CHOSEN BY GOD

By Gary Ray Branscome

While the Bible plainly tells us that God has “Chosen us in” Christ “before the foundation of the world,” that truth should never be construed in a way that contradicts what the Bible says elsewhere, namely that those who are saved are saved solely by the forgiveness that Christ won for them on the cross, while those who are lost are lost solely through their own fault (Ephesians 1:3-4).

The words, “God… has saved us, and called us to a holy calling, not because of anything we have done, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” plainly tell us that we are not saved because of anything we have done, but solely through the “grace” [i.e. mercy] of God (2Timothy 1:8-9). Furthermore, the words, “We have redemption through His [Christ’s] blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;” tell us that God’s grace, the grace that saves us, consists of the forgiveness that Christ won for us through His death on the cross (Ephesians 1:7). And, the words, “And if by grace, then is it no longer by works: if it were grace would no longer be grace,” stress the fact that works play no part in our salvation (Romans 11:6). We are saved by the grace of God alone.

The words, “They should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him, and find Him,” tell us that salvation is available to all who seek God’s mercy (Acts 17:27). The words, “As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but want the wicked man to turn from his way and live,” tell us that God wants the wicked to repent and look to Him for mercy (Ezekiel 33:11). And, the words, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets, and stone those who are sent to you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not have it,” tell us that those who resist God’s efforts to bring them to salvation, do so against the will of God (Luke 13:34). They are lost solely through their own fault.

God has revealed the fact that He has chosen us in Christ “before the foundation of the world,” to comfort us and assure us of His mercy (Eph. 1:4). Nevertheless, just as Satan tries to pervert everything that is good, he twists those words of comfort to create fear in people, a fear that they might not be one of God’s elect, or that God might not want them. He then uses that fear to rob them of their assurance of forgiveness. Those who labor under that fear need to know that Christ has not only obtained forgiveness for their sins, “but also for the sins of the whole world” (1John 2:2). And, that He has said, “I will never turn away anyone who comes to me” (John 6:37).