Our subject today is election. This beyond doubt is about the most hated doctrine of the Bible. Those who do believe in Election can expect to be called all kinds of names - such as devils - and persecuted in many forms and especially excluded from friendship with those who do not believe in this doctrine. They will say about this doctrine of election and others that goes with it - "they come from the pits of hell". Today we will study God's Holy word and see that this doctrine of election comes from there - not the pits of hell - and that those people who make such an accusation had better be careful of what they are saying or else they will find that it is what they believe that comes from the pits of hell - and that's where they will find themselves when they pass into eternity unless they change their beliefs.
Why? Why are these doctrines so hated?
The reason people hate the doctrine of election and the doctrines that go with it is because it goes totally and absolutely against the grain of the intellectual mind, of the natural mind and their concept of God, the kind of god the natural man wants - their god or gods. Man by his very nature is Arminian in his theology. The god the natural mind perceives just does not fit at all with the God of the Bible.
The natural mind's perception of the god they want to serve is broken down into five points also. This is called Arminianism after Jacobus (James) Arminias whose followers organized those beliefs into five points of Arminianism, just like John Calvin's followers organized the Bible doctrines of Grace into the system most people refer to as Calvinism.
It must be noted though that neither man started their system - all either man did was organize already existing beliefs into a systematic, organized program for easy study. The beliefs behind Arminianism has existed as long as man has existed and worshiped some sort of false gods. The beliefs behind Calvinism has existed in the Bible as long as any sort of scripture that has been put into what we now call the Bible has existed.
Calvinism (or the doctrines of grace) was taught in Old Testament times - although not as clearcut as in our New Testament times. It was taught by Jesus - by His apostles and by His church down through the centuries since then to our time.
Most Baptists - including myself - prefer the term - "The doctrines of Grace" Or "The five points of grace" rather than - "Calvinism" or "the five points of Calvinism". We don't like to refer to it as Calvinism because:
(1) It makes it look as if Calvin was the one who started this form of belief.
(2) Although we do agree with Calvin on the five points of grace there are other doctrines we do not agree with - so we want to separate ourselves from him and his teachings for most people would take it for granted that if we believed "Calvinism" then we must be a follower of Calvin in all his teachings. This certainly would be true of the unlearned where they do not know all the teachings of John Calvin and where we would differ from him. So we just prefer to stick to the more Biblical name of - "The doctrines of grace". We can not avoid the name entirely though - because the use of the term is so widespread and our own term is not, that many would not know what you are talking about if you did not use the term "Calvinism".
There is no middle ground Between Calvinism and Arminianism. You are either one or the other. That's why you hear me refer to Arminianism versus Calvinism so often in my teachings.
As noted before - everyone is by nature Arminian in theology. It takes the work of God's Holy nature He puts in us at our rebirth to draw us away from these ideas of the natural mind toward God. Let's take a look into the way the natural man looks upon God - what they expect their god to be like. The big thing of course is the - "Free will of man."
Free will - the biggest enemy of the truth and one of the most difficult to get out of peoples minds. Free will teaches that man is in control. God in essence is nothing but a puppet to almighty man who cannot do anything to them unless that person gives god permission to do so. Man is in control - man has the choice of receiving god and even if he does can later lose his salvation by changing his mind and rejecting god or by breaking some law which according to the Arminian he must keep to hold unto his salvation. They believe there salvation depends on what they do - that there is a balance that god keeps and if one's good works out weigh the bad works then one is ok - he is on his way to heaven.
He believes if he commits a serious sin he can lose his salvation and has to go back to god for restoration with salvation. This can happen over and over again - have salvation - then sin and lose that salvation, repent and your salvation is restored - then sin and lose it again until you repent, and salvation is restored again. Over and over all ones life. They encourage one not to sin because if you lose your salvation over that sin and happen to die during the period between the time you sin and lost your salvation and you repent and regain you salvation then you will go to hell. Man gets all the glory for his entry into heaven.
