In the decree of election, God doth not fix conditions of eternal life, and choose such as will fulfil them, but he sets apart particular persons to be infallibly made partakers of eternal salvation.
1. Particular persons, as hath been just stated, have their names written in the book of life, Luke 10:20; Rev 13:8; Rev 20:12; Rev 21:27; Isa 4:3, etc.
2. Some men are represented as particularly and personally chosen to everlasting life, Eph 1:4-6; Matt 20:16; Matt 22:14; John 10:3,26-27; John 13:18; John 17:9; John 6:37; Acts 13:48; Acts 18:10; Rom 8:28-30; Rom 9:13,23; Rom 11:5,7; 1 Thess 1:4; 1 Thess 5:9; 2Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2; 1 Pet 2:9; 2 Tim 1:9; 2 Tim 2:10.
3. The infallible and unalterable connection between election, redemption, and eternal salvation, necessarily requires that those very persons, who are actually saved, must have been elected to obtain that salvation, Ps 33:11; Isa 14:24,27; Isa 46:10; Rom 8:28-39; Rom 9:11- 13,23; John 10:15-16,27-29. God's election of these particular persons is absolute, proceeding wholly and only from his own infinitely wise and sovereign will and good pleasure; and altogether independent on their foreseen faith or good works.
1. The Scripture represents his election of them as merely depending on his own will, and as purposed in himself, Luke 12:32; Luke 10:21; Matt 11:25-26; Rom 9:11-13,16,18; Rom 11:5-6; Eph 1:5,9,11; Deut 7:8; Deut 9:4; Deut 10:15; 2 Tim 1:9.
2. God, who chooses them, is absolutely sovereign in his disposal of his favours, Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21; Dan 4:35; Isa 57:17-18; Isa 43:24-25; Rom 5:20- 21; Rom 9:15-16,18,20-21; Ps 115:3; Ps 135:6; Job 33:13.
3. He could foresee no moral goodness in fallen and corrupted men, as moving Him to elect them to everlasting happiness, Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21; Ps 5:9-10; Ps 14:1-4; Isa 59:1-15; Rom 1:21-32; Rom 3:10-19,23; Rom 5:12; Rom 8:7-8; Titus 3:3; Jer 13:23; Jer 17:9; Eph 2:1-3; Eph 4:17- 19; Job 14:4; Job 15:14,16; Matt 15:19.
4. No true faith or holy obedience, but what God himself works in them, can be found in any man, Phil 1:29; Phil 2:13; Eph 2:4-10; 2 Thess 1:11; James 1:17; 1 Cor 4:7; 2 Cor 3:5; Isa 26:12; Ps 57:2. Now God's own work in time can never be the condition of his choosing us before time to eternal life.
5. Our faith and holiness are the fruits of God's election of us; and hence can never be the cause or condition of it, Acts 13:48; 1 Thess 1:4-5; 2 Thess 2:13; John 8:47; John 10:26-27; Eph 1:4; 1 Pet 1:2.
6. Our faith and holiness are properly parts of our salvation largely taken, and evidences that we are in the state and begun possession of it. And hence they are not so much as proper conditions of salvation, but means of receiving or improving it, and of preparing for the full enjoyment of it, Titus 3:5-7; Rom 7:4; Rom 6:14. How absurd then to suppose them conditions of God's electing us to that salvation!
7. If God's election of men to everlasting life depended on his foresight of their faith and good works, his redeeming love could be no such distinguished favour as the Scripture represents it, John 3:16; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:9-10,19; Jer 3:19; Jer 31:3; Job 35:7; Job 41:11; Deut 10:11; 1 Cor 1:29; 1 Cor 4:7; Eph 1:6; Eph 2:7; Rom 9:15-16,18; Rom 5:8,20-21.
8. So far are our good works from being the conditions upon which God elected us to everlasting life, that the making them procuring causes of our salvation is represented as altogether eversive of the grace of God therein manifested, Rom 4:4; Rom 11:6; Rom 9:16; Gal 2:21; Gal 5:2,4.
Men are chosen by God to everlasting life in Jesus Christ, as their representing Head.
1. Our election is expressly represented as in him, as our new covenant Head, and the great mean of the execution of that decree, Eph 1:4; Eph 3:11; 2 Tim 1:9; Titus 1:2.
