Some Facts About Election Part 2

V. Jesus Christ is especially God’s elect, being chosen out of the people. ISA 42:1 c/w MAT 12:18; PSA 89:19-20. A. God has highly exalted Him. PHIL 2:9-11; HEB 1:3-9. B. Christ is God’s found servant, the ransom He found. JOB 33:24. C. No other man could we find who was fit to the task of conquering sin and death and to ransom/redeem sinners. REV 5:1-14. D. “God has laid help upon him, not only helped him, but treasured up help in him for us...” (Matthew Henry on PSA 89:19) E. Believers manifest that they are chosen in God’s Chosen. EPH 1:3-4. F. Their names are written in God’s book and have been from the beginning. REV 17:8. G. This spiritual blessing in heavenly places exceeds others. LUK 10:17-20. H. A church of believers here in worship approaches the entire church written there. HEB 12:22-24. I. Christ alone was a sinless chosen servant with merit; redeemed sinners can but confess that we are unprofitable servants. LUK 17:7-10. Some Facts About Election 10-23-22 Page 2  J. How beholden we are to God’s election! VI. In 1PE 1:1-4, Peter declares great facts about election. Saints are elect: A. “...according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,...” (v. 1). 1. This is not foreknowledge of merit in a person. ROM 9:11-16. 2. It is foreknowledge of His chosen people in the sense of His acceptance of them and special favor towards them. 2TI 2:19; ROM 8:28-29. 3. God’s foreknown are a remnant according to the election of grace which excludes their works. ROM 11:1-6. 4. grace: Favour, favourable or benignant regard or its manifestation (now only on the part of a superior); favour or goodwill, in contradistinction to right or obligation, as the ground of a concession. B. “...through sanctification of the Spirit...” 1. sanctify: To set apart as holy. 2. This verse refers to covenant sanctification which is the act of God whereby He set apart His people unto holiness in choosing them before the foundation of the world. EPH 1:4. C. “...unto obedience...of Jesus Christ.” 1. Men are not elected because of their obedience; they are elected unto Christ's obedience. 2. Jesus Christ obeyed God in His life and death. JOH 8:29; PHIL 2:8. 3. Jesus Christ's obedience to God results in the elect being made righteous. HEB 10:5-10; ROM 5:19. D. “...and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:..” 1. The sprinkling of blood speaks of the application of the shed blood. 2. Blood makes atonement. LEV 17:11; 16:15-20. 3. Blood cleanses from defilement. HEB 9:13-14, 22; EXO 29:20-21. 4. The application of Christ's blood cleanses sinners from sin that they might serve God. HEB 9:14; 10:22; REV 1:5. 5. Under the law, there was blood on the worshipper, on the place of worship, and on the instruments of worship. HEB 9:19-21. 6. God is emphasizing that nothing that sinners can do is acceptable to Him without blood! VII. Peter expounds upon further benefits and ends of God's election in 1PE 1:3-4. A. The elect are begotten again. 1. This is the same as being regenerated or born again. TIT 3:5; JOH 3:3. 2. As seen earlier, this operation is an act of God; men are passive in this. 3. It is according to God's abundant mercy. a. mercy: Forbearance and compassion shown by one person to another who is in his power and who has no claim to receive kindness; kind and compassionate treatment in a case where severity is merited or expected. b. Being begotten/born again is clearly not based on the sinner's merit but on God's mercy, even as the election itself. ROM 9:16. 4. This begetting is “...unto a lively hope...” a. lively: Possessed of life; living, animate. b. This hope is living because it is a living Christ. 1TI 1:1; 1TH 4:13-14; JOH 14:19; 1JO 3:2-3. Some Facts About Election 10-23-22 Page 3  c. If one has no hope, then he may well doubt that he is born again. 5. This begetting again is “...by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” a. There is no salvation without the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1CO 15:13-19. b. The elect are in union with Christ so that it is by His resurrection that they live. EPH 1:4; 5:23, 30; ROM 6:8. c. The elect are quickened together WITH Christ; they thus partake of His resurrection. REV 1:5-6; EPH 2:4-5; REV 20:6. B. The elect are also begotten again “...to an inheritance...in heaven.” 1. This inheritance is incorruptible; it cannot decay or perish. MAT 6:20; REV 21:4. 2. This inheritance is undefiled. REV 21:27. a. The O.T. inheritance could be and was defiled because of the sinful nature of man. EZE 36:17. b. This is why one must be begotten again to this inheritance. c. Those who are begotten again have a new nature incapable of sin. 1JO 3:9. 3. This inheritance fadeth not away. Nothing in heaven ever loses its freshness, vigor or brilliance. 2CO 4:17-18. 4. This inheritance is reserved for specific persons, “...for you.” a. The only ones who receive this inheritance are such as have been elected, sprinkled by the blood of Jesus, and begotten again. ROM 8:30. b. The inheritance only goes to God's sons whom He predestinated. Reservations were made IN ADVANCE. EPH 1:5; GAL 4:7; EPH 1:11; MAT 25:34. c. Contrast this reservation with the one in 2PE 2:17. VIII. All that we have by grace and mercy in Jesus Christ is owing to unconditional election. A. Any other system of saving sinners will exclude multitudes who cannot meet the assumed condition of salvation. B. But God’s election provides for all His chosen crowd. ROM 11:27-29. C. It behooves us to make our calling and election sure since it can be known. 1TH 1:4-6; 2PE 1:5-11. Some Facts About Election 10-23-22 Page 4