called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Rom. 8:30). Still another part of this predestinated plan is that all who heed the call and conform to the image of His son who was predestined to die as part of the plan would be called His children “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Eph. 1:5). God also predestinated an inheritance to those who became His children by the conforming to His Son (Eph. 1:11). So it is seen that Before the foundation of the world, God unchangeably foreordained a plan which stated His son would die, and that those who conformed to His Son would receive glory, justification, and honor, and would be called children of God thereby receiving the inheritance that God has unchangeably foreordained would be given to the faithful.

Remember, God ordained the plan not the man. God ordained a class but not who would be in that class. To be in that class a person must choose of his own free will to obey God!!!

In concluding our study on the Calvinistic doctrine of unconditional election and predestination it is profitable to consider the Bible truth concerning “election.” Just as the Bible teaches predestination it also teaches election, however, just as the Bible does not teach a person is predestinated to salvation, neither does it teach that election for salvation is unconditional.

To be “elected” simply means to be chosen or preferred. To illustrate, let us consider the nation of Israel as an elect race of people. God chose the Israelites, i.e., He elected them, to carry out a purpose, and that purpose was to bring the Messiah into the world. Their election for that purpose had nothing to do with their salvation for every Jew has to meet the same conditions that the Gentiles meet in order to be saved. The Jews did indeed believe that because they were of the seed of Abraham they were foreordained to salvation, but John the Baptist taught them that physical birth from the line of Abraham had nothing to do with obedience for salvation, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham” (Luke 3:8). Jesus declared this same truth to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man

be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). So, the Israelites were elected or chosen, but not for salvation.

Now, there is no doubt but that God’s people today, Christians, are called God’s elect (Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2), however, their election (or one could say “their salvation”) was not unconditional. In fact, fellowship with God and salvation of man by God has never been unconditional, but rather conditional. From the beginning of creation this fact is crystal clear: Adam and Eve were in perfect fellowship with God, yet they lost that fellowship when they failed to meet the conditions set forth by God, abstaining from the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3). Likewise Noah, in order to be saved by God from the global flood, had to meet conditions set forth by God (Gen. 6-8). Naaman’s salvation from leprosy was not unconditional, but conditional on his dipping in the Jordan river seven times (II Kings 5). Friends, it is just the same today, God desires all men to be saved ( I Tim. 2:3, 4; II Pet. 3:9), but our salvation today is not unconditional, but conditional on our obedience to God’s will, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).

Perhaps the most disheartening part of this doctrine (unconditional election) is that no one can know for sure if they are of God’s elect. All knowledge is based on the fact of feeling. At one time a person feels as if they are God’s elect and will be saved, yet at another time they wonder and even doubt of their salvation. Dear reader, do you often lay your head on your pillow at night, fearfully wondering that if you were to die whether or not you would be saved. There is a way to know for sure. John said that we can know for a fact that we are saved, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (I John 5:13). Simply by being obedient to God’s foreordained plan and living according to His pattern set forth in the Scriptures, one can have assurance of their salvation. If you would like to discuss these matters further, please feel free to call upon me and we will discuss further those things which God has set forth as conditional to man’s salvation.

(continued next week)

News, Notes & Events:

College/Youth Devotionals – will resume January 10th.

Reminder- there will be no Biblical Messenger next week due to the holidays.

*If can not serve, please call Velton Taylor.