Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWorks of Arthur Pink: Pink, Arthur - The Doctrine of Election: 08. Its Manifestation contd
TOPIC: Pink, Arthur - The Doctrine of Election (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 08. Its Manifestation contd
Other Subjects in this Topic:
8. Its Manifestation cont'd
There is yet one other phrase in 1Pe_5:10 which remains to be considered: "by Jesus Christ." There is a security which Jesus Christ gives, as well as that of the Father’s, to confirm the believer’s faith that he shall be strengthened and enabled to persevere. God is the God of all grace to us by Jesus Christ: all His acts of grace towards us are in and through Him: He elected us at first and then loved us only as considered in Jesus Christ. God having thus laid Christ as Mediator, or rather as the foundation of His grace, it is a sure ground of its continuance to us. All God’s purposes of grace were made in Christ, and all His promises are established and performed in and through Him.
There are two persons engaged for the preservation of saints unto glory: God the Father and Jesus Christ. We have seen what confirmation to our faith the interests that God the Father hath to us doth afford; equally full and strong is that supplied by the interest which Jesus Christ hath to them. The making of our salvation sure and steadfast against all opposition is directly founded upon Him and committed to Him. Concerning Jesus Christ God says, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation of stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste" (Isa_28:16), or as the apostle explains it "shall not be confounded" (1Pe_2:6). We are "the called of Jesus Christ" (Rom_1:6). We have "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom_6:23). God "stablisheth us with you in Christ" (2Co_1:21).
Little space remains for us to consider the security which a due contemplation of Christ’s person, His relation to us, and office for us, affords to our faith that we shall be divinely strengthened to persevere unto the end. Only a few details can therefore be mentioned. First, His redemptive work. This is of such infinite worth that it not only purchased for us our first calling unto grace (Rom_5:2), but together therewith, our continuance in that grace. Christ meritoriously bought off all our temptations and an ability in Himself to succor and establish us to the end. "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world" (Gal_1:4). "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Tit_2:14). While His precious blood retains its infinite value in the esteem of God, not one of His sheep can perish.
Second, Christ’s tender pity. "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted" (Heb_2:18). In the previous verse it is declared that He is a merciful High Priest" to pity us, so that He hath a heart and willingness to help His people; but in verse 18 (Heb_2:18) it is added that He is able so to do. And mark, it is not affirmed that He is able in respect of His personal power, as He is God, but there is a further and acquired ability as He is man. He was made a frail man, subject to temptations, and the painful experiences through which He passed in the days of His humiliation engages His heart to pity us when in distress, and because of this acquired tenderness, He is able to succor us in temptation.
Third, His intercession. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" (Rom_5:10), that is, by His life for us in heaven. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb_7:25). If, then, thou hast come unto God by Him, Christ’s intercession effectually secures thine uttermost salvation. Because He hath taken thee into His heart, He has taken thee into His prayers. Once Christ takes us into His prayers, He will never leave us out, but prevail for us, whatever be our case or whatever we fall into (1Jn_2:1)—clear proof of this was furnished by the case of Peter. A man may be cast out of the prayers of a saint, as Saul was out of Samuel’s; but none was ever cast out of Christ’s prayers whom He once took in. His prayers will prevail to prevent thee from falling into such sins as God will not forgive.
Fourth, Christ’s interest in that glory we are called unto and our interest in Christ’s glory, for they are one. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1Co_1:9); that is, to be partakers of the same things (in our measure) that He is partaker of. "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection" (Rom. 6:5). The apostle declares that God "calls you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2Th_2:14). It is Christ’s own glory—the reward of that wondrous work by which He so illustriously magnified the Father—which His people are brought into, for nothing short of this would satisfy the heart of Christ: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory" (Joh_17:24).
Here, then, is how the secret election of God in eternity past is openly manifested unto His people in this time state: by a supernatural call, and by miraculously bringing them through a world which is as hostile to their souls as Babylon’s furnace was to the bodies of the three Hebrews.
There are two persons engaged for the preservation of saints unto glory: God the Father and Jesus Christ. We have seen what confirmation to our faith the interests that God the Father hath to us doth afford; equally full and strong is that supplied by the interest which Jesus Christ hath to them. The making of our salvation sure and steadfast against all opposition is directly founded upon Him and committed to Him. Concerning Jesus Christ God says, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation of stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste" (Isa_28:16), or as the apostle explains it "shall not be confounded" (1Pe_2:6). We are "the called of Jesus Christ" (Rom_1:6). We have "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom_6:23). God "stablisheth us with you in Christ" (2Co_1:21).
Little space remains for us to consider the security which a due contemplation of Christ’s person, His relation to us, and office for us, affords to our faith that we shall be divinely strengthened to persevere unto the end. Only a few details can therefore be mentioned. First, His redemptive work. This is of such infinite worth that it not only purchased for us our first calling unto grace (Rom_5:2), but together therewith, our continuance in that grace. Christ meritoriously bought off all our temptations and an ability in Himself to succor and establish us to the end. "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world" (Gal_1:4). "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Tit_2:14). While His precious blood retains its infinite value in the esteem of God, not one of His sheep can perish.
Second, Christ’s tender pity. "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted" (Heb_2:18). In the previous verse it is declared that He is a merciful High Priest" to pity us, so that He hath a heart and willingness to help His people; but in verse 18 (Heb_2:18) it is added that He is able so to do. And mark, it is not affirmed that He is able in respect of His personal power, as He is God, but there is a further and acquired ability as He is man. He was made a frail man, subject to temptations, and the painful experiences through which He passed in the days of His humiliation engages His heart to pity us when in distress, and because of this acquired tenderness, He is able to succor us in temptation.
Third, His intercession. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" (Rom_5:10), that is, by His life for us in heaven. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb_7:25). If, then, thou hast come unto God by Him, Christ’s intercession effectually secures thine uttermost salvation. Because He hath taken thee into His heart, He has taken thee into His prayers. Once Christ takes us into His prayers, He will never leave us out, but prevail for us, whatever be our case or whatever we fall into (1Jn_2:1)—clear proof of this was furnished by the case of Peter. A man may be cast out of the prayers of a saint, as Saul was out of Samuel’s; but none was ever cast out of Christ’s prayers whom He once took in. His prayers will prevail to prevent thee from falling into such sins as God will not forgive.
Fourth, Christ’s interest in that glory we are called unto and our interest in Christ’s glory, for they are one. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1Co_1:9); that is, to be partakers of the same things (in our measure) that He is partaker of. "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection" (Rom. 6:5). The apostle declares that God "calls you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2Th_2:14). It is Christ’s own glory—the reward of that wondrous work by which He so illustriously magnified the Father—which His people are brought into, for nothing short of this would satisfy the heart of Christ: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory" (Joh_17:24).
Here, then, is how the secret election of God in eternity past is openly manifested unto His people in this time state: by a supernatural call, and by miraculously bringing them through a world which is as hostile to their souls as Babylon’s furnace was to the bodies of the three Hebrews.