SUB: God's Purpose in Grace. Divine Election.
Text: 2 Tim 1: 9
Intro: 1) The slippery slope of modernism and its consequences.
a. Synagogues of Satan.
b. "Churches" filled with the unsaved pressured to "profess of faith in Christ"
c. Deliberately keeping congregations in ignorace, dependent on "pastors".
2) The need before us is to preach the "full counsel of God"
. 3) God honors His word. Preach the Truth.
4) The subject is a forgotten one in "modern christianity"
1. THE DOCTRINE: Its definition. We first look at its view within the historical Baptist faith. I quote some noted theologians.
A. A. H. Strong: President of Rochester Seminary. "Election is that eternal act of God, in which by His sovereign pleasure, on account of no foreseen merit in them, He chose out of a number of sinful men, to be the recipients of the special grace of His Spirit, and so to be made voluntary partakers of Christ's salvation"
B. T. P. Simmons: author of A Systematic Study of Bible Doctrines. " Election is the fundamental principle of the saving grace of God. It is the Sovereignty of God in respect to the salvation of men.
C. J. P. Boyce: Founder and President of the Souther Baptist Theological Seminary. " God, of His own purpose, has from eternity determined to save a number of mankind, as individuals; not for, or because of any merit or work of theirs, nor of any value to Him of them, but of His own good pleasure."
D. B. H. Carroll. Founder and First President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: "What is Election? Choice towards individuals. When was this choice made? Before the world was. As we were not there then, in whom was it made? In Christ. To what end? That we should be holy and without blemish in love. He blessed us at that time in foreordination. What does it mean? To decree beforehand. Concerning whom? The particular individuals that were elected. Unto what? The adoption of sons. Through Whom? Through Jesus Christ. According to what? The good pleasure of His Will. To what end? To the praise and glory of His grace.?
E. John Bunyan: Author of The Pilgrim's Progress. : I believe that election is free and permanent being founded in grace and in the unchangeable Will of God...before the foundation of the world...is so far off from making works in us foreseen, the ground of the choice...predestinated to be conforme to the image of His Son."
F. J. M. Pendleton: That God chose in Christ certain members of the fallen race of Adam, before the foundation of the world, unto eternal glory, according to His own purpose and grace, without regard to their foreseen faith and good works, or any condition performed by them, and that from the rest of mankind He witheld His grace, and left them to dishonor and the just punishment of their sin."
G. Broadus, Fuller, Gill, Pink, Spurgeon, Boyce Taylor, Augustine, Gottschalk, Calvin, Wycliff, Custance and so many others believe that God's purpose in grace is the election of some of fallen mankind, not because of any forseen faith or merit, to an eternal heritance in Heaven.
H. My simple definition is that Election is that God, before the foundation of the world, for reason known only to Him, according to His sovereign good pleasure, chose some and only them from fallen humanity, to be the recepients of a complet salvation, purchased by Jesus Christ our Lord by His Vicarious suffering.
11. THE DOCTRINE: Its defense. I will use two sources of defense. One, the Word of God and two, human reasoning. It is important though to understand that if human reasoning conflicts with the Word of God, then we must stick to the Word and reject the reasoning for His ways are not our ways.
A. Can we trust the Bible as being the Word of God?
i) It claims to be the Word of God. 2 Tim 3: 16,17. 2 Pet 1: 21; Psa 119:89.
ii) Jesus accepted the authority of the Scriptures for He ofter said : "have you not read... it is written." He said in John 10:35..." the Scripture cannot be broken."
iii) The Prophets accepted the Word as coming from God.
iv) The Apostles accepted the Word as of God.
B. Specific Scriptures that documents the Doctrine of Election.
i) As an act of God. John 15:16. Mark 13:20. James 2:5. Luke 18:17. 1 Thess 1:4.
ii) As God's sovereign act. Rom 11: 15,18. Eph 1:4,5.
iii) As unto salvation. Acts 13:48. 2 Thess 2: 13. 2 Tim 1:9. John 10: 26,27.
iv) As to an eternal salvation. 1 Pet 1: 3-5. John 10:28.
v} Its a personal election Rev 5:9. 2 Thess 2:13.
C. Human reasoning is also consistent with the Doctrine of Election.
i) Since the Scriptures declare all of humanity as being totally depraved (Rom 3:23; 2 Chron 6:26; Isa 53:6; Isa 1: 6) and also unable to come to God for salvation, ( Rom 3:10,11. John 6:44; John 5:40; Eph 2:1) If any is to be saved, then it must be of God's choosing. The fact that some go to Hell in itself is enough to prove that God elects some to salvation and others go to Hell.
ii) Human reasoning also tels us that because of God's Justice, there must be an Election. Justice demands punishment for sins. Since Christ died for the sins of some and not all, those He died for had to be chosen and not because of any particular good qualities for all are guilty. Those "some" are called "His people" (Matt 1:21.) He also calls them "My people" (Isa 53: 8) They are the "many" of Isa 53: 11,12. He died and gave Himself a ransom for these "many" (Matt 20 28. Mark 10:45).
D. The word "foreknowledge" in Rom 8:29; 1 Pet 1: 2 refers to people, not works or foreseen faith.
i) Foreknowledge here is not of acts but of persons. The persons whom He foreknew. Even if the Arminian theory, (God foreknew that they would believe so He chose them) was correct, then that too will be preposterous. I say that because, if something is certain to happen, then it must be predetermined. Hence, Predetermination before Foreknowledge. "Foreknowledge implies fixity and fixity implies Decrees" A.H. Strong.
E. The words, "knew, foreknew, know" does not always have reference to prescience or the ability of knowing, but also to "bestowing favor upon" or "blessing one". Matt 7:21
A.W. Pink says... When that term is used in connection with God, it often signifies... to regard with favor, denoting not mere cognition but an affection for the object in viev. Jer 1:5; Ex 33:17.
F. The Arminian say this doctrine makes God unfair to some. The fact of the matter is that all deserves to go to Hell. That the Sovereign God chooses to do whatever He wants is His right. Dan 4:35. Rom 9:11-23. That some are choses is reason to worship the Sovereign God.
G. The Arminian says that this doctrine discourages preaching of the Gospel. On the contrary, it encourages the preaching of the Gospel.
i) He gave us a Commission. Matt 28:18-20. If we love Him we obey Him. John 14:15.
ii) John 10: 27; we know that there are sheep out there to hear.
iii) It encourages the preaching of a truly Full Gospel which is a Scriptural invitation. Luke 19:10; Matt 11:28; John 6:37; Acts 2: 38; John 14:15.
Concl: i) The Bible is very clear about this God-honoring truth. Todays "christianity" would have us believe that a helpless, pitiful God is waiting on His creation to "accept Him or reject Him", that is not the God of the Bible. He chooses us, He calls us, He gives us a new heart, He enables us, He keeps, and He will glorify us.
ii) My belief in the Doctrine of Election motivates me to obey the Great Commission. I know that His sheep are out there; I know they will follow Him; I go with the unadulterated Word ( not a watered down "gospel") because I trust Him to save His own.
iii) May He give us the grace to faithfully proclaim these God-honoring Truths to His honor and glory.
