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Thursday, September 26, 2013

A Biblical survey of Election - 2 John & Revelation



2 John 1:1 "The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth."

We will be bringing our Biblical survey of Sovereign election to a close today as we consider what the Apostle John teaches in his letters and the book of Revelation.  There are over 100 texts throughout scripture that speak on the subject of God's elective purpose of grace.  In this study we have discovered the following five truths:

1. Election's purpose - Godliness
2. Election's motive - God's love
3. Election's targets - helpless people
4. Election's blessing - comfort
5. Election's timing - Eternity

We have also labored to understand that when the Bible speaks about the subject of Sovereign election, it also teaches the responsibility of every person to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and repent of their sins.  The scripture clearly teaches that anyone who rejects the Gospel does so of their own choice. Likewise anyone who trusts in Jesus does so because of God's elective purpose of grace.  As the Baptist Faith and Message notes: "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. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility."

What John has to say about God's elective purpose
2 John 1:1 refers to the church he wrote as the "elect lady".  Depending upon which interpretation on takes, whether she be an individual lady who was elected or a church full of elected people, the point is that John uses this description of God's people.  We can by this point include the entire counsel of God's word in stating what John is saying here in 2 John.

In Revelation 17:14 stands as quite possibly the final mention of the word "chosen" in the Bible.  John writes in Revelation 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” Why would John make mention about the Christian's sovereign election? Again to bring comfort to a people who were under persecution and pressure.  In that final passage we see mentioned together the doctrines of Sovereign election and the Christian's free moral decision making - i.e faithful.  Though God has chosen the Christian unto salvation and godliness, yet it is at the same time the Christian's responsibility to live out the Godly life. (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13)  

Conclusion
As we draw our study to a close, we have discovered, in the course of surveying the entire Bible's treatment on Sovereign election, the following five truths and crucial observation:

1. Election's purpose - Godliness
2. Election's motive - God's love
3. Election's targets - helpless people
4. Election's blessing - comfort
5. Election's timing - Eternity

The crucial observation of course has been that only God can design a salvation wherein there is no contradiction between Sovereign election and human responsibility in salvation.  This means then that election does not quench the need for evangelism, but only heightens it, since God ordains the ends and has so included the means (soul-winning Christians) to accomplish His ends.  May we be faithful to go forth in obedience in the domain of the Spirit's sanctifying work and Christ's finished work and bring glory to King Jesus - the purpose for which God chose believers in His Son. (Ephesians 2:8-10)