Various terms used to describe God's people: the elect, children, sons, Christians, disciples, believers, followers, saints, brethren, etc...
Before the foundation of the world, God has chosen a people. They are God's elect. All others have been left to themselves, or bypassed - as far as redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ is concerned.
Among God's elect: there are those already in heaven, others are on earth, and still others are yet to be born. The names of all these were written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world.
1. There are those already in heaven...
- God regenerated each one them at certain point during their earthly lives.
- Many were never reached with the gospel ministry, some have no mental capacity, other have no opportunity.
- Of those who were reached, some were converted, and these were converted to vastly different degrees. Some were not converted, they remained unbelieving, like God's children among the Jews, read Rom 9-11.
- There was Lot, and there was Abraham! There was king Saul, and there was David! There was the thief on the cross, and there was Apostle Paul.
2. Among the elect of God on earth...
a. There are those who are still dead in trespasses and sin, just like any of the non-elect.
- These too have been redeemed by Christ, justified by the blood of Christ.
- These are God's elect but they are NOT children yet, because they have not been born again of God.
- Eternal salvation has not been applied to them personally, though they have been redeemed LEGALLY by Christ's finished work.
- Among these, some have the gospel preached to them, and others have not. Being still devoid of spiritual life, the gospel ministry was of no benefit to them. (Penang's famous 'char koay teow' is of no value to a dead man whatsoever, not matter how many times it is brought to him. I hope you get the point.)
- The elect who are still spiritually dead, not yet regenerated by God, would consider the gospel as foolishness, just as the non-elect would!
b. There are those whom God has regenerated, and given eternal life, without any human agency/instrumentality.
- These are born of God, therefore they are children of God. These are effectually called out of their NATIVE state of sin and death to that STATE of grace and salvation, all by the free and sovereign activity of God. These are already PERFECTLY fitted for eternal glory. They are united to Christ.
- Of these, some have not been reached with the gospel ministry. Others will never be reached.
- These have not been personally brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the gospel ministry. "Faith cometh by hearing."
- These are Gods children BUT they are NOT yet disciples, not Christian yet, because they have not been converted to Christ yet through the gospel ministry.
- Each elect shall be effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation at some point before their death... whether still in the womb, aborted, or on the dying bed. Christ will not lose one of His.
- Others have been reached with the gospel. Of these there are believers, and others are not believers yet.
- Of the believers, there are disciples to vastly varying degrees.
- See the parable of the sower... some are fruitful, others are fruitless!
- Some are careless in hearing the word of truth, and make paupers of themselves.
- Others are careful in hearing the word of truth, and prosper.
- Some are converted to a great degree, others resist conversion!
- There are wise virgins, there are foolish virgins.
- There are good disciples, and there are bad disciples.
- There are those who consistently enter the strait gate and walk the narrow way; others who consistently enter the wide gate and walk the broad way.
- Some hears and do, others hear and forget!
3. There are those still to be conceived and born...
a. Until the last is born, and called to grace and salvation, the world will remain...
I hope this broad sketch helps.
Those who choose to repent and believe DO SO because they are ALREADY saved by God, i.e. regenerated and given eternal life. Only the spiritually alive (God's children) is able to exercise the choice to repent and believe, believing something that is already true - the good news of God having saved them. They believe what is ALREADY true; their believing DO NOT make their salvation come true. They believe what is ALREADY true. One is called to believe what is already true, not in order to make something untrue to come true.
Jesus Christ came to die and to save His people - not one more, and not one less. His people are those whom God has chosen, and given to Jesus Christ. They belonged to Jesus Christ, and He came to save them, and them alone - as many as God has given to Him. "As many as" means "not one more and not one less."
John 17: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 6: 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Please note the distinction between
"All that the Father GIVETH me..." and
"... all which he HATH GIVEN ME..."
Do you know the distinction between the two?
Think about it.
If interested, take a look here:
http://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2012/10/hath-given-and-giveth-shall-come-and.html
