Elected In The Sight Of God: Obedient And Precious Children Of Light

Every human being will be elected to eternal life on condition of obedience to God's commandments through faith in Christ.

God has appointed mankind character’s standard in harmony with His moral law.

Thus anyone who will reach His requirements through Christ’s grace will have an entrance into the kingdom of glory.

God has chosen us in Christ through His eternal covenant.

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; 

Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Ephesians 1:4, 5.

The covenant was made even before the earth or humans were created.

The children of God are defined as obedient, who through the abundant grace provided become holy in character.

Moreover, they are without blame before God, by appropriating that grace through faith.

You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9.

Everyone is elected who will:

• abide in Christ and reflect His character

• work out his or her own salvation with fear and trembling

• put on the armor and fight the good fight of faith and has faith continually

• be indeed the light of the world

• watch unto prayer

• search the Scriptures and be obedient to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God

• flee from temptation

• humble oneself as a little child.

Though the provisions of redemption are free to all, the results of redemption will be enjoyed by those who have complied with the conditions.

Elected of God unto salvation

Mankind is elected to work out his or her own salvation with fear and trembling.

Those who humbly and prayerfully search the Scriptures, to know and to do God's will, will not be in doubt of their obligations to God.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine. John 7:17.

If you would know the mystery of godliness, you must follow the plain Thus says the Lord. Obedience must be rendered regardless of your feeling or emotion.

Furthermore, from adhering to heavenly principles. The right must be pursued under all circumstances. This is the character that is elected of God unto salvation:

• If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

• He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21

• If a man loves me he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23

• He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. John 14:24.

Those who profess to believe in Christ should be ever-pressing to the light of His word. Moreover, they should daily pray for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

Thus they may be enabled to comprehend the things of the Spirit of God and to be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

This text underlines divine influence and the living faith of Christ’s followers as means of human salvation.

Chosen to sanctification

Christ gave Himself for our redemption, that through our faith in His power to save from sin, we might be made complete in Him. He has chosen us from eternity that we may be holy.

Moreover, He has infinite tenderness for those whom He has purchased at the cost of His own sufferings in the flesh. They are the claim of His love and covered with His righteousness.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16.

Furthermore, God has chosen human beings to cooperate with Him in communicating His blessings to the world.

The disciples were the depositories of the divine truth. They:

• were witnesses of the Father's acknowledgement of Jesus as the Son of God

• beheld his miracles and heard his teachings

• gave the message of salvation to the world, that through their evidence people might lay hold of Christ by faith.

Thus would the disciples bring forth fruit to the glory of God.

In the same manner, Christ has called you to:

• be His follower

• imitate His life of self-sacrifice and self-denial

• be interested in the great work of the redemption of the fallen race.

Those who work in simplicity, realize that of themselves they can do no good thing. Therefore, they are full of gratitude and thanksgiving for the privilege of holding communion with God.

Thus they have the same confidence and trust in God that a child has in its earthly father.

The love of God has a powerful and purifying influence. It is to be found only in renewed hearts, and naturally flows out to their fellow men.

Christ requires His people to be separate from the world.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; 

that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9.

Elected to eternal life

The conditions of eternal life have been plainly stated in the Word of God.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. John 3:36.

Your obedience to God's commandments through faith in Christ will prove that you are predestined to a glorious inheritance.

God has elected a certain excellence of character. Everyone who through the grace of Christ will reach the standard of His requirement, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Additionally, all who would reach this standard of character, will have to employ the means that God has provided to this end.

Firstly, if you would inherit the rest that remaineth for the children of God, you must become a co-laborer with God. You are elected to wear the yoke of Christ - bearing His burden and lifting His cross.

Secondly, you are to be diligent to make your calling and election sure. Search the Scriptures to see that not one is elected to be saved in disobedience to God's law.

Christians are chosen to sanctification through obedience to the truth. They are elected to bear the cross, if they would wear the crown.

The gifts of God’s grace through Christ are free to all. There is no election but one's own by which any may be saved or perish.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; 

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:30, 31.

