“a divinely implanted, sense of a purpose working through the ages” (Ecc 3:11, AMPL)
We are currently discussing the idea that there is no longer slave/free man (as part of Gal 3:28’s dichotomies). We examined man’s propensity for slavery, and showed that it is Satan’s masterful strategy to enslave most believers. In this way they are robbed of their heart, passion, life and purpose, and it happens especially through religion (in contrast to the idea of relationship). As example of this kind of religiosity we looked at the Reformed dogma of divine election, and pointed out how this gives people a false sense of salvation.
The previous teaching concluded with the statement that there is indeed a divine election, but that it has nothing to do with salvation. This is strictly speaking a topic which should be part of the section on tabernacle typology – the Holy of Holies (our teachings are currently still concerned with the first section – the Outer Court). But in order to not let the topic hang in the air we are going to spend a few teachings looking at what divine election, according to the Word, encompasses. But this will strictly be only an overview – the readers of the Manna will still have to wait a while before we can start exploring this mystery in greater depths.
It has been said a few times, but for the sake of the larger framework it is important to remember that we are currently discussing the typology of the tabernacle, and that the different parts of the tabernacle becomes an example of the three unfolding spiritual dimensions. In the first dimension the gospel of salvation is found; the second dimension allows us to discover the gospel of the kingdom; and in the third dimension we start to understand and live within the gospel of glory.
The Reformation of Luther and Calvin (and the manifestation thereof in the Reformed churches) introduced us to and instructed us in the truth of the first dimension. BUT with the passing of time this had become perverted through a church system which had chosen to couple that very salvation with the idea of divine election.
Election is ONLY to be found in the third dimension – it is the dimension of the Bride. Naturally the first and second dimensions are also part of her spiritual history – everyone first needs to be saved, be baptised with water and with the Spirit of God and through the glory of the second dimension you move into the Holy of Holies.
Heb 9:8 does however make it clear “that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing”. This “first tabernacle” is clearly (according to the previous verse about the high priest) meant to signify the Outer Court and the Holy Place (the first and second dimensions). Together they form (for lack of a better word) the church, whereas those who progress to the third dimension make up the Bride. The individuals in the first and second dimensions are all saved, but only those in the second dimension are born again (born from spirit and water). Those who move into the third dimension, are those who have started functioning in their life purpose and calling, and are thus bringing about God’s greater agenda (Acts 13:36).
The easiest way to explain this is to do so at the hand of the parable of the ten virgins, of which we read in Matt 25. All ten are saved and are waiting for the second coming of the Bridegroom, but five are foolish and five are wise. The wise virgins have oil in their lamps. Oil is not a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as is often assumed (wind is a more apt symbol) – it points rather to anointing, or, in terms of Eph 1:18 ,that which brought about enlightened eyes of understanding, thus that with which your calling is discovered.
According to Matt 22:1-3 there are guests at the wedding of the Son (the guests = church, or first and second dimension), but they have to be differentiated from the Bride (third dimension). Jesus makes this summarising remark at the end of the parable – “for many are called, but few are chosen”.
The election is strictly about the Bride. In 1 Cor 2:7 Paul states, “but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory”. Note – before the ages it was ordained for our glory. Election only comes into play in a totally different dimension – the gospel of glory, the third dimension. The Reformed view of the election is largely based on a wrong understanding of Eph 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God .” How do they interpret this? Faith is the gift, thus no one can have faith in God if He has not granted it. According to this argument no person can believe in God by himself – God gives you faith, and only then can you believe in Him. The implication is then that God would say to the next random individual – To you I am not giving faith, thus it would not be possible to believe in God, and thus you have not been elected. This is not at all what is written in Eph 2:8!
We know that God can only work through faith – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” (Heb 11:6). Faith is the operative key of the spiritual experience.
Again read Eph 2:8. What is the gift of God? It is indeed the grace of salvation, “for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”. What do you need in order to be saved? You need faith, but faith is and remains a choice. I choose to believe. A good example of this is Abraham, the father of the faith, of who is said in Rom 4:3 – “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Revelations 22:17 concludes the Bible with this invitation to CHOOSE – “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” This is what Jesus had done with his disciples – He did not force them into a corner, saying, I have ordained before the ages that you would be elected. All He does is say, Follow Me. It is so simple – let him who will, come – it is the openness of God’s heart for all people. This counts for all people. They could choose to not follow Him, even if they had been elected (John 15:18).
