Foreknowledge and God’s Good Pleasure

Transcript

GR 357
4/27/1980
Foreknowledge and God’s Good Pleasure
John 6 – Election 2
Gil Rugh

We’re studying together in our services on Sundays, the Gospel of John and we’ve taken a break after chapter 6 to look particularly more in detail at the subject of the sovereignty of God. Particularly the sovereignty of God as it pertains to the salvation of men. But when we talk of God's sovereignty as it relates to salvation we are talking within the broader context of His sovereignty as it relates to every area. I really believe that one of the most important things that we can do as believers is get a proper attitude and appreciation of the greatness of God, of the greatness of His person and character and work.

We begin our study of this area by looking at something of the character of God. We noted that He is totally and absolutely sovereign, He is in control totally of everything and everyone. And not only this, but He does all things according to His own will and His own purposes, He acts totally selfishly. He does everything for Himself, for His own glory and His own honor.

Just turn to the book of Job if you would. The last chapter, sometime today you might take time to read the entire fortieth chapter of Isaiah and then also the closing chapters of the book of Job. Beginning with chapter 38, and read through chapter 42, where God presents something of His absolute sovereignty of the greatness that is His. And I think it's interesting with Job, because with Job we're dealing with a man who was righteous by God’s own declaration. The first chapter of the book of Job, God declares Job to be a righteous man. But we find through the experiences of this book that Job is growing in his appreciation of who God is. And he comes to the conclusion then in the 42nd chapter that God is greater than he really ever estimated. There has been something of a challenge to God by Job. And as Job has been brought under such tremendous pressure there is the natural result of challenging God or questioning and desiring a time at least when he could inquire of God. And now Job has his chance and God tells Job, ’Wrap yourself in your mantel, stand up and let's see how great a person you are.' 'Could you weigh out the mountains and so on?' 'Could you control all the details of nature?' 'Could you create?' 'You're the one who thinks that you ought to question me, how great are you?' And after chapter 38, 39, 40 and 41 Job is all but devastated because when you see God properly, you see yourself properly also. And chapter 42, "Then Job answered the Lord and said 'I know that you can do all things no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask Thee, and do Thou instruct me.'" You note, a different attitude of challenging God on what He's done. "Now let me just ask you and you inform me, I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes see you, therefore I retract and I repent in dust and ashes." So to come to a proper perspective on the greatness of God, on His total sovereignty and control over His creation Job comes to a proper perspective on himself and says, 'My attitude ought to be one of submissiveness as the learner, rather than the challenger.' And I think that we need to be careful as believers, that our attitude toward God is proper, that He is the one totally sovereign, we are created beings with the goal and desire to learn more of Him, but we have no right to put Him on trial or to question what He does, our responsibility is simply to learn from Him, to try to learn from what He does. But I'm not in the position to challenge God on the basis of what He does, what He does is right and He has the right to do what He chooses to do. Now the second thing that we need to understand as we approach the subject of sovereignty after the character of God, is the condition of man. Man is a sinner, he is a sinner by birth, he is a sinner by choice. He is enslaved to his sin, he is without hope, helpless, controlled and dominated by sin and exercising his will to be in rebellion with God. And we noted in this context that our concept of free will often is a misunderstanding. We are not free from the standpoint of being able to do whatever we want to do, but because of sin and our sinning we are slaves to sin and we always function in the realm of our servitude. But we are accountable to God, this point is important because we are not dealing, when we talk about God’s sovereignty as relates to salvation, with poor innocent human beings. We are dealing with a humanity that is lost and under condemnation. We are dealing with human beings who are exercising their will to rebel against God, who are not seeking God, who are not desirous of God, who are not doing good, and thus are under just condemnation by God.

