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Letters of Truth - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff CHOSEN FROM THE BEGINNING
by Ray Prinzing"We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."
(2 Thess. 2:13).The word "beginning," from the Greek "arche" literally means: beginning, or origin, the person or thing that commences, the first in a series.
Clearly it is written, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in His own order; Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming." (I Cor. 15:22-23). There is no doubt concerning the totality of salvation for every man-- whatever was affected by death through Adam, shall be MADE ALIVE THROUGH CHRIST. The triumph of Christ is far greater than the sin of Adam. But the point that is before us is that of TIMING-- with "every man in his own order." There is DIVINE ORDER in this NEW CREATION that is being brought forth, as God gathers one by one a people unto Himself. From Calvary until this present time, God has been working in what is rightly termed "HIS FIRSTFRUITS." We who are living at the ending of this age (web ed. note: which still could be a long ways away) are still being drawn into this "firstfruits order." But never forget, the firstfruits of a harvest are the PROMISE that all the rest of the harvest will follow in its time.
In Ephesians 1:12 Paul makes mention of those who were chosen right at the beginning of the early church era, "That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." These are rightly called God's FIRST TRUSTERS! And He is still apprehending His "first trusters" as He gathers to Himself a remnant, the firstfruits of His new creation order. There is a unique working of the Spirit in the FIRSTFRUITS, because God, with them, is blazing a trail for all the rest of creation to follow, every man in his own order, rank, time. Obviously we, of today, cannot bear the distinction of being the "first of the first trusters," but we are privileged to be a part of the FIRSTFRUIT ORDER, and as such do share in the process of first trusting-- as God calls us out from among our family, kindred, etc. Called out of the world, called out of religious Babylon. And we share in that "aloneness" that belongs to the first trusters-- being misunderstood by all those around us. Romans 11:5 remains applicable for our day, "Even so then at this present time also there is a REMNANT according to the election of grace." You wonder why you have this intense hunger and desire for God, when all around you people are interested only in the things of the world? It is because GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU TO BE NUMBERED WITH THE FIRST TRUSTERS. He would have you to become a vessel of His grace through whom He can show forth His mercies in the ages to come, while He draws all men unto Himself.
Psalmist declared, "Great peace have they that love Your law, and nothing shall offend them." (Psalm 119:165). Literally, it could read, "They shall have no stumblingblock." Those who LOVE THE TRUTH, who FULLY TRUST IN HIM, will never be offended at what He does, why He does it, when He does it-- for their whole desire is to worship Him, knowing that all His ways are perfect.
When Jesus began to share some of the profound truths concerning His being the Living Bread which came down from heaven, and that it was necessary for them to "eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood," there were many who could not comprehend the spiritual truth He was speaking, and they said unto Him, "This is a HARD SAYING; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, DOES THIS OFFEND YOU?" (John 6:60-61). They were stumbling at the Word. They could hear it with their ears but not with their heart-understanding, and so they were offended by it. How we pray that the holy Spirit would quicken His truth TO OUR HEARTS, cause it to become LIFE IN OUR SPIRIT. And especially when it comes to the truths of DIVINE SELECTIVITY-- so that it will not offend us. Rather, we see the mercy and grace of God manifested therein.
In writing to the Romans, Paul uses the nation of Israel as illustrative of God's selection, and how it was to them that God first gave "the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises ... and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came." As he viewed the condition of his people, stated that "I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart." For to them much had been given, but at first glance it appeared to be so ineffectual. Or was it?
