A GREAT many people are troubled about Election, and are occupied in trying to discover whether they are elect or not.
Now God never puts Election before unsaved souls; He never says a word to them about it; on the contrary, when He speaks to a sinner He says, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17). And again, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Could anything be freer than that? It is a strait gate that leadeth unto life, but if it be, it is set wide open, wide enough to admit " whosoever will," without the question of Election being raised.
God has never yet met a needy sinner that wanted Jesus, with the reply, “He is not for you, because you are not one of the elect;" and, blessed lie His name, He never will. He cannot deny himself, and when He says "Whosoever will," He means it.
It is quite certain, however, that God has an elect people in this world. I read in Eph. 1:1-4, where the apostle Paul writes "to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus," that they (the saints) had been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. But observe they are saints, not un-saved sinners, who are told this. These people to whom Paul was writing had already got "Redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace " (see verse 7). And to such only, in Scripture, God ever says a word about Election.
The truth is, Election is a family secret, only known to the family of God; and so instead of wasting time in trying to find out if you are elect or not, far better would it be to seek to know how you, a poor guilty sinner, can become one of the children of God.
In Romans 3:23 I read, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God;" so you may be quite certain you have sinned, for this verse says all have sinned. Now in Romans I read of God as the JUSTIFIER; of whom, do you think? I suppose you would say the righteous, but the 10th verse of Romans 3. says, " There is none righteous, no not one." How then can God be the justifier of any one? I get the divine answer to this question in verses 24 to 26 of this same 3rd of Romans: "Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood; to declare his righteousness ... That he might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.” And so I find it is because Jesus has died, because God's righteousness and holiness in dealing with sin have been shown at the Cross, and God has been glorified there, that he is now just, in being the JUSTIFIER of the one that believes in Jesus.
Thus the Cross of Christ has changed the righteousness of God from being against the poor sinner, to being on his side, the moment he believes on Jesus.
It is not that God has become indifferent to sin. That could not be; but having dealt with it at the cross,—a spotless victim having suffered in the sinner's stead,—the moment the sinner takes his true ground, and justifies God in condemning him, God is just in justifying him, and would not be just if He did not.
Now we will compare three verses in this epistle, which I think will show clearly who are the elect. “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5).
"That he might be just, and the JUSTIFIER of him which believeth, in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).
“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that JUSTIFIETH" (Romans 8:33).
I find from these verses that God JUSTIFIES the ungodly sinner who believes in Jesus, and that those whom God JUSTIFIES are called "God's elect.”
Now, are you an ungodly sinner? Do you believe in Jesus? Is God your justifier? If so, you belong to the family of God. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26). And you are one of the elect. Nothing more is needed, you have only to begin at the right end. None ever knew—or ever will know—his election of God, before coming to find out in the presence of God that he is a sinner, and receiving Jesus as his Saviour. It is the mere folly of utter indifference to say, “If I am elect, I shall be sure to get to Heaven." It is but a cheat of Satan, that has made many a one careless about his soul, only to find out his mistake when too late.
Suppose a man drowning in the water, and a rope thrown to him, but instead of grasping it he says, “If it is ordered that I shall be saved, I will be,” and then refuses the rope although within his reach. Surely he deserves to drown.
So now, when God has come down with salvation to men, and has brought it to them where they are; when one look of faith at Jesus, crucified for sinners; saves the soul, and men won't look, because they do not know if they are elect or not,—surely they deserve to perish in the lake of fire. Oh sinner, trifle not with God's salvation. Come to Jesus now, while you may. He does not say, "If you are elect, come;" but He says, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). And when you have come, and have been met like the prodigal in Luke 15. by the Father, and have been forgiven, and have got on the best robe, then He will put on your finger the ring, that tells of His eternal purpose for your blessing,—that tells He has had His eye on you from all eternity, that banishes the thought forever from your breast that you chose Him, but opens your lips in praise and thanksgiving, forever and ever, for the boundless sovereign grace of which you have been the object.
One more illustration, and I close. If a letter comes addressed to you, and you want to know what is inside, it is clear you must open it.
Well, God's salvation is like that, it comes addressed to you on the envelope,
To "Whosoever believeth in him” (see John. 3:16);
or to
"Whosoever will" (see Rev. 22:17).
Now you say, "If I only knew if I were elect or not, I would open the envelope." Well then, you will never know; the secret is inside, and you must open the envelope to find it out. I never heard of any one who opened it—that is, who came to Jesus—who failed to find his own name inside, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
Reader, I don't ask you, "Are you one of the elect?" but, "Are you a poor sinner who believes in Jesus, and whom God has justified?" If so, you are one of "God's elect," and will sing with joy: —
"Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
To enter while there's room,
While thousands make the wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?
'Twas the same love that spread the feast,
That sweetly forced me in;
Else I had still refused to taste,
And perished in my sin.”
W. M.