Preface
It is dangerous for God to give high truth to highly educated people. There is a danger
that in the furtherance of that truth it becomes mixed with an alloy of human wisdom. It
pleased God on that first Christmas morning to give high truth to humble men, even
shepherds in the fields.
These truths of Sovereignty are usually dealt with in the classroom of colleges and
seminaries only. In these places they are subjects of theology. They are not dealt with in
such a way that the average man or woman in the "work-a-day world" can
understand them with any measure of intelligence, or even personal blessing for their own
soul.
I am not presenting these subjects for students in the theological workshop, but for
the average Christian who sits in the church pew to hear the word of God presented with a
spiritual application for the heart and soul. I trust that the reading and the study of
these subjects as set forth in this volume will somehow help the person who has an open
mind to understand more clearly the Bible. I have endeavored to present in the most simple
way these blessed truths, so that the common people will hear and understand.
The average Christian has been led to believe that these subjects are beyond his mental
comprehension and spiritual understanding. Surely, if they are Bible subjects, the Spirit
of God will help the humblest believer to understand something of their spiritual meaning
and also to derive something of practical help for daily living from them.
After having spoken on these subjects to my own congregation in Berachah Church,
Philadelphia, Penna., and having referred to them at different times in Bible Conference
addresses, I have been asked by a number of Christians to present these four subjects in
book form for the benefit of the Christian public.
In the presentation of them, I make no attempt to pose as either a scholar or an
author, but am trying as a servant of Christ to present some subjects that have been much
misunderstood by so many. I am deeply indebted to Dr. Clifton L. Fowler, who was the
founder of the Denver Bible Institute, Denver, Colorado, for help in these studies. I
trust as this book goes forward it will bring joy and peace to the hearts of God's people,
and the renewed assurance that "He doeth ALL things well."
Election
When one begins to seek to present the subject of Election, you feel as though you were
"rushing in where angels fear to tread." Please remember, we can only go as far
as that which the Lord has been pleased to reveal to us through his Word. The Bible is not
a revelation of what God knows, but what God wants us to know. We will turn to the Bible
and let us read from Romans 9:6-24.
6. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all
Israel, which are of Israel :
7. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In
Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of
God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a
son.
10. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our
father Isaac ;
11. (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 ;)
12. It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15. 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.
16. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that
sheweth mercy.
17. 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.
18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he
hardeneth.
19. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted
his will ?
20. Nay but, 0 man, who art thou that repliest against God ? Shall the thing formed
say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus ?
21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel
unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22. What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured
with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction :
23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy,
which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24. Even us, whom he hath called, not-of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Let us remind ourselves of the simple definitions of the two subjects that we have been
dealing with: Adoption-is a divine act of God whereby God sets a goal for the
believer. Ephesians 1: 5. Predestination-is a divine act of God whereby God makes
that goal, (that is Adoption) certain for the believer. Ephesians 1: 5
This is one of the greatly misunderstood subjects of the Word of God, and around the
doctrine and subject of Election, Satan has thrown up a mirage of doubt and suspicion, and
on the other hand a pile of arrogance and pride. It is most difficult to make clear that
which has so long been complex in the minds of the Christian public. Surely God has made
it clear in His Word. May we find the illumination of the Spirit of God adequate to make
clear to us, that which God has written in His Word.
First notice the Scriptural expression in the Bible, the word "elect" or
"Election." The Bible speaks about the elect of God, and God's elect. Let us
remind ourselves that when we read the phrase "God's elect," it is not a mere
statement of a fact or even of a purpose, but like the Scriptural expression "first
born," it is a title of dignity and that title was only applied to those who were
believers. The pre-eminent thought in Election is rank and privilege, not deliverance from
damnation or eternal torment. So that you can have these things down in order, let us look
at five or six phases of truth concerning Election.
I. The Proposition of Election
It is a Bible word and therefore demands a measure of interest and consideration from
all the people of God. It is one of the doctrines of the Bible. Bible Colleges and
Seminaries deal with the doctrine of Election because it is a doctrine found in the Bible.
We should know more about it. I feel that we should know what the Bible says about it even
though we are not going into any exhaustive study of the subject in this message. We must
evade establishing our convictions on mere human opinions, while we have before us the
possibility of knowing what the Bible says about it.
I was attending a Bible Conference sometime ago, and a number of preachers were seated
around the dinner table. There was a discussion on some Bible subjects. At the table, a
splendid young man who was a graduate of one Bible College and two seminaries, was asked
by one of the preachers regarding the subject of Predestination. The young man began to
expound the subject of Predestination in response to the minister's request. Although his
reply was lengthy, it was by no means clear, as he did not understand the difference
between Predestination, Election, and Foreknowledge. Also, he did not have clearly in his
mind the teaching of the Word of God on the subject of Adoption. He used these terms
concerning the sovereignty of Christ, interchangeably. This young man did not know the
difference between these subjects. May we as Christians know something about these
differences. Please notice the definition of Election.
Definition of Election
Election is a divine act of God, whereby God, for reasons known only to himself, in
the blessing of mankind, sets to one side all firsts, and chooses all seconds.