2. The effects of our election are all enjoyed in Christ—as redemption, Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; 1 Cor 1:30; Rom 3:24-25;—effectual calling, Phil 3:14;— justification, Isa 45:24-25; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:21.—adoption; Gal 3:26;—regeneration and sanctification, Eph 2:10; 1 Cor 1:2; Acts 26:18; 1 Cor 1:30.—preservation in grace, Jude 1; Col 3:3; John 14:19; John 10:28; John 15:5,7,—spiritual comfort, John 14:18; 2 Cor 1:5; 2 Thess 2:16-17;—and glorification, Rom 8:15-18; Eph 2:6; Isa 45:17,25; Isa 60:19; Col 3:3-4.
3. Without supposing our election to everlasting life in Christ as our Head, God's putting our stock of holiness and happiness in Adam, as our covenant-head, could not be so clearly vindicated, Rom 5:12-21; 1 Cor 15:21-22.—Nor does it appear, how we could have been recovered, quickened, justified, or sanctified by him, if we had not been chosen in him, Rom 3:10-26; John 5:25-26; Acts 3:15,26; Rom 8:1-2; 1 John 5:12; John 14:19; Col 1:19; Col 2:9-10,13; Eph 2:10; Eph 3:17,19; Heb 2:12-16; 1 Cor 6:17; Titus 3:5.—
But, though we were chosen in Christ as our Head, yet his mediatorial office and work are not the cause of our election, but only the cause of that salvation which we were chosen to obtain.
1. It hath been proved, that our election proceeds from the mere sovereign will of God.—It was of his mere free favour, that any men were elected to everlasting life. It was of his mere good pleasure, that such particular persons, and not others, were elected, Matt 11:25-26 Luke 12:32; Rom 9:11-23; 1 Cor 4:7; 1 Cor 1:25-30.
2. While Christ himself is, in God's electing purpose, chosen as our Head, his mediation is appointed in it, as the mean of executing it, and as the purchasing, procuring, and applying cause of our salvation therein decreed, Isa 42:1-7; Isa 49:1-6; 1 Pet 1:18-21; John 3:16-18; 1 John 3:5,8; 1 John 4:9-10.
3. Christ died for men considered as sinful in themselves, but loved of God, and elected to everlasting life,—that they might obtain it in a way consistent with his honour, Matt 1:21; John 10:10,14-15; John 15:13; Eph 5:2,23,25; Isa 49:3; Isa 42:21.
Of God, the Author, Object, and End of All Religion;
John Brown
1. Particular persons, as hath been just stated, have their names written in the book of life, Luke 10:20; Rev 13:8; Rev 20:12; Rev 21:27; Isa 4:3, etc.
2. Some men are represented as particularly and personally chosen to everlasting life, Eph 1:4-6; Matt 20:16; Matt 22:14; John 10:3,26-27; John 13:18; John 17:9; John 6:37; Acts 13:48; Acts 18:10; Rom 8:28-30; Rom 9:13,23; Rom 11:5,7; 1 Thess 1:4; 1 Thess 5:9; 2Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2; 1 Pet 2:9; 2 Tim 1:9; 2 Tim 2:10.
3. The infallible and unalterable connection between election, redemption, and eternal salvation, necessarily requires that those very persons, who are actually saved, must have been elected to obtain that salvation, Ps 33:11; Isa 14:24,27; Isa 46:10; Rom 8:28-39; Rom 9:11- 13,23; John 10:15-16,27-29. God's election of these particular persons is absolute, proceeding wholly and only from his own infinitely wise and sovereign will and good pleasure; and altogether independent on their foreseen faith or good works.
1. The Scripture represents his election of them as merely depending on his own will, and as purposed in himself, Luke 12:32; Luke 10:21; Matt 11:25-26; Rom 9:11-13,16,18; Rom 11:5-6; Eph 1:5,9,11; Deut 7:8; Deut 9:4; Deut 10:15; 2 Tim 1:9.
2. God, who chooses them, is absolutely sovereign in his disposal of his favours, Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21; Dan 4:35; Isa 57:17-18; Isa 43:24-25; Rom 5:20- 21; Rom 9:15-16,18,20-21; Ps 115:3; Ps 135:6; Job 33:13.
3. He could foresee no moral goodness in fallen and corrupted men, as moving Him to elect them to everlasting happiness, Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21; Ps 5:9-10; Ps 14:1-4; Isa 59:1-15; Rom 1:21-32; Rom 3:10-19,23; Rom 5:12; Rom 8:7-8; Titus 3:3; Jer 13:23; Jer 17:9; Eph 2:1-3; Eph 4:17- 19; Job 14:4; Job 15:14,16; Matt 15:19.