Of course all this is false. We know from past studies that none of the above is true. In fact it is the complete reverse of Bible teachings. The truth of the Bible is -
(1) WE cannot come to God unless God enables US.
(2) When God enables us we WILL come - called the effectual call of God. Once we have obeyed that call we are kept by the power of God - not anything to do with our own works - but the works of God the Father - God the Son and God the Holy spirit in and for us. And this is what Calvinism teaches. So it is much more scriptural than Arminianism. Who gets the glory for out salvation? - God - the one who deserves to get it!
Now that we have learned some of the definitions that are used to separate two opposing view points on salvation let's get on with the doctrine of election.
First - let's make it clear in our minds that election is not salvation. Election is unto salvation. In other words election precedes salvation We are elected to be saved and at a later date because we are elected to be saved - we are.
Of course we know that in God's eternal purpose that as soon as He knew what He was going to do our salvation was as good as done. We looked into that factor a few weeks ago. God's eternal purpose and reality. So we know that God as far back in eternity that He existed knew who He was going to save so our salvation was determined and as good as done back in eternity - but in reality we are not saved until the Holy spirit takes up residence in our individual heart during our lifetime and causes us to start believing in Him.
A couple of scriptures will put things in prospective. Let's read these.
Romans 11:7 -- What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 -- But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sactification of the Spirit and belief of the truth
From reading these scriptures we see that the elect obtain salvation, and if election is to salvation, then election must proceed salvation.
So we conclude what I said above - the reality of salvation is when we actually start believing in Christ - not when we are elected.
God's saints are inducted into sainthood (are saved) by the effectual call of the Holy spirit working out God's will in our lives. This is also called the quickening work of the Holy spirit through which they become believers in the Gospel. We read about this in:
Ephesians 2:1 & 5 - And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: and verse --5 - Even when we were dead in sins: hath quickened us together with Christ.
Election is not the cause of anyone going to hell. Election is unto salvation to take certain ones away from hell. Neither is not being elected responsible for ones damnation. Sin and the rejecting of Jesus as their Saviour is what sends a man to hell. We have learned before all men are sinners by nature and practice.
This is a very touchy subjecty. Most sound Baptist preachers who believe in the doctrines of grace will admit that God does 'permit' sin. But will not actually cause a person to sin. They say that God does not cause a man to sin - that all God has to do is withdraw His restraining power from a person and that person will sin. And quite often God does want us to sin. Look at Judas - his betrayal of Jesus was no accident, nor did it catch God or Jesus by surprise. God ordained all that to happen. But God did not cause him to betray Jesus - He just set up the circumstances - withdrew His restraining influence and Judas did what he had been ordained to do. However - this brings predestination into the picture - and although it is hard to talk about one without bringing the other into it I do not want to spend much time on predestination at this time. We will discuss that at another time - in detail.
As mentioned - God does allow one to act according to his depraved, sinful nature - and sure enough that person will sin. But who gave mankind that sinful depraved nature - and why?
Of course we got to admit that it was God who gave us that depraved nature - so He must have had a reason for it - and that was to sin. Why? Only God can answer that. Let's look at a scripture that will give meaning to this statement.
Romans 9:10-25 -- And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of hm that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom he will He hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also, in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
We must never forget though that sin and rebellion against God is the damning element in human life, the direct, immediate cause. Faith is the channel through which God works in us teaching us about Him and causing us to come to Him. A sinful depraved nature is the channel that God uses to keep us from coming to God. We will go in only one direction - either towards God by God given faith or away from God when God leaves us to our rebellious sinful depraved nature.
Election belongs to the system of the doctrines of grace.
