I delivered this message at a midweek service on March 5, 2003.
Introduction: There are certain subjects that you just don’t bring up in discussion, because they are bound to stir up debate and contention. Such is the subject that I would like to discuss tonight. It has been the source of heated controversy, and as a result is has been the victim of extreme mischaracterization. As a result the doctrine has been stigmatized as being doctrine for the theology, rather than comfort for the average Christian. Sadly, in most churches today it is simply ignored, and most Christians know very little about it, and what they do know is probably not very biblical.
The doctrine that I am referring to and that we will be considering this evening is the doctrine of election. This is the biblical teaching that God has chosen us, from all eternity, to be His special people, and that that choice was not based on us but on His good pleasure, and that that choice guarantees the salvation of all of His people.
I am not going to really spend much time tonight in the intricacies of establishing and defending this definition of election. That is not my purpose. What I would like to do is seek to restore this doctrine as the wonderful, precious, motivating, encouraging, confidence building doctrine that God has intended it to be for His church. This doctrine of election is immensely practical and should influence your life on a daily basis.
I. The Theology of Election
A. The nature of election: unto salvation
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
B. The timing of election: before the foundation of the world
Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.
C. The basis of election: God’s own good pleasure
1. Not anything in man
2. God’s own good pleasure
Romans 11:5–6 “In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Ephesians 1:4–6 “…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,1 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1:9–12 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
Romans 9:11–16 “For though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." 13 Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED." 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.
D. The purpose of election: the praise of God’s glorious grace
Ephesians 1:4–6 …He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…having predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself… to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Ephesians 1:11–12 …we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
II. The Application of Election
A. Election is the ground of our holiness
Colossians 3:12–13 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Paul gives a long list of exhortations and commands to the people that they are to manifest in their lives, and he does by arguing that this is the natural response to being the elect of God. Because God has chosen you because He has loved you and because He has chosen you to be holy, you must pursue sanctification.
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
B. Election is the ground of our assurance
God does not intend for knowledge of one’s election to be kept a secret and be unknowable. To the contrary, Paul says that he knows the election of the Thessalonians. If Paul new it, then presumably they could as well.
1 Thessalonians 1:2–10 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
The elect can know they have been chosen by the change that God brings about in their life. And diligently pursuing this change and seeing God accomplishing it by His grace, knowledge of one’s election can be attained. But knowledge of one’s election does not come through passivity, but by actively manifesting the fruits of election.
2 Peter 1:10–11 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
C. Election is the ground of our hope.
Flowing right out of this assurance is an unshakable hope and stability of soul that allows the Christian to go through the most uncertain and trying circumstances.
Romans 8:28–39 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul used this very doctrine to calm the trouble Thessalonians who were being persecuted and uncertain about the coming of the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 2:13–17 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
D. Election is the ground of our humility
1 Corinthians 1:26–29 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.
This passage is one of the clearest that states negatively why God has designed salvation the way He has. He chooses a foolish message and unlikely recipients “so that no man may boast before God” (v. 29). No individual has any claim to God’s salvation, nor did he do anything (that God did not first cause) to receive that salvation. The result is that Christians should be filled with a humble gratitude as they often reflect upon that fact that they would still be pursuing sinfulness had God not chosen them and saved them.
E. Election is the ground of our praise God
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
By God’s design and by His effecting that plan in time is Jesus Christ our all in all. And it is so that we might boast in the Lord and His free grace alone.
Ephesians 1:4–6 “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1:11–12 “Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.”
The whole plan of salvation has as its ultimate to design to bring all the hosts of heaven into continual praise for God’s wonderful grace and wisdom (cf. 1:13–14; 2:4–7; 3:8–11)
Notice how Paul acknowledged salvation as belonging to God alone as he continually thanked Him for choosing and for saving. We thank people for what they do, not for what someone else does.
1 Thessalonians 1:2–4 “We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers… [because we are] knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
F. Election is the ground of our confidence evangelism.
2 Timothy 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
Paul’s zeal for evangelism was rooted in the fact of election, not in spite of it.
Acts 18:9–10 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city."
Knowledge that God has an elect people to save should give boldness to the preacher of the gospel.
John 10:16 "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
Here is a beautiful juxtaposition of urgency and certainty. Just must bring them in. They are not going to come on their own. And presumably, it is this same work that he is still accomplishing through His church, so that we bear a responsibility in this work and share in the sense of its urgency. But urgency and responsibility to do take away at all from the certain success that Jesus will accomplish.
Notes
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