Election in Christ Jesus

2 Timothy 1:9-10 ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

I hope to write one sermon for this week for this Sunday worship to start off.  It does not mean this replaces the Sunday worship in a corporate body of Christian believers at a local church but adds to their Puritan edification.  I hope to write an exalting sermon on the truth of election in the Reformed church.  I believe this position of election is a profound subject and we should love it because it is the rock of the Scriptures.  I am drawing from the writings of John Calvin when I write this sermon.  The resource that I have drawn from is Grace and Its Fruits: Selections From John Calvin On The Pastoral Epistles.  If you have any comments or suggestions, please email me at reformedapologist31@gmail.com.  Thank you.

We are saved by God alone through Jesus Christ alone by His Spirit.  We are called with a holy calling.  The Spirit comes with the Word of God and through spiritual application applies Christ to our hearts and gives us new hearts of flesh and takes out of the heart of stone.  We are not saved by our works.  The Scriptures are clear that we are saved by the work of Christ alone.  We are saved by His own purpose and grace before the world began in Christ Jesus.  Jesus came to destroy death and bring life through the gospel.  Here are some Scriptures that say we are saved by faith alone:

Titus 3:5 KJV

⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 4:1-5 KJV

4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

² For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
³ For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
⁴ Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
⁵ But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

If we wish to have a correct understanding of the free mercy of God, we must start at the eternal counsel of God in Jesus Christ.  In this, He chose us before the foundation of the world.   In the eternal counsel, God had no regard to our persons, worthiness or good deeds but saved us by His free mercy.   We were enrolled in His register and He already adopted us as His beloved children.   We ought, therefore, contribute everything to His free mercy.  We ought to never rob God or boast in ourselves.  We ought to boast in God through Jesus Christ because we have the honor of belonging to Him.

Some have tried to weaken the awesome grace of God through trivial objections.  They claim that God foresaw people in the future and chose them because they were different people.  The Divine Word is clear and plain: God did not wait to see if they were worthy before He chose them.  The opponents of this doctrine "quibble" over election and place a shadow over the grace of Christ.  God did not have an eye on those who would come.  That is, He did not chose them because they would respond in faith.  This, indeed, is a man-made doctrine.  The opponents of election claim that God foresaw that Esau would be an evil man and Jacob a good man.  They claim this is the reason why God chose one and rejected the other.  


These are unsound speculations.  St. Paul makes plain that God gave them no rewards for our work.  God chose us in Christ freely.  He chose us before the world began.  I think if Scripture did not agree with election plain reason would be against them.  If we look within ourselves, what good can we find?  Truly, there is no good thing in us if we are honest.  Can we not tell that all men are under the fall of Adam and under a curse?  What do we take with us from our mother's womb except sin?  


God is pleased to take some for His own.  This is the difference between Esau and Jacob.   It is God who makes men to differ.  Paul makes reference that none of us can rejoice based on our own goodness.  God is the One who makes the distinction between us both.  If God chose us before the world began, He chose us by His grace.  He bestowed upon us that goodness of His grace which we did not have before.  He chose us to be heirs of the kingdom of heaven.  He justifies and governs us by His Holy Spirit.  It is His Holy Spirit that does the task to make us holy and conform us to His image.  The matter of election unto holiness is without doubt and no Christian should doubt it.


Some fight against the doctrine of election.  We may reject it all together because of this; however, the opponents of this doctrine of election need to know they are resisting and fighting against the Holy Spirit.  Such men behavior like animals when opposing this great doctrine of the Christian faith.  These people undermine the Holy Scriptures.  Let us hold fast to the doctrine of election.  The matter of spiritual salvation must be attributed to the doctrine of God's free goodness.  We confess that He did not take us to be His children because of our merit.  We never had anything to recommend ourselves.  We never had anything to win His favor.  This is where the Romanist fail in their theology; that is, they say we are good.  Scientology also says that man is basically good; however, Rome at least says man has some depravity.  God and God alone is the cause and fountain of our spiritual salvation.  We ought to be firmly grounded upon this foundation.  Whatever we build on this doctrine of election is sure to succeed, but if we fail at building upon it will come to naught.   

