God's Amazing Grace: Election

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies"  Romans 8:28-33 (ESV).

We recently had a discussion in our Sunday School class about the doctrine of election and just what elections means.  Let me start off by saying this, we do not need to choke those we are sharing the Gospel message with nor new or less mature believers by trying to force feed them this doctrine.  Nor do we need to go to war with our brother's and sister's over this.

On the flip side, understanding God's sovereignty in salvation (which I like to refer to as Part One of His Amazing Grace) can be a source of strength, encouragement, and motivation, and can bring about a major change in perspective.  It is also vital that we speak truthfully about Scripture and what Scripture reveals about God and His plan. Today I just want to lay down the foundation for this monumental truth and provide an overview of this doctrine and a general defense for the doctrine of election.  We can take more time later to get deeper into the doctrine and its defense.

Romans 8 gives us the basic "flow" of salvation.  All too often today we teach this progression as someone tells you that you are a sinner and you need Christ...people keep hammering that idea into your heart...you finally realize you really are a sinner...you resist awhile longer...you finally give in to Christ...you ask for forgiveness and ask Him to "come into your heart"...He saves you.  That about sum it up?

What does Romans 8 say?  It says God foreknew...God predestined...God called...God justified...God glorified.  Who is central in the common "flow" we teach today?  The sinner and the witness.  Who is central in the Romans 8 flow?  God.

As we take a look at the actions God took in salvation, we realize that He did it all.  He foreknew us.  Scripture doesn't say that he foreknew that one day we would somehow "discover" Him or that someday we would decide to follow Him or someone would talk us into "asking Him into our heart."  He foreknew us.  When we speak of knowing God from other Scriptures we do not mean that we know Him in some sort of academic manner but that we have an intimate personal relationship with Him.  Foreknew carries the same meaning.  He established a personal intimate relationship with you personally before you were ever created.

Those who He foreknew and had an intimate relationship with, he predestined.  Predestine literally means to mark out, appoint or determine before.  What did God predestine His children for?  To be in the likeness of Christ.  And then after predestined comes called.  But notice who He called...those who He had predestined.  And once He placed the call in our life, He justified us and once justified we were glorified.  In other words, our salvation experience was not us "being saved" but it was our realization of what God had already done in our life.  It was the realization that before the foundations of the world were ever lain, God had knew us, marked us out, called us out, justified us, made us new and gave us a new heart and mind to accept His call.  

Bottom line...God's amazing grace is just that - amazing beyond comprehension and grace completely unmerited and undeserved.  The Bible says every man chooses to reject God and follow after his sinful desire, that not a single man seeks after God nor is he even able to seek God much less find him on his own.  Man is totally depraved, helpless, and hopeless...except for the fact that God in all of his power and glory and grace and mercy calls out His children and changes the heart and mind so no longer is it depraved and unable to believe and accept his gift of grace.  See the change in perspective?