Now as we come to the area of God's salvation we noted that the word 'election' is what we use and it's the scriptural word and it's used of God's choosing throughout the Scriptures. It's used some 30 times in the New Testament of God election or choosing. So it is a Biblical subject. The question is, how did God elect or choose men and women for salvation? And two possibilities and we looked at one. He chose on the basis of His foreknowledge and we have to agree with that because Peter says, 'We are elect according to the foreknowledge of God". But what does foreknowledge mean? This word is used five times of God in the New Testament and we alluded to this, I'll just give you the verses in case you weren't here, so that you can jot them down and examine them, Acts 2:23, Romans 8:29, and 11:2, I Peter 1:2,20, those five times it said that "God foreknew". Acts 2:23; Romans 8:29; and 11:2 I Peterl:2 and verse 20. Now does mean that God simply looked ahead in time to see what man would do and on the basis of what He knew man would do God chose and the problem with that is contrary to the whole tenor of Scripture where God says He is in control, He decides. With that perspective all we do is have God sitting back to see what man will do and then making a decision on that basis. And that does not seem to fit the pattern or Scripture. Noted the use of this word comes out of an Old Testament background, Exodus chapter 2 verse 25, Amos chapter 3 verse 2, where God says, " You only have I known of all the families of the earth.”, referring to Israel. Now know there has to mean more than knowing about you, because God knows about every nation on the earth, He is omniscient, He knows everything. But He says Israel is the only nation I have known.' What does He mean? Israel is the only nation He has chosen, Israel is the only nation He has put His favor on to belong to Him. There's a more active ingredient of determining involved. And we noted this in Acts chapter 2 where we're told that it was by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God that Christ was crucified. And predetermined plan and foreknowledge are basically synonymous expressions in the grammar there.

One other passage in the New Testament, Romans chapter 11. This would be about where we left off in our last study. Romans chapter 11 and last Sunday evening we took time to cover some questions and some of you were here for that, if you were not, you may want to pick up the tape from that time and it will help maybe fill in some gaps and questions that you may have. Romans chapter 11, verse 2 "God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.” Referring again to Israel, and it says, "He did not reject the people that He foreknew” and as we'll see in our later discussions the context here is the doctrine of election, the concept of election. Now God foreknew, in the sense of knowing about every nation. But He says, 'His people are those that He foreknew', so it has to mean more than just knowing about them ahead of time, but the people that He chose, He hasn't rejected the nation that He has elected for Himself, that He has chosen, that He has foreordained or predetermined to belong to Himself. So the word 'foreknowledge' whenever it's used of God in the Scripture notes something of determination. He knows what will happen because He determines what will happen, and because He determines what will happen, He knows what will happen. So anytime you read of God's foreknowing something you can put in the word foreordaining. He is causing it or bringing it about.
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Now if He doesn't elect or choose on the basis of knowing ahead of time what men will do, upon what basis does He make His choice? And here we come to grips with just how absolutely sovereign He is. I encourage you to read Isaiah 40 and the closing chapters of Job. Where God presents very clearly and with strength the absolute sovereignty which is His and you'll see there that He makes the point that He is not obligated to give answers to anyone. Because if He is obligated to give account to anyone, then to that extent He must be submissive to that person. If you are obligated in your job to account to someone else in a sense you are submissive or responsible to that person but God is obligated or accountable to no one but Himself. So in effect He is not obligated to answer our questions. Now He has very graciously answered many of them but when you come to what is the basis for God's choice very simply He says, 'I did it because I chose to do it.' 'I am just that sovereign.'

Look in Ephesians chapter 1; Ephesians chapter 1. One of the great chapters in the scripture on the subject of predestination or election is Ephesians chapter 1. Now note verse 4, we'll be into this chapter several times, you may want to leave a marker in Ephesians 1 so you can get back here easily this morning, "Blessed be the God and Father", in verse 3, "of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just 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 to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,". And you can translate that literally, "according to His good pleasure" as the King James version does have it, "He chose us according to His good pleasure". Look down to verse 9, "He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention" or translate it literally, "according to His good pleasure", because it pleased Him to do it. Down to verse 11, "also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will" as far back as you can go. As the Scripture takes you it is to the will of God, He counseled with Himself and decided to do it. What was His basis of electing some to salvation? It pleased Him to do it and after counseling with Himself He did. Now we begin to get a little uncomfortable with that. Because one thing that happens, the same thing that happened with Job. The more directly you are confronted with the greatness of God the might of His person, the more you are put into proper perspective. And I do not like to be told that I am not in charge, and I don't mind sharing the sovereignty of God, but when you start to tell me that He does everything according to what pleases Him, that He acts only on the council of His will that makes Him totally sovereign and me totally subject. And I bridle a little bit under that concept, because the flesh does not like to submit.

