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-72-
The God Who Is
The Standard By Which Men Are Chosen
Men are not saved, or "chosen," on account of any good thing found in them. "They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good" (Psalm 14:1b). Neither are they chosen on account of any good works done by them. Neither is a man saved because God knew that one day this man would preach the gospel. In Romans chapter 9, the apostle Paul tells us that before Jacob and Esau had done any good or evil, God loved Jacob and hated Esau "that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth" (verse 11).
Men are not chosen on account of any good found in them. God did not choose them because they would believe; neither did He choose them because He saw that sometime in the future they would do good things. Salvation is all of grace.
In Ephesians chapter 2, we read, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." A dead man has neither good works nor a working faith. He cannot do good.
"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: 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" (verses 2,3). God did not save us because we were better than anyone else: He saved us in spite of the fact that we were as bad as everyone else.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ..." Men are not saved by joining a church, or by being baptized. They are not saved by serving as a deacon in a church, or by serving as a pastor. Men are saved solely by the grace of God. It is mercy when God does not give us what we deserve, and it is grace when He gives us what we do not deserve.
" ...And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship ..." What do we have to boast about? for what have we that we have not received? and what are we that we should boast? for "we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (verses 6-10).
"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called `Uncircumcision' by that which is called `the Circumcision' in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope; and without God in the world" (verses 11,12). Note the words: "having no hope." The sinner does not have a prayer except for the grace of God.
Men are not chosen to salvation on account of any good, or any faith that is found in them. Note again that Jacob was chosen, and Esau was rejected before either had done any good or evil "that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth." It is God who shows mercy.
Men are not chosen to salvation because God foresaw that they would repent and believe the gospel. Neither are they chosen on account of what they would do in life. Again, in Romans chapter 9, consider the details beginning in verse 10, where we read, "For this is the word of promise, `At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.'
"And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth) it was said unto her, `The elder shall serve the younger.' As it is written, `Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated'" (verses 10-13). Here is the predestined will of God. It does not matter how many radio Bible teachers say the word "hate" used here does not mean "hate:" "hate" means "hate." "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."