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Answers to Correspondents.
pp. 107 - 109
A.50: (Australia) writes:--
(A).--"In one issue of The Berean Expositor you speak of `an (1) election
within an (2) election', and in The Companion Bible, App. 196(4) it says:--
`Christ's death upon the cross linked up again the connection
with God. (1) For all who are the chosen subjects of His grace
(Eph. 1: 4), and (2) For all who will believe and consequently
become subjects of His grace (Rom. 10: 11-13).'
I presume both statements marked (1) refer to the mystery
dispensation, while both marked (2) refer to the mystery form of the
kingdom; if the latter statement is not correct, please enlighten us as to
where the mysteries of the kingdom are fulfilled, and what is the position of
organized Christianity as existing to-day, if it is not the mystery form of the
kingdom."
The phrase, "an election within an election", is explained more fully than anywhere
else in Dispensational Truth, page 271, particularly in its chapter sub-title, "Is
membership of the one body co-extensive with salvation?" (see also pages 24-26 of our
Pamphlet, "Tested Truth"). Our conclusion then and our present belief is that
membership of the one body is not co-extensive with salvation. We believe that salvation
is wider than either kingdom, bride or body, each of these being a peculiar calling within
the larger one.
We cannot see how the words quoted can be compared with the note of The
Companion Bible, for that confessedly deals with two classes, one elect, the other not
elect, whereas we deal with two classes, one elect, and a narrowed circle within it. Class
No.1 of The Companion Bible contains both (1) and (2) of our own. We do not believe
the "whosoever will" period is yet in force, but that only those who are elect are at
present being saved. Our question has not to do with those who come under the wider
circle, but to consider whether at the present moment every saved man is ipso facto a
member of the body. We do not believe that he is.
Organised Christianity is a term that means more or less according to the user.
Disorganized Christianity is not ideal, nor is it necessarily spiritual. We believe,
however, that you use the term to mean Christendom. If so, that is much like the world, a
field in which tares and wheat both grow together until the harvest. The mysteries of the
kingdom cover the entire field from the rejection of Christ until His second coming and
so in some measure include both the good and the bad that fill the interval.
We are not quite happy about the expression "the mystery form of the kingdom", for
these phrases may be fixing in the mind unscriptural conclusions. The Lord speaks of the