Now back up to Romans again, chapter 9; Romans chapter 9. Verse 11, talking about the birth of the twins, Esau and Jacob, the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. In verse 11, "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" or literally according to election "might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls". Notice far back as you can go, why did God choose Jacob and not Esau? So that His purpose according to election might stand, that's as far back as you go. Now that doesn't answer every question we'd like answered but God is totally sovereign and decided to do it. Now we function in the same way in our own limited sphere. Some of you are parents and as a parent you have certain options before you, you can make certain choices at your discretion, and you decide to do something because it's within you prerogative to make that decision. And one of your children comes and says, 'What do you mean doing this?' What do you say? Don't talk to me like that, you are not to question me, I'm the parent, you're the child. I did that because I wanted to do that. We went to the ice cream store and we didn't take the kids. And you come back and what do the kids say, ’What do you mean going to have ice cream without us?' Say, ’Wait a minute, what do you mean telling me I can’t go have ice cream if I want it?’ ’We're the parents you’re the children.’ You say, ’I have that certain right to make those decisions within certain confines.’ And children don’t have the right to put you on trial for the decisions that you make. Now all you have to do is expand that and God has the same right, except He is absolutely totally sovereign and He has done certain things. And He has simply told us what He has done, and He is not accountable to us. You don’t have to tell your children why you came in at 9:30 instead of 8:30, they have to tell you. And God is simply saying, 'I don’t have to be accountable to you, you have to be accountable to me.’ 'I did it this way because I chose to do it this way.’ Now that’s not unloving, that’s loving, but that’s as far back as we can go with it, God simply decided to do it and that’s as much as He has revealed. Now we do know that He always does the right thing, that’s the encouraging thing. God will do the right thing, He always does the right thing. And just as our children have to trust us, because they don’t understand all the decisions that we make, so we have to trust God, because we don’t understand all that He’s doing. But I know that He does the right thing, I know that He does what is best and I know that He has decided in a way that is consistent with His own character. So what is the basis for God’s choosing? His own sovereign will. Now if that leaves you with some questions, it leaves me with some questions, but at least I know that’s as far back as the Scripture takes me.

Now when did God make this choice? When did God sovereignly choose some for salvation? Well the Scripture says it happened a long time ago. Several passages, back to Ephesians chapter 1, Ephesians chapter 1, verse 4 "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,". The choice was made before the foundation of the world, now this is important because sometimes people think that by giving a different definition to foreknowledge and saying God chose by knowing ahead of time, therefore that allows man a certain freedom today. But you know the Scripture is clear, you were chosen before the foundation of the world, so whatever the basis of that choice was it was made before God ever started creation in Genesis 1;1, before the world was ever started God chose those that He would choose for salvation. We can discuss what was the basis of His choice, but the fact of the matter is the choice has been made. The matter is determined, He chose us before the foundation of the world. I don't know how many thousands of years ago the world was created but then back before that He chose me, to salvation in Jesus Christ.

Another verse on that, over in II Thessalonians chapter 2; II Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 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". When did God choose us? From the beginning, go back to the beginning, we were chosen. John 1:1 refers to the beginning, the Word already was. Go back to Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created", we were already chosen. He had chosen us for salvation from the beginning. So we go back to what we know as the beginning, Genesis 1:1, we were already chosen for salvation. Now questions come like: What if one of the elect does not believe and dies? and so on. Well the point made in verse 13, the end of the verse, is important, "through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth". God has not only ordained the means, the end- salvation, but also the means- sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. In other words, God chose you to salvation before He created the world and He determined that through the ministry of the Spirit in setting you apart you would believe the truth and thus enter into that salvation. So God has ordained the means as well as the ends. So a question like 'What if one of the elect dies before they believe?' is a non- possibility. It couldn't happen because God is totally sovereign, and in His sovereignty He has ordained that those that He elects will believe. So they are brought under the sound of the Gospel because 'faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God and the Spirit of God opens the eyes of their understanding to cause them to see and believe that Jesus Christ died for them. God has ordained the process from beginning to end in eternity past.