Paul joins the grace of Christ and the everlasting counsel of God in Christ alone.  After this, He brings us to His calling.  It is so we can be assured of His goodness and His will.  The grace of God depends upon the plan and purpose of God.  It is included in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We were God's eternal and mortal enemies.  We needed to be grafted into Jesus Christ so we can be granted to be His children.  If we were not grafted into God He would hate us, because there is nothing be fifth in us.  All of us are filled with sin and all kinds of sin.  Indeed, we are filled with all sorts of iniquity.  

God is the King of justice and He can no fellowship with us because of our sinful nature.  The sinful nature is totally corrupt.  God adopted us before the world began.  Jesus Christ had to stand between us and him.  That is, that we would be chosen in Him because the Son is well-beloved.  God joins us to Him and makes us His children.  This is well-pleasing to God the Father.  May we come directly to Jesus Christ!  Jesus is the true looking-glass upon which we see our true election.  If we have doubts about our election, may we come to Christ and He will make us sure of our election.  


If Jesus were kept from us, God would be our judge.  Without Jesus we would be objects of His vengeance because we have no native goodness.  God's majesty would be a terrible and fearful thing.  If we hear His eternal purpose, we could not help but be alarmed.  We would be beneath the oceans of His wrath.  However, all grace rests on Jesus and if we are assured of this, we will have great assurance though we were corrupt and unworthy.

Paul does not simply speak on election but the 'calling' of God.  God makes known His counsel but His counsel was previously unknown.  How can we find out that God has chosen us?  How can we know to rejoice in Him because of His free goodness?  We must not speak rashly against God's election because we leave the gospel to the side.  They leave aside the gospel so we can be brought to God.  They leave aside everything God uses to bring us to Him.  I think it is a matter of self-destruction and sin.  We ought not to go in this direction but, as Calvin says, link the calling of God to His eternal election.  I do not believe this has its origin in Calvin but the Word of God alone.

We are called by God the Spirit; that is, this is what has been said by the Word of God alone.  God calls us, but we must wonder, how?  He certifies us eternal election but we could not achieve it unless God initiates.  Isaiah and Paul both ask, "how can enter into God's counsel?"  God's condescension to us is evident in the written Word.  It surpasses the knowledge of all men.  The good and faithful witness is the Holy Spirit.  He raises us above the world and gives us His great secrets.

We should not speak of God's election by itself.  We have been predestined in Christ.  We should not take lightly God's choosing us for spiritual salvation.  We should inquire deeply into this real truth and mystery.  We should look at what is set forth in the gospel.  In the gospel, God shows us that He is our Heavenly Father.  He has chosen us and brought us to inheritance of life.  We have knowledge that is the seal of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.  It is also an undoubted witness to our salvation but we must receive it by faith.  However, the gospel is preached to people who are reprobate.  God exposes them for what they are.  That is, He exposes them and they have no part in the kingdom.  They resist the gospel and cast it aside.  We must receive the gospel with obedience and faith.  We must rest ourselves on God's promises.  We must accept it and take it as His children.  God predestined us to salvation through the Spirit's work in accepting and embracing the gospel.   This does not cancel out God's eternal predestination in accepting and embracing the faith of the gospel.  

