Wednesday, March 14, 2012

in praise of election

Several months ago on our way home from our Sunday morning worship service, Shane and I were discussing the doctrine of election. The thoughts that follow are mostly Shane's words from that discussion. I scribbled them down when we got home and was reminded of them this morning as I read through James, struck again by how the doctrine of election is always presented as the means by which our salvation is made sure.
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. ~ James 1:18

God desired to save a people to give to His Son.
Election is the means by which He saves those given to His Son.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ~John 6:37

He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. ~John 6:65,66

The only people who come to Jesus are those who were given to Jesus by the Father.
Without election, no one would come and no one would be saved.
Some prefer to think that they come of their own free will, their own decision to accept Jesus. No, we come to Jesus because we are a gift from God the Father to His beloved Son. If you have come to Jesus, know that it is because you were given to Jesus by His Father. That is the doctrine of election and that is why our election is sure. It is all of Him and none of us.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4,5


If you have never been taught to embrace and enjoy this doctrine, may you this day, see with new eyes, God's gracious gift of you being given to Jesus.

How sweet and holy is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores!

’While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
“Lord, why was I a guest?

“Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there’s room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?”

’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly forced us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God!
Constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see Thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May with one voice, and heart and soul,
Sing Thy redeeming grace.

~Isaac Watts

3 comments:

  1. I love this post, this doctrine.. and miss talking to you guys.. I remember our Bible study, what a blessing that was! I learn so much from you Heather.. thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9:29 AM

    Amen:-)

    Mom B.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:18 PM

    ditto =)

    mom k

    ReplyDelete

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