God's Plan For The Elect Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. God’s plan for the elect

Introductory Remarks.

1. In this lesson today, we will be discussing the theme: “God’s Plan for the Elect." This will become the fourteenth lesson in the sermon-series entitled: "Re-digging in Old Wells." There will be many others bearing this title. We are re-digging in old wells to obtain Isaiah's promise: "With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation," Isaiah 12:3. There are times we must re-dig in old wells to obtain the joy found in the: "waters of salvation." This sermon type is called: "textual preaching." In these lessons, our goal will be: "to dig a little deeper" in the text of emphasis. This topic is necessary because of the mis- and dis-information regarding God’s plan for the elect. We will allow the writer, the characters in the verses, and the Master's words to shed new meaning to His words of eternal life, John 6:63; John 10:10.

2. We will consider God’s plan for the elect in Christ Jesus. We’ll establish that God’s plan for the elect: was His “choosing, and calling” of them in Christ, through their faith and obedience to the gospel. This mystery has been revealed by God, unto the holy apostles, and prophets by the Spirit. We will re-dig in old wells to uncover this mystery together. Ulysses Shields called this kind of teaching: "digging a little deeper" in the word of truth. He was my grandfather in Christ. We will use this scripture as a foundational text for this sermon series: "And Isaac re-dug the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham...for the Philistines had stopped them (closed them up) after Abraham's death," Genesis 26:18. The Philistines: "Stopped them, and filled them with earth," because they envied Isaac's possessions, Genesis 26:14-15.

3. Our Text of emphasis reads in this fashion: "According to as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself…In whom we have redemption through His blood…having made known unto us the mystery of His will…That in the dispensation of the fulness of time; He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the plan of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ,” Ephesians 1:3-12. (Text shorten for brevity).

4. The teaching of predestination, as taught by Calvinists, differs from Paul’s revelation of the grace and election of God for the saints. This lesson will thoroughly investigate God’s plan for the elect. We will "turn over every rock" to discover the true blessing of God's plan for the saints' election, calling, and salvation. In doing so, we must consider every Text within the context of the scriptures. With God’s help, we will do just that, to draw: “New water from old wells.” With this introduction, let’s consider this topic carefully, with both our bibles and hearts opened unto the living God.

BODY OF LESSON

I GOD’S PLAN FOR THE ELECT

A. Preliminary work. It is always necessary to do some preliminary work on the topic of our discussion. This lesson is needed because of the erroneous, mis- and dis-information regarding God’s plan for the elect. Many theories sprang up in the 15th and 16th centuries throughout England and Europe after the revolt of religious people against Catholicism. Men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others found their priesthood unscriptural and opposed the holy scriptures. We have already discussed those differences in a sermon online at SermonCentral.com, entitled: “A Departure From the Faith.” You would do well to download that lesson, along with this one, to understand the need for this lesson better.

1. John Calvin and his theory on “predestination.” In the Institutes, Calvin wrote: “By predestination, we mean the eternal decree of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or death,” The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book Third, Chap. 22. Sec. 5. See also, Sovereignty of God in Christianity, by Wikipedia. Beloved, I am merely quoting from Calvin’s writing. These are not my words! Notice,

2. Calvin’s teaching is objectional. I sense that this teaching contains religious bias and racial prejudice (all are not created on equal terms). Some religious groups once believed and taught “that certain people did not have a soul.” Prehaps, this is why men and women professing Calvinism; behave so unkindly and cruel towards their neighbors. Starting at the highest levels of government, business, and religious faith.