Let’s just briefly refer back to 1 Cor 2:7-8. If you read verse 7, you’ll see Paul stating that this matter of election is a mystery, it is hidden, and God ordained it before time. This all points to dedicated planning, there is a deliberate choosing of those who would inherit the glory. Remember – it is not salvation; salvation is for everyone. Many are called, but few are chosen, says Jesus, and herein lies the mystery. Eph 1:4 spells it out as follows -”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”. The church are children (John 1:12), not yet adults, still consuming milk, often carnally minded. The Bride consists of sons (Rom 8:14). The oil is for the enlightened eyes of the mind – it is the revelation of sonship. Those who have started operating in their calling and purpose have oil in their lamps.
The Amplified version translates Eph 1:4 as follows – “He actually picked us out for Himself as His own.” There is a choice which He has made concerning who are elected. In Col 3:1 Paul addresses the elected as those who “were raised with Christ”. The elected are those who arose after two days (or dimensions). It is the prophetic forecast of Hos 6:2 – “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.”
How were they raised? According to Rom 6:4, through glory (remember, glory = grace and truth – John 1:14). Now Paul says (in Col 1:1-3) – “If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is … For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” And then he makes this statement in verse 4 – “When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.” If you want the glory of the Lord revealed, you must be in Him. You need to have died, been raised; then He will live His life through you, and will His glory manifest in you.
To shed light on this matter from a different perspective. The great problem that the Jews have with Christian claims, is that they consider us to be teaching something which the Torah states is not possible, and this is that we teach that there is a Trinity, while the Torah explicitly states – “Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.” The ASV states, “Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.” He is only One, they argue, and you come and tell people there is a Father, and a Son and a Holy Spirit, that it is a Trinity. The Jews are adamant about the fact that this is not possible, as the Scripture cannot be overruled (John 19:36). That is why they say that Jesus could, at most, only have been “one of the prophets” (Mark 8:28). This is also what Islam believes.
The irony is that Jesus also pertinently said, in Mark 12:29 – “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.” He confirmed what the Jews believed.
But if you are alone, you are only the lonely. When God at the beginning had to give Himself a name, He gave Himself the name Father. Of all the possible names that He could choose, He chose this one. Father presupposes that there is at least two people in this relationship – a father and a son. You can’t be alone and lonely if you call yourself a Father! Because He calls himself Father, there is within Him a core characteristic of wanting to extend Himself so that He can be part of a relationship. This is exactly what He did. In various instances in the Scripture, for instance Ps 2:7 (ASV), it is said, “Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.” The Lonely One had searched within Himself and from His being brought forth a Son. Where had that Son been all this time? Hidden in Him (John 10:30; 17:21).
With Adam and Eve the exact same thing happens. Adam is lonely and alone, and then God takes from within him a person with whom he can have a relationship – Eve (Gen 2:23). In Mal 2:14 Yahweh says – “But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring.”
And the third example in the typological triptych is that like Yahshua had been hidden in Yahweh, and like Eve had been hidden in Adam, so the Bride of Yahshua was also hidden IN him before the earth had even originated! God looks at His Son and desires descendants. And from His Son He takes a Bride that He has been hiding since before the foundations of the earth were laid. The bride was hidden inside of Him; before time, we were in Him. The Bride was chosen in Him. But as part of the human race we, like all the rest, fell on our heads in Adam, and forgot who we had been elected to be. Did you have a choice in this? Not if you are elected; it was God’s prerogative. Yet it is possible that you, even though you’re elected, do not take your calling seriously. The names of the elected are recorded in the book of life – the name of that book is Jesus Christ. But it is possible for your name to be erased from that book (Rev 3:5). It has nothing to do with salvation; but salvation (=your choice) was the prerequisite for you to identify your position as part of those who are elected, as “a divinely implanted, sense of a purpose working through the ages”.
- Sela: Have you been elected?
- Read: 1 Chr 17-25
- Examine how this has been fulfilled: Examine how 1 Chr 17:35 summarises this teaching.
