The election of the Christian does not imply that the non-elect shall receive injury. On the contrary, it implies the blessing of the non-elect in due time. Neither Justice nor Love could make any objection to the granting of a special favor to some that was not granted to others, even if the favored ones were not intended to be channels of blessing to the less favored or unfavored. This is the meaning of the word grace or favor. It implies the doing of something not specially called for or demanded by Justice.

"Grace," and "favor," are repeatedly used throughout the Scriptures in respect to the elect class of this Gospel age. "By grace are ye saved," and similar Scriptures, impress upon us that there was no obligation on the part of the Almighty to recover any of Adam’s race from the death sentence, nor to give to any the opportunity of life eternal through a redemption. Much more there was no obligation on God’s part to any of his creatures in respect to the high calling to membership in the Bride of Christ. It is all of divine favor, "grace on grace," or favor added to favor.

The Apostle Peter assures us that we, as a class, were "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." He proceeds to say, "through sanctification of the spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 1:2) This signifies that God foreknew the New Creation as a class. God foreknew his intention to justify them by faith, through the blood of Christ. God foreknew that enough such to complete this class would be obedient, and attain to sanctification through the truth.

Nothing in any Scripture implies a divine foreknowledge of the individuals composing the elect class, except in respect to the Head of the Church. We are told that God foreknew Jesus as his elect one. We are not to be understood as limiting the Lord’s ability to identify the individuals who would compose the elect class. But God has not declared himself as intending to exercise such power.

God ordained that Christ should be the world’s Redeemer, and that his reward should be exaltation as the first member, Head, Lord, Chief of the New Creation. God ordained also that a certain specific number should be chosen from amongst men to be his joint-heirs in the Kingdom, participants with Christ. We have every reason to believe that the definite, fixed number of the elect is that several times stated in Revelation (7:4; 14:1) – 144,000 "redeemed from amongst men."

The election or foreordination from before the foundation of the world is that there should be such a company selected. This election is illustrated by the foreordination of a certain troop of soldiers in the British army known as "The King’s Own." This troop is composed of men of large stature and special development, the various particulars of height, weight, etc., being determined in advance, and the number constituting the troop definitely fixed, before the present members of it were born.

As the royal decree ordained these physical requirements and the number which should constitute that troop, so the royal decree of the Creator fixed and limited the number who should constitute the New Creation of God, and defined not their physical measurements, but their moral qualities and heart measurements. As it was not necessary to foreordain the names of those who should constitute "The King’s Own," neither is it necessary that our Creator should foreordain the names or the individuals acceptable to him as New Creatures in Christ, under the measurements and limitations which he sets forth.

The remainder of the passage clarifies the whole matter before our minds: "Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son [that is, to be copies of his Son], that he might be the first-born among many brethren." Rom. 8:29

Such a predestination is different indeed from the one generally understood by those who have championed the doctrine of election in the past. According to their conception and teaching the passage should read, Whom he did foreknow, them he also did predestinate to escape eternal torment and experience eternal blessings in glory. How different such a view from the reasonable and proper one presented in the language of Scripture!

God predestinated that his Only Begotten One should be the Head of this New Creation. He determined long before he called any of us that none should be members of the New Creation except as they should become copies of his Son. How beautiful, how reasonable is the Scriptural doctrine of election! Who could question the Wisdom, the Justice, or the Love of such an election with such limitations as to character-likeness to Jesus, and for such a great work as God hath designed? To be joint-heirs with Christ in the blessing of all the families of the earth.

The preceding verses (22,23) state God’s purpose in calling the New Creation. They are called to receive a great blessing, and also to minister a blessing to others; namely, the groaning creation, who are travailing in pain together, waiting for the manifestation of these elect sons of God of the New Creation (Vss. 21,22) The Apostle then proceeds to show that everything is working favorably to this class which God is calling to the New Creation; that this is the meaning of present disappointments, trials, vexations, oppositions of the world, the flesh and the Adversary. These experiences are designed to work in us the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and to work out for us the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" to which we have been called, and to which we properly aspire. The Apostle traces with us the Lord’s providences in connection with these called ones for whom all things are working favorably. We are not to think of our call except as in connection with, and under, our Elder Brother. None could precede him, for only by following in his footsteps can we hope to become sharers of his glory.

Do we sometimes feel that, although the Lord is for us, Satan and sin and our own weaknesses through heredity are all against us, seeking to ensnare and stumble us? Let us reflect that, the Almighty God being on our side, none of these oppositions need cause us fear or trepidation. God is abundantly able to carry us through them all. Let us look back and note his favor toward us while we were yet sinners, in providing the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Let us reflect that if he would do all this for us as sinners, he would do much more for us now we have become his children. Much more would God favor us and do for us now that we have accepted his Son and have made a consecration, laying our little all upon the altar. We cannot think how he could do more than was represented in the gift of his Son. We may be sure that he who changes not still loves us, is still for us, and will use his power to cause all things to operate for our highest spiritual welfare and for our ultimate attainment of a place in the New Creation, if we abide in him in faith, in love, and in heart-obedience.

Let us be assured that in giving us his Son and in thus opening the way for us to attain to his call to the New Creation, the Lord has made provision in Christ for every necessity of ours which could possibly arise. Christ has great love for us, else he would not have redeemed us. His every dealing has been loving and we should not allow anything to separate us from that love. If tribulations come, we should permit them only to drive us nearer the Lord as the one who alone can succor us. If distress or persecution or famine or destitution or any peril should come upon us, should we on account of fear of these cease our love for the Lord, renounce his name and his cause and follow no longer in his footsteps, choosing rather some easier course in life? Nay, it is by these very experiences that we are to be developed as conquerors.

How could we be marked as victors if there were nothing to overcome? If the whole way were smooth and without an unfavorable grade? We have been made recipients of God’s mercies and blessings. Now he tests us, to see to what extent we are worthy to abide in his love and in his favors. He is willing that we should abide in them, and has made every necessary provision, yet he will not coerce our wills.

I am persuaded, I have confidence, that we are determined to permit nothing to separate us from the love of God manifested in Christ, neither fear of death nor love of life. None of God’s other creatures will intercept or turn aside God’s favor from us, neither angels nor principalities nor powers at present created or ever to be created. In all these things we are more than victors merely. We are adopted as sons of God on the divine plane, through him who loved us.

In this election the important steps belong to God:

(1) The predetermination to have such a New Creation;

(2) The invitation to some to develop the necessary character;

(3) The arrangement of matters so that the invited ones might be able to attain an acceptable condition in conformity to the call.

On the other hand, important steps must also be taken by those who become the elect:

(1) It is for the called ones, for whom all these preparations and arrangements have been made, to accept the call-making a full consecration.

(2) They must become so imbued with the spirit of their calling and so appreciative of their blessings that they will with zeal conform to the conditions and limitations attaching thereto.