Sovereign Election Practically Considered

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 "But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Introduction

How can you and I be certain that our salvation is eternally secure? What lies behind the calling of a man or woman unto salvation or service? What comforts are to be found in the doctrine of election? Answering these three questions will frame our practical consideration of the Biblical doctrine of Divine election in today's post. As you will discover, God's elective purpose of grace is most practical because of the following three reasons:

1. God's elective purpose secures the believer's salvation

The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 defines the doctrine of election: "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. All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end."  

Ephesians 1:3-4 states most clearly God's elective purpose of grace and eternal salvation: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love"  In the original Greek of the verse, the last two words "in love" could just as easily be the ending of verse 4 as they are for the beginning of verse 5, meaning that the basis of God's elective purpose is His Eternal love. Such Eternal love issues forth from the combined efforts of the Triune God. 

Quite literally the Christian can say that they have been loved by God from all eternity (Ephesians 1:1-6), that Christ's cross is the grounds for such love (Ephesians 1:7-12) and that their salvation began the moment they believed by the grace brought to them by the Spirit, believed (Ephesians 1:13-14).  Election places the believer's security not in their activity, but God's Sovereign choice.  

2. God's elective purpose comforts the believer

In 2 Thessalonians 2 we see the teachings of the rapture of the church and the second coming of Jesus Christ.  We also see what is perhaps the most detailed description of what will be the arch-enemy who will rise up at the end of history to challenge Christ and bring havoc to the earth - namely the anti-Christ.  Undoubtedly the Christians at Thessalonica were unsettled in their hearts over rumors that the Lord had come, and they were wondering how they were going to persevere to the end.  Paul comforts them in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 with what is perhaps the clearest definition of God's elective purpose of grace - "But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." To remind the reader that God's elective purpose does not cancel out human responsibility, notice what Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 - "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us." God's choice is the source of His calling on everyone who freely chooses to believe and follow the Lord.  As 1 John 4:19 reminds us: "We love Him because He first loved us."  Because God is for you, dear Christian, you will persevere to the end.  God has pledged He will see you though, because He has chosen to see you through to the end and into eternity. (Philippians 1:6)  So, God's elective purpose of grace is the security of salvation and brings great comfort to the Christian, but notice one more reason why Sovereign election is so practical...

3. God's elective purpose is the foundation for the believer's calling

God tells Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 that He had chosen Him and set him apart in his mother's womb.  How could God "know" Jeremiah before he was even conceived in his mother's womb? Unless we consider the Biblical teaching on such truths as Divine election and God's prior choice to lovingly know Jeremiah whom He saw in His mind, the passage will make no sense.  God's Sovereign choice of Jeremiah was a decision made by God before Jeremiah was conceived. Furthermore, the elective purpose of grace was to be the basis for Jeremiah's calling as a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:6-19) Undoubtedly Jeremiah responded to God's call and in turn chose to heed God's voice and be His mouthpiece.  Because of God's elective purpose of grace, Jeremiah would persevere to the end and serve God faithfully for over 50 years in a ministry that was among the most harsh mission fields recorded in the Bible.  In summary, God's choice was the source of His calling which in turn positioned Jeremiah to freely choose to serve as God's prophet. 

Conclusion

So in seeing the practical considerations of God's elective purpose of grace, we have noted the following:

1. God's elective purpose secures the believer's salvation

2. God's elective purpose comforts the believer

3. God's elective purpose is the foundation for the believer's calling

Redemption's Actor and the certainties He supplies for Christians

Hebrews 10:19-22a "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near..."

Why is it so important to consider the Actor of salvation Jesus Christ? Why are the actions which he performed on the cross and from the empty tomb crucial? Why are the activities He is performing right now at the Father's right hand so fundamental to the Christian's confidence in salvation? Hebrews 10:19-25 gives us three certainties that Jesus Christ's activity of salvation gains for believers. 

