BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. CHAPTER VIIL THE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION. § 88. Election and Calling. Comp. Weiss, die Praedestinationslehre des Apostels Paulus, in den Jahrbuchern für deutsche Theologie, 1857, 1; W. Beyschlag, die Paulinische Theodicee, Berlin 1868. 罪 HE assurance of the individual depends on his calling to the fellowship of the Christian Church, as by this calling the divine purpose of election begins to be realized towards him (a). God has in Himself the absolute right, à priori, to create men to salvation or destruction, and by the free action of His power to lead on to this goal; but in regard to the Christian salvation He has availed Himself of His right only in so far as, independently of all human works and deserts, He determines according to His absolute will to what conditions He will attach His grace (b). The condition with which He has connected His election is now nothing else than the love which He foreknew in the receptive soul (c). But the elect are called when God by His gospel works faith in them (d). (a) If the course of the development of the Christian life is exposed to troubles of many kinds (§ 86), which may hinder it from reaching its goal; and if God alone can so strengthen him who is in trial, that he continue to stand (Rom. xiv. 4, xvi. 25),—then the Christian must have the assurance that God will even do this. This assurance rests on the faithfulness of God, who does not allow trial to become too severe (1 Cor. x. 13; VOL. II. A |