Psalm 105:4-8 "Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. 5 Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth, 6 O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones! 7 He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. 8 He has remembered His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations."
We have been exploring the theme of "God's Greatness" in Psalms 90-106 and Romans 11-16. In today's post we will take one final look at this theme by noting how it functions particular in the Biblical teaching of election, faith & salvation.
Greatness of God in salvation seen in God's electing purpose of grace
In Psalm 105-106 we
see what the Baptist Faith and Message calls "God's Purpose of electing
grace" as the basis for Israel's calling and identity. Roughly 100 times
is God's electing purpose mentioned in the Bible. We find three references
to God's "chosen ones" in these two Psalms. (105:6,43; 106:5) Once we see reference to Moses as God's
"chosen one". (Psalm 106:23)
Then of course with reference to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, we
see demonstrated God's purpose of elective grace. (Psalm 105:8-24) Article V of The Baptist Faith and Message
2000 explains this truth: "Election is the
gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies,
sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of
man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. "
Man bears the responsibility for rejecting the Gospel
So then, if anyone rejects the Lord and His
offer of the Gospel and dies in their sins, who is to blame? Scripture spells out pretty clearly that
Israel was at fault for the consequences of their rebellion. (Psalm 106:6) Mankind is responsible for the rejection of
the Gospel, and God is credited for the reason behind a person freely
choosing to believe the Gospel. (Acts 13:46-48, Ephesians 2:8-10)
How people are able to believe and remain in their salvation
So if God's purpose of Grace explains why
anyone gets saved, then how is anyone able to believe and remain in their
salvation? Psalm 105:1-15 and Romans
15:4 tells us that by the word of God proclaimed in the Gospel do people
believe and remain firm in their faith.
Romans 10:17 plainly states - "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the Word of God." Upon such
hearing, all those who call upon the name of the Lord in saving faith will be
saved. (Romans 10:13) So then Who gets the credit? Jesus Christ in His grace
and Word is the author and finisher of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2) Because of God's grace, a person truly and freely believes and is justified by faith alone or
credited with the righteousness of the Lord. (see Psalm 106:30-31)
God's Sovereignty in salvation points to His great saving power in Jesus Christ.
Only God can design a salvation wherein His
Sovereignty and human responsibility are present without contradiction. If anyone rejects the Good News of Jesus
Christ, it is because of their doing.
Today thank God for your salvation and His choosing of you. (John 15:16; 1 John 1:9)
Secondly thank Him for His Word which brought you to the point of choosing Him and sustains you in His salvation. (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:17-18) Thirdly pray for your unsaved loved ones and
friends that that they would respond by grace through faith and be saved to the
glory of God. (Romans 9:1; 10:1; 1 Timothy 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:9-10)
Brother Mahlon, I have a question. If God chooses us, then are there those He has not chosen? I hope that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteBrother Mahlon, I have a question. If God chooses us, then are there those He has not chosen? I hope that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteThere were three possibilities God had in election unto salvation: He could have chosen to save all, none or some. Clearly God did not go with the first option, otherwise all would be saved. God also did not choose to go with option number two, "to save none", otherwise no one would be saved. Honestly all of us deserved option number two, and without God's Purpose of Grace in Salvation (to borrow the phrase used by the Baptist Faith and Message 2000) no one would get saved. However God is merciful and loving and decided to go with option number three: to choose some. Only God could create a salvation wherein there is no contradiction between His Sovereign choice and our human responsibility. (Acts 13:46-48; Ephesians 1:4-6;2:8-9) Thus anyone who comes to Jesus by grace through faith will not be turned away (John 6:37), for in the the same chapter (John 6) Jesus says that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws Him. (John 6:44) Hope that helps and thanks for the question.
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