1. Guaranteed Confidence before God. 
Hebrews 10:19-20

2. Grand Representation with God. 
Hebrews 10:21

3. Getting to know and serve God. 
Hebrews 10:22-24

1. Guaranteed Confidence before God.  Hebrews 10:19-20
The word "therefore" is the writer's way of summarizing the purpose for what he just wrote in Hebrews 8:1-10:18.  As you read that portion of Hebrews, you discover that Jesus' mission of coming to earth was to inaugurate the New Covenant redemption that would replace the Old Covenant system. (Hebrews 8) In establishing that basis, the Lord Jesus Christ acted on our behalf as our Perfect sacrifice as pictured in the tabernacle. (Hebrews 9:1-11)  Furthermore, He accomplished great benefits that would be applied to all who by grace through faith believed on Him. (Hebrews 9:12-28) 

The tabernacle/temple imagery is employed by the writer to prove that Jesus Christ acted as both sacrifice and sacrificer, perfect offering and priestly offerer, effective human representative and Eternal Son. By inaugurating the New Covenant in Hebrews 8 and by acting and accomplishing what was needed to guarantee our confidence before God in Hebrews 9, we see in Hebrews 10:1-18 how He did so - by way of assuming onto His person a second nature, a human nature through the virgin birth. Such an activity is how Jesus Christ came to be the Supreme actor of our salvation.  He did for us what we could not do, bore the punishment that should had been ours and provided salvation and the basis for confidence that we did nothing to earn.  Christ alone is our great confidence before the Father. So by focusing on the Actor Jesus Christ, we discover that His activity guarantees confidence before God.  But notice next...

Grand representation with God. Hebrews 10:21
Hebrews 10:21 states - "and since we have a great priest over the house of God".  What the writer of Hebrews does, in typical Jewish fashion, He revisits the same material he just covered in greater detail, including scripture that he may had written earlier.  The background of the High Priest's office is used by the writer of Hebrews to describe Jesus' role as the High Priest of His people.  Because He ever lives to make intercession and mediation for us, we have nothing to fear before our Heavenly Father. (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1-2) Jesus functions as the believer's High priest, however He does so not in the order of Aaron's priesthood (for Jesus in His humanity was descended from the tribe of Judah), but rather in the order of Melchizedek.2  Now as fascinating as it is to read the writer of Hebrews comparison of Jesus and Melchizedek, we want to know why Jesus Christ alone provides such great representation?  

1. Full Deity in human flesh represents the believer. (Hebrews 1-2)

2. Fully Faithful to represent the believer. (Hebrews 3-4)

3. Forever qualified to represent the believer (Hebrews 5-7)

4. Final act secures representation for the believer (Hebrews 8-10)

No Grander Representative is there for sinners to be saved and for saints to be secure than Jesus Christ.  By focusing on Jesus Christ, the actor of salvation, we have seen how His activity secures the certainties of guaranteed confidence before God and grand representation with God. But now let's notice one last certainty here in Hebrews 10:19-25..

Getting to know and serve God. Hebrews 10:22-25
Behold the three commands that the writer issues forth to believers: "Let us draw near" (Hebrews 10:22); "Let us hold fast our confession of hope without wavering" (10:23) and "let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds" (10:24-25).  God's commands are rooted in the certainties he supplies.  Those three commands could not had been carried out consistently in the Old Covenant.  No one could draw near to God when they wanted to, nor could they hold fast to their confession with unwavering confidence nor was the worship environment as conducive for encouragement.  We as Christians take for granted all that has been accomplished by Jesus Christ. The privilege of getting to know and serve God  is spelled out by these three commands in the three main activities that are made possible by Christ's finished work:

A. We know and serve God by prayer. (10:22)

B. We know and serve God by the scripture. (10:23)3


C. We know and serve God together as a church. (10:24-25)

The confidence we have to know and serve God by prayer, the word and going to church to be with God's people is fed by and made possible by the Actor of our salvation, Jesus Christ.  

Conclusion
So by focusing on the Actor Jesus Christ, we discovered that His activity gains three certainties for the believer: guaranteed confidence before God; grand representation with God and getting to know and serve God. 