How often we have heard preachers say that God's whole experiment with Israel was a failure. They are wrong on two counts-- God never fails, and this was not just an "experiment" with Israel to see what would or would not work, GOD WAS SPECIFICALLY WORKING OUT A PURPOSE, and He was successful in all that He was doing. Reading on in Romans 9, verse 6 says, "Not as though the word of God has taken none effect." It just takes spiritual eyesight to see what God was working out. Men often look to the natural for that which has a spiritual fulfillment. Viewing conditions after the flesh is always discouraging. One can read of how God brought them out of Egypt, supernaturally sustained them so their clothes did not wear out, there was none sick among them, they were fed and kept by the power of God, and yet a whole generation died in the wilderness. Immediately we have to remind ourselves, "NOT AS THOUGH THE WORD OF GOD HAS TAKEN NONE EFFECT." How can we say that? Because there were two men, Joshua and Caleb, that survived the wilderness processing, and they were able to go in and possess the land, leading a whole new generation with them. Two is the number of witness, and thus did God BEAR WITNESS that He could fulfill His purpose.
Finally Israel is established as a nation, and they run through cycle after cycle of serving God, and then backsliding to serve idols. Eventually God wrote them a bill of divorcement and sent them off into captivity. Ah, is this all a failure? NO! Always HIS WORD had taken effect in a remnant, an election by grace-- keeping to Himself a people through whom CHRIST could come, and be born after the seed of Abraham. And so Paul begins to unfold his understanding of the whole thing.
First of all he states, "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall your seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." (Romans 9:6-8).
God's purpose had not gone awry. In His divine selectivity He apprehended those who were born, not of the flesh, but OF THE PROMISE. Jesus gave the clear application, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6). Being of the natural does not qualify for the Spirit. And so Paul first uses Abraham's two sons for illustration. Ishmael stands in type for those born of the flesh, and Isaac stands in type for the children of the promise, "For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son." (v. 9).
Both Ishmael and Isaac could claim Abraham as their father. But it is not what we receive from our earthly fathers and mothers that assures us of our place IN GOD. Even Abraham's intercession, when he "said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before You!" (Gen. 17:18), did not alter God's purpose. The choice was not to be made by Abraham, IT WAS RETAINED BY GOD. Abraham could have bawled and squalled all night long but it would not have changed the WILL OF GOD in the matter. The prayer that prevails is the prayer that is an utterance of the Divine Will. That's why we must depend on the Spirit to be our Helper. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27). THANK GOD for this divine help with our praying.
Then Paul's argument goes on, "And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger." (Rom. 9:10-11).
First we noted the selection of a son of Abraham by one woman, Sarah, and a rejection of his son by another woman, Hagar. Sarah's son was born because of the promise of God, and divine enablement, for the deadness of her womb precluded just the natural. Hagar's son was simply born of the flesh, and therefore rejected as fulfilling God's purpose.
But when it comes to Isaac's two sons, they are both born of the same woman and yet again there is a selection/rejection made. There was a different destiny appointed for each of the twins. ONLY DIVINE SELECTION constituted the true and valid succession, not the bodily descent. The only ground on which a twin could have been preferred was that of priority of birth, and this, too, was disregarded, for the elder was rejected, and the younger one was chosen.
Having laid out these considerations, Paul then begins to press home the truth. This divine selection was made, with "The children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO ELECTION MIGHT STAND, not of works, but of Him that calls." (v. 11)
Here we would insert a special thought, for Paul's teaching offers a strong point against the speculation of what is called "reincarnation." According to such teaching, emphasis is given to the law of karma: The whole ethical consequence of one's acts considered as fixing one's lot in the future existence. Thus each succeeding life dependent upon the actions of the previous life, for a man's works alone determines his future. If such a theory were true, a righteous selection would have to take into account all previous actions to enhance or hinder what was to follow. We reject this teaching-- it nullifies the grace and purpose and divine selection of God. (web ed. note: Even if reincarnation were true, God would have no problem sovereignly working through it all).
In the CHOOSING of Jacob over Esau, there were no previous works, good or evil, it was all DIVINE choosing. "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." (v. 13).
We must make note of this word "hate" for it is not taken in the absolute sense, inasmuch as "God so loved the world," (John 3:16) and this leaves none out. "He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, 4. but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2). He loves all! Used here, the word "hate" is given in contrast to "love", it does not retain its original meaning of a literal hatred, but of a lesser degree of love. God cannot be said to hate anyone.
