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 15 of 18
                                
IT IS ALL IN THE SON!
     Were it possible to remove the Son from the picture, there could be no "election of grace." No one, in any age, could be accepted by God if Jesus did not "lay down His life, a ransom for all." The patriarchs and those under the  first covenant were received because of their faith in God, and their anticipation of the coming "Seed," or Messiah.  Salvation is "in Christ." Acceptance is "in Him." That is because of "the election of grace."  

     God charged Jesus with the total responsibility of resolving the human dilemma. He "sent the Son" into the world. Humanity did not ask for God to send His "only begotten Son." It was a divine initiative. The Father commanded Jesus to lay His life down, then take it up again (John 10:18). Jesus spoke ONLY what God told Him to say (John 8:28,38; 12:49). The Father "honored" the Son by raising Him from the dead and giving Him all authority in heaven and earth (John 8:54; Rom 1:4; Matt 28:18; 1 Pet 3:22). The Father is relying upon the Son to "bring many sons to glory" (Heb 2:10), and if He does not do it, they will not be brought! All the glory of God's house has been placed upon Him, and Him alone (Isa 22:22-24)!

Chosen in Him
     The "election of grace" becomes effectual exclusively in Jesus Christ. In Him we are chosen, and only in Him! As it is written, "According as He hath chosen us IN HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy  and without blame before Him in love"  (Eph 1:4). Jesus is "the elect" One; our election is by virtue of our union with Him. "Before the foundation of the world," God's consideration was basically of Christ Jesus. It was "in Him" that He determined to bring a vast number of people to Himself out of every  kindred, and tribe, and nation! That means the entire Gospel initiative is designed to get people into Christ. God's aim is not to correct social ills, or bring recovery to political structures. His target is not the stability of the home, the school, the city, or the nation. His objective is, and always has been, to provide a way for us to be "in Christ," where His electing grace is realized. It should not be necessary to say this, but social issues are resolved  indirectly (if resolvable) by abiding in and maintaining fellowship with, Jesus Christ.

     The saved of the earth are the products of God's own work. They are what they are because of His activity, not their own. They enter into the work, they employ their minds, and engage in labors for their God. However, it is only because of His work that they do so. When it comes to giving credit, we confess with Paul, "For we are His workmanship ("what He has made us, NRSV) , created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before  ordained that we should walk in them"  (Eph 2:10). On a more personal level, all believers can confess, "I am what I am by the grace of God" (1 Cor 15:10). 

     Notice the centrality of Christ: our recreation took place "in Him."  No one out of Christ is a new creation, and no one in Christ is NOT a new creation. "If ANY MAN be in Christ, he IS a new creature" (2 Cor 5:17). That is another way of looking at "the election of grace." Whatever view we may have of election or predestination, the Lord Jesus Christ had better be at its center. If He is not, then the view is simply wrong. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, how I thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ. He settled my past, has secured my future, and is stablizing me in this present evil world. I confess I can do nothing without Him, and am nothing apart from Him.

-- TOMORROW: WHAT ABOUT BEING FULL OF SAP? --