4. No true faith or holy obedience, but what God himself works in them, can be found in any man, Phil 1:29; Phil 2:13; Eph 2:4-10; 2 Thess 1:11; James 1:17; 1 Cor 4:7; 2 Cor 3:5; Isa 26:12; Ps 57:2. Now God's own work in time can never be the condition of his choosing us before time to eternal life.
5. Our faith and holiness are the fruits of God's election of us; and hence can never be the cause or condition of it, Acts 13:48; 1 Thess 1:4-5; 2 Thess 2:13; John 8:47; John 10:26-27; Eph 1:4; 1 Pet 1:2.
6. Our faith and holiness are properly parts of our salvation largely taken, and evidences that we are in the state and begun possession of it. And hence they are not so much as proper conditions of salvation, but means of receiving or improving it, and of preparing for the full enjoyment of it, Titus 3:5-7; Rom 7:4; Rom 6:14. How absurd then to suppose them conditions of God's electing us to that salvation!
7. If God's election of men to everlasting life depended on his foresight of their faith and good works, his redeeming love could be no such distinguished favour as the Scripture represents it, John 3:16; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:9-10,19; Jer 3:19; Jer 31:3; Job 35:7; Job 41:11; Deut 10:11; 1 Cor 1:29; 1 Cor 4:7; Eph 1:6; Eph 2:7; Rom 9:15-16,18; Rom 5:8,20-21.
8. So far are our good works from being the conditions upon which God elected us to everlasting life, that the making them procuring causes of our salvation is represented as altogether eversive of the grace of God therein manifested, Rom 4:4; Rom 11:6; Rom 9:16; Gal 2:21; Gal 5:2,4.
Men are chosen by God to everlasting life in Jesus Christ, as their representing Head.
1. Our election is expressly represented as in him, as our new covenant Head, and the great mean of the execution of that decree, Eph 1:4; Eph 3:11; 2 Tim 1:9; Titus 1:2.
2. The effects of our election are all enjoyed in Christ—as redemption, Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; 1 Cor 1:30; Rom 3:24-25;—effectual calling, Phil 3:14;— justification, Isa 45:24-25; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:21.—adoption; Gal 3:26;—regeneration and sanctification, Eph 2:10; 1 Cor 1:2; Acts 26:18; 1 Cor 1:30.—preservation in grace, Jude 1; Col 3:3; John 14:19; John 10:28; John 15:5,7,—spiritual comfort, John 14:18; 2 Cor 1:5; 2 Thess 2:16-17;—and glorification, Rom 8:15-18; Eph 2:6; Isa 45:17,25; Isa 60:19; Col 3:3-4.
3. Without supposing our election to everlasting life in Christ as our Head, God's putting our stock of holiness and happiness in Adam, as our covenant-head, could not be so clearly vindicated, Rom 5:12-21; 1 Cor 15:21-22.—Nor does it appear, how we could have been recovered, quickened, justified, or sanctified by him, if we had not been chosen in him, Rom 3:10-26; John 5:25-26; Acts 3:15,26; Rom 8:1-2; 1 John 5:12; John 14:19; Col 1:19; Col 2:9-10,13; Eph 2:10; Eph 3:17,19; Heb 2:12-16; 1 Cor 6:17; Titus 3:5.—
But, though we were chosen in Christ as our Head, yet his mediatorial office and work are not the cause of our election, but only the cause of that salvation which we were chosen to obtain.
1. It hath been proved, that our election proceeds from the mere sovereign will of God.—It was of his mere free favour, that any men were elected to everlasting life. It was of his mere good pleasure, that such particular persons, and not others, were elected, Matt 11:25-26 Luke 12:32; Rom 9:11-23; 1 Cor 4:7; 1 Cor 1:25-30.
2. While Christ himself is, in God's electing purpose, chosen as our Head, his mediation is appointed in it, as the mean of executing it, and as the purchasing, procuring, and applying cause of our salvation therein decreed, Isa 42:1-7; Isa 49:1-6; 1 Pet 1:18-21; John 3:16-18; 1 John 3:5,8; 1 John 4:9-10.
3. Christ died for men considered as sinful in themselves, but loved of God, and elected to everlasting life,—that they might obtain it in a way consistent with his honour, Matt 1:21; John 10:10,14-15; John 15:13; Eph 5:2,23,25; Isa 49:3; Isa 42:21.
Of God, the Author, Object, and End of All Religion;
John Brown