Jesus said, "If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26). Yet Paul states, "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh." (Eph. 5:29). Is there a contradiction here? No! Jesus truly explained it when He said, "He that loves father or mother MORE THAN ME is not worthy of Me."
(Matt. 10:37).Our attachment to objects should bear a proportion to their intrinsic value, then all our love to creatures would be as nothing COMPARED TO WHAT WE OWE OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. We are to love Him MORE than anything else.
Thus, in effect, "Jacob have I loved-- selected for this specific purpose, and Esau have I hated-- or rejected for this specific call." Yet God's eternal love for Esau is revealed, since "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob AND ESAU concerning things to come." (Heb. 11:20). Esau is NOT, nor ever has been a type of the "unsaved eternally lost," though this is erroneously taught by some. Esau was still his father's son, and received a BLESSING, but there was a different purpose for his life. It was not an eternal rejection from salvation, but from a specific call. But, we repeat, he did receive his own blessings. In fact, on that occasion when Jacob was returning home, and met up with Esau, and offered him a big present to try and court his favor again, "Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself." (Gen. 33:9). Two points: there was an acknowledging of BROTHERSHIP, and he also had been blessed till he had no lack. Esau was not excluded from the family, nor from the blessings. Praise God!
Paul then anticipates the question, and so he goes on: "What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid." (v. 14). God is not capricious, moved by a whim, a fancy, impulsive, erratic, wantonly changing His mind. He has a glorious plan being worked out through the ages. "Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world." (Acts 15:18).
Yes, beloved friend, God knew and planned from the beginning when He would call YOU! With rare wisdom and wise design He executes His plan, according "to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will." (Eph. 1:11). What love and mercy that He would include us in His plan NOW, drawing us to Himself to be among His "FIRST TRUSTERS" of the new creation species.
Paul goes on: "For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (v. 15).
This quote is taken from God's answer to Moses in connection to his prayer for a general forgiveness of the people (which was refused), and his own personal request to behold God's glory (which was granted). Concerning the former we read, "Whosoever has sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book. - In the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them." (Ex. 32:33-34). Though the judgment was postponed, it was not canceled, Israel would eventually have to face up to their sins. And concerning Moses more personal request, God appointed a place where his glory would pass by, "And I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by: and I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen." (Ex. 33:22-23).
But there is some vital truths tucked in all of this-- Man does not dictate
to God what should be done, nor how to do it, it is all according to
His sown sovereign will. God says in effect, "I will do what I will do, I will work what I will work, and no man shall disannul it." Indeed, "The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: - For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who shall disannul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?" (Isaiah 14:24, 27)."I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." The first "I will have mercy" is a future indicative, predicting a future event, bespeaking that God has much mercy in reserve to be revealed at the proper time. Under the first covenant of the Mosaic law there was little mercy, but God foresaw a time coming when He would establish a new covenant, and it would be based upon mercy-- sovereign grace. God "is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9). "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:4). But as previously stated, it is "EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER," and so the "FIRST TRUSTERS" receive mercy now, and others will come in their own appointed time. But the end is secure, for He will consummate His purpose in the fulness of time, and "gather together in one all things in Christ." (Eph. 1:10).
The second "I will have mercy" emphasizes the absolute sovereignty of God in the disposition of His mercy. THE WILL OF GOD is the prominent factor!
"I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." This assertion gives emphasis that it is a GIFT, of His own free grace, not because of some merit of Moses' service. "So likewise, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, WE ARE UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS: we have done that which was our duty to do." (Luke 17:10). Surely there is nothing wherein we can boast-- all our labors, all our talents-- "without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). Methinks far too often we get the idea that God owes us something-- we have fasted, prayed, taught Sunday School, been faithful to attend every time the church door opened-- surely we have piled up our "brownie points," which we can collect on one of these days. What nonsense! All that we have, we have received by His grace. All that we have done, we have done through His enablement. To God alone be the glory and praise. Furthermore, He desires our worship, and our committal to Him, to be without strings. We love Him because of WHO HE IS, not just for what He will do for us. Ours is a reciprocal love, returned to Him be cause He first loved us. We can only give back what He has given to us!
