The work of God
This is another blog that I only recommend for those believers who have grown through the “Milk” of the word and have moved to seeking the deeper things of God. It was Paul the Apostle who wrote deep things concerning salvation, Peter commented about Paul’s writings in 2-Peter 3:16 As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Did you know that Salvation is by a work? But it is not a human work as we read; “Not of works lest any man boast” Ephesians 2:8 & 9. I like the next verse which proves that Salvation is God’s work ALONE! Verse 10; “For we are HIS workmanship created in Christ Jesus (Through Faith, a gift of the Holy Spirit so you can believe) for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” They had asked Jesus about doing God’s *work and he replied in John 6:29 telling them that God is working in human hearts by his Holy Spirit to draw them to Jesus. This wonderful work of God is mysterious and supernatural, not seen by human eyes but seen in the Elect by their changed lives and proved by their good works. Ephesians 2:1&2 shows your condition before God’s regeneration, dead in sins and trespasses, bound to Satan to do his will. Paul says in the following verses that he too and the rest of the believers walked the same way, being BY NATURE children of wrath but the difference with them and all the Elect is that God loved us, even when we were his enemies!
In summary, we through the word understand that God seeing man’s wicked sin filled heart (spirit dead to God) decided he would save **many by his own doing, this he planned before he made the world, thus Jesus is the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. He Elected/Predestined a people for himself who Jesus dies for as it is written; “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 NASB. The Father gave this number to Jesus, the Lord acknowledged this in John 17:6, the Father through his Holy Spirit draws all the Elect to Jesus (He also ***convicts the wicked but they reject God as their wicked heart dictates). During this work, the Holy Spirit opens the eyes and ears of the Elect, convicts them of their sin, grants them “Godly” repentance, gives the gift of faith and they believe! At this time they receive the Holy Spirit who joins with their spirit and they become a “New Creation”, joined to Christ, one spirit with him. God did it all and deserves all our praise and glory as it all is his work alone. He even predestined our good works which really are his own that he willed that we walk in them. Only his works done through us by his Spirit will survive the Judgment of our works when He returns, things we do in the flesh will be burned up as he has said; “The flesh profits nothing, the Spirit gives life”. This is the way every Christian should strive towards maturity in the faith, then they will always seek to do God’s will and not their own, then they will shine like Jesus who did God’s will and not his own.
*Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:29 NASB.
**And He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Mark 14:24 NASB.
***And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. John 16:8 NLT. The non-Elect are not regenerated by the Holy Spirit therefore they cannot repent or believe, their dead spirits are prisoners of Satan. They love their sin and hate God and his people, the believers. Jesus only died for the Elect, the MANY not all, if he did die for all, all would be saved. His will was only to save the Elect and only those he regenerates by the power of the Holy Spirit making them a New Creation. Although the non-elect are not chosen they are responsible before God for their sins. As we wonder about how God makes his choice we are given some insight through his word. The word says; who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands Job 34:19, even though not many rich or wise are chosen, some are! It seems the poor are favored more by our compassionate God who saves them through his mercy and grace. I personally believe every baby that dies goes to be with the Lord, I think there is an age of accountability where the understanding of sin and accountability to God is known. It could be 12 years of age as Jesus went to the Temple at that age; I believe God shows us that for a reason.
Because the non-elect are not chosen, they are” fitted” to destruction as Paul wrote. I highly recommend a book by Arthur Pink called the Sovereignty of God, in his book he goes into depth about the subject regarding the destruction of the wicked. He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Matthew 15:13
I remember a person in Church who was afraid that they were not chosen by God, I told them they were, only a believer would be concerned about that, the wicked couldn’t care less!
Author Ken
August 2013