How one responds toward election is the big test of his belief in grace. Many claim to believe that we are saved by grace then in practice deny it. If one says YOU must come to Jesus because God can't do anything for you unless you let him then that person in reality is not leaving things to the work of God in us. (Grace) If a person believes he can lose his salvation once he has it does not in reality believe in grace. In grace one is kept saved by the power of God - not our own efforts of merit. This is seen in the creeds of the different denominations. It brings us back to those who believe in Arminianism and those who believe in the doctrines of grace(Calvinism)
Those who believe in Arminianism have no use for the Doctrines of grace, which includes election, in their confession of faith. Those who believe in the doctrines of grace - which includes salvation apart from human merit have included election and all doctrines of grace in their confession of faith.
Just remember this. That most of the denominations that exist today came out of the Roman Catholic church. They did bring a lot of sound doctrine with them - as they couldn't live with the Roman Catholic church who opposed these doctrines. But it must be noted that they also brought out a lot of the errors of the Roman Catholic church with them. That is why we stay away from these Protestant churches because there is still so much error in them. Any truth Protestant churches have come from Baptists. The errors held by Protestant churches come from their harlot mother - the Roman Catholic church.
We have already read Romans 9:10-25. Here there is a definite use of the word election - and who were elected and by whom and for what purpose. It was all by God and for purposes laid out by God.
This introduces us to election - as I stated before probably the most hated doctrine of the Bible - as much as 90% of even professing Christians will hate this doctrine - and those who believe & teach it. In fact I think you will find that any persecution you will encounter is from the ones with the greatest religious zeal. The unsaved probably won't bother you much - to them you would be just another religious nut - or if they do persecute you it will be because you are a Christian, not over any particular doctrine. The religious ones - the Arminians are where you will get the greatest opposition. Just like in Jesus day. It was the religious leaders of Jesus day that was responsible for the circumstances of Jesus death.
Let's side step here a few minutes and consider a few things relevent to our study. There are two factors that do not seem to bother those who rebel at the doctrines of election.
(1) God demands the new birth of every person who is to see or enter into the Kingdom of God. (Remember John 3.3) and that this new birth is given wholly upon God's sovereign choice.
Let's read:
John 3:8: The wind bloweth where it listest, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
No one ever wills their own birth - physically or spiritually. The exercise of the will is a sign or evidence that there is life already there. Let's read
John 1:12,13 -- But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
(2) No person seems upset that God saves some of the fallen of Adam's race but none of the Angels which sinned. These He has left in everlasting chains, but He has saved a remnant of fallen mankind instead. Let's see this as written in Hebrews 2:16. This does not seem to dawn on anyone that there is an election of Angels even. But maybe it is just an exercise of the attitude of human nature again - "it does not affect us so who cares". I suppose to a large extent - people do not even know that there is elect Angels and non-elect Angels.
Hebrews: 2:16 -- For verily he took not on him the nature of angels: but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Let's notice this one fact before going on - God never argues over the doctrine of election anymore than His own existence. He just states the facts about Himself and then of election and expects us to believe it. It would be silly for one who is alive to seek to prove their existence.
God introduces His own existence in these words:
Genesis 1:1 - In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
He states a fact and expects us to believe. Those born of His Spirit will.
He introduces us to the fact of election is such verses as:
Matthew 24:22 and 31 - And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect sake those days shall be shortened. (verse 31) And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Again in:
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.
1 Peter 5:13 - The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you, and so does Marcus my son.
And:
Romans 1:5 and then -- 7 - Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Verse 7 - What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Why is it that people argue against election when the Bible speaks to much about it? You would think it would be so much easier to just accept this doctrine as being taught in the Bible instead of trying to explain it away or at best give an incorrect setting forth of this doctrine. But of course that is just what you would expect from our sinful, depraved nature. Could it be that - despite their profession of faith and zeal - these people do not have the spirit of God in them therefore are incapable of discerning Biblical truths including this one under discussion - election. I would have to say that this is what is the cause of so much disbelief and rebellion against it.
Before proceeding any further with this doctrine of election again let's pause and examine five axioms relative to God's actions.