Moses asked to see God's glory, and God had compassion on Him, and granted His request. Truly, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness." (Lam. 3:22-23). We receive mercy because He is merciful. dare say, it is our unworthiness which makes us candidates for His grace. It is our need, our lack, our unloveliness, which provides Him an arena to show forth such grace and mercy that we are awed by His goodness and love.
The Hebrew young men said it well, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King. BUT IF NOT, be it known unto you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18).
Herein is a worship and committal that pleases God. Yes, we believe He can deliver us, and our faith is that He will. BUT IF NOT-- should God have a higher plan, a different course for us to take, a purpose that we are not aware of-- BUT IF NOT-- if He chooses NOT to heal me, if He chooses NOT to answer my prayer my way, then let it be clear, WE WILL SERVE HIM ANYWAY, we will not turn aside after any other gods. No hunger strikes, no demanding and commanding God out of our carnality, just that flow of worship and our acceptance of all that He does, to praise Him IN and FOR all things. Amen?
"So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but OF GOD that shows mercy." (Romans 9:16). It is not a question of human will and human effort, but of GOD'S MERCY. Furthermore, Paul writes, Pharaoh, as well as Moses, can be quoted to give an example. "For the scripture says unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore He has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardens." (Romans 9:17-18).
"For the scripture says..." There is an element of tirelessness in the utterance. If the Word ever spoke at all, IT CONTINUES TO SPEAK, it has never been struck dumb. When the SPIRIT QUICKENS, these truths become LIFE within. The Word is relevant to our day and time, it is not only historical it is very PRESENT-TENSE, for God dwells in the eternal now of I AM.
GOD'S PURPOSE, nothing else, explains why we have the hardened heart of Pharaoh, and the abundant mercy on Moses. Negative, or positive, to have mercy, or to harden, it all witnesses TO HIM, for the outworking of His will. CHOSEN BY GOD for His purpose, "And to make His power known" He has "vessels of wrath fitted to destruction." Then Paul brings it right down to his own life, and us-- "And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He has before prepared unto glory, EVEN US, WHOM HE HAS CALLED, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles."
(Romans 9:22-24).Having laid out a clear argument for the sovereignty of God in all of His
divine selectivity, choosing vessels for this purpose and that, then Paul
brings it down to the personal application-- EVEN US-- we have been called by God, to become His "FIRST TRUSTERS," for "God has from the beginning CHOSEN YOU to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." (2 Thess. 2:13).To Jeremiah He said, "Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations." (Jer. 1:5). And what was his response? "Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child."
SO WHAT? This was not a factor to be considered, God said, "I HAVE PUT MY WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH." In effect, "I selected you, and I AM THE SUFFICIENCY." What words of encouragement this becomes for us-- when we feel so weak, helpless, as the least of all saints-- but our nothingness is not the issue, it is HIS WILL AND HIS POWER as He enables us to walk out His plan for our life."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ: according as HE HAS CHOSEN US in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." (Eph. 1:3-4).
The Amplified reads: "He chose us-- actually picked us out for Himself as His own-- in Christ before the foundation of the world..." Such love, such mercy, such GRACE, that He would choose us EVEN NOW. We have not wherein to boast, there is no elitism in this understanding, all that we are, or ever shall be IS IN HIM-- when we are IN HIM, we share in His life, but without this UNION WITH CHRIST we are nothing. Truly, the more we fellowship with Christ, the more we find that HE IS OUR LIFE, and outside of Him there is nothing to be desired. How the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Chosen by God to be a part of His firstfruits of the new creation species-- to Him alone be all glory and praise. Amen!