Election
I was listening to a sermon on Election (link provided below) and took notes while listening to it. I thought people might enjoy looking over the notes to hopefully gleam some understanding from them.Notes on Election
This link is to a 40 minute sermon by Lehman Strauss on Election:
http://flester.dyndns.org/vfc/VFC-GOLD/Strauss_Lehman/Strauss-WOM-p0656-05.mp3
Guidelines in studying Election
1) The Bible does not provide all of the answers to our intellectual and theological inquiries.
There are issues involved that our finite minds cannot comprehend.
2) God is completely holy and righteous in all that He does, whether we understand his ways or not.
Psalm 145:17
3) The total extent of our knowledge is limited to that of which God chooses to reveal. Beyond the revelation of Holy Scripture, there is no room for human speculation or reasoning.
Deuteronomy 29:29
There are some things that God has not revealed and they belong to Him. What He has revealed belongs to us.
4) A work which is dependent upon God's grace cannot in any way involve man's works. Grace and works cannot be combined to establish a reason for anything God does.
Romans 11:6
Definition
Election is the sovereign act of God whereby He chooses certain parts of His creation, always to accomplish a special purpose.
God has the right to make choices, He is the sovereign God and the creator of the universe. Where would we be without God's choices? If he didn't pick people and events to accomplish his purposes, we would be drifting in a purposeless world.
Examples of election in the scriptures
Psalm 106:21 - God ELECTED Moses
Psalm 89 - God ELECTED David
New Testament examples:
Election->Salvation->Predestination->Adoption->Redemption
Ephesians 1:4 – Salvation cannot begin if God doesn’t start it. Salvation begins with election. Verse 5 - Predestination is the sovereign act of God where he sets a goal/destination for the believer. God NEVER predestinated anyone to go to hell. It’s always a destination for the believer. Adoption – spiritual blessings that come from God. He takes the born again believer and puts them in the position of a full grown mature son. Romans 8 – we are waiting for the adoption, the future of our bodies. It is yet to come. Then the doctrine of redemption in verse 7.
The real purpose for why God makes a choice. 1 Cor. 1:26. “That no flesh should glory in His presence.” God decided that sinners should be saved. He made that choice. Suppose you had something to do with your salvation. We could brag about what we did to get saved. Salvation begins with God’s election. God is pro choice. God gave man the essential attributes of personality. God created man in his own likeness and image. The includes the basic essentials of personality. The capability of thinking, the capability of feeling (emotions), and the capability of making a choice (free will.)
For those of us that made a choice to believe in Christ. Romans 8:33. It is God that justifies and declares us righteous. This is where our eternal security comes from. From God’s election. It gives us the basis for our assurance.
Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Distinguishing marks of God’s elect (those that made the choice to believe in Christ.)
Colossians 3:11 +. Every believer is among the elect of God. If you didn’t make that choice, you wouldn’t be in the family.
What is my behavior like? Do I behave as one of God’s elect?
1 Thess. 1
John 3:18 – He that believeth NOT is condemned already. Those that haven’t accepted Christ is already under condemnation. You can only get out of that condemnation by making a choice of accepting Christ. If you end up going to hell, it’s because you CHOSE to go there, not because God chose for you to go there.
It is our job to witness. And the only way we’ll know if the person we are witnessing to is one of God’s elect, is if they chose Christ. We have a responsibility to continue to witness. God has given us the capability of making a choice.
posted by Aaron @ www.HornIT.net @ 11:39 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home