 |
Psa 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth his handiwork." |
#multifacet_jewels_of_God
Various
terms used to describe God's people:
the
elect, children, sons, Christians, disciples, believers, followers, saints,
brethren, sheep, 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 are concerned. I reject double predestination, I'm no Calvinist, you see; I believe in election and preterition. Election does not necessarily require reprobation; those not elected were simply bypassed, left to themselves, with no injustice done to them whatsoever.)
Literally, God's elect people are EVERYWHERE, since they are redeemed out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.
Among God's elect: there are those already in paradise, others are on earth, and still, others are yet to be born. The names of all these were written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the world.
1.
There are those whose spirits are already in paradise...
-
God regenerated them at a certain point during their earthly lives.
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Many were never reached with the gospel ministry.
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Of those who were reached, some were converted; they were converted to vastly
different degrees.
-
There was Lot, and there was Abraham! There was King Saul, and there was David!
-
There were those in far-flung countries, out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation. Rev 5:9.
2.
Among the elect of God on earth:
a.
There are those who are still in their native state of deadness in trespasses
and sin, just like any of the non-elect.-
These too, have been redeemed by Christ, legally justified by the blood of
Christ.
-
These are no less God's elect but they are NOT children yet because they have
not yet been effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to
that of grace and salvation; thus they are not yet born of God.
-
Eternal salvation has not been applied to them personally.
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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, no
matter how many times it is sincerely offered to him by the most savvy cooks. 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, and therefore they are children of God.
-
Of these, some have not been reached with the gospel ministry. Others are
incapable of being reached.
-
These have not been brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the
gospel ministry, like the multitude of devout Jews who had come to Jerusalem to
observe on the feast of Pentecost, and fearers of God like the Ethiopian
eunuch, Cornelius, and Lydia,
-
These are no less God’s children BUT they are NOT yet disciples, not Christian
yet, because they have not been converted to Christ yet through the gospel
ministry. They have not professed Christ.
-
Others have been reached with the gospel. Of these, there are believers, and
others are not believers yet.
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Of the believers, they are disciples to vastly varying degrees.
-
See the parable of the sower... some are fruitful, others are fruitless!
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Some are careless in hearing the word of truth and make paupers of themselves.
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Others are careful in hearing the word of truth and prosper.
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Some are converted to a great degree, others resist conversion!
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There are wise virgins, there are foolish virgins.
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There are good disciples, and there are bad disciples.
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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.
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Some hear and do, others hear and forget!
3.
There are those still to be conceived and born...
-
This is obvious enough unless the last elect has been conceived.
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, the elect that are born again) are able to exercise the choice to repent and believe, believing something that is already true - the good news of God has saved them. They believe what is ALREADY true; their believing DOES 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 come true through his believing.
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."
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"... he hath given me" (v39): this happened before the foundation of
the word.
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"... the Father giveth me" (v37): this happens at the effectual
calling of each elect out of his native state of sin, death, and condemnation
in Adam to that of righteousness, life, and justification in Jesus.
-
"... him that cometh to me" (v37): the effectually called who comes
to Christ through the hearing of the gospel, "faith cometh by
hearing."
He who ears to hear, let him hear and be blessed by the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.
