December 17th, 1942

In our last issue we did not promise to write more on the above subject, but that our doing so would depend upon the way we felt impressed when the time came to write. We have had so many requests to continue the subject that we have decided to write a little more on the same. This time we will call attention to the following language: Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due time manifested His word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.-(Titus 1:1-3). Here
we have it that Paul was a servant of God. He served the true and living God. He was a loving servant. He was not this by nature, or while in an unregenerate state. While in an unregenerate state he thought he should do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, which things he has told us he also did. But the
Lord, in His rich mercy and grace, arrested this poor sinner and changed him from a persecuting Saul to a praying Paul. The Lord made him a prisoner; “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner.” -(II Timothy 1:8). While it is true that he was a prisoner, he was brought to love his
Captor. He was brought into divine relationship with God, and thus brought to love the Lord. Hence he was made to be a willing prisoner. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” -((0:3) (Psalms 110:3). God's power was manifested in turning this man from his evil way, and made him to become a willing servant. Paul was not only a servant of God, but he was an apostle of Jesus Christ. There were already twelve apostles-one for each of the twelve tribes; but this man was made to be an apostle to the Gentiles. He was our apostle. God had a people among the Gentiles, as well as among the Jews, and in the person of this man the Gentiles had representation in the office of the apostleship. In the work of an apostle to the Gentiles the Lord had a work for an educated may, to do; and He knew where to find the man, and He was able to call him and to put him into the ministry. He was able to make him a minister-He did not need the aid or assistance of any man or set of men to make this man an able minister; He did not need the aid of some theological school to give him the finishing touches. When the Lord has a work for an educated man to do, He knows where to find the man, and He is still able to call the man and to put him into the ministry. “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are
called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the word to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no
flesh should glory in His presence.” -(I Corinthians 1:26-29). This was according to  the faith of God's elect. God had an elect; His elect were, and are, His chosen people. As they were God's elect, God did the electing, or the choosing. They were chosen in Christ before the ages of time began; see (Ephesians 1:4). They were
chosen before they did either good or evil. As the choice was made before they did either good or evil, it necessarily follows that the election was unconditional upon their part. They were chosen too soon for them to do good in order to be elected; but they were the elect of God. God cannot lie, and He promised eternal life. As He promised eternal life, persons must have been embraced in the promise. Persons were embraced in the promise before they had existence, for the promise was made before the world began. The phrase, before the world began, literally means before the ages of time Before time began the Lord made promise of eternal life.
He promised eternal life to all the race, or top. part of the race, or to none of the race. If He promised eternal life at all, as the apostle says He did, then He must have promised eternal life to a part of the race or to all the race. If He promised eternal life to all the race, then all the race will receive eternal life. If all the race  receive eternal life, then the doctrine of election is not true, and God does not have an elect. To elect one is to choose that one and leave others. As God has an elect, then He chose them. They were embraced in His choice. Then as God has an elect,  He did not promise eternal life to all the race, but He did promise eternal life to
some of the race, and they were His elect who were embraced in the promise. As God cannot lie, it follows that every one will receive eternal life who was embraced in the promise; or eternal life will be imparted to every person who was embraced in the promise; every person who was embraced in His election or choice will receive eternal life. Certainly God did not promise eternal life without any intention of fulfilling the promise. He certainly intended to fulfill the promise when He made the promise. If He made the promise without an intention of fulfilling it, then He would be guilty of double dealing. As He cannot be guilty of double dealing, because He cannot lie, then when He made the promise, His intention was to fulfill it. It was God's purpose to do what He promised. He predestinated to do what He promised-give eternal life to each one embraced in the promise. As He does not change (see Malachi iii. G), then He will not decide later to do some other way than the way He promised. Paul's hope of life eternal was based alone on the promise of
God and His power and will to fulfill the promise. Was his hope well grounded? Upon what is your hope based? Is your hope of eternal life, your hope of living with God in glory, based upon your good deeds? Is it based upon the good things you have done, or may do, or can do? If so, your hope is not based upon the same thing Paul's hope was based upon. Is your hope of heaven and eternal glory based alone upon the promise of God, and His power and will to fulfill that promise? Is it based alone upon the Lord, and what He has done and what He has promised to do for poor sinners? If so, then your hope has the same foundation the apostle's hope  had. Was Paul a child of God? Yes, most assuredly. If Paul was a child of God, and
your hope is based upon the same thing his hope was based upon, then so are you a child of God, and you were embraced in His election; you are one of the objects of His sovereign choice, and you will be given to live with Him in eternal glory. May He give you more and sweeter assurance of your acceptance with Him, especially in these dark and gloomy times, is our humble prayer. We may try to write more on this subject, if we feel impressed so to do. Please remember us in prayer. C. H. C.