Can we know?
Indeed, can they themselves know?
Many Churches and organizations claim to be the elect even though the Bible proves them wrong!
It is quite apparent from 2 Peter 1:10 that they knew who they were in the Apostolic age;
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never, fall:”
Paul too was quite sure of whom they were, 1 Thess. 1:4
"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.”
But how?
The "Beatitudes" have one major recurring theme/quality, that of humility. Being humble is mentioned from verse 3 to verse 10 of Matt. 5 as; poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hunger and thirst after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. This level of humility is not put on but acquired, either from birth or adherence to instruction and cannot be simulated. Could it be, that their humility is so deeply embedded that they themselves don't know they are of the elect? By merely living as they see God would have them live a life of love? For even the qualities Peter directs to be acquire; virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (2Peter 1:5-8) are necessitated by and of humility. Think for a moment of what this would mean if everyone were to seek out and acquire these qualities. With virtue would come a sense of honour in what one said, to let our no be no and our yes be yes (James 5:12 "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."), would mean we would tell the truth. With virtue our crime rate and poverty would diminish. If we were all to actively seek knowledge our libraries would be full and the crack houses empty, as a sense of purpose would replace the emptiness of addiction. Our knowledge base would grow exponentially and the cures we need would come at an increasingly faster rate. With temperance our addictions would disappear, our playgrounds would become clean again and our welfare system would be relieved by seventy percent at least. By acquiring patience domestic violence would evaporate, and labour conflicts would be eased. With godliness, brotherly kindness and charity, a sense of community and a willingness to help others would replace our ailing social services system. These are the qualities of the elect and not adherence to what men say is the law of God.
Both Peter and Paul also knew who the Church was, but today it seems impossible to see them. Paul is very clear about what the Church should look like. They are to speak the same things and be "joined" together;
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment", 1Cor. 1:10 and again in Eph. 4:16 "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every, part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.".
This is not the case however, with Christianity today! Indeed no two churches/congregations/assemblies or forms of Christianity fulfill Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except, they be agreed?". This is not unique to Christianity but to the Jew and Muslim alike, but Paul was speaking to the "Church" of God. Those "ekklēsia" who followed the Way of God. Not the Churches of today! The need for anyone looking to follow the Way to come to the point where they know they have found where God's people are today is a demanding one but not to be taken lightly. Let me be clear here, I don’t mean they have a warm fuzzy feeling about a Church. Rather, they have tested (1Thess. 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”), what these Churches practices are, looking specifically for those things God has said not to do. If the Bible is to be the guide for those looking to follow the Father then it is to be approached with the faith of a little child; (Matt. 18:4). Free from theological manipulation and taken in its simplest form that we might see God’s meaning. God is not the author of confusion (1Cor. 14:33) so why would He make His book complex to those He wished to understand it? Why would it need interpretation by those He chose to work with? In Isaiah it says: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD…” Isa. 1:18, in Acts we see where Paul reasoned with the Jews in their synagogues, and on one occasion it was over the coarse of three Sabbaths (Acts 17:2). This shows that there was discussion involved in order to understand the message being conveyed by the Christ, and in this case through Paul. Discussion by definition is not sitting in front of an orator jotting down notes and absorbing one man’s understanding of how he’s been taught to see the scriptures, for this is a lecture not a discussion! A lecture I would add that is designed to sway the understanding of the audience to the doctrine of the established organization of which the orator is employed. This is contrary to the teachings of Paul whom we know was taught by Christ Himself and, in fact, have written witness thereof in the scriptures in the form of Ananias in Acts 9:10-17. This then is testimonial we can trust if indeed we trust the Bible. How though, can we trust a man coming to us with a gospel we have not received? (Gal 1:9 "As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed"). One that is not of the Bible but rather of his own ideologies based upon what he was taught by the organization of which he serves? An organization bent upon controlling the masses for its own gain. Thus then, it is even more imperative we should test to great lengths the gospel being presented;
Gal 1:6 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 ”Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ
8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 “As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 ”For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 ”But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. “
If there were to be one area of scripture that defines the Gospel I would say it to be;
Gal 3:6 “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
Now notice how the faithful would be blessed:
Gal 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;(as many Churches teach that all the members are his seed) but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
So then, if the faithful (Jew and Gentile alike) would receive blessings through Christ, and the gospel (good news) of this justification through faith was preached to Abraham then quite simply put, Christ is the Gospel! As the Churches of God are fond of saying; “Don’t take my word for it, test it for yourself!” You will find that a word search of the New Testament will return no fewer than 98 verses with the word Gospel in them at least once. I suggest you study them, so you learn them from scripture, and not me.
The vast majority of Christian organizations today seem to miss the spiritual application of what Christ and the Apostles taught. This is the same error Israel of old made with the law. I don’t think Paul was speaking of the Church of our day as being physically fit together necessarily. If we are of the same mind and judgment - that judgment being of Jesus Christ – then no division of understanding will be present. Being of one faith, the faith of Abraham, as children of Abraham the “spiritual” body of Christ each faithful believer contributing to the other in love what he/she understands of the Gospel. In this way, two or even more can – and will - walk together for they speak the same things. I conclude that the Elect and The Church of God are in this way hidden in plain sight – if you will. Living as they see the scriptures directing them to live, possibly unaware of their own election. As possible support of this I offer these thoughts;
1Pe 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (not saying that He knew who would “chose” to follow His way or not, but rather that the opportunity of redemption would be made possible through the Christ), through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (through Christ’s resurrection there is again a hope of salvation)
4 “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (reserved! Not there/here yet!)
5 “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (“Ready to be revealed” - hidden!?)
6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (these trails are before all people for time and chance happen to all men (Eccl. 9:11), but it is those who overcome by the strength of their faith and perseverance in good deeds continuously keeping Christ’s sacrifice in sight.)
8 “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (It is the faithful who receive the inheritance with Abraham (Gal. 3:8-14) not merely his bloodline.)
10 “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”
Study always, that you might find yourself worthy (2Tim. 2:15). So that you'll know what scripture says you should be doing, which apply and which do not apply to you. Many Churches will tell you many things and many more men will tell you even more. There is but one authority and only one Way of understanding! Find it, and we may find common ground, be ye not deceived, think as a child! Luke 21:8, Matt. 18:4.
Peter Anson
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