Faith Is the Evidence

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. substance...: Or, ground, or confidence - Hebrews 11:1

    Chosen

    The Lord God almighty, the sovereign God of grace and truth has chosen a people in eternal election, whose names were written in heaven in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the world began (Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Phil. 4:3; Luke 10:20; Rev. 13:8). These men and women are the objects of God’s eternal love, sovereign grace, and immutable purpose. And they must be saved. It is not possible for an elect sinner to perish.

    Redeemed

    The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, redeemed that elect multitude from the curse of the law by his death upon the cross as their Substitute (2 Cor. 5:18-21; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12, 26). The blood of Christ was not shed in vain. Every sinner for whom the Lamb of God died shall be saved. If even one of those for whom Christ shed his blood to make atonement by the satisfaction of justice were to perish under the wrath of God and be forever lost, the Son of God would be a frustrated failure. And that cannot be! That sin which was transferred from God’s elect to Christ the Substitute, the sin for which he suffered and died under the wrath of God, can never be transferred back to those for whom Christ died. -- “Payment God cannot twice demand, First at my bleeding Surety’s hand, And then again at mine!”

    Called

    We also know that God the Holy Spirit effectually regenerates, calls, and saves the elect by almighty, irresistible grace (Ps. 65:4; 110:3; John 3:8; 6:63; Eph. 2:1-8). All those whose names were written in heaven in eternal election, all those who were redeemed by the blood of Christ shall be effectually called by God the Holy Spirit in time. They shall be born again and saved by the almighty power of his irresistible grace. When the Spirit of God calls, when he draws sinners to Christ, he effectually brings them to Christ. Salvation is not by the will of man, but by the will of God. Salvation is not by the power of man, but by the power of God. Salvation is not by the work of man, but by the work of God. Salvation is not by the choice of man, but by the choice of God. “So then it is not of him that willeth, not of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy” (Rom. 9:16). “Salvation is of the Lord!” (John 2:9).

    Faith

    Every sinner in the world who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ has everlasting life (John 3:16, 18, 36; Rom. 10:9-13; 1 John 5:1). All who have faith in Christ have salvation. All who look to Christ live. Every sinner in the world who believes on Christ was chosen by God in eternal election, and redeemed by Christ at Calvary, and has been called to Christ by the Holy Spirit’s irresistible grace.

    Everyone who reads the Bible with any measure of spiritual discernment and understanding knows these things. These are simple, elementary truths of the gospel, plainly revealed in the Holy Scriptures. All who were chosen by God in election were redeemed by Christ at Calvary and shall be called by the Holy Spirit in time. And all who are called by the Spirit of God shall come to Christ and live forever.

    A Question

    How can any mortal in this world know whether he is, indeed, chosen of God, redeemed by Christ, and called by the Holy Spirit? The answer, I assure you, is far simpler and clearer than you might imagine. – “Faith is the evidence!” If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father chose you from eternity, God the Son redeemed you at Calvary, and God the Holy Spirit has called you by his almighty grace.