The work Christ commissioned His disciples to do

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60:2.

Christ, the outshining of the Father's glory, came to the world as its light. He came to represent God to humans.

It is written of Him: He was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38.

In the synagogue at Nazareth He said:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; 

He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18, 19.

This was the work He commissioned His disciples to do.

Ye are the light of the world; Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14, 16.

Likewise, Christ has commissioned us to sow the seeds of truth.

Moreover, to urge upon our people the importance of the work to be done by those who are living amidst the closing scenes of this earth's history.

As Jesus's truth is proclaimed in the highways and the byways of the Lord's great moral vineyard, there is to be a revelation of the working of the Spirit of God on human hearts.

In other words, God does not do His work without the cooperation of His followers. Furthermore, with the gift of Christ all the treasures of Heaven were given to them.

They are faithfully to perform their duty and continue their work until the message of mercy encircles the world.

The Lord shall rise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah 60:3.

Elected to wear the yoke of Christ

God has made it possible for humans to be saved in giving His Only begotten Son to die on Calvary's cross.

Moreover, Christ died for the world, and God has elected that mankind should have a second trial through His merit.

This second probation and test is to prove whether he or she will keep the commandments of God, or walk in the path of transgression.

Through His sacrifice, Christ has made it possible for humans to practice holiness in this life. Those who would ascertain their election for the future life, may ascertain it by their attitude of obedience to the commandments of God.

If you would know the mystery of godliness, you should follow that which has been revealed.

You are elected to:

• be laborers together with God

• work in harmony with Christ

• wear His yoke

• lift His burden

• follow in Christ’s footsteps.

You have been provided with means whereby you may ascertain what to do to make your calling and election sure.

For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14.

If we would remember that:

• we are on a trial before the heavenly universe

• God is proving us to see what spirit we are of,

there would be more serious contemplation and earnest prayer.

Appointed agencies

God’s messengers are sent to bear a plain testimony and arouse people from their sleepy condition. Moreover, to open the Holy Scriptures to their understanding.

They are not to be preachers merely, but ministers, light bearers, faithful watchmen, who will see the threatened danger and warn the people.

Moreover, they are to have a vital connection with God and be familiar with the prophecies, and the practical lessons of the Old and the New Testament.

We can reach the people only through the Spirit of God. If the human agents are cooperating with the divine, an efficiency and a power will attend their labors which will bring souls to the knowledge of the truth.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; 

he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. Isaiah 61:1,2.

Our appointed task is to sow beside all waters, to seize every opportunity which presents itself to cast in the seeds of truth. Christ is our Captain and Leader. We are to obey His orders.

He is waiting to clothe His people with the garments of salvation.

He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for His law. Isaiah 42:4.

His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, the kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah 60:3.

Conclusion

God has set forth in His word the conditions upon which every soul will be elected to eternal life - obedience to His commandments through faith in Christ.

He has elected a character in harmony with His law. Anyone who reaches the standard of His requirement will have an entrance into the kingdom of Heaven.

Through the grace of God they respond to His calling.

Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21.

Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14.

This is the only election brought to view in the Word of God regarding human's salvation,

Followers of Christ are called to come out and be separate from the friendship and spirit of the world. It is through the sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the Truth, that we become laborers together with God. 

The Holy Spirit and the Word of God are ours.

Their strength and power consist in our being chosen and accepted by God.

The object of all this provision of Heaven is before us - the souls for whom Christ died. Therefore, it depends on us to lay hold of the promises of God and become laborers together with Him.

Your obedience to God's commandments will prove your right to an inheritance with the saints in light.

References

1. SpTEd 178; RH, Jul 1888; CE 86; BTS, Jun 1910; 3SP 91; 2T 169; PK 718; 8T 26; RH, Sep 1897; BE, Jul 1899; BTS, Jul 1911; PP 207; 4bSG 77  - The Ellen G. White Estate

2. The Bible, King James Version (KJV