We are well aware of the fact that the doctrine of God's choice and predestination is often called in question and denied by many, especially by the religious world. Although this is true, yet there is nothing more plainly taught in the bible; and when properly understood there is no truth taught therein that is more consoling and encouraging to the Lord's humble poor. We will try to write a few thoughts concerning this precious truth for the benefit of our readers.

We wish, first, to emphasize the fact that God's choice and predestination does not harm or injure anyone, and never has done so. If A is a millionaire, and makes choice of B and predestinates to make him heir to this estate, he does not thereby injure C. A's choice and predestination does not do C any harm, although C is not embraced in the choice and predestination of A. If A was under any obligation to B, then it was not a matter of mercy or grace that he was made heir to A's estate, but a matter of debt or obligation. Some people have charged that the Old Baptists believe that God made some people to save them and others to damn them. This charge is untrue. That is not Old Baptist doctrine or teaching, neither is it Bible teaching. God did not make people to save them or to damn them. Let the Bible answer the question as to what He made them for. "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth". - Acts xvii. 26 This tells us plainly that God made all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth. That is what He made them for. Let us accept it for just what it says, and take it at its full value. If any are lost it is not because God made them to be lost, but it is on account of sin - the transgression of God's law.

Man did transgress God's law. It is not necessary to cite the Scriptures to prove this, as all professed Bible believers will accept that truth, so far as we know. Paul tells us that "We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin." - Roman iii.9. This shows that all are under sin, both Jews and Gentiles, and Paul says he proved this before. To deny it is no better than infidelity, for it is to deny the plain statement of God's word. Then, as all are under sin, it follows that all are in a lost state or condition, and will remain so, without the intervention of a higher power.

Now, seeing that all are, without the intervention of mercy, or a higher power, forever lost, and the Bible plainly teaching that some are saved, let us look into the matter and find whether the Lord has made choice of them or not. First, we ask what the word choice means? And what does the word chosen mean? Choice is the act of choosing; the voluntary act of selecting from two or more things that which is preferred; the determination of the mind in preferring one thing to another; election; selection.

Chosen means selected from a number; picked out; in theology, elect. Chosen people, the Israelities; See I Chronicles xvi 13, "O ye seed of Israel His servant, ye children of Jacob, His chosen ones;" Psalm xxxiii. 12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance." See also Acts xiii. 17.

Chosen, as a noun, is one who is the object of choice or divine favor; an elect person. To know whether any persons are the objects of choice or divine favor, and are elect persons, and whether they were predestinated unto a better state, let us read Ephesians 1:3-5: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will," etc.

The word us in this text is a personal pronoun, and as a pronoun must have an antecedent, it follows that persons (understood) is the antecedent of this pronoun. Hence, it must necessarily be true that persons (us) were the objects of God's choice. He chose persons -persons were chosen by Him. No man on earth can deny this without denying the plain statement of the Word of God. Not only is it true that God made choice of persons, but He also predestinated those same persons unto the adoption of children; He predestinated that they should be adopted into His heavenly family.

To predestinate is to appoint or ordain beforehand by divine purpose or decree; to pre-elect. These people were appointed beforehand to be adopted into the family of God. God predestinated that this should be done. He predestinated that they should be save. He appointed them beforehand unto salvation. If you are ever saved, or brought into the family of God, or made a child of God, it is because God appointed beforehand, by His divine purpose, that you should be saved; that you should be brought into and made a member of His heavenly family.

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will." -Ephesians 1: 11. If one obtains an inheritance in Christ it is because he was predestinated unto that end by the Lord Himself, and according to His own purpose; and He works all things necessary to the accomplishment of that end. Nothing in order to the accomplishment of that end is left to rest upon any condition to be performed by others - it is not contingent upon the works of men.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified." - Romans 8:28-30. Here we are plainly told that some persons were predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son. God the Father predestinated this. Who can object to being predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ? If you are ever conformed to the image of Christ it is because the Father predestinated that you should be conformed to His image. Can one object to that?

"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach into thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple".--Psalm 65:4 Who approaches unto the Lord? According to David's language here, it is the man the Lord chooses and causes to approach into Him. No person has ever yet approached unto the Lord, only that person whom the Lord has chosen and caused to approach unto Him. For one to object to the doctrine of God's choice is for him to object to the very principle upon which a poor sinner may approach unto the Lord. Can you afford to object to a poor sinner approaching unto the Lord? If you cannot afford to object to that, then you cannot afford to object to the principle upon which he may approach unto Him.

If you have ever been brought to realize your need of God's mercy and grace in your salvation, and caused to approach unto Him in humble prayer and supplication, begging Him for mercy, it was because God had made choice of you and caused you to approach unto Him; and that is the reason why you will be given to finally dwell in His courts. You will finally be brought into His glorious and holy presence in the heavenly world, and there be perfectly and fully satisfied. You will then be finally and fully glorified, and will dwell in His glorious presence forever. May this be your happy lot, if according to His heavenly will, is our humble prayer. C. H. C.