Another verse over in Revelation 17, Revelation 17. One of the great prophetic chapters in the Scripture, exciting material, but in the midst of this He carries us back before creation. In Revelation chapter 17, verse 8, The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction." Now, note the next statement, "And those who dwell on the earth will wonder whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world." There are those whose names were not written in the book of life back before the foundation of the world, so you note, "The names have been written in the book of life". And I take it over in Revelation chapter 20 you have the book of life presented, all those in the book of life are going to spend eternity in God’s presence. Anyone whose name is not found written in the book of life is going to be cast into the lake of fire, which is hell. Now we are told that before the foundation of the world the names were put in the book of life, that's an awesome concept. Now many people hold out for a different view on election, because they think that influences the way they do evangelism, if God has elected, why should I evangelize? Very simply, I evangelize because the sovereign God told me to evangelize. He hasn't consulted me to ask me whether I thought He had a good idea, He simply told me to evangelize. Now I evangelize because He told me to because the means to the end, the end of salvation, the means is they must hear the truth, those that He has elected.

So I present the Gospel, as Paul said "I endure all things for the sake of
the elect, that they may obtain the salvation, which is in Jesus Christ."
I present the Gospel to everyone I can, praying for them, desirous of them to be believing so the Spirit can take that Gospel and apply it to the heart of those that God has elected and caused them to believe. There are some whose name is not in the book of life, so regardless of what your view on election is, those you talk with, those that you deal with, their names are either in the book of life or they're not because they've been in the book of life from before the foundation of the world. You say, 'Well what happens if I get run over by a bus before I believe?' Well you keep in mind we have a God who is totally sovereign. And this is what boggles your mind, that He has such total absolute control of all the details that the elect will believe, nothing can happen to thwart that. So it's so settled that He's already put the names in the Book of Life. It's just like in the Old Testament when the prophets speak about the future they speak in the past tense. We call it the prophetic past, because when God says something is going to happen it’s so settled that it's going to happen that He can write about it as though it happened yesterday. You talk about confidence, He's totally sure, He determined and so it's settled that it will. Just like the prophecies in Revelation 17, they'll all come about, they're just as sure as done. And so those that He has elected, He puts in the Book of Life, why? It's settled, they will hear the truth, they will believe the truth, they will spend eternity in the presence of God, Now right away our minds begin to run, and we think 'What does this mean if one of my children's names are not in the Book of Life?' 'What does it mean if my husband's name or my wife's name is not in the Book of Life?' 'That would mean they could not be saved, that's not fair!' And we have to back up, first it is fair, it's fair if God sends sinners to hell. Secondly, I have the same question, I have children and what if God elected one of them and did not elect the other? But you know it's a comfort to me, this doctrine to know that their destiny ultimately depends on God and not on me. The destiny of your husband or wife ultimately is in the hands of God not your hands. And that ought to be a comforting doctrine. I don't sit and lay awake at night and wonder, 'What if one of my children are not elect?', because that's in the hands of God. He has simply told me to train them up according to the truth of God uphold them before God, I pray for them, I present the Gospel to them, I desire them to come and believe, but I recognize ultimately it's in the hands of God. But God always does the right thing so I don't have to be afraid that God would make a choice that would be wrong, that the decision He would make in this area would be wrong. You know part of our problem comes when we try to take God's "worries" on ourselves. Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? Does that not mean He'll do right with children? He'll do right with my wife or husband? He'll do right with my friends? What am I worried about? Well maybe He did wrong one time or He'll make a mistake, no. But what if they're not? I can only leave that in His hands, it does not change my responsibility, my responsibility is not to be concerned about God's position, my responsibility is to be concerned about mine. My concern is not to be worried about whether God wrote them in the Book of Life, my concern is to be presenting them the Gospel so if God has elected them they can believe and be saved. I've got my hands full with my responsibility and that's what God challenged Job with. I think that you've got more than you can handle without trying to take my responsibility into your hands. Could you feed all the animals? Could you take care of all creation? Then what are you doing worrying about My responsibilities? You need to be doing what your responsibilities are. I take it, it's a great comfort, doctrine of election is a great comfort to me, a great encouragement in witnessing, to know that God is sovereignly in control. The destiny of these people that I'm sharing the Gospel with is in the hands of God and I'm just an instrument through whom He has opportunity to work by His grace and I present the truth so that the Spirit might use it in the lives of those that He has elected.

