose for which they were chosen.
The Context of John 15:16
It is helpful as well to remember who Jesus is speaking to in John 15. This chapter is part of “The Upper Room Discourse” of John 14–16, where Jesus is speaking to the eleven remaining apostles (Judas already left, John 13:30).
The eleven apostles have many questions about what is going to happen to Jesus and what is going to happen to them, and Jesus explains over the course of these three chapters that He is going to die, but that this will enable to the Holy Spirit to arrive, so that they can continue with the work that Jesus began of advancing the Kingdom of God on earth.
So when, in John 15:16, Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you,” He is specifically speaking to His eleven apostles and reminding them that He chose them out of the wider mass of His followers for the specific task of learning from Him so that they could do the things He did (cf. John 6:70; 14:12-14; Luke 6:12-16).
This does not mean that Jesus has only chosen these eleven to do His work, for numerous other texts in the Scripture indicate that all who believe in Jesus are chosen, or elected, by Him to have a place in helping Him advance the Kingdom of God on earth.
All Believers Are Chosen to Serve
Just as Jesus chose the eleven for this task, so also, now that the Holy Spirit has come, all believers are similarly chosen. We too, like the eleven, were not chosen to receive eternal life, but, having received eternal life by faith in Jesus, we are chosen to serve God and love others.
If you want to read more about Calvinism, check out other posts in this blog series: Words of Calvinism and the Word of God.
Jeremy can I tell you again how much I like your studies? Thanks man we have way different backgrounds but we both came to similar conclusions about being a believer later in our walk. I chose to stop being a “christian” and start being a follower a few years back, long road lots of bumps and scrapes and a lot of study and prayer. The conclusion I have arrived at is……Without the cross of Christ ….there is no hope. Love ya man.
Michael, Thanks! It is always good to find other travelers on this road. I would love to know more about your journey up to this point. Have you shared some of it anywhere?
I have bits and pieces of it all over the web. I should write it all down. My experience with finding God was one night 30 years ago bending down on my knees looking up and asking if He was real. I knew at that moment He was but it took a lifetime of people put in my path to start to figure it all out. The Church actually held me back for years. I had to let it go. Glad I have like minded believers in my life for accountability and for fellowship.
Im a bit rough around the edges.
really good words Jeremy . I’m not sure that if I was a Calvinist seriously seeking the truth that I could read your blog and continue being a Calvinist. Matter of fact , I’d love to hear that story if there’s someone out there ! Keep up the good work, really proud of you man, thanks. jim
Jim,
Thanks. I actually don’t know if any Calvinists are still reading this blog…. Of course, these are the things that led me out of Calvinism, so I suppose my story fits what you say.
I read online that there is no growth in the reformed churches in the “new Calvinism” What is the new Calvinism? Is that what is called hyper Calvinism?
No, New Calvinism is an attempt to make Calvinism fit the younger crowd and the charismatic crowd.
Typically, Reformed/Calvinistic churches are a bit stiff and formal, singing mostly hymns, wearing suits, and not allowing things like tongues or healings.
The New Calvinism seeks to become less formal, and more open to the use of spiritual gifts. Mark Driscoll was a leader of the New Calvinists…
I believe that the shed blood of Christ could save all, but God chose to condition the applicability of the blood to the faith. In that sense, God chose that only those who are of faith would be saved. The human being has the obligation to choose whether or not he will be part of those who are of faith. I do not see in faith any necessary power for redemption that makes universalism impossible. I understand that faith as a condition for salvation was God’s sovereign choice.
I thank God for this article. Thank you brother Myres. It helped me and I subcribed.
John Calvin taught the same teaching on this section.
You Did Not Choose Me – Commentary on John 15:16
BY JOHN CALVIN
16.You have not chosen me. He declares still more clearly that it must not be ascribed to their own merit, but to his grace, that they have arrived at so great an honor; for when he says that he was not chosen by them, it is as if he had said, that whatever they have they did not obtain by their own skill or industry. Men commonly imagine some kind of concurrence to take place between the grace of God and the will of man; but that contrast, I chose you, I was not chosen by you, claims, exclusively, for Christ alone what is usually divided between Christ and man; as if he had said, that a man is not moved of his own accord to seek Christ, until he has been sought by him.
True, the subject now in hand is not the ordinary election of believers, by which they are adopted to be the children of God, but that special election, by which he set apart his disciples to the office of preaching the Gospel. But if it was by free gift, and not by their own merit, that they were chosen to the apostolic office, much more is it certain that the election, by which, from being the children of wrath and an accursed seed, we become the children of God, is of free grace. Besides, in this passage Christ magnifies his grace, by which they had been chosen to be Apostles, so as to join with it that former election by which they had been engrafted into the body of the Church; or rather, he includes in these words all the dignity and honor which he had conferred on them. Yet I acknowledge that Christ treats expressly of the apostleship; for his design is, to excite the disciples to execute their office diligently and faithfully. (85)
https://www.monergism.com/blog/you-did-not-choose-me-commentary-john-1516
I found that the number one deterrent to knowing God is organized church. They do your thinking for you, tell you what to believe, extort money from you, steal your time, twist scriptures whenever necessary. Church becomes your God, your idol. You end up being so confused that you simply want to push all of it away, including God. However, once I stopped subjecting myself to man made religion, the Bible became clear to me, as did God himself. Christ is what we need through faith, and nothing else. Everything added to faith is just a distraction. And on the subject of Calvinism, that is simply one misunderstanding of God, Man, and the Bible, expanded to create an entire false gospel. That is all it is, plain and simple. Calvinists are truly a deceived people, and they are doing so much damage to christianity. Especially some of the main stream denominations that are more willing to accept their doctrines. (ie Southern Baptists) Religion is strict and brutal, God is loving and patient. I prefer to be taught by God rather than man.