THE ELECTION OF GRACE

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the
election of grace" (KJV). "In the same way then, there has also come to be at
the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice" (NASB). "So too, At the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace" (NIV). -- Rom11:5

Devotion 8 of 18
                                
MAN IS FREE, BUT SO IS GOD!
     The will of God is frequently extolled in Scripture. "But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased" (Psa 115:3). "For I know  that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places" (Psa 135:5-6). After an extensive theological training program in the fields, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged, "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand,  or say unto Him, What doest Thou?" (Dan 4:35). 

     The overriding issue in Scripture is not IF God's will is going to be done, but if it is going to be done IN YOU! It is not whether or not His purpose will be fulfilled, but whether or not you are involved in that purpose. God is free to do whatever He desires, and HE desires to bring everyone to glory that is IN THE SON! Armed with that understanding, we will exert all of our energy to "abide" in that Son (John 15:1-8)! This is done fully persuaded that "He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psa 121:3,4).

    Some sophist will say, "That promise was to Israel, not to us!" Indeed, it was made to Israel, but we have been "grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree" (Rom 11:17). Beside that, we enjoy the benefits of a "better covenant established on better promises" (Heb 8:6). Do not imagine for a moment that those under the First Covenant enjoyed better privileges than those under the Mediatorship of Jesus. If God brought those Israelites who believed into Canaan, He will bring those believing in Jesus to glory. There is not the slightest chance that this will fail to occur. "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame" (Rom 10:11). The reason for this glorious promise: GOD DOES WHATSOEVER HE PLEASES, and He is pleased to bring those in the Son to glory!

     I want to keep before you that in salvation God is Sovereign, yet does not violate the free moral agency of mankind. He has saved us without compromising His character or imposing salvation on us against our will. That is a remarkable situation! God does, however, surround us with circumstances that are conducive to willingness--like Jonah in a fish's belly for three days (Jonah 2:1-9), or Israel lured into a wilderness where she was forsaken of her illicit spiritual lovers (Hos 2:10-14).

     When we speak about "the election of grace," we are emphasizing God as the Cause, and man as the recipient of divine benefit. We are not denying man's freedom, but we are emphatically denying his ability to justify himself! The propensity of some theologians to plunge into the cauldron of determinism does not remove the fact of God's electing grace. It is the obligation of all believers to extend themselves to comprehend something of "the election of grace." It simply is not enough to know what it does NOT mean! 

PRAYER POINT:  Father, I rejoice in the knowledge that You do whatever You please, and Satan cannot do what he pleases. In Jesus' name, work in me to "will" as well as to "do" according to Your good pleasure.

-- TOMORROW: A PEOPLE WITHIN A PEOPLE --