Romans 9:11
11.(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 ;)
Now we will turn from the proposition of the subject of Election to the problem of
Election. Please remember that the subject of Election has its difficulties. This is why
there is so much ignorance and misunderstanding of the subject.
II. Problem of Election
Election is one of the unique subjects referred to by the Apostle Paul in Romans 9.
This chapter does not teach in its completeness, the subject of Election, it is only
referred to in this chapter in verse 11. Election is not God choosing or electing some to
be saved and some to be lost. To say that God chooses some to be saved and some to be lost
is nothing more or less than hearsay, and is charging God with doing something that he can
not do, because he has provided salvation for every man. To say that God has chosen or
elected some to be lost, would limit the atonement of Jesus Christ. That is one of the
duties of the Devil to try to limit the work of Christ on the cross. It labels God as a
respecter of persons, and that leads one to believe that the Holy Spirit only deals with
certain people, that is those who are chosen or elected to be saved; and that the Spirit
of God never deals with others. If God chose people for heaven or elected them to be
saved, and others were chosen for hell or were elected to be lost, then Christ's death was
not for all mankind.
Certain ones tell us that God chooses some to eternal life and some to eternal
damnation. Does Romans 9:11 teach this? By no manner of means does this verse bear this
out that God has elected some to heaven and some to hell. On the contrary, this verse
tells us about the purpose of God according to Election. Now notice Romans 9:12.
12. It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Now it is normal to expect that such words spoken for so definite a purpose would
contain some hint or indication of the purpose of God according to Election? It is,
"The elder shall serve the younger." The first born serves younger. The greater
shall serve the lesser. God set to one side the elder or the first and chose the second,
or the younger through whom the blessing would come. Now, I want you to notice the
portions that are misapplied and misunderstood about the subject of Election.
III. The Portions Misapplied
A. Does Romans 9 :15-18 teach some are elected to salvation and some do damnation?
Those who believe that God has elected some to salvation and some to damnation, would
say that if there were two brothers in a family, one a believer and the other unbeliever;
that God had mercy and compassion on the one who was saved, but that He did not show any
mercy or compassion on the one who was unsaved, should he die in that state. God's actions
are not based alone on his Foreknowledge but are based in the back ground of his attribute
of love. If you will notice in Romans 9: 18 it says in that verse, "therefore hath he
mercy on whom he will have mercy."
Therefore, they would say that if the unconverted brother would die in his sin, God did
not have mercy on him. That is a false view of the teaching of this verse. All the truth
concerning the attitude of God toward unsaved man is not to be found in one verse. Romans
9: 18 is not the whole of the Bible, neither does it teach all about the mercy of God
toward the children of men. What does this verse teach? Is there any hint as to whom God
will have mercy upon? If you turn to Romans 11:32 there will be some light on the truths
concerning God and those who are the objects of His mercy. Romans 11: 32 tells us:
32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Now how many are the objects and recipients of God's mercy? The text clearly tells us
that he has mercy upon all. God does not only have mercy on a few but His mercy is
expanded until it reaches all men. God has mercy upon all men and His mercy upon all is
according to Romans 11:32. Whom does he harden? Romans 9:17.
17. 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.
Those who purposely harden themselves against God. God had mercy upon Pharaoh and that
mercy was extended to Pharaoh even while hardening his heart. God's mercy is upon all. Do
not limit it to a few.
B. Does Romans 9: 22, 23 teach that God has elected some for salvation and some for
condemnation ?
Let us turn to that portion found in Romans 9: 22, 23.
22. What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured
with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy,
which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Now notice verse 22 speaks about vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. It is error to
teach that these words refer to limited atonement by saying that God has fitted some
people for destruction. Away with such trash ! God never fitted any man for destruction.
God never fitted any one to be destroyed. It is the Devil who has fitted them for
destruction. God endured with much long suffering the vessels who yielded themselves to
the Devil. Satan made them vessels of wrath and prepared them for hell.
C. Notice Acts 13: 48.
48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the
Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Now, does this verse teach that God has ordained some folks to believe and some not to
believe ? Does this verse teach that some are ordained to be saved and some are ordained
to be lost ? Notice the context. It teaches that Barnabas and Paul had been preaching the
gospel to the Jews. The Jews refused to respond to their ministry. These two servants of
the Lord turned from ministering to the Jews for the time being and turned their faces
toward the Gentiles. Now the context of this passage shows us that God is turning the
ministry of these men from the Jews toward the Gentiles. This was in God's plan. He wanted
the Gentiles to hear the gospel. This text does not teach that God had planned to save
just a few of these Gentiles on that occasion. Offering salvation to all Gentiles, some of
the Gentiles believed that day what the Jews had rejected.
I believe that it is Dr. Gaebelein in his book on Acts, says, "The Gentiles who
were disposed to eternal life believed." I believe that this is the thought of the
passage in the light of the context. The Jews were turning from the Lord and rejecting the
truth, so the Lord turns with the offer to the Gentiles. Those Gentiles who were willing
to receive salvation, and whose minds were open to the truth, were ready to believe. It is
true God had planned to turn to the Gentiles, but not to just a few individuals, as are
represented here. This group happened to be a few of the Gentiles who were present, and
believed and were saved.
