“Election, love before time”
by Kenneth D. Johns
Sovereignty does not shut out love. Neither Jehovah nor his ministers are impassive toward the lost. Their hearts break and yearn with deep emotion for a world which seeks first its own. Only election can save it. But it is a wrong use of election which cancels compassion.
I would like to suggest as the last point of this chapter that the paradoxical truths of the sovereignty of God and the freedom of man have more than just a parallel relationship to each other. In the work of the ministry they seem also to be sequential in the experience of preaching to win and equip man.
In preaching to persuade the unbeliever we do not begin by declaring divine election. We begin by presenting the good news of God’s love and Christ’s atonement. We point to the convicting law and the wages of sin. We endeavor to speak those things which can be used by the Spirit of Truth to convict that lost man of his need of faith in Christ. And the Holy Spirit honors our work by convincing men of truth. In many cases men are so deeply persuaded of their lostness and the justice of their condemnation that they almost despair of approaching God. It is then that we must sound the message of “Whosoever will may come.” No man is disqualified or ineligible because of his sins or his demerit. “Whosoever is athirst. let him come and take of the water of life freely.” ~The Spirit and the Bride say come. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” The seeking, hungering, thirsty sinner must be made to see that all he needs is to come. The only prerequisite is to Look and Live. He need bring nothing in his hand. No sacrifice or offering with which to pay the price. The Cost has been borne by his Saviour. And thus the door is open to any and all who come in simple faith. Men would despair of salvation if they could not see written above the door: Whosoever will may come.” All are welcomed. God can accept anyone. God has justly dealt with all sin (Rom. 3:26) and therefore he can justify the most ungodly. Let no hungry soul have fear of approaching the throne of Grace. “Whosoever believeth shall not be ashamed.”
As he looked at the door of salvation from the outside he saw the free invitation: “Whosoever will may come.” Encouraged by the generous offer he enters. And when he turns to look back at the point of entry he reads “Chosen before the foundation of the world.” He asks, “What does that mean?” The biblical answer comes to him: “God chose you and made you willing to come through the door. You were living in willful hostility toward Him but He loved you with an everlasting love and drew you to Himself.” The new believer is filled with awe as the Holy Spirit witnesses to him that the God he had offended loved him and healed him. He has no words to utter his praise. But his heart is filled with love and thankfulness. His will be a life worthy of God. For he has tasted of a love far beyond human dimensions. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another.”
“Whosoever will” was the love that pulled him through the door. The love of the “Divine Elector” made him never want to leave. “You can’t find love like this behind just any door.”
by Kenneth D. Johns
Sovereignty does not shut out love. Neither Jehovah nor his ministers are impassive toward the lost. Their hearts break and yearn with deep emotion for a world which seeks first its own. Only election can save it. But it is a wrong use of election which cancels compassion.
I would like to suggest as the last point of this chapter that the paradoxical truths of the sovereignty of God and the freedom of man have more than just a parallel relationship to each other. In the work of the ministry they seem also to be sequential in the experience of preaching to win and equip man.
In preaching to persuade the unbeliever we do not begin by declaring divine election. We begin by presenting the good news of God’s love and Christ’s atonement. We point to the convicting law and the wages of sin. We endeavor to speak those things which can be used by the Spirit of Truth to convict that lost man of his need of faith in Christ. And the Holy Spirit honors our work by convincing men of truth. In many cases men are so deeply persuaded of their lostness and the justice of their condemnation that they almost despair of approaching God. It is then that we must sound the message of “Whosoever will may come.” No man is disqualified or ineligible because of his sins or his demerit. “Whosoever is athirst. let him come and take of the water of life freely.” ~The Spirit and the Bride say come. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” The seeking, hungering, thirsty sinner must be made to see that all he needs is to come. The only prerequisite is to Look and Live. He need bring nothing in his hand. No sacrifice or offering with which to pay the price. The Cost has been borne by his Saviour. And thus the door is open to any and all who come in simple faith. Men would despair of salvation if they could not see written above the door: Whosoever will may come.” All are welcomed. God can accept anyone. God has justly dealt with all sin (Rom. 3:26) and therefore he can justify the most ungodly. Let no hungry soul have fear of approaching the throne of Grace. “Whosoever believeth shall not be ashamed.”
As he looked at the door of salvation from the outside he saw the free invitation: “Whosoever will may come.” Encouraged by the generous offer he enters. And when he turns to look back at the point of entry he reads “Chosen before the foundation of the world.” He asks, “What does that mean?” The biblical answer comes to him: “God chose you and made you willing to come through the door. You were living in willful hostility toward Him but He loved you with an everlasting love and drew you to Himself.” The new believer is filled with awe as the Holy Spirit witnesses to him that the God he had offended loved him and healed him. He has no words to utter his praise. But his heart is filled with love and thankfulness. His will be a life worthy of God. For he has tasted of a love far beyond human dimensions. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another.”
“Whosoever will” was the love that pulled him through the door. The love of the “Divine Elector” made him never want to leave. “You can’t find love like this behind just any door.”
Photograph by Cindy Moser