Ordained to Believe
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
9/20/2015 PM
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Text:
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Acts 13:48b
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Psalters: |
404, 396, 241, 172 |
- The fact of election.
- These persons were appointed, i.e., set in order, to appoint, arrange, assign a place.
- This appointment by God is what lies behind the activity of faith.
- This appointment is by another, and the ones appointed are passive. They were acted upon.
- Who has the right to ordain men to eternal life?
- Four certain outstanding features of election.
- God’s election is an eternal choice (Eph. 1:4; II Tim.1:9).
- Election is personal.
- God’s election is gracious and sovereignly free.
- God’s election (in eternity past) is unto “eternal life” (in eternity to come).
- The near goal of election is faith, believing in Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, crucified and risen.
- Our text makes a clear relationship between election and faith/believing, viz., faith depends on election.
- The faith of the elect is certain and it is necessary.
- Implications.
- Some received faith and others did not, blaspheming (45) proceeds from God’s eternal counsel.
- Our election in Christ is the ground for our great joy.
- “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).