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2 Timothy 1:8 – 14
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. Last October we studied the doctrine of God’s sovereignty or providence. We can summarize that doctrine by saying God’s sovereignty means: He is totally free to do as He wants, when He wants, in the way He wants! Now we turn to, what, in human terms, would be considered the first step in the redemptive process. And that first step is explained in the doctrine of election. Let’s begin with:
- ELECTION EXPLAINED! This doctrine is more easily understood if we look at the definition as three distinct truths: 1. Election is an act of God before creation in which He chooses some people to be saved. That’s a simple definition of what the biblical doctrine of election is. There are two further truths that must be added to this definition: 2. Election is not on account of any foreseen merit in any person; 3. Election is only because of God’s good pleasure. H. Strong is another of my favorite theologians. This is my paraphrase of his explanation for the necessity of the doctrine of election. “The depravity of the human will is such that if God did not extend his special influences upon some, to draw them to salvation, then all, without exception, would reject Christ’s offer of salvation to them, so that all, without exception, must spend eternity in hell.” Or if God doesn’t take the initiative and influence some people to be saved – no one would ever be saved. Let’s look at just a few examples of God taking the initiative toward sinful man. Go to Gen. 3:9. Notice how Adam’s sin made him afraid of God and caused him to try to hide from God. Now go to Luke 15. Read v. 3-4; It was the Shepherd who went looking for the sheep. Looked down at v. 8. The woman went looking for the lost coin. Now look at v. 17 – when he came to himself = is the influence of God the Father that “causes the prodigal to realize his sin, and desire to return to his father. But before the son came to the father, the father went looking for his lost son! The two preceding parables of the sheep and lost coin teach us 2 important lessons: 1. We don’t even realize we’re lost. One of the effects of sin that makes it so dangerous and destructive is that it causes us to think we are okay in our lost condition, and we don’t need to go looking for salvation. The other lesson is 2. God must come looking for us, because we will not go looking for Him. The effect of number 1 is the reason for number 2. Do you see that? Now let’s consider
- ELECTION ESTABLISHED! I want to share just three of those ways with you. 1. As a means of consolation. See Rom. 8:28-30. I read an interesting definition of the word “good” as it is used in v. 28. It means “conformity to Christ,” rather than earthly comfort. 2. The NT also presents the doctrine of election as a means of adoration. Go to Eph. 1:5, 6, 12, 14. Ultimately all praise, both in heaven and on earth, goes to God because of His redemptive heart. Now go to 1 Thess. 1:2, 4; hold that thought and go to 2 Thess. 2:13. Paul’s point here is that praise belongs to God because in eternity past He chose not just these Thessalonian Christians, but all Christians including you, to be saved. 2. The NT also presents the doctrine of election as a means of adoration. Go to Eph. 1:5, 6, 12, 14. Ultimately all praise, both in heaven and on earth, goes to God because of His redemptive heart. Now go to 1 Thess. 1:2,4; hold that thought and go to 2 Thess. 2:13. Paul’s point here is that praise belongs to God because in eternity past He chose not just these Thessalonian Christians, but all Christians including you, to be saved.
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