The gifts of spiritual salvation is grace and faith of God.  God has chosen people who have faith, and John Calvin asks, 'Who are those whom God has chosen, if they are not those who have faith?'  They who draw this mistaken conclusion is that faith is the cause of our spiritual salvation.   God says in His Word that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone.  Faith is the means by which we embrace Christ, but it is higher than this.  We do not attribute this to man's free will in terms of cooperation with God.  If we contribute to our spiritual salvation we "blaspheme wickedly against God and are guilty of sacrilege" (pg. 34).  We do not contribute to spiritual salvation.  We are not capable in and of ourselves in receiving the gospel.  The gospel is what the Holy Spirit gives us.  The gospel is the Person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  


We ought not to wait for the preaching of the Word of God.  God the Holy Spirit has to work in us in a secret matter.  It is from this work that faith comes.  Calvin asks, "Who is the cause of it?  Why is faith given to one and not another?"  (pg. 34).  God appointed spiritual salvation for those who came to faith in Acts 13:48.  Paul speaks in great detail in his epistle to the Ephesians.  God's enemies of God's predestination is lacking in sense and reason.  These people are blinded by the devil and are wholly under his spell.  Predestination is so clear and evident.  God has called us.   He made us partakers of His treasures and infinite riches.  He brought this to us through our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ.   It was done by His choice before the foundation of the world.   By eternal election He chose us by faith in Him.  If someone rejects this, it lessons His honor.  Predestination is the truth of God and is in every part of Scripture. 

Let us understand the basis for our spiritual assurance of salvation.  How can we tell if we have been chosen by God?  What is the so-called test in knowing someone is chosen of God?  God has made us His and called in Jesus Christ.  This is how we can tell if we belong to Christ if He Himself has called us.  How can we know we are of the elect?  We must make a big issue out of the grace of God, for it is in the grace of God that we stand.  We cannot recommend ourselves to His favor because we are radically corrupt.  We cannot claim any praise for ourselves.  The very trust of God came from God.  That is, we have no room to boast.  God has called us unto the gospel and chose us before the world began.  


However, election remains hidden from us because it is very high but we may see it as it is: God chose us before time began and called unto the gospel by faith.  We ought to be in no doubt of our spiritual salvation in Christ Jesus.  That is, we have this confidence because of the evidence of faith and repentance.  God takes us as His children by His awesome grace.  And this testimony carries peace with it because we were purchased by His blood and sealed by the Holy Spirit.  We have enough to understand that we belong to God in and through Jesus Christ our great God and Redeemer!  The confidence we have is the gospel and that God has taught it to us by the Spirit of God.  God has registered our names in the heavens and we ought not to doubt this.  He did this before the world began.   We can rest our faith on eternal election because of the evidence of the gospel.  


When we talk of our election, we ought to come to Jesus.  God's decree is for us.  We could be hit with alarm because of God's awesome decree.  If Jesus is our guide, He is worthy enough to be our confidence, for He is the arm of the Lord.  We are grafted into His one body and made one with Him.  We ought to meditate on eternal election.  We must go beyond nature to know how we are saved.  God does not leave us in doubt nor does He hide His counsel.  He has given us His witness of love in our hearts by His Fatherly love.  We ought to glorify God in and through Jesus.  And abundant grace is revealed through Jesus and His first coming.  We are given light and immorality because of the glorious gospel of grace.   It is interesting to note that Rome denies God's free mercy and one must obtain mercy through the sacraments.


I hope you enjoyed some of my notes on my sermon on election.  We are not chosen by anything good or bad we have done but by His free goodness and free mercy.  However, I think greater sinners are saved more often than small sinners.  That does not mean we ought to sin more but it means we should rest on His free grace to live unto holiness.  We are never condemned and there is nothing we can do to stop being saved.  There is no sin that can break His eternal counsel in His sovereign election.  There is nothing in all creation that can destroy the great doctrine of election.  The devils hate this doctrine from God because there is nothing they can do to undo what God has done.  

May the grace, peace and mercy of God be with you!  May all glory, power, greatness, awesomeness, worship, veneration, honor, esteem, and love be to Him for lives forevermore in the unapproachable light.  Amen. 

