Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Romans 8:33 [NKJV]
In a continuation of yesterday’s quiet time, today follows Paul’s exhortation of Who really is in control. Verse 33 is one of those verses that has caused division in denominations and between believers. It is the theology of pre-destination. Here Paul calls out the ELECT; and the way you would naturally read this is to be chosen or elected into God’s Kingdom. There are a couple of things we know about God.
- He has always been (Omnipotent)
- He knows everything (Omniscient)
- He is everywhere (Omnipresent)
- He created us
- He knows our heart (intimately)
- He knows what we are going to do before we do it
So, if we take these things into account then He would know, of those He created, who would accept His Son as their personal Savior. He knows beforehand who will be a part of His Kingdom and who will not. Then there is a wrinkle – Jesus said that no one comes to the Son unless the Father draws him. “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 [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.” John 6:44 [AMP]
Here is where I stand -> I believe that anyone who wants to accept Jesus, can and will. There is no one that will genuinely seek the Lord, His Truth, and Gospel and be turned away…no one (“I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me] has (now possesses) eternal life.” John 6:47 [AMP]). This is why it is so important for us to witness and testify to as many of the lost as we can. This concept of the Lord drawing and human responding or not is captured in Jesus teaching when He sent His disciples out on their first mission journeys…Here is what He said.
...whatever house you enter, stay there until you go away [from that place]. And wherever they do not receive and accept and welcome you, when you leave that town shake off [even] the dust from your feet, as a testimony against them. And departing, they went about from village to village, preaching the Gospel and restoring the afflicted to health everywhere. Luke 9:3-6 [AMP]
There are people that refuse to acknowledge God or receive His amazing gift of grace. All those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior are God’s Elect.