“GOD HATH CHOSEN YOU”

2 THESSALONIANS 2:13

5/58

 

The mountain of truth.

 

Higher than eyes can discern – clouds, mists, darkness shroud.  Cannot discern exponent pinnacle.  Mt. Everest multiplied. 

 

See only one side at a time.  If air view, still much hidden underneath. 

 

To confess, wrong yesterday, only to acknowledge you a little wiser today.  No reflection, an honor to your good judgment.  Learning more.

 

I.                THE REVELATION OF THE ELECTION OF GOD IS WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THE BIBLE

 

Mark 13:20,22,27

Acts 13:48

Romans 8:29-33

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

 

Confessions of faith that reflect Bible summaries of doctrine.

 

The old Waldensian Creed: One of the articles of their faith:

 

“That God saves from corruption and damnation those whom He has chosen from the foundation of the world, not for any disposition, faith, or holiness that He foresaw in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ Jesus his Son, passing by all the rest, according to the irreprehensible reason of His own freewill and justice.”

 

The Church of England, Article 17, upon Predestination and Election:

 

“Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby He hath decreed by His counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom He hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation.  Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God…at length, by God’s mercy, attain to everlasting felicity.”

 

Some 30 years ago, Baptists assembled published their articles of faith:

 

Article 3:  “By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestined, foreordained, to eternal life through Jesus Christ, others being left to act in their sins to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice…Those of mankind that are predestined to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory…”

 

All of the reformers were predestinarians.  Luther as much as Calvin: a firm trust in God’s sovereignty.  In God’s work, will they were indomitable.  “It is the will of God.”

 

Sure in our life of today.

 

II.            THIS ELECTION IS

 

1.            Eternal “from the beginning.”

 

When was that?

 

Adam?

Creation?

Before time, space, world.  Only God.

 

In beginning was the Word.

In beginning chose to eternal life.

 

2.            Personal “you.”

 

He chooses nations – Israel.

He chooses kings – David.

He chooses prophets – Jeremiah.

He chooses apostles – Paul.

 

3.            Humbling “to salvation.”

 

Naught of our worth, merit.

The true saint – Why me?  Why me?

The godless do not care; not interested.

 

If more justifies by works of the law, good deeds, then election by works of the law.  But by grace.  Every virtue a gift of God – faith, repentance, belief, acceptance, the mercy of God.

 

No true saint even thought God saved him because God foresaw his faith, virtues, merits.

 

Spurgeon:

 

“If you ask me why He saved me, I can only say, because He would do it.  Was there anything in me that should recommend me to God?  No; I lay aside everything.  I have nothing to recommend me.  When God saved me, I was the most abject, lost, and ruined of the race.  Verily, I had no power to help myself.  Oh, how wretched did I feel and know myself to be!  If you had something to recommend you to God, I never had.  I will be content to be saved by grace, unalloyed, pure grace. I can boast of no merits.  If you can do so, I cannot.  I must sing:

 

Free grace alone,

From the first to the last,

Hath won my affection

And held my soul fast.”

 

III.        PURPOSE – ULTIMATE RESULTS

 

 

Sanctification of the Spirit, belief of the truth.

 

Not to heaven or to hell, but to belief and truth and those create the difference.  God’s election not a mechanical decree followed by automatic human submission – as a man night turn wheels; if so, all saved for God wills that all come to a knowledge of the truth.  But elected to wills that if a man accepts, believes, trusts, he is elect of God.  If refuses, despises, turns down, non-elect.

 

The Non-Elect.

 

Do not want the Lord, the Savior, to be saved, the church, the house of God.  Should God make you take it? 

 

Compare:  A gift in my hand.  You don’t want it.  Despise it.  Dislike it.  Then I give it to some one else.  You no right to grumble, unfair. 

 

Don’t want religion.

Don’t want a new heart.

Don’t want forgiveness.

Don’t want sanctification.

 

Compare:  Walking down Ervay Street.  “What a shame.  I not in that church; no place for me.” We invite.  “Come, welcome, our Christ, truth, sanctification.”  “No, rather stay outside, go fishing, play golf.”  He has no right to grumble.  Despise what we hold precious.

 

The Elect:

 

In there one this a.m. who wishes to be saved, regenerate to have the world of sin, walk in holiness, a new heart, a new man.  “Yes, there is, says one here, I do.”  Then God has elected you.  But another says, “No, I do not want to be holy, to give up sin, world…”  God not elect you. 

 

This is God’s election.  To sanctification, belief, whosoever believes, receives, trusts is elect.  Comes to the Lord, cast yourself upon the mercy of Christ, trust in Him, your name in the Book of Life.