But regardless of what you do and how you view it, the names are said to be there. Now important here, you see where we are as human beings, I have to come to an adjustment here. Now verse 8 of Revelation 17 is there regardless of what your view on election is. Your view on election just better allow for Revelation 17:8 and Revelation 13:8 which says the same thing about those not in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. And I need to be careful whether I don’t like what Gil preaches about election or I don’t like what God says about election, there's a wide gap there. You may not like what I say about election, if it’s not Biblical you ought to reject it. But if you are unhappy with what God says He has done in election then that’s an indication there needs to be an adjustment made in submitting to Him and His purposes.

One passage from the Old Testament, Psalm 139, Psalm 139. This great chapter David talks about the fact that God knew everything about Him. Verse 1, "0 LORD you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up", like who cared? But God does, you know every detail. "You understand my thought from afar.", God knows what you're thinking right now, you know you fool us and sit here, but He knows what you’re thinking about your job, He knows what you’re thinking about the business deal you've got to make this week, He knows if you're thinking about what’s going to go on in sports on television, "He knows my thoughts from afar". "You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, LORD you know it all. You've enclosed me behind and before, you hand is upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it." David says 'You know I think about this but I come to the point my head starts to burst, I can't grasp it, that just goes beyond me, that God is that intimately acquainted with me. Where can I go to flee from your Spirit, or flee from your presence.' You can't go anywhere to get away from God, that's the futility of trying to run from God. Where could you go? He fills the earth, the universe, heaven and hell alike. Down to verse 16, is why we came here, I can’t preach the rest of the Psalm. "Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." You know what that says? David says, ’All my days, all my days, which would include everything that I would do, all I’ve been talking about. You wrote that down in the Book even before I was conceived in the womb.’ You say, ’Well David must have been a fatalist.’ All you have to do is read the Psalms and see David wasn't a fatalist, that he was a man who prayed, who was moved to beseech God and commit his life to God, to seek God, to act on His behalf. It didn’t make David a fatalist, but David was completely aware that God wrote everything down about me in His book before it ever happened. So again regardless of your view on election, you must admit that God has determined within the bounds of time our activity. You could read Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah says, "You called me from the womb to be a prophet". That wasn’t a decision Jeremiah made, that was a decision God made from the womb, He intended him for that. Isaiah 40 acknowledges the same thing. Now the question about, 'Is this fair?’ 'Is it fair that God chooses some and does not choose others?’ And come to Hebrews chapter 2, Hebrews chapter 2. And we’ve come to the point that we've said several times but it seems to be one of the basic problems of the doctrine of election, ’Is it fair?’. And we think of it as God then determining that some have to go to hell with no chance. But we come back to the point, that we are dealing with sinful beings and God is not obligated to save sinful beings. All He is obligated to do is be just.

