The Election

The fact remains that God visited the elders of old and chose them to establish His covenant. They were all sinners by His standards, yet He chose them out of the midst of all the sinners on the face of the earth. Please remember here that the race of Adam was dead in sins and trespasses.

Ephesians 2:1-3

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The people of the earth walked according to the dictates of Satan. His spirit worked in them and us. Man’s nature became that of sin and wrath. Despite this, God chose the elders of old. Why and how He chose them is the question. The answers to these questions can only be found in the heart and mind of the Father. This is the mystery that was hid in Him. He alone can allow us to know His heart and mind. Though the scripture has already been written, it still remains that the Lord Himself must give revelation of the same. There are so many variables here to deal with.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This seems to be a very straightforward statement until we look into the placing of its events.

John 1:36

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Jesus, as we know, is the Lamb of God. He is the one who died for the sins of the world.

Revelation 13:8

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

John speaks here of the Lamb being slain from the laying of the foundations of the world. The decision to slay Him was made before the world was. Thus, the event itself was established in the Spirit of God. Therefore, the intent and purpose were certain to be manifested in the natural world. This is signified by the slaying of oxen, goats and rams. These all pointed to the ultimate sacrifice that was to be offered for the sins of the world.

Romans 4:17

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

It is God alone who can call those things that are not yet manifested as though they were. He is the only One who can guarantee that what He speaks will indeed be. Therefore, He is able to determine the end of all things before the beginning. Once it is determined by God to be so, then it is so. The Word of God is spirit. Once spoken, the Spirit of God moves to establish that which has been spoken. Time is simply the mechanism by which the plan and purpose of God is revealed.

Hebrews 4:3

3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

THE BOOK OF LIFE

All that the Father was going to do pertaining to man is already accomplished. He finished the works of creation and redemption before He laid the foundations of the earth. That which exists is only that which God has pre-determined to be.

Revelation 3:5

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father.

Philippians 4:3

3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Luke 10:20

20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

The names of the disciples were already written in the Lamb’s book of life, even before the crucifixion of the Saviour. The Lamb’s Book of Life is a register in which the names of all who shall obtain eternal life are recorded. However, we are made privy of another actual event that took place before the foundations of the world. The names of the inheritors of eternal life were written in the Book of Life before the world was. Those who are heirs of salvation were chosen to be so before God actually formed the world. All who will escape hell are already chosen by God to do so.

To make such a statement may cause some to be offended. If so, then I have not yet convinced you of the great implication of love and mercy this great act is. The race of man was doomed and damned to hell fire by the sin of the father of the race. Sin passed from Adam to all men in that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Nevertheless, God loved the world and knowing before hand that man would sin, prepared a Lamb to take away their sins. Note that the Lamb was determined to be slain before the foundation of the world. This is the heart of the Father exposed. In His foresight and foreknowledge, He was able to view the hearts of those who would live on the earth. This vision was in light of His redemption plan. Thus, knowing them beforehand, He was able to select some for salvation and fit others for destruction. Strangely enough, the selection process was based on an individual’s belief in the spoken Word of God. God has knowledge of that individual’s belief before the believers themselves are born.

Acts 15:17-18

17 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.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Those who are called of God are the workmanship of His hands. However, note that all of His works were manifest to Him before the beginning. Therefore, those who were fashioned for salvation were known of Him before as well as those who He fashioned for hell. Thus, selection or election could be made in the Spirit of God before the natural world began. FOREKNOWLEDGE "Foreknowledge" is one aspect of omniscience; it is implied in God's warnings, promises and predictions (See Acts 15:18).

God's "foreknowledge" involves His electing grace, but this does not preclude human will. He "foreknows" the exercise of faith, which brings salvation. (From Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c) 1985).

Based upon the knowledge of the disposition of the heart toward God, many were called to become partakers of the grace of God. Beloved, I need you to see what a privilege it is to have been chosen by God to be an heir of salvation. This means that the Father made a decision to give us another chance to live. This is mercy and love. For men are as ants, trying to build an anthill in the sight of God. They are totally vulnerable to the great storm that is approaching. Their destruction or survival is in His hands. He could wipe out the whole colony in an instant. Nevertheless, He pitied us and sought to save us from ourselves. Thus, we became the Elect of God.