Embracing Humility Through Unconditional Election and Grace

Devotional

Day 1: The Heart's Deceitfulness and Our Need for Vigilance

The human heart is inherently deceitful, as it can twist even the most humbling doctrines into sources of pride. This deceitfulness is a reminder of our need for constant vigilance and reliance on God's grace to keep our hearts humble. The heart's propensity for pride is a universal issue, and even the most mature believers can fall prey to this sin. We must be aware of this tendency and actively seek God's help to maintain a humble heart. [02:47]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"

Reflection: Identify a recent situation where pride crept into your heart. How can you invite God to help you remain humble in similar situations in the future?

Day 2: The Sovereignty of God in Salvation

The doctrines of grace, such as unconditional election and irresistible grace, are designed to eliminate human boasting and exalt God's sovereignty. They remind us that our salvation is entirely a gift from God, not a result of our own efforts. This understanding should lead us to a place of humility and gratitude, recognizing that we are recipients of God's unmerited favor. By embracing these doctrines, we acknowledge God's ultimate authority and power in our lives. [04:14]

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt tempted to take credit for your spiritual growth. How can you shift your focus to glorify God's work in your life instead?

Day 3: Grieving Over Our Ongoing Sin

Like Paul, we must be painfully aware of our ongoing sin and grieve over it. This awareness should lead us to a deeper dependence on God's grace and a recognition of our need for His continual work in our lives. Acknowledging our sin is not about self-condemnation but about understanding our need for a Savior and the transformative power of His grace. By grieving over our sin, we open ourselves to God's healing and sanctifying work. [06:54]

Romans 7:24-25 (ESV): "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."

Reflection: Consider an area of sin in your life that you have been ignoring. How can you bring this before God in repentance and seek His help to overcome it?

Day 4: The Sufferings of Christ and Our Humility

Keeping the sufferings of Christ at the forefront of our minds helps us understand the depth of our sin and the magnitude of His sacrifice. This awareness fosters humility and gratitude, preventing self-exaltation. By meditating on Christ's sufferings, we are reminded of the cost of our redemption and the love that compelled Him to endure the cross. This reflection should lead us to a posture of humility and worship. [07:21]

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV): "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Reflection: Spend time today reflecting on the sufferings of Christ. How does this reflection change your perspective on your own struggles and challenges?

Day 5: The Gift of True Humility

True humility is a gift from God, characterized by self-forgetfulness and a broken-hearted love. We must pray for this gift, understanding that it cannot be achieved through our own efforts but is a work of God's grace in our lives. This humility leads us to a deeper dependence on God and a greater likeness to Christ. By seeking humility, we align ourselves with God's purposes and open our hearts to His transformative work. [09:02]

James 4:6-7 (ESV): "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride? How can you actively seek God's gift of humility in these areas today?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound and humbling doctrine of unconditional election, a cornerstone of Calvinist theology. This doctrine, as outlined in First Corinthians 1:27, is designed to exalt God and humble us. It reminds us that our salvation is not a result of our own merit but solely due to God's sovereign grace. However, the human heart is deceitful and can twist even the most humbling truths into a source of pride. This is a challenge faced by many, including Nathaniel from Tennessee, who struggles with feelings of arrogance despite understanding that his salvation is a gift from God.

The heart's propensity for pride is a universal issue, as highlighted in Jeremiah 17:9 and Mark 7:21. Even the most mature believers can fall prey to this sin. The doctrines of grace, including unconditional election, irresistible grace, total depravity, and God's providence, are all designed to eliminate boasting and elevate God's glory. Yet, the heart can distort these truths, turning them into platforms for self-exaltation.

To combat this, we must first acknowledge and grieve over our ongoing sin, as Paul did in Romans 7:24. We should also keep the sufferings of Christ at the forefront of our minds, recognizing the depth of our sin and the magnitude of His sacrifice. The story of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:14 serves as a warning against self-righteousness, reminding us that true humility is essential.

Finally, we must plead with God for the miracle of humility, understanding that it is a gift that cannot be achieved through our own efforts. True Christian affections are characterized by a humble, broken-hearted love, as described by Jonathan Edwards. This humility leads us to a deeper dependence on God and a greater likeness to Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. exaltation. [07:21]
5. The Miracle of Humility: True humility is a gift from God, characterized by self-forgetfulness and a broken-hearted love. We must pray for this gift, understanding that it cannot be achieved through our own efforts but is a work of God's grace in our lives.

** [07:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Unconditional Election
[00:41] - Nathaniel's Dilemma
[01:30] - The Gift of Saving Faith
[02:10] - The Deceitfulness of the Heart
[03:05] - Pride in the Human Heart
[03:45] - Purpose of Doctrines of Grace
[04:27] - Crushing Human Boasting
[05:42] - God's Sovereignty and Grace
[06:15] - Combatting Self-Exaltation
[06:54] - Acknowledging Ongoing Sin
[07:21] - The Agonies of Christ
[08:13] - The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
[09:02] - The Miracle of Humility
[10:30] - Additional Resources on Calvinism

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Corinthians 1:27
Jeremiah 17:9
Luke 18:14

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Observation Questions:

