The Challenge
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"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God who justifies!" Romans 8:33
We are frequently struck with the apostle's reference to Christ and his atoning work. To Christ—his mind naturally turns. From Christ—he derives his comfort and his courage. Of Christ—he continually writes and speaks. Jesus is his centre. On this foundation he builds not only the safety—but the triumphs of the Church. Not only the triumphs of the Church as a body—but the triumphs of every believer too. Having referred to the gift of Christ, and his being made a sacrifice for us all, he sees sin so completely put away, and the believer so perfectly justified, that, as if excited to rapture, he asks, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of Gods elect? It is God who justifies!" (Romans 8:33).
The Happy Party: "God's elect." That God has an elect people, is clearly revealed in His Word, and is as plainly manifested in God's world. The question is, Did they elect God—or did God elect them? If God elected them, did he choose of his own loving heart to bless, save, and dignify them; or did he choose them because he foresaw they would be more pliable, better disposed, and more easily wrought upon than others? In other words, "Was the CAUSE of election found in God—or in man?"
The Scriptures represent the doctrine of election—as a sovereign act of God, who, of his own free grace, for the manifestation of his mercy, chose a multitude, too vast to number, to be made holy on earth—in order to their being made happy in heaven. If we are willing to receive the Word of God as a little child, one or two portions of that word will be sufficient to satisfy the mind:
At Ephesus—depraved, licentious, idolatrous Ephesus—God had a church; to that church the apostle writes, and identifying himself with them and all his fellow-believers, he says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:3-6
How carefully the creature is excluded here! There is no reference to his faith, feelings, or works, as in any sense the cause, or as affording a reason why he should be chosen. GOD chooses his people. He chooses them in Christ as their head. He chooses them in Christ before the foundation of the world; so that in the decree of God there is a connection between them and Christ before the world was. They are chosen in Christ to be holy—not because they were so, nor because God foresaw they would be so—but in order to their being so. As chosen in Christ, they were blessed with all spiritual blessings, and were pre-appointed to be God's children, by adoption and grace.
All is of God, all is by God, and all is to the praise and honor of his glorious grace, by which he has made us acceptable and pleasant in the Beloved.
So, also, writing to the Thessalonians, he says, "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14.
They were chosen by God, chosen to be saved, to be saved through the work of the Spirit and the exercise of faith—to this faith they were called by the gospel, in order that they might obtain the glory which Christ has to share with his people.
Just so it is, with all the Lord's people.
Election is a glorious fact which God ever keeps in view. For the elect's sake—the days of tribulation are shortened. For the elect's sake—Paul endured all things. The crafty deceivers would seduce many—but it was not possible to deceive the elect! The disciples were directed to rejoice that their names were written in heaven. That we may be steady, fruitful and happy—we are exhorted to make our calling and election sure. Let us not, then, cavil at the doctrine—but let us seek to enjoy our personal interest in it, and to glorify and praise God for such a marvellous display of his grace!
God's elect, being chosen by him—are drawn to Jesus.
Coming to Jesus—they are received by him.
And being received by him—he conducts them to the Father.
In nature—they are dead in sin. By grace—they are quickened and made alive to God.
Naturally—they are enemies to God. By grace—they are reconciled, and become his friends.
They are naturally unbelievers—but they obtain faith through the operation of God, which is called "the faith of God's elect."
As they were chosen in Christ—they are brought into union with Christ.
Being in union with Christ—they are entitled to the perfect work of Christ.
As entitled to the glorious work of Christ—they are fully and forever justified.
And as righteous in the sight of God—they are careful to work for Christ, and ever live in the performance of good works, which God has before ordained that they should walk in them.
The Challenge. "Who will bring an accusation against God's elect?" Who will lay anything to their charge?
Will GOD, the judge of all? No! for they are his dear children, the beloved of his soul, and for all their sins he has received full and eternal satisfaction.
Will JESUS, who is to judge the world at the last day? No! for they are his brethren, and rather than condemn them—he would take their nature, identify himself with them, and die the most horrid death in their stead!
Will CONSCIENCE? Not when it is enlightened with gospel truth, and cleansed with the blood of atonement. Then it ever takes part with God, echoes the sentence of the Saviour, and justifies us as believers in his name.
Will SATAN? Right gladly he would—if he could. But he is a convicted liar, and his testimony will not be received in court. The accuser of the brethren is cast out, who accused them day and night before God.