Now in Hebrews chapter 2 verse 14 we read, "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself", referring to Christ, "likewise also partook of the same". In other words, 'those that God was going to save were flesh and blood, they were humanity. So Jesus Christ had to become a human being, had to become flesh and blood so He could die for them, be their representative, take their place in dying on the cross for their sins. So that God might save them.’ And note the contrast to that in verse 16, "For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but to the descendants of Abraham." Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all things. He had to be made like mankind in every way so that He could be identified with mankind in His death, but He gives no such help to angels. You realize that Lucifer, Son of the Morning, whom we know as Satan, rebelled against God and a whole host of angels followed him in that rebellion and that act of rebellion settled forever their destiny in hell. That there is no provision for Satan or for any fallen angels, any angels who sinned to place their faith in God and be forgiven their sins, no chance for them to be saved, no provision for their salvation at all. For a fallen angel to be saved, Jesus Christ would have had to become an angel and then die in the place of angels, identifying with them so that they could believe in Him and be saved and God made no such provision. Is that fair? It’s obviously fair, God did it. He's not obligated to save them, all He is obligated to do is judge them for their sin. Now God does the same thing with humanity, human beings who are sinners in rebellion against God. Is God obligated to save any of them? No He's not obligated. Now we give that point, but as soon as we make the next point that He has sovereignly chose to save some we say, 'Not fair' but it is fair as long as He saves those that He saves in a way consistent with His justice. The real question is not, 'Can God be just in sending people to hell?' but 'Can God be just in sending people to heaven?' I can understand how sinful people can go to hell, that's the penalty for sin. But how is God going to take anyone to heaven and not be unjust in doing it, because we're all sinners? The great provision is that He has His Son Jesus Christ come and die on the cross so that we might believe in Him and experience His salvation. Now from among fallen humanity and that includes us all, God has sovereignly chose to pick out some for Himself. You, you, you, you. But you say,'What about those He didn't choose?' What about those He didn't choose? They are going to hell, consistent with the sinners they choose to be. Is that fair? I guess it’s fair, I don’t like it. But you know you have to grapple with the same issue regardless of your perspective on sovereignty. We do know that God is omniscient, that He knows everything that He knew before the creation that some people wouldn’t believe in Him, that some would go to hell. Why did He create them in the first place? Because He chose to create them. Because it suited Him to do it that way. I can take you no further than the Scripture does. You must acknowledge that God did know before He created the world what everyone would do, He's omniscient, leaving everything else out. And He did know that there would be people that would go through life and never believe and thus have to spend eternity in hell. Why did He create them in the first place? It suited Him to do it. ”I’ve made all things for Myself, even the wicked for the day of destruction." Proverbs 16:4 says. It suited Him to do it. It will magnify and honor Him to do it. Now if we’re not careful we begin to bridle against that and that just shows how sinful we really are, that I would challenge God. And I get up in a huff and say 'I don't like it.' Well if that's the way He is, okay that's the way He is. And you see what happens, I find out how totally sovereign God is and rebellious sinful me doesn't like it, because I like to be boss or I like at least to have a share in it. But the judge of all the earth does right. Look back in Romans chapter 9, now you keep in mind that this is not a capricious God acting, but it's a God of love and kindness and mercy. Not a God of hardness but a God of love. And note in Romans chapter 9, Romans chapter 11, we've been to 9 we can't spend any more time there. Chapter 11 verse 5 "In the same way there had also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice." Or according to the election of grace literally at the end of verse 5. In other words there are some in Israel that God has elected even in Paul's day there was an election of grace, some who were really believing. "If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." Election has to be on the basis of grace that means there can be no works involved. That was the point back in chapter 9 with Jacob and Esau before they had done good or bad God chose them. Now if He chose them on the basis of what He saw they would do, He chose them on the basis of good or bad. But the point is their works didn't enter into the choice. It was an election of grace. "If it's by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works", that means it doesn't have anything to do with what you did, only what God did, otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Grace is by definition is something unmerited or undeserved. So here you have this fallen humanity, all under condemnation, all sinners rebelling against God, all rejecting the salvation that God has provided and God now could say, 'Already send them all to hell.', that's what you and I would have done. 'Look they're sinners, I provided salvation they still say no, send them all to hell.' That's not they way God does it, He says, 'That's all right I still love them I'm going to select out some to be the recipients of My grace.' You say, 'Why doesn't He select all?' I don't have any answers for that except that His purpose is to do it. The fact of the matter is not everybody is saved. Could God have saved everyone if He had chosen? I'd have to say He could have, but the fact of the matter is, He isn’t and doesn't. But you know we lose sight of what the glorious thing here is. We've got this rebellious sinful mass of humanity all saying no to God, all saying no to His salvation and instead of sending them to hell lot, stock and barrel, I don't know if that's a good theological way to say it, He lovingly decides to select some out for salvation. You say, 'Why would He do it?' 'I wouldn't be so patient, I wouldn't be so loving.' But He selects some out for salvation. And we lose sight of what the amazing thing is, the amazing thing is not that many are going to hell, the amazing thing is that any are going to heaven. That's where the emphasis of Scripture is, this is the amazing thing that God has saving some and chose some out of the mass of fallen humanity to experience His eternal salvation. Why did God do it this way? Well there are certain purposes given and I’ve just jotted down a few that tell us what was God’s purpose in election.

