Bible
Election
The Call, the
Crown, and the Condition
What does the apostle
Paul admonish us to do?
“Therefore, my
brothers, be all the more eager to make your
calling and election sure. For if you do
these things, you will never fail, and you will
receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2
Peter 1: 10,11.
Note – This text at
once reveals the fact that our salvation, so far
as our own individual cases are concerned, is
dependant upon our own action. We are elected to
be saved; but we are to give diligence to make
this election sure. If we do not, it will
not meet its purpose in our case, and we shall be
lost.
What admonition given by
Christ teaches the same truth?
“I am coming soon. Hold
on to what you have, so no one will take your
crown.”
Revelation 3:10.
Note – A crown has
been prepared for each of the finally redeemed.
Every soul is a candidate in the race for eternal
life, and hence for a crown. Faith in Jesus and
perseverance to the end will make our election
sure.
Upon what condition is
the crown of life promised?
“Do not be afraid of
what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the
devil will put some of you in prison to test you,
and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be
faithful, even to the point
of death, and I will give you the
crown of life.” Revelation 2:10.
God’s Call in Christ to
Holiness
In whom, and from what
time, have we been chosen unto holiness and
salvation?
“For he has chosen us
in him before the creation of the world to
be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians
1:4. [Christ]
What is the character of those
thus chosen before the foundation of the world?
“Holy and blameless.”
Verse 4.
To what has God
foreordained those who attain to this character?
“He predestined us to
be adopted as his sons through Jesus
Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
Verse 5.
According to what does
God call us?
“And we know that in
all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to
his purpose.” Romans 8:28.
According to what have we been
predestined?
“In him we were also
chosen, having been predestined according to
the plan of him who works out everything in
conformity with the purpose of his will.”
Ephesians 1:11.
Enduring Faith and Salvation
Upon what condition is
salvation offered?
“They replied, “Believe
in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved
– you and your household.” Acts 16:31.
How long must this faith be
preserved in order to bring final salvation?
“But he
that stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 24:13. (See James 1:12; Revelation
2:10.)
In what fact may every
believer in the Word of God rejoice?
“However, do not
rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice
that your names are written
in heaven.” Luke 10:20.
Whose names are to be retained
in the book of life?
“He who overcomes
will like them be dressed in white. I will never
blot out his name from the book of life, but will
acknowledge his name before the Father and his
angels.” Revelation 3:5.
God’s Choice and Man’s
Choice
What scripture is
sometimes cited as evidence that God is arbitrary
in His dealing with men?
“Therefore God has
mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and
he hardens whom he wants to harden.”
Romans 9:18.
But what other scripture
shows with whom God “wills” to be
merciful, and with whom otherwise?
“To the faithful,
you show yourself faithful, to the blameless
you show yourself blameless, to the pure
you show yourself to be pure, but to the crooked
you show yourself to be shrewd.”
Psalm 18:25,26. (See also Isaiah 55:7.)
Note – God wills that
men shall be saved. He has foreordained the
characters that will entitle men to salvation,
but He does not compel anyone to receive
Christ, possess this character, and be saved.
This is the matter of individual choice. By His
mighty acts and judgments in Egypt, God “hardened
Pharaoh’s heart.” (Exodus 7:3, 13, 22.)
But the same manifestations softened the
hearts of others. The difference was in the hearts,
and in the way God’s message and
dealings were received; not in God. The same sun
which melts the wax hardens the clay. Exodus 8:32
says that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.
How many does God desire to be
saved?
“Who wants all men
to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the
truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4.
What, on man’s part, is
essential to salvation?
“But if serving the
Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose
this day whom you will serve.”
Joshua 24:15. “If anyone chooses
to God’s will, he will find out
whether my teaching comes from God or whether I
speak on my own.” John 7:17. They
replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved – you and your
household.” Acts 16:31. “The Spirit and
the bride say, “Come!” Whoever is
thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let
him take the free gift of the water of life.”
Revelation 22:17.
Deciding the Election
A man once wished to join
a certain church, but he could not do so on
account of the views this church held on the
subject of “election.” The minister to
whom he was sent for help and enlightenment
failing to make the matter clear, an old colored
man, a laymen, came to the rescue and said,
“Brother, this is the very easiest thing in
the church. You see, it is like this: The votin’
is goin’ on all the time; and God, He is
votin’ for you; and the devil, he is votin’
agin you; and whichever way your vote, that is
the way the election goes.” Commenting upon
this incident, the noted evangelist Wilbur
Chapman says, “I have studied theology some
myself, and graduated at a theological seminary;
but I never got anything quite as good as that.”
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