The first thing that happens after we have realized our election to God in Christ Jesus is the destruction of our prejudices and our parochial notions and our patriotisms; we are turned into servants of God's own purpose.
This realization of the election of God is the most joyful realization on earth, and we have to learn to rely on the tremendous creative purpose of God.
God’s Revealer
Paul was to unveil the position, privileges and the purpose of Christ’s body, the Church. Paul was to be God’s revealer of the great doctrinal truths of predestination, election, justification, sanctification, glorification and our heavenly position in Christ Jesus – but at this time the wider plan of God for the Church age was waiting to be opened-up by Paul.
All-Embracing Word
The word ‘Salvation’ is one all-embracing word that unites a variety of concepts – redemption – rebirth – justification – security – sanctification – growth – maturity – foreknowledge – election – predestination – righteousness – glorification – grace – reconciliation – new-life-in-Christ – new creation –adoption– saved by grace – born-from-above – baptised into Christ – accepted-in Him – citizens of heaven – etc
all facets of Salvation are by the power of God and because of the grace of God – all God does in redemption, rebirth, justification; and sanctification is by grace – all His foreknowledge; election; predestination sealing and adoption is of grace.
Chapter 9 reminds us of Israel's past history; their tremendous privileges and precious promises, while chapter 11 rejoices in their election by grace, their future hope and eventual salvation.
May we examine our Christian purpose in life, but be careful that we do not become so embroiled in setting to right the political and social scene in this fallen age, that we miss the true purpose of our calling and election.
The first three chapters in the book of Ephesians should fill our hearts with joy, and cause us to break forth into songs of praise, for they outline our divine election and our secure position in Christ, while the last three chapters give an overview of godly living, and examines what should be our practice in the Lord.
They were chosen - eklogen, in Greek, which comes from the English root election, and often translated the elect of God.
Some choose to ignore, question, dismiss or challenge our election, because they consider it conflicts with the doctrine of human responsibility and man's volition, while others reject the doctrine of man's freewill choice in salvation, and teach that salvation depends on God's sovereign will alone, without any free-will option for man, but the Bible teaches both - God's sovereign will AND man's free-will choice.
Both the sovereignty of God (predestination/God's election) and man's sovereignty (free-will/ man's volition) are taught in the Bible, but those who hold to one without consideration of the other (e.g.
Too often this wonderful doctrine of election has been misunderstood and abused, nullifying the need for evangelism or relegating man’s freewill to a nonsense.
He details the righteousness with which we are covered; he proclaims our position in Christ, where we are seated with Him in heavenly places; and He explains our divine election and adoption as sons.
Chapter 9 focuses on the sovereignty of God and His unchangeable promises to Israel.. their divine election and His changeless plan, particularly in connection with Israel.
This was to show that God's choice did not rest on the good or bad behaviour of Issac's twins, but on God's sovereign election and His pre-determined selection.
God's election of Jacob, as the founding patriarch of His chosen nation, rested on God's choice - not on the character; conduct; natural descent or human merit of either Jacob or Esau.
And the astonishing thing is that this election was made before the foundation of the world.
Our election was established on what each one of us would choose to do with God's free gift of salvation..
Our election and calling are fused together as one unit.
Our election and calling cannot take pace without the other.
Our election and calling are inseparably woven together and founded on the truth of God's word..
that whosoever believes on the only begotten Son of God will be saved - and salvation includes our election before the foundation of the world and our calling - at the moment of our personal salvation.
Peter is eager for us us make our calling and election sure..
and yet our salvation, which includes both our calling and our election..
So what does Peter mean when we are told to make our calling and election sure?
Peter is urging us to be absolutely sure that our salvation, which includes our calling and election has become a firmly fixed fact in our heart.
Peter wants us to base our understanding our salvation on the never-changing truth of God's Word - for when we have absolute assurance in our heart and mind that our calling and election is secure in Christ and anchored to the precious promises in the Word of God - then we will not stumble in our Christian walk; we will not start to doubt God's Word regarding our salvation - we will not be tossed about by every changing wind of doctrine that seeks to place believers under condemnation - when the Word of God clearly tells us that there is no condemnation, to those that are in Christ Jesus.
Our election and calling is an integral part of our salvation and we confirm it in our lives by living a holy life; growing more like Christ; trusting in His sufficient grace and depending on Him in all things.
Having been saved by faith, let us confirm our election and our calling by walking in spirit and truth and trusting in the unchanging Word of God so that we will live our lives as He intended and produce fruit to His praise and glory.
Let us make every effort to confirm our calling and election by living a holy life, which is rooted grounded in the word of truth..
for the more we know God's Word the more we trust His Word and the more we trust His Word - the more we become secure in our election, our calling and our eternal heritage in Christ.
Some years earlier, Paul had written extensively to this same Church to rejoice in their divine election, their adoption into the family of God, the privileges of the indwelling Holy Spirit and the spiritual blessings that have been poured out in such abundance, on all who have trusted Christ for salvation.
He lead us through the doctrines of predestination and election, justification and sanctification, the old sin nature and the new creation in Christ, the flesh and the spirit - law and grace.
Many can't comprehend God's election of Jacob over Esau.. and question why Israel should be God's chosen nation.
for just as righteousness is not by man's work but by God's grace - so God's election of Israel is similarly a matter of grace and mercy and is not dependent on Israel's merit.
Chapter 9 presents details of Israel's past election; the blessings God bestowed on them and the Lord's unrestricted, sovereign freedom to carry out His plans and purposes through whosoever He wills.
