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For the Elect’s Sake

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 17, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 11.

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For the Elect’s Sake.

By F. D. Starr

By F. D. Starr.
“I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” 2 Tim. 2:10.
THESE words show the unswerving fidelity of the apostle Paul to the welfare of the elect.
Who are the elect?—In the first place, our blessed Redeemer Himself is reckoned as one of this class. His name heads the list: “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.” Isa. 42:1.
Very clearly this has reference to Christ.
In the next place, the angels of God come into this list: “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” 1 Tim. 5:21.
While all the holy angels are numbered with the elect, yet not all the elect are angels. Indeed, we shall find that some of them are so far from being angels that we probably would discover nothing angelic about them at the present time. “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” “The election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” Rom. 11:5, 7. “For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel Mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name.” Isa. 45:4.
From numerous references, it will be seen that the elect as here indicated are human beings, once lost in sin, but saved by grace. For this class Paul submitted to endure all the hardships to which the Gospel laborer can be subjected. But he himself, the one of the elect, would not have appeared as such when as a chief of sinners he was haling Christian men and women to deliver them to prison. Jacob did not appear as one when supplanting his brother Esau. Prospectively these were of the number of the elect, however.
But are not the elect sure of final salvation from all eternity? Surely they are not, for Peter tells the believers to make their calling and election sure. 2 Peter 1:10. Paul endured all things for the elect’s sake that they might be saved, plainly indicating that there was a possibility of some of the elect not being saved.
To elect is to choose. Jesus said of His disciples, “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” John 6:70. Judas, one of the twelve, was promised, with the eleven other disciples, a throne in the future kingdom (Matt. 19:28), but he failed to make that election sure.
How much are we willing to endure for the elect’s sake? Love will enable us to endure all things for their sakes.
When bearing what may seem to us to be unreasonable burdens, let this consideration give us strength to bear it: “I endure all things for the elect’s sakes.” How careful we should be not to offend the elect. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” Rom. 8:33. His elect are very precious in His sight. “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.” “Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” “He suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, He reproved kings for their sakes, saying, Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.” “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” What a consolation to be of this number and endure for them.
Westlake, Idaho.