Personal Election, Effectual Calling By Elder Hylton Crain [Editors note: The following article was submitted by Elder G. H. Crain at the request that he provide his thoughts regarding the Doctrine of Personal Election and Effectual Calling.] Personal election is the foundation doctrine of the Bible, for our salvation. It is very plainly set forth in God’s word; that those which shall finally live in heaven, are foreknown in the covenant of redemption; predestinated, called, justified, and glorified. Each of the elect, sometime between conception and the death of the body, will be born again (quickened by the Spirit - or regenerated) and this work will forever remain valid. By request, I will, with God’s help, give my views on Romans 9:11-12-13. I doubt very much I should have written on this subject, had I not been requested to write. In this effort I seek not controversy, but will briefly state what I believe. (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. These scriptures, with a number of others that could be given, to my mind and understanding, Absolutely, declare the doctrine of personal election and calling. Paul, in verses fourteen through twentyfour answers every argument of opposition to this inviolable truth; cutting up the objections of men root and branch. I will list and, try to answer, arguments and objections to the above teaching. (1) It is unfair. Answer: What does man know about equity? He is a creature and God is the Creator, not only is he (Mankind) a creature, but a fallen one at that. He is in the depth of sin, and without strength without will or power to come to Christ; dead in sin-spoken of in God’s word, In his best state altogether vanity, and whose righteousness in the sight of God, as filthy rags. Psalms 39:5 Isaiah 64:6.1 Man in nature is depraved. That seems right unto him are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12. He loves sin and hates God and his word. What could possibly reach his case, but electing love! Then when convinced and convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit he is made to realize God would be just to damn him forever! . Obj. (2) God loves everybody. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Answer: Our text states—Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated. The word world in John 3:16 could not possibly refer to every son and daughter of Adam. Four thousand years passed before Jesus was made flesh. In I John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. To show that the word world is used in a limited sense, please compare I John 5:19 - And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. When John the Baptist saw the Lord Jesus Christ he exclaimed, Behold the Lamb of God which’ taketh away the sin of the world. He, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Saviour of all that the Father gave him. All the elect among Jew and Gentiles whose sins he put away by the sacrifice of himself. To rightly divide the word of truth, there is the world of the saved in one group, who are saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation; and a world which lieth in wickedness, the unsaved. Jesus said in John 17:9, I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Since God does not change, those He loves, he will love forever. I am the Lord I change not therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6. Obj. (3) “The choice of Jacob and rejection of Esau was not for eternity or unto eternal life, but for blessings in time: for example, both the descendants of Jacob and Esau became nations, and God blessed the nation of Israel with innumerable blessings. Not only so, but it was through the posterity of Jacob that Jesus Christ came according to the flesh; so the choice of Jacob, and his posterity, was to this end; also his chosen to worship under the ceremonial law service. Answer: For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Years later when, when Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of day. Jacob’s name was changed from Jacob to Israel. For as a Prince hast thou power with God and men and hast prevailed. Genesis 32:24-28., Deuteronomy 32:9-10. And in Isaiah 45:17, But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation; Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. Who could deny that Jacob was included in this group that is saved in the Lord with a everlasting salvation. Therefore, Jacob was blessed in time and Eternity. If I could find in all of God’s word that; Esau was blessed with the gift of eternal life; I assure you I would present it; instead I find to the contrary. Sad, but true Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Paul does not stop here, but in Hebrews 1:16 refers to Esau as a profane person. I have said this before and will say it again; If anyone can prove by God’s word that Cain and Esau are under the cleansing efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ; I fear this world would force me to join the universalist camp. Ob j. (4) When the word hate is used in scripture it means to love less. Proof. If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26. Answer: Admitting that the word hate, in this text does mean to love less, does not prove it to be so in Romans 9:13.-The meaning must be determined by the tenor of the verse, and the context; also the agreement with the scriptures in general. Paul reasons thus - There is no unrighteousness with God. God forbid. He has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and compassion on whom he will have compassion. God is, sovereign, holy too wise to err. Calling and election are not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. It is a wonderful miracle of grace! that God would love any of the fallen sons and daughters of Adam. How precious the words of John, I John 4:8-16- God is love. Obj. (5) Jacob represents the Spirit and Esau the flesh; the old man and the new man-etc. Ans. There is- the- text in all of God’s word, Genesis~ through Revelation, that one should make such an analogy? If any argument is based on what is said in the Old Testament, where the actions of Jacob and Esau are described, before the Lord appeared to Jacob, on the way to Padanaram; you may say Jacob was a deceiver and a Mama’s boy- Esau is the better of the two. (The world no doubt would choose Esau) If there is none righteous and none good, of what use is the word better? The scriptures affirm, there is none righteous, no not one; none good but one that is God every mouth is stopped, and the whole world guilty before God. Matthews 19:17 Romans 3:10-19. Since the choice was not made on the actions and works of Jacob and Esau, but that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; we must conclude - Paul was not speaking and teaching figuratively, but literally to establish the doctrine of personal election. The effects of this choice brought about a wonderful change in the heart of Jacob. He prays, he believes, fears, trusts, wrestles and serves God. What a testimony is recorded in the New Testament, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. Mark 12:26-27. In the Psalms 55:19 we read, Because they have no changes they fear not God, “Jacob” had a change. Most of the theological world disagrees with what I believe; saying it is a hard doctrine who can hear it. I truly hope I know this experimentally and by God’s word; That glorious truth, God’s electing love and grace, treasured in the Lord Jesus Christ, is the only way one can be saved. By Elder Hylton Crain ... Article from Banner of Love • Back to Table of Contents