From Death to Life: Unconditional Election in Ezekiel 36 and Ephesians 2

🕊Total Depravity & Unconditional Election: Grace That Begins and Ends with God

> “A new heart also will I give you; and a new spirit will I put within you… I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.” — Ezekiel 36:26-27

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins … but God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” — Ephesians 2:1, 4-5

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” — Romans 8:29–30

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I. Total Depravity: Our Utter Need

Total depravity is not a doctrine of exaggeration; it is a diagnosis. We are not as bad as we could possibly be, but sin has corrupted every part of us. Our wills are enslaved, our affections misdirected, our minds darkened.

Ephesians 2:1 says it plainly: “You were dead in the trespasses and sins.” A corpse cannot raise itself.

Ezekiel 36:26 describes our natural state as a “heart of stone.” Stones do not beat; they do not live.

Jesus echoes this in John 6:44: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”

Without divine intervention, there is no hope. Total depravity humbles us to see that the first movement toward salvation must come from God, not man.

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II. Unconditional Election: God’s Gracious Choice

If sinners are dead, then the only explanation for why any come to life is God’s sovereign choice. Unconditional election teaches that God, before the foundation of the world, chose a people in Christ—not based on foreseen faith or merit, but on His own will and grace.

Ephesians 2:4–5 is the pivot: “But God, being rich in mercy…” Salvation begins with His initiative, not ours.

Ezekiel 36 makes this explicit: “I will… I will… I will.” Not, “If you first…” but “I will give you a new heart, I will put my Spirit within you.”

Romans 9:16 drives it home: “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”

Election is unconditional because if any condition were placed on sinners, none would meet it. God saves not because He foresaw our faith, but because He foreordained His mercy.

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III. The Golden Chain of Redemption

Romans 8:29–30 gives us the golden chain, an unbreakable sequence forged in God’s eternal decree:

Foreknew → Predestined → Called → Justified → Glorified

This chain is not forged by man. Every link is the work of God.

In foreknowledge, God set His covenantal love upon His people.

In predestination, He purposed their conformity to Christ.

In calling, He brings the dead to life (Ezekiel 36: new heart, Ephesians 2: made alive).

In justification, He declares them righteous in Christ.

In glorification, He completes the work He began.

Notice: there is no gap, no broken link, no chance of loss. All whom God foreknew are predestined; all predestined are called; all called are justified; all justified are glorified.

This is irresistible grace unfolded in time, anchored in eternity.

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IV. Pastoral Implications: Why This Matters

A. Comfort for the Guilty

The sinner who despairs of ever being good enough must hear: salvation never began with you. It began in God. The same God who foreknew you also predestined you, called you, and justified you. Your sin cannot break the chain He has forged.

B. Assurance for the Weary

Many fear losing their salvation. But the golden chain leaves no weak link. Those justified will be glorified. He who began the work will finish it (Philippians 1:6).

C. Fuel for Evangelism

Election does not make preaching unnecessary; it makes it effective. We proclaim Christ, knowing God uses the call of the gospel as the very means by which He draws the dead to life. We scatter seed confidently, because God has promised the harvest.

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V. Conclusion: Grace from Eternity to Eternity

Ezekiel 36 shows our deadness. Ephesians 2 shows God’s mercy. Romans 8 shows the eternal plan holding it all together.

From eternity past to eternity future, salvation is of the Lord. The Father gives, the Son redeems, the Spirit regenerates, the sinner comes, the Son saves, and the Father is glorified.

This is the golden chain of redemption — unbreakable, unearned, unstoppable.

So let the humbled heart sing with the saints and angels:

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10)

✒️ The Pilgrim’s Post