Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 8B—Chosen by Grace Alone
One of the positions that is mine in Christ, is that I am Chosen. There it is chosen before the foundation of the world—“predestined according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” Before all of you jump into the ageless discussions regarding what does predestination mean. Let me say that discussion, argument in fact has been going on since St. Augustine and St. Pelagius in the first century. So, I don’t intend to jump into that argument. Rather, I want to approach this from what does it all mean for me and for you who do know Christ as your Savior.
Original photo courtesy of Jim Peregoy
Furthermore, I recognize that there are many aspects of God’s wisdom that my finite brain may not fully comprehend. Indeed that was the approach Paul took. He accepted both that God chose and predestined those who would be saved and at the same time accepted that it was of utmost importance to go throughout the world and preach the gospel to lead men to a saving knowledge of Christ.
He did not split hairs upon both truths being true at the same time. Look at this scripture
in Ephesians 1: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,….11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Romans 8: 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Indeed, Paul was merely accepting by faith what Christ also had taught.
John 6 (AMP) 44 No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me
And the same is true, whosoever will—John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
So, let me say; this is one of those mysteries perhaps I will never fully understand until I stand before God. Yet, this I know. God in His perfect righteousness, holiness and justice had every right to condemn me to hell. As He looked down the corridor of time and saw my entire life, there would be nothing special about me—He would have seen a scarred, stumbling, stuttering person who at times doubts and even trembles with fear. He would have seen how often I pleaded for counterfeit joys and could not see that He was all I needed. How often would my foolish, self-exalting heart want Him to do things my way? Oh yes, justice would have demanded my eternal separation from Him; yet, He chose me. He reached down from heaven and opened the eyes of a little 5 year old that she might see His glory and desire Him. That is Grace, my dear friends. Pure and simple, the truth that I am chosen has no point of pride or arrogance on my part. It has nothing to do with me—it has to do with Amazing Grace on the part of my Creator who owed me nothing and to whom without His act of Mercy—I would have continued on in a state of enmity to Him.
Romans 3: 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
I belong with the Not One crowd. So, I don’t need to know why He chose me; I just need to bow before Him is humility and love Him because He did.
Ephesians 2: 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Do you hear His voice calling you today? Do you see God as so glorious that you long for Him? Then, come and accept Him as your Savior—just as you are.
Listen to this beauty song by Aaron Keyes, “Not What My Hands
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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