by D. Richards (Canada)
In dealing with Scriptures which bear on this vital subject we now come to:
These verses introduce the subject of election. In Eph.1.4 Paul says, “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.” Election is a truth that must always be kept in perspective. There have been extreme stands taken on both sides of this issue. Some teach that man is without a free will, and is therefore incapable of making a choice to trust Christ. Therefore, some are elected to salvation, and others to damnation. On the other hand, there are those who teach that God chose us because He knew we would believe. The result of this theory is that ultimately the choice is not God’s but ours. Both of these extreme views are wrong. Election and human responsibility are apparently mutually exclusive truths, totally irreconcilable to human minds, but both are taught in the Bible. They are not unreasonable, but are above reason. Only God can reconcile them! On the one hand all believers were “chosen in Him before the foundation of the world,” but on the other, “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” 2Pet.3.9. Don’t try to fathom this, just leave it with God. The Bible certainly teaches that “we were chosen in Him..”, but it does not teach that all others are chosen to damnation. If men perish, it is the result of their own choice. In our verses at the head of this paragraph Paul says, “… whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate…”. Election and predestination are not the same thing. Foreknowledge has to do with people (“Whom He did foreknow…”), but predestination has to do with the blessings God has in view for those people (“to be conformed to…”). Election relates to the past (“before the foundation of the world”) but predestination relates to the future (to be conformed to…”). So all who have been chosen in Christ, have also been predestinated to be conformed to His image. The goal is as certain as the fact that we have been chosen. These two verses do not relate to experience, but rather to the unalterable purpose of God. Every one who is saved was “chosen in Him before the foundation of the world,” but has also been “predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son.” The believer will one day be like Christ, not because of his own personal achievements as a Christian, but simply because he was “chosen in Him.” Now look at v30. “Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called:”. Each person who was “chosen in Him,” was also “predestinated to be conformed…”, but also was “called”. This is known as the effective call of the gospel. No one who was “chosen in Him” ever failed to hear this call. In other words all who were “chosen in Him” were brought to know Him in time. Then Paul adds, “and whom He called, them He also justified:”. In other words, all who heard the call obeyed the call, and consequently were justified. But the last clause is most interesting. “And whom He justified, them He also glorified.” It is because of this last clause that I indicated that these verses do not relate to experience, but rather to the purpose of God. Clearly, we are not yet glorified. But God has predetermined that we shall be glorified. You will notice that Paul does not add any conditions, such as “as long as you continue,” or “if you don’t fall into sin.” Salvation is entirely the work of God.
In the New Testament salvation is seen in three tenses. In the past we were saved from the penalty of our sins, “Who [God] hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling…” 2Tim.1.9. In the present we are being saved from the power of sin in our lives, “…but unto us who are saved [literally, “being saved”] it [the gospel] is the power of God,” 1Cor.1.18. In the future we shall be saved from the presence of sin, “…now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Rom.13.11. All three tenses are seen in our verse from Philippians 1: 6. “…He which hath begun a good work in you…”. This is the past tense of salvation. There was a time when the work was begun, when we first trusted Christ as our Saviour. Paul says, “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it…”. This is the present tense of salvation. The expression “will perform it” is literally “will complete it,” and is in the future tense. This means that the One who has begun the work will carry it on towards completion. We do not keep ourselves in the way. Peter says, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith…” 1Pet.1.5. It is God Himself who keeps us in the way! Back in Philippians, Paul says, “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Having begun the work, He will not leave it half done, but will bring it to his desired goal. The work is all his own!
These verses have to do with the present ministry of Christ on behalf of His own. When He returned to heaven He was constituted our Great High Priest. In this context Christ, as our High Priest is contrasted with Aaron and his sons in the Old Testament. When Aaron died his priesthood was passed on to Eleazar his son, Num.20.28. Eventually Eleazar died and his priesthood passed on to Phinehas his son, Josh.24.33. But Christ “ever liveth,” and consequently has an “unchangeable [literally ‘untransferable’] priesthood,” Heb.7.24. Consequently, “He is able to save completely.” The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that if some who have trusted eventually will lose their salvation, then Christ will have failed in His priesthood.
First of all notice His sufficiency. He is “the God of all grace.” He is not limited in His ability to carry out His plans. Secondly, notice His determination. “Who hath called you unto His eternal glory.” When God chose us in Christ “before the foundation of the world,” He knew exactly the material with which He was dealing, He knew exactly how we would turn out. But He called us unto His eternal glory. Why would He call us unto His eternal glory if, as He would have known, we would fail, and never see His eternal glory? Thirdly, notice His recipe for supporting us in our Christian lives. “…after that ye have suffered a while,…” Suffering is one of the means that God uses to refine us as believers. Sometimes God uses suffering to bring us to repentance after we have sinned, Heb.12.10,11. But other times it is in order to develop the features of Christ in us, 1Pet.1.7. In this verse its purpose is to “make you perfect … etc.”. God knows exactly what circumstances are required in each of our lives in order to make us more like Christ. Finally, notice His purpose, that is His purpose in our sufferings. “[will] make you perfect … etc”. I want you to notice the addition of “will”. This is not a prayer of Peter’s (“May He make you perfect …”), but rather it is a statement of fact, (“He will make you perfect …”). God always achieves His goals. Our responsibility is to let Him work out His plans in our lives. Many other verses could be quoted that clearly teach the eternal security of the believer, but these will be sufficient for our purpose.
—to be continued (D.V.)