 ^{Romans 9:11-13 11} (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)¹² It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.¹³ As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

A Reformed Study of the Book of Philemon

This is a study on the book of Philemon.  I will add things throughout the week for a Wednesday type study of this precious book of the Bible.  Paul wrote this Beloved Epistle from Rome in prison.  Paul had liberty to receive all in his hired house (Acts 28:30, "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him" NIV).  Onesimus was the reason Paul wrote to Philemon.  He was blessed by Paul's preaching and the Lord blessed him with the Word of Christ.  The probable date may be AD 60 but some theologians place it later.  Philemon's runaway servant was Onesimus.  May the good Lord bless this to the hearts of those edified.  Amen.  The apostle Paul addressed it to Philemon.  He wanted to receive back his servant Onesimus.  Paul wanted him forgiven of all wrongs.  Paul opens his letter with salutations of grace and peace. 

Philemon 1

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

Paul was a prisoner of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It means that Paul was captive to the Lord's will and he was in the safe keeping of Christ.  No one could take Paul out of the hand of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer.  It would keep his sinful nature submissive to the will of Christ.  It means Paul belonged to Christ alone.  No one could take Paul out of the hand of God.  

Jesus Christ is the good Lord's name; that is, Jesus is his name but Christ is His title.  He is the Savior and God of our souls.   His name is often despised and rejected of men, but also it is accepted by men of regenerated faith by the Spirit and the Word.  Anyone who rejects Jesus is condemned.  Only those who embrace Jesus Christ by faith, focus, trust and confidence have Him as their Lord and Redeemer.  

The visible church is made up of brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.  Timothy was Paul's brother in the faith of Christ.  Philemon was a dear brother and a fellow-worker in Christ.  The church is made up of those who follow Christ.  The visible church is also made up of those who 'claim' to follow Christ but do not follow Christ.  It's a mere profession of faith but the church consists of those who possess faith in Christ.  We ought to hold each others faith dear.  We are dearly beloved saints and sisters.  No one can take the Lord's love for us.  The Lord's love for us is known as beloved.  The saints are the beloved of God and Christ Jesus.  We all ought to be like beloved John.  He had a special love for Jesus Christ; however, Jesus loves us all equally.  All of us ought to be beloved saints and workers to the blessed King eternal.  All of us have a purpose in His blessed church.  We ought to labor as a fellowladourer in the church of Jesus Christ.  We will encounter enemies within and without the Christian church. 

 ² And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 


All the saints are beloved and fellowsoldiers in the Christian church.  The churches were in houses.  We are loved by God by His grace alone.  The church holds up the written and inspired Word of God to preach and teach.  We ought to love one another but it does not mean to damn each other.  If we are "beloved" it means to love one another because that's whats in the heart.  The Christian church is a place of love and beloved friendship and fellowship with each other.  We are all soldiers for Jesus Christ and wear His armor.  We wear His armor as a covering against wickedness and demons and the kingdom of Satan.  The covering is His helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, girdle of truth, preparation of the peace of the Gospel, the sword of the Spirit and the helmet of salvation.  Here like the saints Paul speaks from his heart and to his beloved friends.  We ought to prize this as the Word of God.  Yes, it is a small chapter but it is a sacred piece of literature and commendable to the fine arts of biblical study.   


³ Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 



We see this frequently in the Epistles of St. Paul.  He speaks of grace and peace.  The grace of God is the unified merit of Christ alone.  The peace of God is the peace Christ procures for us through His life and death.  We have grace and peace through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  There is no grace and peace apart from Jesus Christ.  However, there is a grace that is not a true grace and a peace that is not a true peace.  Grace and peace come from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is the true grace and peace of God in and through Jesus.  Let us look at the verses that contain the salutations of grace and peace, for it is common only to the centrality of the Glad Tidings of the Gospel. 


