CLOGHER VALLEY BIBLE CLASS

THE REFORMED FAITH A STUDY IN THEOLOGY AND DOCTRINE

TULIP  T otal Depravity of Man  U nconditional Election  L imited Atonement or Particular Redemption  I rrestible Grace or Effectual Calling  P erseverance of the Saints or Eternal Security

TULIP UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION

DEFINING OUR TERMS UNCONDITONAL Election is an act of God alone. He acts without being prompted by his knowledge of men’s actions at a future date. He chooses for reasons of grace alone. ELECTION A definite and precise choice made by God whereby he determined who would be saved. It is the act of God of Father.

WHY ARE SOME MEN SAVED? 1:Is it because they believe?Yes 2:Do some believe because they are not as depraved as others? No, all men are equal in their depravity. 3:We are thrown upon the conclusion that some believe because the Father has chosen them.

WHY ARE SOME MEN DAMNED? Is it because God has ordained them to Hell. No. God does have to predestine people to damnation; they are already damned. Is it because they do not believe. Yes; the Bible does not teach that God selects people for Hell.

WHY DOES GOD SAVE SOME MEN? We do not know. Damnation is not a mystery. It is entirely understandable. The just treatment of rebellious humanity. Grace however is a mystery and entirely beyond our comprehension. Therefore election is unconditional. We are not called to understand this doctrine but to believe it.

THE WORK OF THE FATHER Election is always described as being an act of the Father. It is the primary activity of the Godhead. As man is depraved and incapable of saving himself God must make the choice before accomplishing redemption for the elect. This is the basis of the work of salvation.

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLICAL WORDS Predestination Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 8:29-30 The meaning is clear – to decide or determine beforehand The same Greek word is employed in Romans 1:4

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLICAL WORDS ORDAINED John 15:16 is specific to the disciples but there is application for the church. The word ordain means to appoint. Acts 13:48 is another Greek word and the meaning also means to appoint. This text relates to every Christian. Sinners believe because God has appointed them to eternal life

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLICAL WORDS Elect / Election Elect – those who are chosen Election – the act of divine selection The people of God are commonly described as being the elect, Matthew 24:22, Romans 8:32, Colossians 3:12, Titus 1:1 This clearly teaches that the Christian owes his standing to the grace of God

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLICAL WORDS Foreknowledge Used rarely in the New Testament; Acts 2:23, 1 Peter 1:2, Romans 8:29, 11:2 The reference in Acts would show that foreknowledge follows from God’s determinate counsel The references in Romans would show that foreknowledge is about God’s intimate acquaintance with his people Therefore foreknowledge is the loving relationship the Father has with the people whom he chose, before they ever chose him

THE ERROR OF ARMINIANISM God chooses those whom he knows will chose him. 1:This binds God to the human will 2:This assumes that the human will is able to chose God 3:This creates a salvation of merit rather than grace 4:This does not stand up to the scrutiny imposed by our understanding of the Biblical words

THE BASIS OF ELECTION God makes his choice for reasons of grace alone. Romans 11:5-6

THE SUBJECTS OF ELECTION The elect are no different from the non elect in terms of nature They come from the same lump of clay, Romans 9:21 They too are children of wrath, Ephesians 2:3

THE TIMING OF ELECTION Before the foundation of the world Ephesians 1:4 emphasizes that God’s choice in election came before the foundation of the world Before there was a world there was an elect people. Therefore the physical world was created as a fit place for the conversion of a people who would glorify God

THE PURPOSE OF ELECTION 1.Holiness of life; Ephesians 1:4 2.Salvation, sanctification and faith; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 3:Obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Christ; 1 Peter 1:2 4:The Glorification of God’s people, Romans 8: :The Glory of God; Romans 9:22-23, Ephesians 1:5-6

The Examples of Election 1.Israel; Romans 9:4, Can anyone argue that God was wrong in choosing Israel? No, it was a sovereign act of God. 2.Jacob; Romans 9: God chose Jacob and not Esau. The mystery was not the rejection of carnal Esau but the choosing of the twisted self seeking Jacob. We are not to question the choice, only accept it.

THE CERTAINTY OF ELECTION 1:God’s predetermined choice cannot be changed, Romans 8:29 2:All of those who are chosen will definitely be in glory

QUESTIONS ARISING 1:Are there any Old Testament texts which teach election? Yes; we will look at some of those this week

QUESTIONS ARISING 2:Can the non-elect experience spiritual feelings and Holy Ghost conviction?

ANSWER 1:The Non Elect experience what is known as Common Grace John Murray wrote of Common Grace, “Every favour of whatsoever kind and degree, falling short of salvation, which this undeserving and sin cursed world enjoys at the hand of God”.

COMMON GRACE Therefore: AThe unconverted may have a consciousness of God which can generate a desire for salvation BThis desire may even result in a decision without salvation. The decision may be intellectual, emotional or caused by another pressure or selfish motive CAs the desire was not caused by special grace this person will go back to the world and will not manifest the fruit of the spirit DAs the call for salvation was not wrought by God and did not come from a sincere heart the cry will not have been heard by the Lord EHence the term, false profession

Can the non-elect experience spiritual feelings and Holy Ghost conviction? 2:Nevertheless the non-elect are still judged for their unbelief and are responsible for their actions. An inability to trust Christ does not render them innocent at God’s bar. 3:Therefore they must be given opportunities to repent and believe. Those with greater light will receive greater judgement in the day of wrath.

Can the non-elect experience spiritual feelings and Holy Ghost conviction? 4:The church will be held accountable for their failure to give even the non-elect opportunities to repent. We must evangelise as if all men were elect. 5:A non-elect person can therefore spurn their day of opportunity. The removing of opportunity is a removal of God’s grace. 6:The non-elect person cannot receive conviction in the sense of saving grace, but he can receive common grace which gives him opportunities and even desires.

Can the non-elect experience spiritual feelings and Holy Ghost conviction? 7:When we talk about God removing his spirit we mean the removing of these desires and opportunities 8:However as we do not know in life the difference between the elect and non-elect we warn people of the dangers of the day of grace being squandered and the removal of the striving of the Holy Ghost. It is a most serious act of God, indeed it is a judgement when he removes common grace from a people and from a nation.