According to 1 Corinthians 1:27, what is the purpose of God choosing what is foolish and weak in the world? How does this relate to the concept of unconditional election? [03:45]
In Jeremiah 17:9, how is the human heart described? What implications does this have for our understanding of pride and humility? [02:47]
Reflect on the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:14. What was the outcome for each man, and what does this teach us about self-righteousness and humility? [08:33]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the doctrine of unconditional election challenge human pride, and why might it still lead some to feel a sense of arrogance? [03:26]
What does it mean to "bemoan our present ongoing sinning," as mentioned in the sermon? How does this practice contribute to spiritual growth and humility? [06:35]
The sermon suggests keeping the sufferings of Christ at the forefront of our minds. How does this awareness impact our understanding of sin and grace? [07:21]
Why is humility described as a "miracle" in the sermon, and how does this perspective influence our approach to seeking humility in our lives? [09:02]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt prideful about your spiritual understanding or position. How can you actively combat this pride and cultivate humility in your daily life? [02:10]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of acknowledging ongoing sin. What practical steps can you take to regularly examine your heart and confess your sins to God? [06:35]
How can you keep the sufferings of Christ at the forefront of your mind this week? Consider specific practices or reminders that can help you maintain this focus. [07:21]
In what ways can you pray for the "miracle of humility" in your life? Identify specific areas where you need God's grace to cultivate a humble heart. [09:02]
The story of the Pharisee and the tax collector serves as a warning against self-righteousness. How can you ensure that your prayers and spiritual practices are rooted in genuine humility rather than self-exaltation? [08:33]
Consider the deceitfulness of the heart as described in Jeremiah 17:9. What accountability measures can you put in place to guard against self-deception and pride? [02:47]
How can you encourage others in your small group or community to pursue humility and dependence on God's grace? Share specific ways you can support one another in this journey. [05:42]

Sermon Clips

The doctrines of Grace are fundamentally humbling ideally sometimes that's not what happens though if we're not careful a wrong understanding of Calvinism can breed pride in our hearts that's Nathaniel's dilemma he lives in Tennessee hello Pastor John and Tony thank you both so much for the apj podcast it has helped me love Jesus more and to long for his return to love his appearing. [00:00:28]

I am a five-point calvinist I believe that God chooses a people for himself before the foundation of the world to be his children as Ephesians 1 verses 4 to 6 teaches I know that God chooses people owing totally to his free Grace and wisdom and not owing to anything within the people whom he chooses. [00:00:51]

The heart can find a way to distort the most humbling circumstances into ego enhancing circumstances and the Heart can make even the most humbling doctrines a stepping stone to boasting it can it does Jeremiah 17 9. the heart is deceitful Above All Things and desperately sick who can understand it. [00:02:27]

The doctrine of unconditional election is designed by God to destroy human boasting yes that's right it is First Corinthians 1 27 God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong God chose what is low and despised in the world even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [00:03:41]

By Grace you have been saved through faith this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boast same with the doctrine of total depravity it's designed to crush us all to the common ground of hopeless Beggars and remove boasting. [00:04:20]

The doctrines of Grace the biblical doctrines the biblical story the biblical truths are designed to show God's rights and God's prerogatives and God's power and God's Authority and God's utterly undeserved Grace poured out in our lives all of them are meant to have the double Effect one let no one boast himself to let him who boasts boast in the Lord. [00:05:42]

Bemoan our present ongoing sinning not just past sins not just sins in principle but the ones in my daily life that don't yield to Warfare this is what caused Paul to cry out in Romans 7 24 Wretched Man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death thanks be to God through Jesus Christ Our Lord we must be painfully aware of indwelling sin grieve over it and with trembling cleaved Grace. [00:06:30]

We can keep before us the agonies of Christ and I mean the real horrible torture and sufferings of Christ with the awareness that this is how bad I am this is what I deserved this is what it took to save me this much horrible suffering James Denny said no man can give the impression that he himself is clever and that Christ is mighty to save. [00:07:17]

Let the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector shock us because the Pharisee prays like a calvinist God I thank you that I am not like other men he's given God the glory for his sanctification but even though he prayed like he wanted to give God glory for his Holiness it was all a subtle way of self-exaltation. [00:07:59]

We should plead to God for the miracle of humility it's a miracle it's a miracle because it cannot be achieved by us if we achieve it we'll be proud of achieving it it's a gift and the nature of the gift is peculiar it's a gift of self-forgetting if we are conscious of being humble we're on the way to losing it. [00:08:55]

Let's pray for this beautiful reality described by Jonathan Edwards I love this quote of what we're really after all gracious affections are brokenhearted affections a truly Christian love either to God or men is a humble broken-hearted love the desires of the Saints however Earnest are humble desires their hope is a humble hope their Joy even when it is unspeakable and full of Glory is a humble broken-hearted joy and leaves the Christian more poor in spirit and more like a little child and more disposed to a universal lowliness of behavior. [00:09:38]

And if you're new to all of this and you want more information on Calvinism maybe you are one uh maybe you are and you don't know you are one or maybe you just don't know if you're a calvinist we have a little primer on Calvinism and is opposite armenianism and that can be found in apj 659 abj659 that episode is simply titled Watershed differences between Calvinists and Armenians. [00:10:28]

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Embracing Humility Through Unconditional Election and Grace

Devotional

Day 1: The Heart's Deceitfulness and Our Need for Vigilance

Day 2: The Sovereignty of God in Salvation

Day 3: Grieving Over Our Ongoing Sin

Day 4: The Sufferings of Christ and Our Humility

Day 5: The Gift of True Humility

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Humility Through Unconditional Election and Grace

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