Endnotes:
1. The writer of Hebrew appears to be not only including what he just covered in Hebrews 8:1-10:18, but more so taking the reader back to Hebrews 1:1-7:28.  What is so significant about having such a great high priest? What is a high priest? In ancient Israel the people of God were represented by priests at the tabernacle and later on temple systems.  The head priest was called the "High Priest" and his office was inaugurated with the installation of Aaron, Moses brother, in Leviticus 8. Only the High Priest could enter into the most holy place of the tabernacle/temple once a year.  It was in that most holy room that the High Priest would bring the blood of a bull or goat and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, the lid of the ark of the Covenant.  This action signified that the people and the tabernacle system were cleansed and fit for use before God for another year.  

2. Melchizedek's mysterious identity (Genesis 14) is shown to had been none other than an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 5-7) 

3. Unless you and I as Christians are daily and regularly in the scriptures, we will not be able to consistently hold fast. It is the scriptures that ties us to Christ and His truth and prevent us from being blown around by every wind and wave of error. (Psalm 119:11; Ephesians 4:12-15; James 1:6-8, 22-25) 

P2 Jesus wants a r.o.c.k solid church - Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14-15  “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot."

Review
Jesus promises in Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."  That "rock" of which Christ speaks is not Peter (whose name in the Greek refers to a detached stone) nor is the "rock" referring to Peter's faith or saving faith.  Rather the "rock" upon which the church is to be built is Jesus Himself.  The word for "rock" speaks of a living stone or self-sufficient stone or uncut stone. Other passages clearly portray Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone and living stone upon which the church is built. (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7) The church at Laodicea was a church that was anything but solid.  As we began considering yesterday this seventh letter of Jesus to the churches, the aim was to see how Jesus desires a rock solid church before His return.  We utilized the acronym r.o.c.k to represent the characteristics necessary to be Jesus' r.o.c.k solid Christian people. So what does it take to be a r.o.c.k solid church that Jesus wants? We considered two traits in yesterday's post:

1. Recognition of Jesus' ownership.  3:14,18
2. Occupy in good deeds.                 3:15-16

In today's post we will finish out this short blog series and consider two more traits necessary in order to be the rock solid church that Jesus wants, namely...

3. Check your heart.                         3:17-20 
4. Keep on until Jesus comes.          3:21-22

Check your heart.  Revelation 3:17-20 
Laodicea's chief problem was that "self" was on the throne of many people's hearts.  "Self" is that principle that operates in the left over remnants of sin in the Christian that cries out what it wants, when it wants and how it wants. The heart is like a chariot that will be driven by one of two things in the Christian, either self or the Spirit. (compare Romans 8:1-5; Galatians 5:16).  We need to check our hearts, which are the wellspring of life and from whence issue forth all the priorities for life. (compare Mark 7:21-23). In these three verses we find three phrases worthy of note from Jesus: "I advise you to buy from me..."(vs 18); "those whom I love I reprove and discipline..." (vs. 19) and "behold I stand at the door and knock..." (vs. 20). 

The first phrase is meant for the vast majority of people in the Laodicean church who were professors of Christ but were not possessors of faith in Christ.  The language of "buying from Jesus" is a remedy for their sin-sick condition. It is similar in wording to other evangelistic passages such as Isaiah 55:1,6 and Revelation 22:17. This language is another way of saying to sinners: receive by faith alone all that Jesus is and has done by giving over to him who you are are and what you have done. The vast majority of people at Laodicea felt they were fine and in need of nothing. (3:17).  

The second phrase in 3:19 of Jesus "reproving and correcting those whom He loves" is addressing what was likely a minority of true believers at Laodicea who were tempted to go along with the crowd.  The Lord's discipline in the life of a Christian is sometimes the only evidence that person has that they are truly converted and born again. (compare 2 Corinthians 13:4 and Hebrews 12:6) 

The third phrase in 3:20 of Jesus "standing at the door and knocking" is addressed to those believers in the church who have been holding Jesus at arms length.  Though some have made this verse out to be an evangelistic statement, the context suggests that Jesus is speaking to the truly saved members who have been interested more in other things than Jesus.  Truly this imagery of Jesus wanting into the midst of His people is striking, being that it is a position that is by right His. (compare Hebrews 2:11-18) 
So in order to be r.o.c.k solid for Jesus in these last days, we need to be recognizing His authority, occupying in good deeds and checking our hearts.  However there last necessary trait, namely...