In Romans 9: 13 we read:
13. As it is written. Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
God did not say this before they were born. This statement was recorded in the last
book the Old Testament. Malachi 1: 2, 3. Notice the phrase there in Romans 9:13, "As
it is written". It is recorded or written back in the book of Malachi. What have we
there recorded? God's hatred toward Esau and his descendants. Why did God hate Esau and
his descendants? It was because of their continued wickedness and idolatry. This does not
refer to individual men (Jacob and Esau), but to the nations which sprang of their loins.
Since Esau and his descendants stand for flesh, God hates the whole nation of Edom.
Israel stands for the spiritual. God loves the whole nation for what they represent. Now,
as to the salvation of any Edomite or Israelite, the pathway was the same. It was by
believing.
IV. The People Who Are Elected
Nowhere in the Bible is Election connected with the salvation or the damnation of a
human soul. Who are the elect ? They are the saved people. His favored ones. Israel in the
Old Testament is God's elect. Isaiah 46:3, 4.
3. And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret
places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of
Israel.
4. For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by
thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
The Church which is his body, in the New Testament. Romans 8:33.
33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
In the Tribulation they are Jews or the 144,000. Matthew 24:22-24.
22. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but
for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it
not.
24. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great
signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
This rank, this favor, this privilege. is shown to those people not before they are
saved, but after. The word Election occurs 27 times in the Bible, and is used in
connection with God's people. A few times it is used relative to the Lord Jesus Christ.
V. The Purpose of Election
The purpose of Election is the setting to one side of all that pertains to the flesh,
(everything that has to do with carnality) and establishing everything that has to do with
the spiritual. The most important phase of Election pertains to service. Romans 9:11, 12.
"The elder shall serve". Election has nothing to do with a man's salvation,
neither has it anything to do with his condemnation. The purpose of Election then, is that
the first shall become subservient and serve the second. It has to do with Service. It is
God's elect who serve Him.
VI. The Principles of Election
For the principles of Election, let us turn to some illustrations that are set forth in
the Word of God. Notice Hebrews 10:9,
9. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he
may establish the second.
Now we are all familiar with this portion of the Word of God. The closing phrase in
verse 9, "He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second". Election
is a divine act of God whereby God sets to one side all firsts and chooses all seconds.
You notice that this is what God is doing according to the teaching of this verse. There
were many offerings and sacrifices in the Old Testament, and they were called the
"First", because they were in the Jewish economy. God set them to one side at
the beginning of the dispensation that we now live in, which is the dispensation of the
body of Christ. It was the will of God to set the first to one side and choose for the
blessing of mankind, the sacrifice and offering of Christ. Now, let us turn to another
illustration of the principle of Election. Notice what it says in Hebrews 8:6-7,
6. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the
mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
In verse 7 you read,
7. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been
sought for the second.
You also notice in Hebrews 8:13,
13. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which
decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
We find these verses teaching that God has set to one side the first covenant and has
established a second one, which he made between himself and his son. Election is a divine
act of God, whereby God, for reasons known only to Himself, in the blessing of mankind,
sets to one side all firsts and chooses all seconds. He sets to one side the first
covenant in the Old Testament economy and chooses the second. Now, notice the principle,
being worked out in our own bodies. I Corinthians 15 :38
38, But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him. and to every seed his own body.
Notice verse 38, "God giveth it a body- to-every seed his own body".
Verse 42:
42. So also in the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised
in corruption.
Verse 44:
44. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual 'body. There is a natural
body, and there is a spiritual body.
So it is written, in verse 45,
45. The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening
spirit.
Verse 47:
47. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from Heaven.
Election is a divine act of God whereby God, for reasons known only to Himself in the
blessing of mankind, sets to one side all firsts. and chooses all seconds. We also have a
clear illustration of the principles of Election in 2Peter 3:10-13. Keep in mind our
definition of Election that God is setting to one side all firsts, and is choosing all
seconds. We see him here not only setting to one side but, completely destroying the first
earth as the abode for eternal blessings. If he declares. in verses 10-12,
10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the
heavens shall pass away with a great noise. and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,
the earth also and the works that are therein - shall be burned up.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons
ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Then in verse 13, we notice the first promise and establishment of the new heavens and
the new earth. That is just another one of the evidences of the principles of Election,
The outstanding picture of the principles of Election is seen in Genesis 48 :8-20. Notice
carefully that Israel blessed Joseph's two boys, Ephraim was the younger and Manasseh was
the elder. In order for the father to put his right hand on Ephraim who was the younger.
he had to cross his hands or arms, thereby making a cross. Here is a picture of how we
obtain the favors of God's elective principles. It is by the cross. The old man typical of
the old life, (Adam's race) is set aside and the new life in Christ is established as he
lays his right hand upon the younger. Because of the cross, we are favored of God. In
order to be one of God's elect you must come by the way of the cross.
To continue with this study on The
Sovereignty of God go to the next subject presented by Andrew Telford:
Foreknowledge. The Preface is repeated
and can be skipped.
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