Untitled article by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 9, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 47.

BIBLE ELECTION. NO. 4.

By M. C. W.

WE have in past articles shown something of what the Scriptures reveal concerning God's purpose in election. Upon some of the features of this purpose the Scriptures are very clear, and those features which are so clearly established by holy Scripture make necessary those concerning which the Bible reveals less. Let us note what the Bible has revealed once more.

God's election (choosing) and predestination (marking out) are according to the purpose which he has made known in his word. Eph. 1:9-11. He has revealed by explicit statement and necessary implication and inference, (1) that he has created the earth for the home of man, and that this purpose is not in vain; (2) that he designed it to be inhabited by a certain number; (3) that this definite number of intelligences should have a certain character, one in harmony with God's holy law; (4) that each one would also have distinct individuality, each being alike loyal and righteous to God, but different from each other; (5) that the name of each character was written in the book of life from the beginning; (6) that to each character would be given the crown of life and glory, indicating a conqueror; (7) that to each one would be given a portion of the eternal inheritance.

We wish the reader to distinctly keep these points in mind. They may seem like too much detail, but God deals with details, and we will find as we pursue this study that nothing is more precious to the weary saint than some of the precious details which are included in the great and wondrously wise plan of God.

If man had never sinned, God would, by his loving care, wise instruction, his holy law, and the perfect exemplification of that law,—the Son of God, who walked with sinless man in Eden of old,—have led man to develop a character fitted for the eternal home. But with that we have not to deal. Man fell. Shall the perfect plan and wise purpose of God be thwarted?—God forbid. His perfect wisdom began no work to fail, but to accomplish. That his purpose might be consummated, the Son of God "gave himself;" God "gave his only begotten Son." Man was chosen in him, the Creator, before the foundation of the world; he is chosen in him, the Redeemer mighty to save, now that the world has fallen.

It is in accordance with the above purpose that God calls us, not as companies, but as individuals. As the stones of the temple were quarried and fitted as individual stones for that edifice, as every piece of timber for a building is fitted as an individual part, so people are called as individuals. The great company which man cannot number will all be made up of individuals.

The wise carpenter who goes out into the forest to seek for suitable timber for the edifice he is building, has in mind the very sticks of timber he wishes. And when he chooses a tree he chooses it for a certain place. To use the Scripture term, he "calls" it for a plate, another one for a post, another for a beam, another for a sill, another for a brace, and so on for cross-beams, girts, sleepers, rafters, purlines, etc. They are cut down and predestinated, or marked out (for that is what "pre-destinate" means), for the particular use to which they were called. The rule is laid upon the tree, the line is struck, and scorers and hewers are set to work to bring it to the required shape and size, or to justify it, make it in harmony with the rule. The workmen proceed. As they lop off a superfluous end they find it rotten at the heart, and it is rejected; or it is found to be of equal quality all through, and the work goes on. It is hewed to the line; it may perhaps be planed and polished before it is placed in the building. It undergoes tests in its removal from one place to the other, is tested by heavy weights, and by various methods tried, that it may not be a failure when placed in the building.

This is a partial illustration of how God deals with men. He gave his Son for all; he calls all. Eze. 33:11; Isa. 45:22; 55:6, 7; Luke 5:32. He chooses everyone who will heed the call. "Call" is sometimes used in the sense of simple inviting, sometimes of a call which is accepted, and sometimes of effectual calling. It precedes election or choosing. The term comes from different words in the original, and we need not take time to discuss the varied shades of meaning. The general truth will be admitted by all. He calls them not as nations but as individuals. He chooses each one for some particular place in that great spiritual temple. First of all he would see in us the character of Christ. He calls us not to uncleanness, but to sanctification and cleansing. 1 Thess. 4:7, 3. He calls us to peace (1 Cor. 7:15), out of darkness into light (1 Peter 2:9), to his eternal kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2:12; 1 Peter 5:10). The sanctification of the people of God is the result of the sanctification of Christ, and it comes through Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life. John 17:17; 14:6.

