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EVIDENCE OF ELECTION

Charles Wesley and George Whitfield were not always in agreement over the church of the 1700’s in England and America. But one thing tht clearly came across was in a hymn that has become a joy to our hearts. Note the…

CONFIDENCE IN OUR GREAT GOD –

AND CAN IT BE 1. And can it be that I should gain an int’rest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

2. ‘Tis mystery all! Th’Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine! ‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, Let angel minds inquire no more.

3. He left His Father’s throne above, So free, so infinite His grace; Emptied himself of all but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race; Tis mercy all, immense and free; For O my God, it found out me.

4. > 4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

5. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach th’eternal throne, and claim the crown,
through Christ my own.

What produces such confidence in the work of God? Paul spells it out. I Th 1:2-4. Thanks to God and such confidence is FOUNDED ON GOD’S WORK OF ELECTION. We have seen that Paul expresses three aspects of God’s work of election: v.3 “Remember” = EVIDENCE E. v.4 “Knowing” = ASSURANCE E. “Chosen” = PROVIDENCE E.

WHY WOULD PAUL SPEAK IN TERMS OF EVIDENCE?

*BECAUSE SAVING FAITH IS LIFE-CHANGING FAITH! -> 2 Cor. 5:17 “If any…in Christ = new Creation -> Acts 26:18 Turned from darkness

IN FACT BIBLICAL SALVATION = is deliverance from SIN, Mat. 1:21 with I Jn 3:5 uncleanness, Ezek 36:29 the devil, Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14, 15 wrath, Rom. 5:9; I Thes. 1:10 this present evil world, Gal. 1:4 enemies, Luke 1:71, 74 confession of Christ necessary to, Rom. 10:10110

And that’s why Paul so often spoke of faith, hope and love in describing those who know Christ!

IN v.3 WE HAVE THE 3 SPECIFICS OF THEIR LIVES. PAUL REMEMBERED AND WROTE DOWN AS PROOF OR EVIDENCE OF ELECTION.,

THERE WAS –

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1. A WORK PRODUCED BY FAITH -> not faith produced by works -> not faith in works -> not works alone

RATHER – FAITH PRODUCING WORK

AND THAT FAITH IS FROM GOD – Eph. 2:8-9 It is a GIFT Acts. 26:18 It is IN CHRIST Heb. 12:2 CHRIST IS AUTHOR & PERFECTER OF.

* Okay? Now stay with me!

There is a second evidence of election Paul saw in their lives –

2. LABOR PROMPTED BY LOVE > Labor KOPOS is literally “Toil to point of exhaustion”

SO, IT IS THIS INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT BASED ON LOVE

NOW – WHERE DID THIS LOVE COME FROM? GOD.

ROMANS 5:8 ————> God commends while we are sinners

-> SO —> MAN CONFRONTED WITH SUCH LOVE has only 2 POSSIBLE RESPONSES: -> REJECT IT AND BE APART FROM GOD = LOVE READ I JN. 4:7-11

OR, SUBMIT AND BE WONDROUSLY TRANSFORMED BY GOD

> So the evidence of elect. Paul thanked God for was:
-> WORK produced by FAITH from Christ -> LABOR prompted by LOVE of God

FINALLY, we see the – PATIENCE OF HOPE `hupomone – not negative, passive Aquiescence but active manly ENDURANCE

It is the “ENDURANCE FOUNDED ON HOPE” Findlay -commentator, last century, put it this way: “not resignation of passive sufferer <but> fortitude of stouthearted soldier”.

–> NOTE ESPECIALLY THE SPIRIT’S INVOLVEMENT: Rom. 8:23-24 = Spirit of hope Rom. 5:5 – Hope from Love via H.S.

IN FACT – THE ENTIRE TRINITY IS AT WORK IN THE ELECTION OF SAINTS

1. GOD ELECTS I Th. 1:4, Titus 1:1

ELECTION: TRIUNE “OF GOD THE FATHER”

Tit. 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those CHOSEN OF GOD and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godlinessm,

1 Thes. 1:4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, [His] choice of you;

Rom. 9:11 for though [the twins] were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that GOD’S PURPOSE according to {His} choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls,

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Eph.1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been PREDESTINED according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel fo His will,

Rom.8:29 For whom He FOREKNEW He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.. – His foreknowledge lit. pre-determined intimate.

I Pet. 1:2 according to the FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.

2. H.S. ELECTS > “THRU THE HOLY SPIRIT”

I Pet. 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.

2 Thes. 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation THROUGH SANCTIFICATION BY THE SPIRIT and faith in the truth.

3. CHRIST ELECTS – BY AND IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

John 13:18 “I do not speak of all of you. I KNOW the ones I have chosen; but {that is} that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘\He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.\’ 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and {that} your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.

Eph. 1:3 Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly {places} in Christ. 1:4 just as He CHOSE US IN HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In Love 1:5 He PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 1:8 which he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight 1:9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 1:10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, {that is}, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 1:12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 1:14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of {God’s own} possession, to the praise of His glory.

SO – WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE OF ELECTION? IT IS THE IMPACT THAT OUR TRIUNE [3-IN-ONE] GOD HAS IN A LIFE. PRODUCING BY THEIR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT!

=> A WORK OF FAITH – and WHAT was in their lives? V.9 “TURNED TO GOD FROM IDOLS!”

WHAT is that called?

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REPENTANCE Scripture source book Torrey/Moody [Repentance verses – attach here.] So what is the work of faith TODAY? SAME THING! …REPENTANCE

#2 > LABOR PROMPTED BY LOVE – and WHAT WAS THAT? vs. 9 “To serve the living and true God” “Thou shalt worship the Lord God”

WHAT IS THAT CALLED? WORSHIP

So what is the labor of love to be in our lives today? SAME THING

WORSHIP – TRUE and ACCEPTABLE

FINALLY #3 => Endurance founded on hope – and WHAT WAS THAT in v. 10? “AND TO WAIT FOR HIS SON”

What is that called? OBEDIENCE -> Remember theme Ch. 1 = Pres. hope of salvation

SO WHAT IS THE ENDURANCE THAT IS FOUNDED UPON HOPE TO BE IN OUR LIVES TODAY? OBEDIENCE.

Now – Let’s be specific. What were the evidences of E. Paul saw?

1. FAITH -> producing works = which equals REPENTANCE

2. LOVE – PROMPTING THE OFFERING OF ALL THEIR LIFE = WORSHIP

3. HOPE – PATIENTLY ENDURING = OBEDIENCE.

Paul thanked God for the work of election he saw in their GODLY Repentance? TRUE worship? DAILY obedience?

Is it evident that you are chosen/elected by God today?