Unconditional Election

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Romans 9:11-13
Psalters: 257, 86, 368, 304
  1. The beautiful and amazing truth.
    1. Election is the act of God’s free will before the creation of the world by which He chose certain persons into Christ to be the objects of His undeserved favor.
      1. Scripture speaks of God having a special, elect people (“a peculiar people,” I Peter 2:9).
      2. It was before the foundation of the world, i.e., in God’s eternity before He created (Eph. 1:4; Rev. 13:8; 17:8).
      3. It was God choosing particular individuals whose names are written in the book of life (Rev. 13:8; 17:8).
    2. This means that God excludes others (Rom. 9:22; I Thess. 5:9; I Peter 2:8; II Peter 2:12; Job 21:30; Prov. 16:4).
    3. God’s eternal choice of particular sinners unto salvation was not based on any foreseen act or response on the part of those He elected, but was based solely on His own good pleasure and sovereign will.
  2. Beautiful significance.
    1. We must see the truth of election, not as a cold, abstract doctrine, but a warm and rich treasure.
    2. The non-elect contradict and blaspheme (Acts 13:45).
      1. The blame for their unbelief is that they judged themselves unworthy (Acts 13:46), and it is not the fault of God’s decree.
      2. The unbelief of the reprobate does not frustrate God, for He determined to leave them in order to show His wrath (22).
    3. What happened with Esau and Jacob was not chance but the sovereignly determined purpose of God.
      1. God’s purpose concerns the realization of the promised blessings (8:28b; Eph. 1:11; 3:11).
      2. God works out His purpose through election because it is the only way this purpose can be certain (“stand”).
    4. “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).