But they are not only called to a righteous character in Christ, but to an individual character belonging to each one alone, which will glorify God throughout all eternity. God elects each to a name indicative of the individual character, to a fitting crown of victory, to an eternal inheritance. These are in God's purpose, and we are chosen and marked out in harmony with the perfect plan devised of God; that particular character to which we are called and chosen, which not only reflects the righteousness of Christ, but some one or more of his exceeding beauties. We are called to that. Unlike the timber which, when it comes short, is rejected, the fullness of Christ will make up all defects, if the soul will but trust in him. The sinner yields, he is accepted, justified from past sins, a new heart is placed within him, and the battle begins. Trials sore and many come to him, but they are all permitted of God, are all necessary, in order to develop those graces which make up the perfect character.

Finally the loyal soldier of Christ has fought his last battle, endured the last conflict, won the last victory, faithful to the One who had chosen him to be a soldier. He has won "the crown" and "the name." He knew not the name before, he was not prepared to understand it. But now it is his. He is the child of God and of Christ; he bears their names, the family name. Rev. 3:12. Through the grace of Christ he meets his individual trials, and he is called by a "new name," "which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." Rev. 2:17. As none could learn the new song but the 144,000 (Rev. 14:1-3), because none had had their experiences, so none will know the new name but he who receives it, because no one else has passed triumphant through those trials which he has passed through. They may be able to pronounce the word; but its import can only be understood by the Giver and the receiver. He receives (for he has been tried), not any crown, but the crown of life and glory to which he has been called. James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4, Revised Version. Like Daniel, he shall stand in his "lot" or portion "of the inheritance of the saints in light." Dan. 12:13; Col. 1:12.

The inheritance has been a part of God's plan and purpose, the crown has been waiting, the character marked out, the name written from the beginning in the book of life. Many have been called to it, but have rejected the call. Many run well for a season, but fainted in time of trial. God's promises failed not, but trust in them failed. The confidence was not held fast, and somebody else has been called to the crown, and the name, and the inheritance. The victorious ones may have failed many times, but the trial has come again and again, the grace of Christ always assured, till the victory is gained and the character perfected. The repeated trial may harden the heart, but it need not. God's grace is sufficient.

This revelation of God's purpose concerning election may be very profitable to the child of God in the following respects:—

1. We learn that it is not the individual regarded as a mere organized being which is of such value in God's sight, but it is the possibilities of that being manifested in the holy and beautiful character to which he is called. It is character which is of value in God's sight. And so wherever election is brought to view character is presented or implied as necessary. "That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Eph. 1:4), "chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thess. 2:13), "through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:2), are expressions to which we have before referred, and which will serve as instances to show that the prominent thing in God's purpose is character.

2. The love of God is shown in giving to all an opportunity to develop a character pleasing to him, and to win the crown of life belonging to that character.

3. His love is still further revealed in giving his Son to die when man had forfeited all right to God's favor.

4. In that Son he has given all things to all who will believe and trust to the end. So that while man may be defective in every way compared with the measurement of the character to which he is called, God will supply all his need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus, if man will but submit, believe, and hold fast his confidence to the end.

5. For it is not men who are elected from the beginning, but characters. Therefore he who believes in election according to God's purpose will never fall into the erroneous ideas of ultra-Calvinism, or "once-in-grace-always-in-grace" theory. He will know that it is only he who "endures to the end" (Matt. 24:13; 1 Cor. 15:1, 2; Heb. 3:14) who will be saved; that it is necessary to "hold fast" that no man take his crown (Rev. 3:11); that it is necessary to "give diligence" to make his "calling and election sure." 2 Peter 1:10.

6. The blessing of God will not therefore be taken as an evidence of eternal safety and favor in present attainments, but as an incentive to press on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

7. He who looks upon this in God's way will find a key to the problem which often presents itself: Why these trials? Why am I tried so much worse or so differently than other people? Bible election answers, God permitted the trials; he overruled that they might come. They are necessary to fit us for that particular place to which we are called.

The calling and choosing are of God; will we submit to the necessary process, to the scoring, the hewing, the planing, the testing of every form? If we do this, all is ours. The calling and the election are sure. Eternal righteousness is ours; "for there shall be no more falling away." Rev. 22:3 (Syriac translation by Etheridge). As eternal righteousness is ours, eternal life is also ours. We belong absolutely and eternally to the family of God, the offspring of Christ, bearing their names. We enter upon our inheritance, never to give place to another. Our calling and election are made sure; we have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.