Later the others also came. "Sir! Sir!" they said. "Open the door for us!" But he replied, "I tell you the truth, I don't know you." Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:11-13—NIV)

The Scripture clearly states that the members of the Church, the royal priesthood, are elected according to the sovereign choices of God. The Scripture clearly states also that in order for the sovereign choices and decisions to operate they must be activated by the choices of the individual. Both of these conditions must be accepted in full force if we are to be wholly scriptural.

If you will think carefully about the above two passages you may notice that they seemingly are contradictory.

The first verse, Romans 9:16, declares that the calling of God does not depend on what people do.

The second passage, Matthew 25:11-13, cautions the believers to be careful to keep filled with the Spirit of God. If they do not, Jesus warns, the door will be shut in their face when the Lord appears.

Both concepts are equally true and valid. Many verses can be presented to support each of the positions. To favor one over the other is to invite error in both thinking and practice.

Let me tell you what got me started on the topic of Divine intervention and human activation.

A couple of days ago I received via E-mail a question from someone who is on our daily essay list.

This reader asked to the effect: "You are stating the Law of Moses holds sway over us until such time as we reckon ourselves crucified with Christ and resurrected with Christ. Isn't it true rather that it is God who has set aside the Law of Moses and it is not determined by our reckoning ourselves crucified and resurrected with Christ?"

This is certainly a respectable question.

I looked to the Lord for the answer. I will tell you how I responded to our friend.

The first point is that the Ten Commandments are an abridged form of the eternal moral law of God. Because the eternal moral law of God is God's very Nature, and is written in the conscience of people, it can never be done away with. Under the old covenant the moral law was written on tablets of stone. Under the new covenant the moral law is written in the mind and heart. The moral law of God always shall be the basis by which God's creatures are finally judged.

The second point is Paul's statement concerning the manner by which we come out from under the requirement that we obey the Ten Commandments by means of our own effort:

In order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:4—NIV)

If we are to pass from the authority of the Law of Moses to the Law of the Spirit of Life, and still receive the righteousness that comes from keeping the Law of Moses perfectly, there is something we must do. We must turn aside from the lusts of our sinful nature and live according to the desires of the Spirit of God. This requires a life of cross-carrying obedience, of daily prayer and Bible reading, of fellowshiping with the saints, and of presenting our body a living sacrifice to God.

To be continued.