Romans 1:7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Romans 16:20
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 
1 Corinthians 1:3
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
 2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
 Galatians 1:3
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
 Ephesians 1:2
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
 Philippians 1:2
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
 Colossians 1:2
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 2 Thessalonians 1:2
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 1 Timothy 1:2
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
 2 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
 Titus 1:4
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
 1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
 2 John 1:3
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
 Revelation 1:4
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;


Grace only can come from Jesus Christ.  Peace can only come from Jesus Christ.  There is no grace and peace apart from Him.  We ought to praise God for His grace and peace.   We ought to rejoice because of His grace and peace.   I remember when I experienced His grace and there was so much motivation for His kingdom.  We ought to dwell on these verses that speak of grace and peace.  It is because it is from God alone.  Paul is merely the human instrument and a fellow-worker for the kingdom of God.  Grace empowers us to live out the Christian faith.  We can't live out the Christian faith apart from Him.  In the Christian faith we have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  We can only have these things because of God's grace and peace.  We do not merit heaven with the fruits of the Spirit.  We produce these fruits because of the work of God's grace by His Spirit and Word.  No one can have the fruits of the Spirit without grace and peace first.  We do not gain grace and peace by external rituals or practices, but grace and peace come to us by being born again.  We receive God's gift of grace, mercy and peace because of His Spirit.  No one can experience mercy apart from His Spirit and no one knows God but by the Spirit (Titus 3ff).  Thank God we have the Word of God to teach us about these things.  May we have hearts of filled with grace that will praise Him forever.  May all glory, honor, veneration and worship be to Him alone forevermore.  Amen and amen.


⁴ I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,


We are called to pray.  Do you have a godly routine of prayer?  Is your prayer life inconsistent?  Do you pray throughout the day?  Do you realize that God accepts us through Jesus Christ no matter what sin we have committed?  I think it is good to have a prayer life routine.  It is good to pray on an on-going basis.  Do you forget to mention needy people in your prayers?  Paul says he "always" makes mention of them in his prayers.  Is your prayer life suffering?  We ought to pray all the time and as much as possible.  Surely, it is what the devil fears the most!  We ought to pray with thanksgiving.  We see that Paul mentions prayer with thanksgiving.  Let us look at some of the things the Holy Scriptures speak on prayer with thanksgiving.


Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
 2 Corinthians 4:15
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
 2 Corinthians 9:11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
 2 Corinthians 9:12
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
 Colossians 2:7
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
 Colossians 4:2
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
 1 Timothy 4:3
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
 1 Timothy 4:4
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
 Revelation 7:12
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
 Nehemiah 12:27
And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
 Nehemiah 12:46
For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
 Psalm 26:7
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
 Psalm 50:14
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
 Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
 Psalm 95:2
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
 Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
 Psalm 107:22
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
 Psalm 116:17
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
 Psalm 147:7
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
 Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
 Jonah 2:9
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.


We ought to offer God a sincere thanks with our contrite prayers.  We ought to love the God we pray to.  God is our object in prayer.  We could pray to Father or the Son or the Spirit or all Three together.  It is wise and good to have communion with God.  He is the One who hears and answers our prayers.  We ought to have thanksgiving with praise and rejoicing.  Here is an example of what a serious prayer life may look like (besides praying little prayers to God throughout the day).

•  One Hour of Prayer on Knees to God the Father (Rejoicing)
•  One Hour of Prayer on Knees to God the Son (Thanking) 
•  One Hour of Prayer on Knees to God the Spirit (Praising)  

We could also sing with thanksgiving to God.  He loves our songs of praise.  We ought to love God with all our hearts.  No one loves God perfectly.  No one sings or prays perfectly, but when we pray through Jesus Christ our prayers get to God pure.  He was the propitiation and expiation of our sins.  Propitiation means God the Father was appeased through the death of His Son.  Expiation means He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.  The sin of God's people is cast into the depths of the sea.  It cannot touch us.  We ought to pray to God knowing we are pure and perfect because of Christ alone and His Word in our behalf. 


 ⁵ Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;


Love and faith can only come from the Spirit of God.  It is in monergistic regeneration that we are given love and faith toward Jesus Christ.  Before we were born again, we hated God and we hated each other.  Here are the words of sacred Writ.

