Humanism is man making himself God. Humanism is of the spirit of rebellion against God. We are rebelling against God when we tell Him that He cannot love Jacob and hate Esau before they were born; that He cannot harden Pharaoh's heart; that He cannot give Egypt as a ransom for Israel, His chosen people.

We shall never understand God or His salvation until we are willing to let God be God, to call out from the world whomever He wishes, to exalt one person and put down another. The potter has authority and power over the clay. We are in no position to question God's rights or His judgment.

There are other verses we could add to set forth the doctrine of Divine calling. We think we have included enough, and the inquirer can discover many additional passages. Salvation is of the Lord. God knows those who belong to Him. If we are to grow in the Lord and minister effectively we must recognize that we are saints—holy ones called out from the world by the Lord. We must recognize also that throughout the world there are others whom God has called to be part of the royal priesthood. God will show each one of us his particular role in building the Body of Christ.

In addition we are to be bearing a true witness of God so the secular governments will have a moral light by which to govern people according to God's will. Christians are the salt of the earth. They make the earth palatable to God. They are the light of the world so all people may understand how they can live in the will of God.

The End-time Revival

The two thousand years from the birth of Christ compose the Church Age. During this period the emphasis is on calling out God's elect and building them into the image of Christ, and pressing them into untroubled union with God.

But what about the remainder of mankind?

When the Lord builds Zion to His satisfaction He will appear with His saints and holy angels. Then the people of the nations will be judged, some being assigned to eternal life and some cast into the Lake of Fire.

Much is stated in both the Old and New Testaments concerning the nations that will enter salvation when the royal priesthood is ready to appear with the Lord.

For the earnest expectation of the creature [the material creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

The nations will believe in the Lord Jesus when the Church has entered the rest of union with Christ in God.

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)

To be continued.