MAKING ELECTION SURE
2 Peter 1:1 ¶ Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The present day religious system under which most of us were brought up has no desire for any acknowledgement of the glorious doctrine of God’s sovereign election. Theirs is but a social gospel, mostly designed to make their members feel good about themselves. Therefore they ignore such passages in the Scriptures as we are giving heed unto. But the true God is eternal, and his salvation began before the foundation of the world. So let us examine these glorious scripture passages and see what our Lord, The Word, has for us.
The Greek word always translated “election” is translated but one other time as “chosen,” in Acts 9:15. And in Ephesians 1:3,4 we learn more concerning this glorious doctrine. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According 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:
For here we see that it is a work of God the Father, which he accomplished in the electing of His Son to be the Head of the Body of the true church, before the foundation of the world. No other being was in existence. No other being was involved either in its origination, or its instigation. And this election is unto holiness. It is, of itself, not salvation. But it makes certain that those chosen in Christ shall never finally fall away, but brought to a full and complete salvation. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Romans 8:31 ¶ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. And according to Matthew 12:15-21 there can be no doubt that this is referring solely to the Person of Jesus of Bethlehem, the God-man.
Matthew 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16 And charged them that they should not make him known: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
For the eternal Son of God is the Head and the church is his body. So both were chosen and purposed to be set forth together in those eternal determinations of God. He’s always existed as the Eternal Son of God. But in this determination before time he was the “elect servant” in order that the fulness of the Godhood should be manifest in him bodily! Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Adam and Eve were said to become one in their natural union. Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. And those united to Christ become one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Here is but a glimpse into that mysterious transaction between God the Father and God the Son. And take note in verse thirty one that even though the Son was one with the Father, he also had a sense of delight with the sons of men. Proverbs 8:22 ¶ The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
And at the time of the cross he expressed this delight in prayer to His Father. John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
And therefore the Lord God has not left us without ability or opportunity to assure ourselves of our own personal calling and election. Peter requires us to diligently make it sure by “these things.” And he lists them out in verses five through seven of our above listed text. He instructs us in verse three that “these things” are but “all things that pertain unto (spiritual) life and godliness” given us by God’s divine power. Therefore we are to take an inventory to determine if these graces listed are to be found within our souls. And if so, we only have them by God’s electing grace, so we “shall never fall.”
And the Apostle Peter has previously set forth God’s election coupled with “a lively hope,” in his first letter. For the Lord would not have his elect souls know of this glorious matter without their personal assurance of its worth to their own hearts. 1 Peter 1:1 ¶ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Then the Apostle Paul approaches it in another way. For he tells those of Thessalonica of his assurance of their election. And he then gives them the assurances he has of being able to openly proclaim this to them. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 ¶ Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 ¶ And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
In verse four he boldly speaks of knowing that they are elect. Then in verses five and six he sets forth the reasons for this knowledge. And in verse seven he informs them that their conduct in being elected is an example to other believers in other regions. And these matters set forth by these great apostles allow us to Make our Election Sure, as well!
Consider this portion of Paul’s second letter to them: 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 ¶ Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
He states that after he has preached the gospel, attended by the Holy Spirit to these Gentiles, that there were two plain tokens of evidence that they were of the elect. They began to believe that gospel and live by faith, and secondly they began to had love toward each other! For this was set forth by the Lord Jesus himself! John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Then in the second chapter of Paul’s second letter to them we have another portion establishing assurances of God’s election. For immediately after he has set forth how God shall sent strong delusion to those not receiving the love of the truth, in order that they might be damned, he gives assurances to the true believers. And he states that they should have comfort of heart, and be established to continue in every good word and work. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ¶ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 16 ¶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
The general gospel ‘call’ is to go out to ‘every creature’ by the ministry of the church. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. But the effectual call of the Holy Spirit, invisibly working in the hearts unto a full and complete salvation, resounds only within the hearts of God’s elect. Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Christ’s sheep know his voice and although oftentimes they are mingled in the Harlot system of religion, will finally separate themselves and come forth in response to His call. For he has given two effectual things to every one of his sheep. They all have hearing ears and following feet! John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Therefore to the true believers this glorious truth is not just a doctrine to be learned in their heads, in order to become better informed church members. But it is a glorious doctrine filling their hearts with divinely provided assurance, by which they Make their Election Sure!
Your soul’s servant,
Pastor Gene Breed
August 04, 2023