Keeping on until Jesus comes.   Revelation 3:21-22
The overall tone of Jesus' warnings and rebukes to a church that had all but given up and given in was to "keep on" until He comes.  Revelation 3:21 states - "He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."  The Christian by position is seated already with Christ in the heavenly realms and in His Kingdom spiritually, even though in experience the Christian is still here on earth fighting the good fight of faith. (compare Ephesians 2:6-10) The Kingdom of Heaven describes the realm of those saints who have went on before us in death and are with Christ now, awaiting His return.  

As Jesus is preparing and putting the finishing touches on His Kingdom in Heaven, the point will come when what we believe by faith will be made sight.  Christ will return and we who are the church militant, fighting the good fight of faith in this present age, will be joined with the saints in the rapture and resurrection that will occur at Jesus' return, transforming every child of God into the church triumphant.  The church triumphant, which is composed of those already with the Lord, will be completed when at the rapture and resurrection every Christian will be in a resurrection body likened unto Jesus'. (compare 1 John 3:1-3) This is profound to think about, in that we will then be ruling and reigning with Christ for 1,000 years over a restored Israel and exercising judgment in some capacity over the angelic realm in the glorious Millennial kingdom. (compare 1 Corinthians 6:3; Revelation 20:1-6) 

Conclusion:
 I mention all of this to say this in closing out today's post: that our energy to serve Jesus should be as if he could return in the next minute, and our willingness to serve Jesus should be as if he may not return for many years. 

P1 Jesus wants a r.o.c.k solid church - Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14-15  “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot."

Introduction: Built on a rock-solid, God-ordained foundation
I will never forget as a boy traveling to see the wonder called "The Natural Bridge" in Virginia. An entire park is built around it and a two lane highway passes overhead.  When you first approach the Natural Bridge, it looks like an enormous archway.  When you walk underneath it you are swallowed up by the 200 feet of sheer walls that arch up on either side and gracefully curve to make a perfect "bridge" of a 100 feet in length. As you walk underneath the archway, a small creek runs nearby and you and hear cars and truck passing up above you on the highway.  Amazingly the ground underneath you does not shake because of the rock-solid base upon which the little highway sits.  That imagery is how I picture the churches and the highway of history that runs through Revelation 2-3.  The road at times has been windy.  Nevertheless Jesus promises in Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."  That "rock" of which Christ speaks is not Peter (whose name in the Greek refers to a detached stone) nor is the "rock" referring to Peter's faith or saving faith.  Rather the "rock" upon which the church is to be built is Jesus Himself.  The word for "rock" speaks of a living stone or self-sufficient stone or uncut stone. Other passages clearly portray Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone and living stone upon which the church is built. (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7) 

The church at Laodicea was a church that was anything but solid.  Of all the seven churches, Laodicea is perhaps in the worse of shape and receives the sharpest rebuke.  Laodicea shows us what not to do and what not to be in these last days leading up to Christ's coming.  As we consider this seventh letter of Jesus to the churches, the aim will be to see how it is that Jesus desires a rock solid church before His return.  In order to find our way through Revelation 3:14-22, we will utilize the acronym r.o.c.k to represent the characteristics necessary to be Jesus' r.o.c.k solid church of rock solid Christian people. So what does it take to be a r.o.c.k solid church that Jesus wants?

1. Recognition of Jesus' ownership.  3:14,18
2. Occupy in good deeds.                 3:15-16
3. Check your heart.                         3:17-20 
4. Keep on until Jesus comes.          3:21-22

In today's post we will consider the first two characteristics...

