The Gospel - The Means of Grace XVIII

Chosen To Gospel Enlightenment

"What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." (Rom. 11: 7)

Unto what are the elect chosen? The Hardshells will say that they are elected to salvation, and this is correct. But, what is involved in this "salvation"? The Hardshells exclude enlightenment, the receiving of saving truth, and the elimination of ignorance about God, Christ, and salvation. Hardshells affirm that "no knowledge is given in regeneration," the whole experience being "non-cognitive" and "on the sub-conscious level."

What is the "it" of this verse? What was it that the elect Israelites "obtained" by their election? The answer to that question destroys Hardshellism. The answer to these questions are easily ascertained by the context.

"Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." (vss. 3-5)

The "seven thousand men" are they who believed in the one true and living God, and who were not pagan worshippers of other gods, and were they who persevered in their allegiance to Jehovah. They were chosen to faith and perseverance, the two things required for the obtaining of the promises of salvation. (See Heb. 6: 12)

None of the worshippers and followers of Baal were of the elect and this is contrary to the belief of the Hardshells who affirm that some Baal worshippers are of the elect and born again. They reject the idea that God's election is unto faith and perseverance.

Further, Paul says, "and the rest were blinded." This word "blinded" (or 'hardened') involves ignorance, or lack of knowledge about God, and lack of faith in him. This "blindness" is evident in their allegiance to Baal and of their faith in false gods.

On this verse Dr. Gill wrote:

"and the rest were blinded: the non-elect, or those who were not chosen and reserved, to whom Christ was "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence"; and who "stumbled at the word" of the Gospel, "being disobedient" to the divine revelation, "whereunto they were appointed", 1Pe 2:8; hence they obtained no mercy, grace, faith, life, righteousness, and eternal salvation, but were "blinded"; left in that native blindness and ignorance..."

It is appropriate that Dr. Gill refers to the words of Peter. Peter wrote:

"Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. BUT ye 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." (I Peter 2: 7-9)

First, it is clear that the elect are styled as the believing and obedient ones, while those not chosen are styled the unbelieving and disobedient. The elect are they who "allow" (accept) the stone while the non-elect are they who "disallow" (reject) the stone. The elect receive the word, and understand it, but the reprobates stumble over Christ, and are offended by him. All these things are contrary, however, to the Hardshell understanding of who are the elect and called.

"But you are a chosen generation," the word "but" offering a contrast between those who reject Christ and those who accept him. This word "but" shows that those who reject Christ are not chosen.

Further, this choice of God to salvation includes being chosen to faith, being chosen to "show forth the praises of God," but who can say this fits non-Christians? Do they show forth the praises of God? They may show forth the praises of their heathen gods, but not being believers in the God of Israel, and of Christ, they cannot fit this description.

Also, the elect are chosen to be called out of religious "darkness" and into the "marvellous light" of the gospel. But, Hardshells exclude enlightenment and saving knowledge from the experience of being chosen and called.