God Made Choice Among Us

“Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made

choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the

word of the gospel and believe.” (Acts 15:7)

Salvation isn’t by a man’s but God’s ‘choice’. The apostle Peter spoke these weighty words to the Jerusalem Council, composed principally of Jews who confessed Christ. Being a Gentile, I put great stock in this statement. Consider what God has ordained:

The Gospel is to be preached “by my mouth”: The Gospel declares on behalf of God’s elect that guilt resulting from sin imputed in connection with the first Adam and actual sins committed in life, have been put away exclusively through the obedience of Christ unto death. Christ earned righteousness; God imputed righteousness. That’s justification. Being Just and Justifier, God could do no other than gladly declare His elect justified by, through and in connection with Christ’s finished work at the cross. That’s Good News!

The Gospel is to be heard: “hear the Word”: Paul wrote: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” (Ephesians 1:13) The Holy Spirit awakens and calls the elect to repentance from dead works and the acknowledging of the Truth, Hebrews 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:25. The preaching and hearing of the Gospel is as much a part of God’s will as His election.

The Gospel to be believed: “and believe”: Gospel-believing faith is God-given faith. It isn’t the condition for forgiveness or justification but the window by which the awakened and enlightened soul sees, knows and rests in the glorious person and finished work of Christ. Faith is the fruit of Spiritual awakening. God will not fail to draw to Himself all whom He chose before the world’s foundation and whom Christ redeemed at the cross.