(1) God is the God of purpose & design.
Ephesians 1:9 - Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.
A plan - He knows what He is going to do and plans it all out - then sets it in motion.
(2) Purpose and design involve predestination
Ephesians 1:11 - In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.
Predestination means: to determine beforehand one's destiny. Or simply to plan ahead what you intend to do. This is what God did with that which He purposed to do down through eternity..
(3) God's purpose and predestination are eternal.
Ephesians 3:11 - According to His eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This confirms what I have said before - namely, that God knew as long as He Himself has existed what He was going to do. When we speak of eternity we must take into account past eternity as much as future eternity. So God's purpose is eternal - past and future.
(4) Purpose and predestination demand fruition.
Romans 4:20,21 - He staggered not at the promise of god through unbelief: but was strong in faith giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that what God had promised., He was able also to perform.
He would not be much of a God if He planned something then found He could not carry out His plans.
(5) Bringing to pass what is predestined demands power and wisdom.
Ephesians 3:20 - Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according the power that worketh in us.
God knew what He was going to do(where His foreknowledge comes from) He put that knowledge in a set plan(predestinated His intentions) then executed those plans(put His plans into motion) and today we are still carrying out those plans and will be throughout future eternity.
One of God's decrees for the present age is set forth in:
Acts 15:14-18 - Simeon hath declared how God at the first (literally: for the first time) did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them (Gentiles) a people for His name.
We know that in this church age - that is since Jesus set up His church in His lifetime - God has been taking out of this world His elect from among the Gentiles - and will do so until completed - near the end of the church age.
God has been gathering out His elect through His ordained means - the preaching of the Gospel. See:
1 Corinthians 1:21 - For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Continue on in:
Acts 15 - now to verse --- 15 to 17 - and to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
The above scripture indicates that when this gathering is completed He will fulfill all of the next stage of prophesy. What is that next stage of prophecy? "I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David." That can't be too far off, for the signs are in place that God's work among the Gentiles are about finished.
If there is no set number of elect to be gathered, and those by name, when will the Lord know when to commence the next phase of His decrees. The answer is found in the next verse:
Acts 15:18 - Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.
Let's take a pause here and find out what is the definition of election as pertaining to the Bible.
By election we mean this: God - of HIS own free will and PURPOSE known only unto HIMSELF, chose certain ones from among Adam's lost race to be the objects of His sovereign grace in effecting their salvation, and effectually applying the same to those chosen.
I stress the fact it is God doing the choosing. We can confirm this by the following scriptures -
Romans 8:32 - Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?
Col. 3:12 -Put on therefore, as the elect of god, holy and beloved.
1 Thess. 1:4 - Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
1 Peter 1:2 - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.
Luke 18:7 - And shall not God avenge His elect.
Titus 1:1 - According to the faith of God's elect.
In the light of these verses it is impossible to make 'man' the elector of God - or of salvation.
The time of our election certainly excludes it being the choice of man. The following scripture makes this plain:
Ephesians 1:4-5 - Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will.
2 Thess. 2:13 -- But we are bound to give thinks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you unto salvation through sanctification of the spirit, and belief of the truth.
2 Timothy 1:9 - not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace that was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
These verses make it plain election was in past eternity. It was God's plan which He fulfilled without man's input by "agreeing" to co-operate with God.
The idea of God looking down the annuls of time and seeing who was going to accept Christ and then electing them to salvation on that basis is a blasphemous denial of the plain revelation that our names were written in the Lamb's book of life in past eternity chosen for and by His own purpose and grace only.
Revelation 17:8 - and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 2:5 - Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will. Also verse 9 and 11 which says essentially the same thing.
It must also be understood that God also ordained the means whereby He will save the elect
Those ordained means are:
(1) that Christ die a substitutionary death on the cross for His elect.
(2) that Christ rise again to ever live to make intercession tor the elect.
(3) that this message be preached to every creature so that we will carry to the elect in order that they may hear.
