Day 66

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 6.

” …neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.“

Scripture Lookup

John 10:26; 17:9; 6:64.

Reflection

All the elect share the same journey of being called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved. They are redeemed by Christ. But this journey and this redemption are only for them. Anyone who does not have faith, anyone who does not share this path to salvation, are not redeemed by Christ. They are not elect. And they have no desire to be. As Sam Waldron writes, “Outside of electing mercy…no one wants to be saved.”

There is a scene in C.S. Lewis’ book The Last Battle where a pagan warrior, Emeth, is accepted at death by Aslan for the good he did in the name of his god, Tash: “If any man swear by Tash and keep the oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him.”

Lewis’ sentiment towards Emeth is shared by many. Our thoughts turn immediately to the pagan in a far-off land who never heard the Gospel. What about him? “There is good in all religions,” as someone said to me recently. It seems noble to have genuinely sincere Buddhists, or Muslims, or humanists obtain salvation. Yet the world’s view of nobility does not recognize the vileness of sin, especially the sin of unbelief. Christ must be known, for He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. -Matthew 7:13, 14

Those redeemed by Christ will journey on the same path, through explicit faith in Him. In this there is no deviation, for “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 1:12) May we be ever mindful of that in our witness.

Questions to Consider

• Do you ever act as if those without Christ are still saved?