1. God has built into human beings a desire to belong… to know that we know that we know there is a reason for our lives.
AND THE TRUTH is there is a reason for your life.
• You’re not here by accident. It wasn’t just the whim of some uncaring, unloving, uninterested God that you’re here.
• You’re here by the will of our DIVINE CREATOR!
• Let’s look at Jeremiah 29:10ff…
• Israel has been taken into bondage by Babylon.
• Their sins had utterly destroyed them… but even in the depth and darkness of their own mistakes… God encourages!
WELL today Paul encourages us with 2 wonderful & powerful truths:
• They’re just so encouraging: God’s choice… and God’s love 4 U!
• I pray both will be anchors in our hearts & minds
• Let’s look back at 1:5-7
It’s through Him we received grace…
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
I. (1:6) CHOSEN SAINTS
1. The audience Paul writes to are called saints!
• A believer is a saint, called of Jesus to be a saint!
• This is the wonderful truth of election!
• God choosing us to be His children. That’s encouraging!
NOTE: this reminds us that NONE of us found God. He found us!
• A person can seek and search and look for God their entire lives and never find Him. BUT GOD CAN FIND YOU!
• The Lord found me in 1991!
Galatians 4.9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
• Oh HOW happy I am that God opened my eyes to His truth!
NOW There are 2 great errors made on this road to election…
• One is EXTREME ARMINIANISM. This is the doctrine that says I’m saved & lost, saved & lost, saved & lost! It’s all up to me!
• They teach that our salvation is dependent upon us holding on to the Lord and if we let go then we’re lost again!
• No… NO… guys we’re saved & safe & secure in Jesus because He’s holding on to us! AMEN?
John 10.27-28 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
THE OTHER ERROR is EXTREME CALVINISM…
• This is the doctrine that says God has saved only a certain amount of people.
• Some are born to die, predestined to NEVER believe.
• But the Bible screams out to a lost world…
John 3.16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 4.14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
John 11.26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
REMEMBER back in 1 Peter? God elects how? Let’s look…
1 Peter 1.2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
It’s just wonderful to think of the CHOICE of God. I’m chosen!
• Well what if I’m not chosen, some might think?
• That’s a good, no a great question!
• Here’s the answer… Jesus is the CHOSEN One… if you’re IN Jesus, living by faith in his life, death & resurrection then…
• That makes you the elect of God too! You’re elect in Jesus!
NOTE: He chose you, not based on something in you, but by His own sovereign will. He chose you and me.
• The election of God is a glorious mystery!
• And yet we can take comfort that God does choose!
It’s been said very wisely, “Try to explain election and you may lose your mind. But try to explain it away, and you may lose your soul”
• I don’t understand it totally.
• The Bible says God elected me from before the foundation of the world apart from anything I did or didn’t do.
John 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 the Father in My name He may give you.
BUT THE Bible also teaches us that whosoever will, let him come.
Mark 8.34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
2 Peter 3.9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
How the FREE WILL OF MAN cooperates with the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD is a mystery. We can’t fully figure these things out!
• There are a lot of mysteries that make me stand in awe of God!
• I want to search them, and learn them, and understand them.
• And I hear the Lord whisper in my ear: Isaiah 55:8-12
AND SO WHAT DOES THE CHURCH DO WITH MYSTERIES OF GOD?
• Argue about them. Fight over them. Cause division with them.
• Instead of being in AWE of them, many are at ODDS by them.!
• I’m a Calvinist. I’m an Armenian. I’m 5 points. I’m 3 points!
Well, after much thought, study, and prayer, I’ve concluded:
• I’m a Christian and I want to be used to save souls!
• I want to preach the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ and help folks grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
John 3.16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
APP: I know there are things in the Bible that I just don’t fully understand. God is so much bigger than me!
• It causes me all the more to trust Him & lean upon him in every area of my life that I don’t fully understand!
NOTE: Don’t let God’s election throw you… let it inspire you.
• The FREE WILL OF MAN & THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD are 2 truths held in tension. We need them both.
• Very much like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco relies upon that tension in its span to remain standing!
• Know that you’re called, you’re chosen, you’re saved.
• Rejoice in your relationship with Him and look for ways to grow in His grace and His knowledge!
SO THE QUESTION IS: Are you a part of God’s Elect?
• But, I don’t know Pastor Ed. I’m not sure.
• Well, you can find out.
• All you have to do is ask Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life.
• Turn your life over to Him and trust Him to forgive you of your sins. He’ll say to you… welcome son, daughter.
BUT maybe I don’t want to!? Well, then maybe he didn’t choose you then. But you see, you can’t blame God.
• He’s made the way for you. He’s preached His word to you.
• He’s sent His Holy Spirit to draw you, convict you, bring you to the point of decision.
1 Kings 18.21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.
Not only chosen… but Paul says in v7… BELOVED OF GOD!
II. (1:7) BELOVED OF GOD!
1. Loved by God.
a. I can’t think of a more wonderful truth than the love of God for me and you!
b. It’s not just the love for the saints in Rome but it’s His love for us too, right here, right now!
You ARE DEARLY LOVED ONES…
• God couldn’t love you more right now than He already does!
• He loves you incredibly, wonderfully, greatly, marvelously, unendingly, completely, 100%ly, awesomely… He loves you!
Psalm 31.9 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body!
Psalm 36.7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
Psalm 86.5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
Psalm 145.7-8 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
AND ON TOP OF HIS GREAT LOVE… He’s thinking of us!
Psalm 139.17-18 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.
• I mean, we can’t count them! Ever try!?! It’s impossible.
• His love for us, for you is enduring & abiding.
NOTE: I’m beloved of God. How great is His love for us?
• He sought us and bought us and brought us to Himself!
• He saved us, secured us, sealed us with His own Spirit!
• I mean this is WONDERFUL STUFF guys… the type of stuff a life is built upon and a life is lived for His glory and name!
• This is the GOOD NEWS, that although sin has disrupted and distanced us from God, He sent His own Son. How? Out of love!
We as believers are the OBJECTS of Our Heavenly Father’s delight!
• If we could ask him today what is His delight. You.
• What is your favorite pastime? You.
• What do you like to do? Shower my love on You!
• Not it’s not just that God loves the world, he loves you!
• This is a Father that delights in His children.
• It’s an awesome thing to be loved by the Father like this!
CHOSEN & BELOVED BY GOD is the title over every single person that has even placed their faith in Jesus Christ!
• They are anchors in this topsy-turvy mixed up & messed up world.
• Now we see the lost-ness of those around us.
• They don’t know of God’s love… personally. Only from distance.
• Let’s close back in John’s gospel CH1:11-18
