The Great Divide
In this world there is a great divide. There are those who have been chosen to salvation, in Christ, from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and those who have not. There are those who have been predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) and those who have not.
There are some, in this world, for whom the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7), whose sins are pardoned and who are justified by God. There are others who will themselves forever carry their own sin and its consequences (Matthew 25:46). Every person ever born from the beginning of the world to its end, is on one side of this great divide or the other.
On one side of this divide are the redeemed, the purchase of God (Psalm 74:2). On the other side are those forever sold under sin (Romans 7:14). There are some who are sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11), and holy (Hebrews 3:1) and some who are reprobated (Jude 1:4) and condemned already (John 3:18).
This great divide runs all through history, touching every nation, every family, every person (Romans 2:11). It is the clear testimony of holy scripture (Romans 9:15,16). It perfectly reflects the purpose of God according to election (Romans 9:11). It embraces all for whom the Lord Jesus Christ died (Isaiah 53:11) on one side, and those He never knew on the other (Matthew 7:23). It encompasses all who are made alive by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:5) and those who remain dead in their trespasses and sins (John 10:3, Romans 2:5). Every single individual, chosen in Christ, redeemed by His blood, and called by the Holy Ghost, will most certainly and joyfully enter into heaven (Romans 8:30), and no one but the chosen, redeemed, and called will ever enter into that place, but must forever be separated in hell (Matthew 25:41).
Who are these blessed and chosen people, and why are they set apart? They are the people loved of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), and foreknown in the everlasting covenant of grace (Hebrews 13:20). They are the Father’s children (Galatians 4:6), the Son’s bride (Revelation 21:9), and those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16).
How shall we know these blessed, chosen people? What distinguishes them in this world? Three simple characteristics mark them out. First, they repent of their sins and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, for salvation (Acts 20:21, John 3:16). Second, they follow their Saviour, the great Shepherd of the sheep (John 10:27). Third, they bear fruit (John 15:16), in their love of God and of the brethren (John 13:34-35, 1 John 5:2).
O LORD, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears (1 Chronicles 17:19,20).
Peter Meney is the Pastor of New Focus Church Online and the Editor of "New Focus Magazine" and publisher of sovereign grace material under the Go Publications imprint. The purpose and aim of the magazine and books is to spread as widely as possible the gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of free, sovereign grace found in the Holy Bible, the Word of God.
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