(4) That the Holy spirit will quicken them which enables them to hear, which gives those quickened the faith to believe the report about Jesus.
People will argue that God will not force a person to believe against their own will. Let's look at a few examples of how God does force people to act against their own wills. Remember we have already studied how the natural man can not understand, believe or accept the things of God. So God must do something to counter the inability in order for us to understand, believe and accept.
Remember the story of Jonah? It was not the will of those men on the ship to throw Jonah overboard. But it WAS God's will - and in the end - to save their own lives - God's will prevailed. Jonah was cast overboard against the will of those men.
Haman sure did not want to promote Mordecai to a position next to the King. But in the end Mordecai was promoted and Haman put to death on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Why? God did want Mordecai promoted - and His will prevailed and Mordecai's opposition was destroyed.
Pilot did not want to send Jesus to the cross - but God did, that was His purpose for entering the world as a man - and in the end God's will prevailed.
All these men were forced against their will BY CIRCUMSTANCES GOD CONTROLLED but the men couldn't. God and His will is irresistable. There is no point in fighting it as King Nebuchadnezzar found out the hard way - Read:
Daniel 4:35 - All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto Him, what doest thou?
But, after saying all this, in salvation God does not save a person against his will. In salvation God changes our will from a will that fights God to a will that grasps unto God. How? By putting a new nature in His elect - the one being saved. You see - God can do something man can not do. Man can not get into another persons mind to make him change his way of thinking. God can and does. With this new nature comes a new will. It is now the will of God taking over so that this new nature will act contrary to ones's own Adamic nature, which if it had not been superceded by the new nature would rebel. Any saved person wants to be saved. But the desire comes from the new nature God has planted in us overriding the rebellion of our own human nature making us willing. Scriptures to prove this:
Psalms 110:3 - Thy people shall be willing in the day of they power.
Philippians 2:13 -For it is god that worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.
Some will argue - "Can a person resist the call of God in salvation? The answer - a resounding NO!! Understand this - salvation is not offered - to be accepted or rejected. A preacher may offer it as he proclaims the salvation message. But the Holy spirit never offers salvation. Instead the Holy spirit BESTOWS salvation upon the elect of God. No if ands or buts. It's done!!
This is illastrated in two parables in:
Luke 14:28-32 - For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace?
Do you believe a Sovereign God would lay out plans - have His son die, with only a HOPE of success? Then have all these plans and HOPE of salvation thwarted by the stubbornes of man? If so - then Satan is mighty happy - he can mock God because he is stronger than God! But of course the answer is NO. God is sovereign and when He makes plans - they WILL be fulfilled out with absolutely no regard to the will of man. This is why God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. "The Mighty in Battle" is His title.
Here is something to think about: A grace that is not able to save all that it designs to save is not grace at all but a mockery, and to offer saving grace to a person and have him refuse the salvation offered is to mock grace.
Let us not believe that can happen to GOD's grace
As I stated before - it is not our nature - our human nature that is brought to faith. It is the new nature of God that God has implanted in us. This act of God is the act of "regeneration" of us by the Holy Spirit. It is also called being 'born again.' We have a new nature born in us. This now gives us two natures residing in us as Christians. We still have our old human nature which is still depraved - anti-God, and totally rebellious toward God on it's own. But we also have God's Holy nature in us. And they don't get along very well - Romans 7:14-24 makes that very plain.
Romans 7:14-24 - For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. O wretched man tha I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
These verses makes it very clear the conflict between our human nature who wants to stay as was - and The Holy nature of God planted with in us, who wants to follow it's Godly attributes. That is why each Christian can be so godly and pious one moment and the next just the opposite. It will be like that as long as we are in this old fleshly body.
Can a person resist that operation o f God - being regenerated? Not any more than a negative in a camera can resist the light that creates a picture on it. Our heart is the negative - Christ is the light, and when the light(Christ) shines on the Holy spirit planted negative(the new heart) we cannot resist that likeness and image of Christ.
