Monday, July 17, 2006

Standing In Awe

I stand in awe today that my God would choose and elect me. Glory in that today brothers and sisters. If you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior for the forgivess of your sins you are elect and chosen. You have been chosen before the foundations of the world by God. He could have passed you by and not saved you from hell, but he did not! People need to start being thankful for this wonderful thing that God has done for them; this act of love. It is sad that more in the church do not see the doctrine of election as something glorious and wonderful; it seems that many are missing the true meaning of this great doctrine and do not see it in the 1st person. A person that does not believe in the doctrine of election as seen in Scripture is truly being robbed of a blessing.

I have to share a devotion that I read from C.H. Spurgeon for today. It blessed me and I trust that it will touch your heart as well.

"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God."1 Thessalonians 1:4

I love Spurgeon's comments about this verse:

Many persons want to know their election before they look to Christ, but they cannot learn it thus, it is only to be discovered by "looking unto Jesus." If you desire to ascertain your own election;--after the following manner, shall you assure your heart before God. Do you feel yourself to be a lost, guilty sinner? go straightway to the cross of Christ, and tell Jesus so, and tell Him that you have read in the Bible, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." Tell Him that He has said, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Look to Jesus and believe on Him, and you shall make proof of your election directly, for so surely as thou believest, thou art elect. If you will give yourself wholly up to Christ and trust Him, then you are one of God's chosen ones; but if you stop and say, "I want to know first whether I am elect," you ask you know not what. Go to Jesus, be you never so guilty, just as you are. Leave all curious inquiry about election alone. Go straight to Christ and hide in His wounds, and you shall know your election. The assurance of the Holy Spirit shall be given to you, so that you shall be able to say, "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to Him." Christ was at the everlasting council: He can tell you whether you were chosen or not; but you cannot find it out in any other way. Go and put your trust in Him, and His answer will be--"I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." There will be no doubt about His having chosen you, when you have chosen Him.
"Sons we are through God's election,Who in Jesus Christ believe."

4 comments:

Justice said...

It is amazing how many miss the obvious, this is a doctrine written throughout the bible. It starts in Genesis with Abraham and goes all the way through. Did Paul choose God by his own volition on the road to Damascus? some would say yes - Well, if that's true then why did Paul write in Romans "that no man seeks after God"? I can only imagine he is speaking from experience.

I am a former Arminian that had to give in to the truth of scripture when I sought to understand what the bible had to say about election.

Excellent post and reminder.
Nick

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your thoughts and testimony brother.

I too am a former Arminian; in fact I had to leave the Christian Church over the doctrine of election and others dealing with the sovereignty of God.

I just read yesterday in Church some of 1 Peter Chapter 1. The letter is clearly written to the elect, the chosen of God. How do people overlook passages like these in the Bible? I just don't understand it! One has to take the whole of Scripture and not just some parts of it.

Justice said...

I think most justify their position by claiming that the elect are those that God knew would choose him through eternity.

Anonymous said...

Yes, but how Arminian is that? God saw who was going to choose Him so He saved them; that is not God being in control of anything, rather this puts man in control.

A person needs to come to grips with the Bible and realize that God can do what He wants; it is to His glory!