In Him also we have
obtained an inheritance,
being predestined
according to the purpose
of Him who works all
things according to
the council of His
will, that we who first
trusted in Christ
should be to the praise
of His glory. In Him you trusted,
after you heard a
word of truth,
the gospel of your
salvation;
in whom also, you
believed,
you were sealed with
the Holy Spirit
of promise, to the
praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1: 11 -- 14
God calls
and if God has not called you, then you have not been called, or you may have
been called but are not responding to the call. God calls according to His purpose and the purpose of His calling
is to be found in Jesus Christ. When we
place our trust and have converted to the Lord Jesus Christ then we are
bringing glory to God who created all things and who is working all things
according to His council. Paul in
writing to the Romans made this statement and although some translations leave
out half of this verse. Of the majority
of manuscripts: "So then comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10: 17). John and his letter adds to this doctrine
that God does the calling and that calling is to whomever God chooses to call: "For as the Father raises the dead and
gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will" (John 5:
21). John adds these words of
Jesus: "Most assuredly, I say to
you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life,
and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life"
(John 5: 24). Jesus after telling
about His coming down from heaven to do the will of God stated: "And this is the will of Him who sent
Me, that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting
life; and I will raise him up the last day" (John 6: 40). As a side note but not to be discussed
thoroughly in this blog is this fact; those who speak of a rapture, that is,
that Jesus comes and takes his children to heaven and then comes again is
speaking of a two-part coming of Jesus that the Bible never speaks of and Jesus
makes it clear that the resurrection of the dead and His coming is on the
"last day." Further, God does
that calling: "No one can come to Me
unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last
day" (John 6: 44). To add to
this doctrine of the coming of Jesus Christ and the resurrection from the dead
by His bride, His coming on the "last day," states: "And He said, ‘Therefore I have said
to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My
Father" (John 6: 65). After
hearing these words of Jesus many of His disciples walked with Him no more (v.
66). Paul then stating exactly what
Jesus Christ has stated when he has stated that after hearing the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Jesus Christ you are now
sealed with a promise from the Holy Spirit to an inheritance of redemption, and
all this by the will of God and His council and His purpose to redeem those to
whom He has chosen to redeem. It is God
who has made known to us the mystery of His will and it is God who gathers
together those of whom He has chosen to become one with the Jesus Christ. Jumping ahead in the Ephesians to support
that which was just stated is important for the question is: is just hearing the
word of God enough for a person to have faith in God and be saved? No, it requires more for as we read that
after hearing the words of Jesus Christ that it was some of His disciples that
walked away and walked with Him no more.
Make notice of this it was His disciples that walked away, therefore, John is not speaking about those who had not heard the word of God, those who are
atheistic in their beliefs, no, it was those who heard the word of God and
would not accept it. So here's what
Paul would write in the next chapter:
"For by grace you have been to say through faith, and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk
in them" (Ephesians 2:8 -- 10).
I do not know about you, and I don't need someone to excite me in some
euphoric manner so that I have some sort of euphoric piety, or what other needs
to be said to think that God who had been bruised by sin, that bruising against
His justice, against Him who is Just, would come to earth by sending His Wisdom
clothed in flesh to die upon a cross, to save anyone. Yet, this is exactly what He had purposed and did; this is
humbling and brings great joy to know that God gives the faithful that faith needed to
believe upon Him and upon His Son Jesus Christ. These things that God has promised is evidence of His great love
and evidence of His redemption even to those who are sinners and deserve death,
to give them life eternal. Authentic
Christians are those who inculcate into themselves in the truth and not simply
wrap themselves in this truth. Paul has
assured us of God's election and that election is gratuitous, a personal
election, and effectual calling it is inseparable as it is connected with
eternal life. Paul has spoken with
great ingenuity and those words speak as no other language speaks, as it speaks
consistently with the rules of grammar and of common sense. This knowledge that has been imparted to us
by those inspired to write the books of our Bible to drive us to live according
to His words, His commands, at all costs, and changes us from the inside/out. Praise God!
I said to the LORD: "you are my God;
hear the
voice of my supplications,
O LORD. O God the Lord, the strength
of my
salvation you have covered
my head in the day of battle. Do not grant,
O LORD, the
desires of the wicked;
do not further his wicked scheme,
lest they
be exalted.
Psalm 140: 6 – 8
May God search our hearts
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