Riff's Christian Journal

• that the purpose of God according to election might stand,
• to show His power
• to make His power known
• make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy

A number of Christian religions do not like to speak about the doctrine of election, because this doctrine takes man’s will out of the equation of whom will be saved; for man cannot save himself.

The following verses, and more throughout the New Testament, makes it clear that God saves whom He wills to save for the reasons listed above. It is by God’s will that man becomes saved and not by man’s choosing of his own will whether he wants to be saved.

If God had not predestinated before time began (Ephesians 1: 3-6), who would be saved, and then save them, no one would ever be saved. Because man, of his own will is not able to save himself (John 1: 13) (Titus 3: 5).

Read these versus and see for yourself the reason God saves as He wills.

Rom 9:11  (For 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 calleth;) 

Rom 9:12  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 

Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Rom 9:14  What shall we say then? unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 

Rom 9:16  So then not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 

Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 

Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth. 

Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 

Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed him, Why hast thou made me thus? 

Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 

Rom 9:22  if God, willing to shew wrath, and to make his power known,endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 

Rom 9:24  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 

It has been said many times, “but what if there is someone who wants to be saved but is not among the elect, what then?”

From Romans we read:

Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 

Rom 3:11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Even of his own will man will never seek after God.

In addition, in John 6 we read:

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 

Man is so mired in his own sinfulness that unless God works a miracle in him he would never choose, of his own will, to believe on Jesus and to confess Him to be Lord.

This is why God predestinated those whom He wills to be saved: to show His mercy, and to display His power and love on mankind by choosing to save a people for His own even though no one deserves to be saved and cannot save themselves.

What about you, do you know where you stand? Do you want to be saved? If not, then why do you care, but if you do want to be saved read this from Romans 10:

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

Rom_10:13  (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

Is this what you want? Do you really want to be saved according to God’s mercy? Can you confess that Jesus is Lord? Do you feel the desire to call out to God for forgiveness? Will you come to God on His terms and not yours? Only by God’s will can anyone do these things, and only they whom God has chosen to be saved will ever confess by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is Lord.

God’s power may be at work in you at this very moment. Maybe your heart, as it is being made new, fills you with a desire to come to Jesus. Instinctively you want to know Him, to follow Him, to love Him. Whoever you are, may you be saved by God this very hour.