Subject: What does Bible teach on election? |
Bible Note: Regardless of our view on election, the Lord Jesus has commanded that we preach the gospel. (Mark 15:15) The message of the gospel of Christ is God's way of speaking by his Spirit to lost sinners. Paul could "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;..." Romans 1:16 In Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7 we read "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of God things" Most people when talking about the time they rested in Christ will discuss the events and the scripture which spoke to their soul and how that they realized their sin and need of a Savior. However, after we are "in Christ" in retrospect we realize that it was God by his Spirit who brought the circumstances into our lives, who convicted our souls by his word and revealed to us our terrible need. In my own case it was God who revealled to me that Christ died for my sins and "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16. The point I am trying to make is that in our natural condition we cannot choose God Romans 3 Without the strivings of the Spirit of God we would never have repented or rested in the finished work of Christ. We cannot question the Divine foreknowledge of God, he is our Creator and he is absolutely Sovereign. We do know that by his grace and wonderous love provided a way whereby lost sinners could be forgiven through faith in the work of his Son. It is after we are "in Christ" that we can come into the enjoyment that "we were chosen in him before the foundation of the world" Eph.1:4 I do not think that the scripture supports a fatalistic approach to the spreading of the gospel. When we look at example of such people as the early apostles, who held back nothing to spread the gospel of Christ even to the point of martyrdom we realize that the gospel must be preached and that God will use it in bringing lost sinners to himself. Robert |