God's Purpose And Grace, or Election

"God's Purpose And Grace, or Election"
-Outline Used, New Hampshire Confession

To this point in our study we have spoken of man's part in salvation. We have spoken of the freeness of
salvation, and repentence and faith. Tonight we are going to look at God's work…election. Election is the
eternal purpose of God by which He gloriously saves sinners. It is completely harmonious with the free
agency of man, and utterly excludes boasting while promoting humility, love, prayer, trust in God, and active
imitation of his free mercy. God's election encourages Christians to preach the gospel because it can only be
ascertained by trusting the gospel message. Election is the foundation of Christian assurance and aquiring it
demands and deserves the utmost diligence.

I. Election is the eternal purpose of God by which He gloriously saves sinners.

"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of
the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began." - II Timothy 1:8-9

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace,
then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace:
otherwise work is no more work." - Romans 11:5-6

"We love him, because he first loved us." - I John 4:19

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant
knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I
have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should
bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he
may give it you." - John 15:14-16

II. Election is completely harmonious with the free agency of man, and utterly excludes boasting while
promoting humility, love, prayer, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy.

"But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath
from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." - II
Thessalonians 2:13-14

"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were
ordained to eternal life believed" - Acts 13:48

"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." - Matthew 20:16

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." - Romans 3:27

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind,
meekness, longsuffering;" - Colossians 3:12

III. God's election encourages Christians to preach the gospel because it can only be ascertained by trusting
the gospel message.

"To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all
means save some." - I Corinthians 9:22

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came
down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which
hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last
day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may
have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." - John 6:37-40

IV. Election is the foundation of Christian assurance and aquiring it demands and deserves the utmost
diligence.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he
also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" - Romans
8:28-30

"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will
make the darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not
forsake them." - Isaiah 42:16

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend
that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12
"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:"
- Hebrews 6:11