Those who despise the doctrine of unconditional election despise one of the great warrants for preaching the Gospel. Jesus said in John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” In this text I have an assurance that the Gospel I preach will have a successful response. I have a guarantee that my preaching will not be in vain. Those on the other hand who hold the idea of “Free-Will” and depend entirely upon the willingness of man to respond to their message have no guarantee that any man will come to Christ. I know all will not come to Christ, but according to the decree of election I know some will. That Christ is addressing His words to the eternal decree of unconditional election is clearly seen in verse 39, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given (past tense) me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” This is a great encouragement to me, and I gladly rejoice in it. Those who oppose it do not oppose those who embrace it, but themselves. Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) said, “Our Savior has bidden us to preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). He has not said, ‘Preach it only to the elect,’ and though that might seem to be the most logical thing for us to do, yet since he has not been pleased to stamp the elect in their foreheads or put any distinctive mark upon them, it would be an impossible task for us to perform. When we preach the gospel to every creature the gospel makes its own division, and Christ’s sheep hear His voice, and follow him.” A controversialist once said, “If I thought God had a chosen people, I should not preach.” That is the very reason why I do preach. What would make him inactive is the mainspring of my earnestness. If the Lord had not a people to be saved, I should have little to cheer me in my ministry. It always seems inexplicable to me that those who claim free-will so very boldly for man should not also allow some free-will to God. Why should not Jesus Christ have the right to choose his own bride? A man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing by the operation of the Holy Ghost. A mighty grace, which he does not wish to resist enters into the man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved. Difficulty is not a word to be found in the dictionary of heaven. Nothing can be impossible with God. The swearing reprobate whose mouth is blackened with profanity, whose heart is very hell, and his life like the reeking flames of the bottomless pit—such a man, if the Lord but looks on him and makes bare his arm of irresistible grace, shall yet praise God and bless his name and live to his honor. Do not limit the Holy One of Israel. Persecuting Saul became loving Paul, and should not that person be saved for whom you have been praying but of whose case you almost despair?
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