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.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:
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
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
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.
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.
