The FaithFul of God

The FaithFul of God

Part 3
4. Election does not prevent the salvation of anybody who
wants to be saved. But the distinction needs to be made
between a mere desire to escape hell and the desire to be
saved from sin. The desire to be saved from hell is a natural
desire–nobody wants to burn. The desire to be saved from sin
is a spiritual desire resulting from the convicting work of the
Holy Spirit, and God’s electing grace is the very mother of this
desire. To represent election by saying that God has spread
the Gospel feast, and a man comes to the table hungering for
the bread of life; but God says “No, this is not for you, you are
not one of my elect”, is to misrepresent the Holy Doctrine.
Here is the truth–God has spread the feast but the fact is
nobody wants to come to the table. “They all with one consent
began to make excuse”. God knew just how fallen nature
would act, and He took no chance on His table being filled, so,
He tells His servant to go out and compel them to come (Luke
14:23). Were it not for the redemptive work of Christ there
would be no Gospel feast; were it not for the compelling work
of the Holy Spirit there would be no guests at the table. A
mere invitation brings nobody to the table.
5. Election means that the destiny of men is in the hands of
God. Many of us have regarded as an axiom the statement
that every man’s destiny is in his own hands. But this is to
deny the whole tenor of Scripture. At no time is the destiny of
the saint in his own hands, either before or after he is saved.
Was my destiny in my own hands before I was saved? If so, I
regenerated myself; I resurrected, by my own power, myself
out of a state of sin and death; I am my own benefactor and
have nobody to thank but myself for being alive and saved.
Perish such a thought! By the grace of God I am what I am.
(John 1:13; Eph 2:1-10; II Tim. 1:9; James 1:18)
Is my destiny in my own hands now? Then I will either keep
myself saved or I will lose my salvation. The Bible says we are
kept by the power of God through Faith. (I Peter 1:15; Ps.
37:28; John 10:27-29; Phil. 1:6; Heb. 13:5)
If my destiny is not safe in my own hands after I am saved
then how could it be thought to be safe in my own hands
before my conversion?
The saint dies, his body is consigned to the grave and
becomes a dust-heap. Is his destiny in his own hands then? If
so, what hope has he of ever coming out of the grave with an
immortal and incorruptible body? None at all if his destiny is in
his own hands.
Such a theory, that the destiny of the saint is or ever has been
in his own hands, reverses the very laws of nature and implies
that water can rise above the level of its source; that man can
lift himself into the attic by his boot-straps; that the Ethiopian
can change his colour, and the leopard can remove his spots;
that death can beget life; that evolution is true and God is a
liar. The theory that one’s destiny is in his own hands begets
self-confidence and self-righteousness; the belief that destiny
is in the hands of God begets SELF-ABNEGATION AND
FAITH IN GOD.
6. Election stands or falls with the doctrine of God’s
sovereignty and man’s depravity. If God is sovereign and man
is depraved, then it follows as a natural consequence that
some will be saved, none will be saved or, all will be saved.
The practical results of election are that some, yea many, will
be saved. Election is not a plan to save a mere handful of folk.
Christ gave Himself a ransom for many. (Mt 20:28; Rev. 5:9)
God’s sovereignty involves His pleasure (John 5:21; Matt.
11:25-27) His power (Job 23:13 Jer 32:17 Matt. 19:26) and
His mercy. (Rom. 9:18)
7. The elect are manifested in repentance and faith and good
works. These graces, being God-wrought in man, are not the
cause but the evidences of election. (I Thess. 1:3-10; II Peter
1:5-10; Phil. 2:12,13; Luke 18:7) The man who doesn’t pray,
who has not repented of his sins and trusted Christ, and who
does not engage in good works has no right to claim that he is

one of God’s elect.

“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.
THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION C. D. Cole

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to top