A person cannot resist that operation of the Holy spirit any more than Lazarus could resist the power of Jesus' call to him to come out of the tomb he had been lying dead in for four days.
Could the eyes Jesus gave sight to refuse that sight. No!! Of course not.
A person who is the object of God's grace under the power of the holy spirit is helpless to resist His works as were the dry bones of Ezekiel's vision to receive sinews, flesh, and skin and the entering of breath and life into their bodies. Remember the story of the valley full of dry bones? I will not quote it here but if you wish to review the story it is found in Ezekiel 37. These bones were not in a position to resist for they were not consulted - just quickened. (Made alive) at God's own will, and they responded under the power of God's command.
Remember the grand truth of all this as stated in:
Romans 8:29-30 - For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 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.
God just makes His plans - then acts on those plans without consulting his creation for permission to carry on. He just quickens - and the object of His grace responds. No if, ands or buts.
If the foreknowledge of God consisted of knowing beforehand what an individual would do - believe of not believe - and then shape His plan accordingly - God's plan would be in bad shape. Take note that even Adam & Eve did not choose God - yet they lived in His presence!! Just think of that - these two lived, talked, fellow shipped, ate with God for some time - the Bible does not say how long they lived in that environment before their fall - but the very fact they met Him in person, and conversed with Him must mean something. Yet, once out of His presence and influence and with Satin tempting first Eve then Eve tempting Adam, they both chose the way of Satin!! Since they did this before they had ever sinned - what could we expect of them once they had sinned!! And we have all got the exact same nature that Adam and Eve had. What Adam did we would have done under the same circumstances. What Judas did in betraying Jesus - any one of us would have done under the same circumstances. (One of those circumstances being unsaved)
Adam and Eve could have sought out God and confessed their sin immediately and asked for a pardon. In all probability God would have forgiven them. But they didn't, instead they tried to hide from God and hide what they had just done. Instead - God had to come seeking after them. God became their seeker and saviour. He then clothed them in His own type of clothing. Different and better covering than the clothes they had made for themselves, without asking for permission to do so. He just acted without any regard to what Adam or Eve wanted.
Human nature has not changed. Paul wrote this in:
Romans 3:11 - There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
There is much more to that along with verses following - but this conveys the thought of what we are talking about - man does not seek God, God goes seeking out man - His elect from among mankind.
We have learned that the foreknowledge of God consists of God's eternal knowledge of what He was going to do. It is stated clearly in Isaiah these words: "there is none like Him, declaring the end from the beginning."
What He is declaring is that all those upon whom He has set his love on He will make like His son in Glorification. Romans 8:29-30. We have already read that but as a reminder it is where God lays out His plans for His elect.
To the remainder of mankind He says: "I never knew you." Maybe we should read that in:
Matthew 7:22-23 - 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.
This is important to understand. All those that profess to be Christian - born again, are not. The Evidence that they are as we have studied in previous lessons are two things. Do they believe the Gospel and are they following God's ways of doing things and not their own. If their belief contradicts plain scripture and there way of life does not follow the plain teaching of the Bible then what Jesus said in the above scripture applies to them.
When a professing Christian says vehemently that he/she does not believe in predestination - how can they really mean that? Every saved person must admit to a degree of belief in the predetermining will of God. To be saved a person must believe the gospel and the gospel declares as explained in:
1 Corinthians 15:3 (in part) How that Christ died for our sins ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES - etc.
That is predestination!! The suffering and death of Christ was widely foretold in the Old Testament centuries before He came to earth for it to happen. No truly born again person would deny this. But all that foretelling is really predestination. God is giving us a little view into what He has already determined that our destinies would be.
