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ASSURANCE OF ELECTION

Ephesians 1:3-4

We just finished the evidences of election. Remember them? PAUL CERTAINLY DID… As he sat in far-off Corinth, many months later he reflected on what was so fixed in his memory. As he wrote to this dear assembly he noted 3 specific evidences that ALL THREE PERSONS OF OUR TRIUNE GOD HAD BEEN AT WORK.

1. Christ had produced FAITH 2. God had provided LOVE 3. The Holy Spirit had prompted HOPE

He then reflected on the very definite evidences that personal presence of God in a life produces. They are just as they were 19 centuries ago.

I. REPENTANCE A. Commanded by God, Acts 17:30 B. Commanded by Christ, Rev. 2:5,16; 3:3 C. Caused by H.S., Zech. 12:10, John 16:8-11 1. It is unto: life, Acts 11:18 2. salvation, 2 Cor. 7:10 3. good fruits, Mt. 3:8 II. WORSHIP A. Phil. 3:3 Direct > God B. Spirit empowered C. Christ glorifying D. John 4:24 True spiritual worship commanded E. Rev. 21:22 Eternal obligation III. OBEDIENCE A. Rom. 1:5 Obed. of faith = Salvation B. I Pet. 1:2 Elected to!
What clear evidence of God’s election! Now note v.4…

HIS ASSURANCE OF GOD’S ELECTION So sure, thanked God…remember?

“KNOWING” – this is not just any word. This is the special word for COMPLETE, FULLNESS OF KNOWLEDGE!

There are 8 different words translated “knowledge”, two of them contrasted show the distinction of Paul’s statement.

OIDA from the same root as eidoit, to see, is a perfect tense with a present meaning, signifying, primarily, to have seen or perceived; hence, to know, to have knowledge of, whether absolutely, as in Divine knowledge, e.g., Matt. 6 :8, 32 ; John 6 :6,64; 8:14; 11:42; 13:11; 18:4 ; II Cor. 11 : 3I ; II Pet. 2 : 9 ; Rev. 2:2,9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15; or in the case of human knowledge, to know from observation, e.g., I Thess. I : 4, 5 ; 2 : I ; 2 Thess. 3 : 7. The differences between ginosko (No. I) and oida demand consideration : ginosko frequently suggests inception or progress in knowledge,.- while,Oida suggests fulness of knowledge, eg. John 8:55 ye have not known Him ginosko, i.e., begun to know; Peter did not yet perceive (oida) its significance” but thou shalt- understand,” i..e., ‘ get to know ginoskp hereeafter ; 14:7, ” If ye had known Me ” (gin5sk6), i.e., ‘ had definitely come to know Me,’ ” ye would have known My Father also ” (oida), i.e., ‘ would have had perception of : ‘ ” from henceforth ye know Him ” (giii5sk6), i.e., having unconsciously been coming to the Father, as the One who was in Him, they would now consciously be in the constant and progressive experience of knowing Him; in Mark 4: I3, ” Know ye not (oida) this

Paul was OFTEN speaking of the fulness they should have in their KNOWLEDGE.

They should have it with… Phi. 1:17, Knowing that I am set for the defence
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19 For I know that this shall turn 25 I know that I shall abide and continue 27 that whether I come and see you, or 30 the same conflict which ye saw in me, 2:28 when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, 4:9 received, and heard, and seen in me, dol; 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know 15 Now ye Philippians know also, Col. 2:1 I would that ye knew what great 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall 4:1 knowing that ye also have a Master 6 that ye may know how ye ought I Th.1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your 1.5, 2:1,2,5,11,17; 3.3,4,6,10; 4.2,4,5; 5.2,12.

Now, this fulness of knowledge PRODUCED ASSURANCE IN PAUL. WHAT ARE THE SCRIPTURAL ELEMENTS OF THIS ASSURANCE?

I. The assurance of GOD’S PLAN of election II. The assurance of GOD’S PROVISIONS for election III. The assurance of GOD’S POWER in election

I. The assurance of GOD’S PLAN of election. First of all, what is the scriptural assurance of God’s plan of election? A. It is PERSONAL. 1. Chose individuals. Eph 1:3-4 “us” 2. Recorded in His Book a) Rev. 17:8, 20:5, b) Phil. 4:3 c) Acts 13:48, 18:10 3. It gives sense of unworthiness B. It is PRETEMPORAL “Before time” 1. Eph 1:4 “Before foundation” 2. Mt. 25:34 “Prepared for you before F.
3. I P. 1:19-20 Christ the lamb foreordained 4. Rev. 13:8 Lamb slain found. a) ” ” ” 5. Acts 13:48 Appointed to E.L. a) I have many 6. Tim. 2:10 Those who chosen 7. Gives confidence to ministry C. THIS BIBLICAL PORTRAIT is a lot different than some views. 1. It’s not a) Foresight = Arminian basis foreseen faith (1) Puts on basis of works (2) God chose Israel bec. loved not b) Corporate = liberal of community: universalism 2. It is Individual pretemporal before time a) Unconditional b) pretemporal c) unmerited II. Quickly now – what’s the second assurance we have from scripture? Assurance in God’s provisions – ELECTION… provides to the saint: A. AN EFFECTUAL CALLING 1. Rom. 8:30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. B. DIVINE TEACHING 1. John 17:6 I manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word. C. ELECTION ALSO ASSURES THE PROVISION OF – BELIEF IN CHRIST 1. Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this,
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they [began] rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. D. PROTECTION BY GOD 1. Matt. 24:22 And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short. 2. Mark 13:20 And unless the Lord had shortened [those] days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect whom He chose, He shortened the days. E. DIVINE VINDICATION 1. Luke 18:7 Now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? F. GOD’S PERSONAL OVERSIGHT 1. Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. G. THE HIGHEST PLANE OF LIVING 1. Psa. 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the \Lord,\ The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. 2. Psa. 65:4 How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near [to Thee], to dwell in Thy courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, Thy holy temple. H. WORRY FREE INVESTMENT 1. Isa 65:9 And I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones shall inherit it, and My servants shall dwell there. 2. I Pe. 1:4 to [obtain] an inheritance [which is] imperishable and undefiled and will not fade
away, reserved in heaven for you. 3. I Pe. 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. WOW – what’s left? One last thing: Assurance of God’s power/ providence in election – But that’s next time!