Titus 3:3-11

3  Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, ² to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. ³  For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ⁵  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶  whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸  This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. ⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰  Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, ¹¹ knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

It is only through the Spirit who saved us in our second birth that we have the liberty to live a life of love and faith.  We also love the saints because the Spirit has given us love toward the saints which was contrary to our original, sinful natures.  By nature, we were corrupt and totally depravity.  Here a Word of Scripture on this.


Matthew 15:18-20

¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
²⁰ These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
John 2:25
And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Romans 3:1-20

3 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

² Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
³ For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
⁴ God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
⁵ But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
⁶ God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
⁷ For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
⁸ And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
⁹ What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
¹⁰ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
¹¹ There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
¹² They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
¹³ Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
¹⁴ Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood:
¹⁶ Destruction and misery are in their ways:
¹⁷ And the way of peace have they not known:
¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes.
¹⁹ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.


We are called to have faith and love.  We are called to faith by God.


Hebrews 1:1-3

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

² For by it the elders obtained a good report.
³ Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.


We are called to love.  We ought to love our enemies.  We are only able to love our enemies because God first loved us.


 Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 
Matthew 22:34-40  
³⁴ But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
³⁵ Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
³⁶ Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.
³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


⁶ That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.


The goodness of God is the meritorious work of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Every good thing is found in Jesus Christ.  That is why the Spirit is conforming us to His glorious image.  That is why we have a right standing before God.  Jesus is the foundation, cornerstone and rock upon which our spiritual redemption is built.  This flies in the face of every religious system that claims victory for the sinner.  No other person could bring spiritual salvation but Jesus Christ!  Mormonism teaches that a person must have good works to accompany salvation.  Romanism teaches we need indulgences, the Mass, purgatory, confession to a priest and church membership to be right with God.  Romanism also adds to the Gospel by making it binding on the conscience regarding the Bodily Assumption of Mary.  They think Mary must be manifested in the souls of the faithful before the Spirit quickens them to eternal life with Jesus in their souls.  Scientology teaches that being right with God is to get to a mental state of "clear" and they reject repentance.  Reformed theology is the only system of thought that maintains Christ alone for how someone is right with God.  Are we right with God by something or someone else besides Jesus Christ?  Lets look at the divine Word!


Acts 4:12
¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
^{Galatians 2:16, 20-21
16} Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
²¹ I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
 Romans 9:11
¹¹ (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)


We have the unified righteousness of Christ alone because of the pure mercy of God.  We are able to do good works and be filled with His grace.  Let us look at good works; however, we are not saved by them.  It is faith unto good works.


 Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
 2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:


 ⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.


We are refreshed by the saints.  This is truly an awesome gift of love.  Jesus comes to refresh us and love us by His awesome power unto great glory.  We are given joy and the consolation of love in Christ.  Let us look at joy in the divine Word.


 Deuteronomy 28:47
Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
Psalm 5:11
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
 Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
 Psalm 21:1
The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
 Psalm 27:6
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
 Psalm 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
 Psalm 32:11
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
 Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
 Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
 Colossians 1:11
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
 1 Thessalonians 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
 Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
 James 1:2
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
 1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
 3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
 Jude 1:24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,


We are refreshed by our Lord Jesus Christ who takes our burdens from us:


Matthew 11:28-30
²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.


 ⁸ Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,


We ought to be bold to follow Christ.  Boldness is a lesson of courage.  Religious liberties seem to be passing away, but we need boldness to stand up for them.  Paul was very bold and he was chained as a criminal.  Every elect sinner is a spiritual criminal touching our sinful and corrupt natures.  We are spiritual fugitives in and of ourselves.  We need the boldness of Christ to set things right.  Do you have the boldness to share the gospel with a complete stranger?  How many times have you forgotten to share the good news?  Have you labored in love to share the Glad Tidings of the Gospel to a lost world?  Paul said he was innocent of all man because he shared the Gospel (cf. Acts 20:26).  It is a hard thing but if we are bold we can share the good news even by our actions.


⁹ Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.


Paul begs Philemon to accept his love offering for Onesimus.  Paul was a prisoner of Jesus Christ.  Look how many times he says that in the New Testament.


