Election! –What a blessed word! What a glorious doctrine!
Who does not rejoice to know that he has been chosen to
some great blessing? Election is unto salvation–the greatest
of all blessings. And strange to say, this is a neglected truth
even by many who profess to believe it, and others have a
feeling of repulsion at the very mention of this Bible-revealed,
God-honouring, and man humbling truth. Spurgeon said,
“There seems to be an inveterate prejudice in the human mind
against this doctrine, and although most other doctrines will
be received by professing Christians, some with caution,
others with pleasure, yet this one seems to be most frequently
disregarded and discarded.” If such were true in Spurgeon’s
day, how much more so in this our day. Concerning this
doctrine there is an alarming departure from the faith of our
Baptist fathers. Touching this article of our faith Baptists have
come to a day when they have a Calvinistic creed and an
Arminian clergy.
But there are some who love the doctrine of Election. To them
election is the foundation dug deep for the other doctrines of
human redemption to rest upon. They love it enough to
preach it in the face of criticism and persecution. They will
surrender their pulpits rather than be silenced on this precious
tenet of the once delivered faith. But all who love the doctrine
were once haters of it, therefore, they have nothing in which to
take pride. Every man by nature is an Arminian. It takes the
regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God,
taught by the Holy Spirit, to cause a man to love the doctrine
of election. How deeply important that believers should be
learners. To do this we must acknowledge the superior
wisdom of God whose thoughts are not as our thoughts. The
Bible was given to correct our thinking. Repentance is a
change of mind resulting in a change of thinking. We are not
to come to the Bible as critics; the Bible is to criticize us. We
cannot come to the Bible infallibly, but by grace we can come
humbly. May grace be given to every writer and reader that
we may have the right attitude of heart before God. The surest
evidence of a saved state is to have the right attitude towards
the Word of God. Dear reader, let the writer warn you against
“poking fun” at any doctrine of the Bible.
The doctrines of grace have found expression in two systems
of theology commonly known as Calvinism and Arminianism.
These two systems were not named for their founders, but for
the men who popularized them. The system of truth known as
Calvinism was preached by Augustine at an earlier date, and
before Augustine by Christ and the Apostles, being especially
emphasized by the Apostle Paul. The system of error known
as Arminianism was proclaimed by Pelagius in the fifth
century. Between these two there is no middle position; every
man is either one or the other in his religious thinking. Some
try to mix the two but this is not straight thinking. To say that
we are neither Calvinistic nor Arminian is to evade the issue.
Paulinism is represented by either Calvinism or Arminianism.
The true system is based upon the truth of man’s inherent and
total depravity; the false system is based upon the Romish
dogma of free-will.
General Remarks to Disarm Prejudice
There is no doctrine so grossly misrepresented. Brother A.S.
Pettie’s complaint against the enemies of total depravity is
equally applicable here, when he says, “From hostile lips a fair
and correct statement of the doctrine is never heard”. The
treatment that the doctrine of election receives from the hands
of its enemies is very much like that received by the primitive
Christians from pagan Roman Emperors. The ancient
Christians were often clothed in the skins of slain animals and
then subjected to attack by ferocious wild beasts. So the
doctrine of election is clothed in an ugly garb and held up to
ridicule and sport. We will now try to strip this glorious truth of
its false and vicious garment with which enemy hands have
robed it, and put upon it the garments of holiness and wisdom.
“Only one life to live and soon is past
Only what’s done for Christ will last!”
Hoping to make the time I have left count for the glory of God.
Introduction To Election
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