If a person believes these following two scriptures they admit to being an absolute predestinarion. Let's read those scriptures:
Ephesians 1:11 - In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. And:
Ephesians 3:11 - according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If one says they do not believe these scriptures they make the Bible a liar and shows their infidelity in the word of God.
In interpreting scripture - No matter how a verse may sound - whatever interpretation has been attached to it, it must conform to the general teaching of the rest of the book(Bible). That just makes sense. If one scripture seems to contradict every other scripture on the subject it is obvious the one in question does not mean what it seems to on first glance. Interpret it in the light of the rest of the Bible. Never interpret an apparently obscure passage in such a way as to contradict a clear passage, If one verse contradicts other verses on the same subject you are reading at least one and possibly both scriptures wrong - and don't take a verse out of context to its surrounding verses. Find out what the surrounding verses are talking about before making any decision on the meaning of a text.
Now we come to that age old question: Why do people come to Christ?
From what we have learned from our studies I think the answer is obvious. Mankind comes to Christ because they are first elected to be drawn to Christ - then in their individual lives are drawn to Christ.
There are scriptures that make this very clear. Let's look at a couple of these:
Psalm 65:4 - Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, the he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of thy Holy temple. And:
John 6:37 - All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no way cast out.
And again:
John 6:44 - No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.
4) On the other side of the coin - the inevitable conclusion that there are at least 3 reason why men don't come to Christ. These are:
1) They were not chosen, therefore not caused to approach unto him.
2) They were not given to Him by the Father therefore they can not and do not come.
3) They were not drawn to Him by the Father.
We know from our own experience that there are far fewer that are not called than there are called of God.
Again - That age old question - Why do some believe?
Acts 13:48 - And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Again - the other side of the coin - Why do others not believe?
John 10:26 - But ye believe not because ye are not of my sheep.
I think those scriptures answers the questions as clearly as can be. All you have to do is read and believe what you read.
People do not believe TO BECOME a sheep as so commonly believed by most religions of our day - but in believing they give evidence that they ARE A SHEEP. That is a very big difference. The fact of the matter is that - and the big difference is that - in believing one is giving very solid evidence that they already ARE a sheep - or an elect of God. As we have previously learned in our studies - if we are a sheep of God - we always have been - and always will be. We are not born a wolf then become a sheep when saved. No - until we are sought out by God and born with His new nature we are a LOST sheep. When the Bible talks about God's sheep it is in fact talking about God's elect. Wherever sheep us used just substitute the word elect for that word sheep and you have the true meaning of what God is saying.
There are many more scriptures that could be quoted to add proof on proof. But how many times does God have to say something for it to be true? If God says something once - then it is a fact. "If God says it, that settles it, and I believe it" should be our motto. It doesn't matter if we believe it or not - if God says it - it's a fact.
In conclusion - let's consider a few facts which will help us understand and confirm our election of God.
First and always - the purpose of election is to bring the elected into contact with the saving work of Christ through the Gospel, and it always does without fail.
1 Thesselonians 1:5 - For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.
We are assured that every elect will sooner or later be brought to know the joy of having his sins put away in the death of Christ, and can rejoice that heaven awaits them without an iota of doubt.
After the salvation experience - because God's Holy nature is now working out His pleasure in us - the fruit of that nature in the saved elect will be that they will always follow the lord's true servant(His pastors), His people and the Lord Himself. His friends will be from among others of God's elect - Christians. Even in the face of affliction - or persecution, there is a sense of joy. Lives are lived according to what the Bible teaches, and there is a desire to be good and perfect even though it will never be achieved in our lifetime - the desire to be perfect is still there. And there is also a desire to see the word of God proclaimed that others may receive their good news. If these attributes do not exist in a professing Christian then there is serious doubt of the truth of his profession.
Let's close with this final thought to sum up our study of the doctrine of election:
Isaiah 46:9-11 - I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. My counsel shall stand and I will do all MY pleasure! I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass. I have purposed it and I will also do it.
Note: This article was studied over several weeks in short lessons.