Chapter 342—Who are Eligible?
The wise shall inherit glory.
Proverbs 3:35
.
God has elected a character in harmony with His law, and anyone who
shall reach the standard of His requirement will have an entrance into the
kingdom of glory. Christ Himself said, “He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life” (
John
3:36
). “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven” (
Matthew 7:21
). And in the Revelation He declares, “Blessed are
they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city” (
Revelation 22:14
). As
regards man’s final salvation, this is the only election brought to view in the
Word of God.
Every soul is elected who will work out his own salvation with fear
and trembling. He is elected who will put on the armor, and fight the good
fight of faith. He is elected who will watch unto prayer, who will search
the Scriptures, and flee from temptation. He is elected who will have faith
continually, and who will be obedient to every word that proceedeth out of
the mouth of God. The provisions of redemption are free to all; the results of
redemption will be enjoyed by those who have complied with the conditions.
Satan is ever at work endeavoring to pervert what God has spoken, to
blind the mind and darken the understanding, and thus lead men into sin.
This is why the Lord is so explicit, making His requirements so very plain
that none need err. God is constantly seeking to draw men close under His
protection, that Satan may not practice his cruel, deceptive power upon them.
He has condescended to speak to them with His own voice, to write with His
own hand the living oracles. And these blessed words, all instinct with life
and luminous with truth, are committed to men as a perfect guide....
Every chapter and every verse of the Bible is a communication from God
to men.... If studied and obeyed, it would lead God’s people, as the Israelites
were led, by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
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