Embracing God's Grace: The Doctrine of Unconditional Election

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"Unconditional election isn't this just a dry Doctrine for Eggheads to discuss and debate no it's not we all need this Doctrine unconditional election and that's why unconditional election is a theme we've studied a dozen times on the podcast over the years it's this precious fact that God's choice of one person and not others is not based on any good deeds or any bad deeds in the persons themselves let me say that again God's choice of one person and not others is not based on any good deeds or any bad deeds in the persons themselves God chooses his children unconditionally that's unconditional election." [00:00:04]

"Now what we mean by unconditional election you could use the word selection if election has political sounds to you is God's free gracious Choice before creation of who it is that he will give faith and repentance to and thus pardon their sin adopt them into his Everlasting family an election or a selection not based on anything not anything in US not foreseen faith not good works not parentage not national origin or race or ethnicity not religious ritual like baptism or the Lord's Supper God's selection is unconditional based only on his all-wise good pleasure or as Asian says the Council of his will." [00:01:33]

"It matters because it's true it's what the Bible teaches Romans 9 11 though Jacob and Esau were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad they admit no conditions in order that God's purpose of election might stand unconditionally I added that word but that's implied not because of works but because of God who calls Rebecca was told the older will serve the younger Ephesians chapter 1 verse 4 God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world Jesus said all that the father gives me will come to me yours they were and you gave them to me John 6 John 17." [00:03:09]

"It matters because the aim of unconditional election is that we are destined for Eternal joy and praise of the glory of the grace of God that's our destiny Grace is the very meaning of unconditional election God's free gracious choice not our qualifications and the whole design of election is to get joy for our souls and praise for God's grace Ephesians 1 6 he chose us in him before the foundation of the world unto the praise of the glory of his grace that's the whole design of unconditional election Grace Grace glorious Grace will be praised forever." [00:03:55]

"It matters because it humbles our proud Hearts First Corinthians 1 27 God chose what is foolish in the world God chose what is weak in the world God chose what is low and despised in the world so that no human being might boast in the presence of God God gets praise we get humbled by unconditional election." [00:04:57]

"It matters because it makes clear that our faith is a gift of God a gift of Grace that follows election rather than grounding it acts 13 48 the Gentiles began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord and as many as were appointed that his chosen elected as many as were appointed to eternal life they believe because appointed no one can boast that he originated his own believing and so won his election no as many as were chosen as many as were chosen appointed elected believed they believed faith is a gift rooted in the Eternal unconditional election of God." [00:05:15]

"It matters because it secures the reality that no one can successfully bring any charge against us Romans 8 31. What then shall we say to these things if God is for us who can be against us he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all how will he not also with him graciously give us all things who shall bring any charge against God's elect me say that again who shall bring any charge against God's elect and the answer is nobody God's chosen are secure from all accusation." [00:06:05]

"It matters because it is the deepest ground of our own compassion for other people Paul calls for compassion from Christians like this in Colossians 3 12. put on then as God's chosen ones elect once holy and loved compassionate hearts precisely because we are aware of being freely graciously undeservedly chosen owing to nothing in ourselves are we moved to treat others the way we've been treated." [00:06:58]

"Despair at being unsavable is torpedoed by the doctrine of unconditional election if a person says to me in my office as a pastor God could never never set his favor on me you don't know what I've done what I have done is all so terrible to that person we can say God did not choose anybody because of what they had done or not done your history of sin is absolutely irrelevant for the question whether you can be one of God's chosen ones God's choice was unconditional absolutely the only question is will you believe if you would believe you'll be saved and you will confirm your election before the foundation of the world." [00:07:35]

"Unconditional election matters because it puts an end to racism among God's people when they grasp what it means racism is rooted in a sense of ethnic or racial superiority God ignores all such conditions and chooses his people from every ethnicity and unconditionally he chooses them Peter wrote you are a chosen race a holy nation Christianity is a new race of people no others no other races no other ethnicities are the basis of belonging he ran some people from every tribe every tongue every people every nation he stops the mouth of all ethnic boasting by choosing unconditionally." [00:08:28]

"It matters because we can know we are chosen with all the blessings that implies first Thessalonians 1 4 we know Brothers we know Brothers loved by God that he has chosen you because our gospel came to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." [00:09:21]

"It matters because God shapes all of history for the sake of his elect to make sure that we come safely home into his presence he controls the world Jesus said about the end of history and I think it applies to all of history in principle he said this if those days had not been cut short no human being would be saved but for the sake of his elect those days will be cut short Matthew 24 22." [00:09:49]

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