Back in Ephesians chapter 1, Ephesians chapter 1; and these aren’t in any special order. The ultimate purpose could be said to be the glory of God and everything else of course is subject to that. I mentioned that when I said Proverbs 16:4 ’’Where I’ve made all things for Myself, even the wicked for the day of destruction." In Ephesians 1:4, "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”. What was the purpose of that choice? That we should be holy and blameless before Him. So God’s purpose in choosing us, so that there would be a group of humanity that would be holy and blameless, they would fulfill the purpose that He has for creation in manifesting the glory of His character, holiness and blamelessness.

Down in verses 11 and 12, just pick up verse 12, "to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.1"
That's why He’s predestined us, that we'd be the praise of His glory. You know as you read through Ephesians a point is made, what’s going to happen is that for all eternity we will be trophies of grace for God. You know God is going to be able to demonstrate the greatness of His grace in eternity. Just by your presence it's going to be evident of how great God's grace is. Just the very fact that we're there. Do you realize in heaven Jerry Classen is going to be there? And you know what, every time you see Jerry in heaven you're going to say 'My isn’t God gracious.' You know what every time he sees you and me there, you know what he’s going to say? 'I can't believe the grace of God.’ 'They're really here'. And for all eternity we’re trophies of His grace, evidence of the greatness of the grace of God. Those in hell, evidence of the greatness of the justice and holiness of God.

I Peter chapter 2 verse 9; I Peter chapter 2 verse 9, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light". Why has He chosen us, made us a chosen race? That we might proclaim His excellencies. That’s why we feel such a burden that we make Him known throughout this city. One of God's specific purposes in choosing us is that we might proclaim the excellencies, the greatness of Him, the one who called us out of darkness into light.

John chapter 15 verse 16, "Jesus said, ’You did not choose Me, I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain". That we would be fruit bearing Christians, that’s why Jesus chose us He said and appointed you. You note He didn't choose on the basis of what they would do, He chose them and then appointed them to do something, in His sovereign control. So the purpose of it- to glorify Himself and have a people that are functioning consistent with His character.

So what is the summary of this? That all humanity is lost by birth and by choice. We are sinners exercising our will in rebellion against God. The fact of the matter is "Whosoever will may come", but men won’t come. If you don't believe in Jesus Christ this morning, you have no one to blame but yourself. Jesus said "Whosoever will may come", will you come and believe in Him. If you won’t, you have no one but yourself to hold accountable. Man will not come because of his sinfulness, because of his pride, his arrogance, his sinful rebellious character. But out of this rebellious group, God has sovereignly selected some, not on the basis of who they are or what they do but simply on the sovereign basis of His own determination, He's selected some out to experience the salvation that He has provided in His Son, Jesus Christ. What does He do with the rest that He does not select out? It leaves them where they choose to be, in there sin, under condemnation destined for hell. Wait that’s not fair. No, they’re there by their choice not God's choice. They choose to sin, they choose to rebel against Him, they choose to reject His salvation, they are where they choose to be. It leaves them in their chosen position, in their just condemnation. All of it’s for God's glory, even those who don't believe as we've noted. Each one of the unbelievers is justly condemned because of his sin, and those who are saved are saved as a result of God's sovereign work. He has elected some in eternity past and then in time He's working out that program of sovereignly drawing those that He has elected to His Son Jesus Christ, and through the ministry of the Spirit causing them to believe. This just causes me to be in awe again as you come and grapple with this doctrine you can't say 'I understand it all, yes I've got it all in hand now.' If you think that it shows you don't understand it yet, because the more you understand about it the more you'll see it's starting to break out the corners of your box. It's like David, you know, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. I can't attain to it, it goes beyond what I can grasp". But it does cause me to bow down and worship the God who is so sovereign, who is so gracious that He has seen fit to even save some from among sinful humanity. Now what about you? Are you here this morning as one who has believed in Jesus Christ? You say, 'Well maybe I'm not one of the elect.' And maybe you're not, but maybe you are. The very fact that you are here is an indication of God's doing a work in your life. That in grace He has given you opportunity to hear the fact that Jesus Christ died for your sins. Will you believe in Him? If you won't who do you have to blame but yourself? The salvation is offered, if you will not believe then you simply manifest the fact that you do deserve the condemnation that God says it yours. But the exciting fact is that God has brought you here today and maybe He brought you here so that you might hear and believe that Jesus Christ died for you.