Recognition of Jesus' ownership. Rev 3:14,18
In Revelation 3:14 we see Jesus begin this letter by identifying Himself with various titles.  In all the seven letters of Revelation we find at least 15 titles that Jesus uses to describe His Divine authority and love for His church.  Of all the titles that Jesus mentions, the one title used in the letter to Laodicea, "The Beginning of God's creation", is perhaps the most explicit one in terms of declaring His Deity and Divine authority.  Another way we could render that title "The Beginning" could be "The Beginner", being that the same Greek word is found in Colossians 1:16-20, wherein Christ is described as being the One "through whom all things are made". Later on in the same passage where He is described as head over His church.  By virtue of He being Divine, Jesus Christ has complete authority over the lives of Christians, the church and this world.  In terms of the rights of authority, Jesus Christ in His humanity purchased the salvation of every believer in His church with His blood. (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:7) 

As we mentioned at the beginning, Jesus Christ is that "rock" upon which the church is built.  It is He to whom we must continually recognize if we are going to finish the race of faith well as a church and as individual Christians. So to be r.o.c.k solid in these last days, we must recognize Jesus' ownership of the church, but notice also...

Occupy in good deeds.  Revelation 3:14-16
What was Laodicea's problem? Jesus states in Revelation 3:15-16 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot;I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." Ladoicea was known throughout the Roman world as a banking center.  In fact she had experienced a similar earthquake like we saw in out study of the church of Philadelphia.  However unlike Philadelphia, Laodicea rebuilt herself with her own money.  Furthermore, the city was less than ten miles away from two other cities that supplied her with hot and cold water.  Heiropolis was North of Laodicea and was known for its hot springs and healing baths.  Laodicea in time came to use the crushed stone from the white cliffs of heropolis to make medicines.  The hot waters of Heiropolis were piped in to Laodicea by way of an underground stone pipe that caused the water to arrive "lukewarm" and undrinkable.  The other city that was of equal distance from Laodicea was Colosse, the famed city to which the Apotle Paul wrote his Epistle to the Colossians some 30 years prior.  Colosse was known for its cold mineral springs and those chilly waters were piped in through a similar aqueduct to Colosse and arrived in a lukewarm condition as well. 
Undoubtedly Jesus is using this background to critique Laodicea on account of her ineffective works.  

Hot water is good for cleaning clothes, dishes and taking bathes and was used in those day to provide reviving of health.  Cold water is good for a tall refreshing drink on a hot day.  Jesus wants his church to occupy in good deeds that refresh and revive those whom she impacts and influences.  Truly our quality of faith is measured by not only the quantity but quality of good deeds.  To not have any good deeds is a sign of counterfeit, non-saving faith.  James reminds us in James 2:17 "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, 
being by itself." The church at Laodicea had deeds, however the deeds were neither refreshing nor reviving. According to Revelation 3:16, they were like lukewarm water, unpalatable and causing Jesus Himself to literally want to "spit" or "vomit".  

John Walvoord in his commentary characterizes the situation at Laodicea where the church had turned into an organization of "churchianity" rather than "Christianity". Walvoord writes: If those who are shepherds of the flock never make clear the necessity of the New Birth and the need for a dramatic change in life...and do not proclaim accurately the depravity and sin of the human heart and the divine remedy provided alone in the salvation offered by the crucified Christ...the result is churchianity."1 

What kind of quality of deeds ought Christians be occupying? Like the cold refreshing waters of Colosse, deeds of refreshing are like what Jesus describes in Matthew 10:42  "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."  Cold water deeds refresh and relieve the downtrodden and depressed. James again states in James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."  Likewise we as believers must occupy in the reviving hot water deeds.  Should not being in contact with God's people lead you to have zest to live more for Jesus?  Too often our churches seem to suck the spiritual life out of people.  Jesus is calling His church to occupy in good deeds.  As we read in the opening part of Hebrews 10:24 "and let us consider how to stimulate one another onto love and good 
deeds...". 

More tomorrow...


Endnotes: 
1. John Walvoord. A Commentary on the Book of Revelation. Moody. 1966. Page 93