As the accusers of the woman in the temple went out one by one, and left Jesus and the woman alone—so will Satan retire when the eye of Jesus is fixed on him; nor will he be able to substantiate a charge against God's elect.
Will the SAINTS? No! they may disagree and argue, like little children, for a time—but they will be reconciled to and be pleased with each other. Intercede for one another they will—but bring a charge against one another before the judgment-seat they will not.
Will the ANGELS? The angels!—no! They rejoice at the conversion of the sinner, at the restoration of the backslider, and at the glorification of the believer. They sympathize with Jesus too deeply to attempt to lay anything to the charge of his people.
In heaven, on earth, or in hell—no one will be found who can bring forth any cause of condemnation. God's elect are guiltless. God's elect are righteous. God's elect are justified.
The Reply: "It is God who justifies!" If God, the judge of all the earth, acquits—then who shall condemn? If he exonerates—then who shall prove a charge? Three things, on this subject, God has plainly told us in his word:
First, he will not impute sin. He imputed it to Jesus, that he might not impute it to us. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. Well may the apostle quote Old Testament Scripture with rapture, saying, "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin!" If the Lord will not—then who shall?
Second, he will impute righteousness. If God will not impute sin, how can we be condemned? If God will impute righteousness, must we not be justified? "God imputes righteousness without works." It is not, therefore, our own righteousness—but the righteousness of God, which becomes ours by faith in Jesus Christ. With no sin charged upon us, with the righteousness of Jesus imputed to us—who shall lay anything to our charge?
Third, he will pronounce them just. This he does from the judgment-seat. Christ is made to them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; and they are made the righteousness of God in him. Being righteous, even as he is righteous, they are declared just; and the prediction of the prophet is fulfilled, "In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."
All God's people were chosen in Christ. This was an act of pure grace, an expression and proof of God's distinguishing love. Jesus was chosen out of the people to be the head of the Church; and they were chosen to constitute his body. Thus Christ and his people are one. Election, which is a glorious privilege, lies at the root—and is the foundation of all our other privileges.
All God's chosen believe in Christ. He who chose them in eternity—brings them to Jesus in time. By his Spirit he works faith in their hearts, and they trust in Jesus, yield themselves to God, and look for salvation from the cross alone. Faith in Christ, proved by obedience to his precepts, makes manifest our election of God.
All who believe are justified. Faith leads us to commit ourselves to Christ, so that we become identified with Christ, in consequence of which his perfect work becomes ours, and we are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus—justified from all things—justified for evermore.
All whom God justifies are safe. Against them no enemy can prevail. Against them no charge will stand—every accuser will be silenced. They have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; who has declared that they "shall not come into condemnation." No weapon formed against them shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against them in judgment they shall condemn. "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, says the Lord."
No accusation against them can be sustained. God as a lawgiver is perfectly satisfied, having received an infinite atonement for all their sins. God as a Father is well pleased with them, and loves them as he loves his only-begotten Son. How, then, can their accusers succeed? If for them the law is magnified and made honourable; if God is well pleased with the righteousness wrought out and brought in by the Son of his love; if they are precious and honourable in God's sight, and they are—how then can accusers be listened to, or how can their accusations be sustained?
God is satisfied and pleased, because the work of Jesus is perfect and glorious. He has gone to the very end of the law for righteousness, in order to meet the case of all those who believe. The work the Father gave him to do comprised all that was necessary to meet every claim, silence every foe, and honourably secure their certain salvation. Of that work he said, "I have glorified you on the earth, I have finished the work which you gave me to do." How, then, can their accusers prevail against them?
The work of Christ, in all its glory and perfection, is ours, made over to us on believing. By faith we receive Christ, and receiving Christ, we become entitled to the merit of all that Christ did and suffered for sinners here on earth; and not only so—but the fullness of Christ is thrown open to us for the supply of all our needs, and the everlasting security of our persons.
Once more, then, we ask: If, as believers— Christ, and all that he did, suffered, and possesses are ours—ours to justify us before God—ours to sanctify us and satisfy us before men—how can an accuser lay anything to our charge? Blessed be God, exercising faith in ' Jesus, and resting alone on him, we can throw down the challenge of the apostle, and ask, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" and fearlessly present, as a reply to all, "It is God who justifies!"
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