 Acts 28:17
And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
Romans 16:7
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
 Ephesians 3:1
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
 Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
 2 Timothy 1:8
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;


I think Paul was a prisoner of the Lord Jesus, because he was was held captive to His will in love and faithfulness.  No one can take Paul's love of Jesus away from him.  He was an par excellence minister of the Gospel.  He shared his love and his esteem before all men in Christ Jesus.  We were all purchased with the price of His death.  We were ransomed to the Father from the death of Jesus. 


¹⁰ I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
¹¹ Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:


The same thing happened to Mark in ministry with the apostle Paul.  Paul felt Mark was unprofitable to him but became a great helper in the ministry.  Paul helped Onesimus become a Christian.  Now Onesimus is useful to Paul and his people in ministry.


¹² Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
¹³ Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
¹⁴ But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
  
Paul speaks very intimately of his friend in Christ; that is, a beloved brother in the Lord!  He ministered in the bonds of the Gospel in a willful sense.  We ought to have more like Paul and his beloved friend in the Christian church.  We ought to do more for the Gospel.  We ought to post more on Gospel truth and share it with others.  

¹⁵ For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
¹⁶ Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

Paul speaks very kindly of his friend.  That is, he is received forever in Christ.  He is a beloved brother to Paul and Paul's friends in Jesus.  We are no longer mere servants but friends in Jesus.  Jesus spoke of this in the Gospels.  We are, however, slaves of Christ our Lord and Savior.  Servants are hired but slaves work from the heart.  Friends in Jesus have a great fellowship with the Lord.

¹⁷ If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
¹⁸ If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
¹⁹ I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

Paul is very gracious with his friend.  Paul and his friends in Jesus are partners in Christ.  Paul says put it to his account because now they are brothers in the Lord.  Paul says that he will take Onesimus' burden because he helped them in the sense of owing all to Paul for their own selves. 

²⁰ Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Paul speaks of the joy of the Lord.  Joy refreshes us in the Lord.  It is a great thing to have joy in the Lord.  Joy is among brothers and sisters in Christ.  We ought to remain faithful to the Lord and to the Christian doctrine handed down by the apostles.

²¹ Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

Paul has confidence in their obedience.  How many can say that of a friend?  Is obedience today so rare that it cannot be found?  I think there are obedient people in the world who want to serve Jesus Christ.  They would do more than Paul said; that is, they go over and above what Paul says.  This kind of obedience is a great thing. May all of us go over and above what we are called to do in the Lord.

²² But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

Paul prays to be with them.  It is his prayer.  Have you ever prayed that you would be with the Lord's people?  Have you made plans to be with God's people?  It is a good thing.  We ought to pray more to be with the saints of Christ.

²³ There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
²⁴ Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

Here we see again "fellowprisoner" and "fellowlabourers."  It is always IN Christ Jesus because we are believers in Him.  They salute the saints in Christ.   I think "fellowprisoners" mean we are held to the Lord.  I think "fellowlabourers" mean we are those who labor for the Gospel and its furtherance in Jesus.  

²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

We see this a lot in Paul's writings.   Grace is Jesus Christ and His unified work.  We ought to never lose sight of His merit.  It is to be with our spirit because it is through the grace of Jesus that we are right with God.  I think "Amen" means "so be it."  We ought to remember that Jesus is a brother born for adversity.  Here Paul was concerned about Onesimus' past but Jesus takes the burden.  John Chrysostom wrote on this,

He has finished his epistle with a prayer.  And indeed prayer is a great good, beneficial, and preserves our souls.  But prayer is great when we act in line with our prayers and do not undermine by our behavior the very thing for which we pray.  And you, too, therefore, when you go to the priest, and he says to you, "The Lord will have mercy on you, my son,"do not trust in word only but add works to your trust. Mercy is an excellent thing!  Why, then, haven't you shown it to another?  (Gorday and Oden, Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture, NT IX, Col., 1-2 Thess., 1-2 Tim., Titus, Philemon, pg. 318).