The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development –

Introductory Matters A. The Application of Redemption.

B. Here’s our plan for this morning: 1. How does someone get saved? 2. What is election? 3. Objections to election 4. Practical implications

C. Order of Salvation. 1. Election (God’s choice of people to be saved) 2. The gospel call (proclaiming the message of the gospel) 3. Regeneration (being born again) 4. Conversion (faith and repentance) 5. Justification (right legal standing) 6. Adoption (membership into God’s family) 7. Sanctification (right conduct of life) 8. Perseverance (remaining a Christian) 9. Death (going to be with the Lord) 10. Glorification (receiving a resurrection body)

Page 1

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development –

I. How Does Someone Get Saved? A. First Truth: Scripture teaches that all who _______________to place their trust in Jesus will be saved. Conversion = We Choose 1. Definition: “Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.” – Wayne Grudem

2. Faith includes… 1) Knowledge – I must know the facts of the gospel…

Knowledge alone is not enough – The demons know these things (James 2:19) and yet are not saved. 2) Approval – I must agree, intellectually, with the truthfulness of these facts Knowledge and approval are not enough – Nicodemus (John 3:2) 3) Personal Trust – I must decide to depend on Jesus to save me “Saving faith is trust in Jesus Christ as a living person for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God.” – Wayne Grudem

3. Repentance “Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ.” – Wayne Grudem

Page 2

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development –

4. Faith and Repentance Must Come _________________. Repentance and faith are different aspects of the one act of conversion – two sides of the same coin.

5. Scripture is filled with examples that show us salvation comes through a personal decision to trust in Jesus Christ. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever rejects the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” – John 3:36 (NIV)

B. Second Truth: Scripture teaches that all who are _____________by God will be “saved.” Election = God Chooses “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:13 1. According to this verse, how did the Thessalonian believers come to be saved?

2. One of the great themes we see in Scripture is the ______________________ of God.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” – Proverbs 21:1 3. Salvation is ultimately based on God’s sovereign choice. “Why am I a Christian?” Because God chose me.

Page 3

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development –

C. How can _____________ be true?

1. The Bible teaches both. We are required to believe what the Bible teaches.

2. Complete understanding of these things may be ______________________. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever” – Deuteronomy 29:29

I.

What is Election?

II.

What is Election? A. Definition: “Election is an act of God - before creation - in which he chooses some people to be saved, - not on account of any foreseen merit in them, - but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.” – Wayne Grudem

Why do we believe in election? We believe it because the _____________ teaches it.

B. New Testament Passages that Teach Election “He (God) chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with

Page 4

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development – which he has blessed us in the Beloved… In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will” - Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-12 “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.” – Romans 8:28-30 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” – 2 Timothy 1:89 (See also Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:8-9) “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction” – 1 Thess. 1:4-5 “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” – Acts 13:48 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day… No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” …And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” – John 6:37-40, 44, 65 Three things that are impossible, according to Jesus: 1. It is morally and spiritually impossible for a person to come to Christ unless the Father “draws” him. 2. It is impossible for someone whom the Father “draws” not to come to Christ. 3. Once someone comes to Christ through the drawing of the Father, it is impossible for that person to be cast out.

Page 5

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development –

III.

Objections to Election A. Don’t people have the __________________ to choose? 1. The answer depends on what is meant by “free.” a. A Common understanding of “freedom” – ____________________ Freedom. We are free in the sense that our choices are not coerced or constrained in any way, and we are able to choose either one particular course of action or it’s opposite at any given point of time. b. This sounds good at first, but it’s inconsistent with Scripture.

2. We are free in the sense that we make willing choices, and that our choices have real consequences. Willing Choices a. Our ___________________ are voluntary (free) because they are what we want to do and what we decide to do.

Every choice I make is determined by something. There is a reason for it, a desire behind it. This sounds like determinism. By no means! Determinism teaches that our actions are completely controlled by something external to us, making us do what we don’t want to do. That is coercion and is opposed to freedom. How can our choices be determined and not coerced? Because they are determined by something within – by what we are and by what we desire. They are determined by ourselves. This is self-determination, which is the very essence of freedom. – R.C. Sproul

Real Consequences b. The choices we make bring about real results. We really do cause events to happen. We are responsible for the consequences of the choices we make.

Page 6

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development –

c. Because of sin we have lost our desire for ______________. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." – Romans 3:10-12 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. – Romans 8:7-8 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. – Ephesians 2:1-3

3. In Election, God ______________________ us to choose Christ voluntarily. God works through our choices and desires to bring about his plan, this preserves our ability to choose willingly while at the same time assuring that our choices will be exactly what God decided in advance would happen.

a. Family: Who chose to go inside?

b. Bible: Who killed Jesus? Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” Acts 2:22-23 (See also Acts 4:27)

Page 7

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development – B. Isn’t election based on God’s _______________________________ of our faith? “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.” – Romans 8:28-30 Some people believe that God elects people to be saved by looking into the future and seeing who will believe in Christ and who will not. If God sees that a person is going to come to saving faith, then he will predestine that person to be saved, based on foreknowledge of that person’s faith. (See Romans 8:29) On this view, election is not based on God’s sovereign choice, but on the individual’s faith. Thus, the ultimate reason why some are saved and some are not lies with the people themselves, not within God. In other words, all that God does in election is to give confirmation to the decision he knows people will make on their own.

1. Foreknowledge refers to persons, not facts

2. Scripture never speaks of our faith as the reason God chose us “And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad- in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call- she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’” - Romans 9:10-13

3. Election based on faith would be the beginning of salvation by merit.

Page 8

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development – 4. Election based on foreknowledge still doesn’t give people free choice

C. Doesn’t election deny God’s universal love for all people? 1. The Bible says God ________________ everyone to be saved. “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” - 1 Timothy 2:3-4

2. These verses speak of God’s revealed will (telling us what we should do), not his hidden will (his eternal plans for what will happen).

3. There are passages that speak of God’s general love for all people (John 3:16). But many more passages speak of God’s specific love for those he has chosen to save.

D. If election is true, it seems like unbelievers have no genuine chance to believe. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Romans 1:18-20

Page 9

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development –

E. Does this mean that God elects people to ________________? 1. “Reprobation is the sovereign decision of God before creation to pass over some persons, in sorrow deciding not to save them and to punish them for their sins, and thereby to manifest his justice.” – Wayne Grudem (See Jude 4, Romans 9:1722, 1 Peter 2:8)

2. Differences between election and reprobation a. God delights in salvation. Whereas reprobation is viewed in Scripture as something that brings God sorrow (see Ezekiel 33:11). b. Salvation is the result of God’s election. Whereas the blame for condemnation of sinners is always put on those who rebel, never on God himself (see John 3:18-19; 5:40). c. The ground of election is God’s grace. Whereas the ground of reprobation is God’s justice. F. This isn’t _____________!

1. It would be perfectly fair not to save anyone. (God did not save fallen angels.) He could justly condemn all people to suffer wrath and judgment. 2. If God saves anyone at all, this is a demonstration of ______________ that goes far beyond the requirements of fairness and justice. 3. Therefore, those who are condemned, get justice. Those who are saved get grace and mercy. No one gets injustice. “After giving a brief survey of these doctrines of sovereign grace, I asked for questions from the class. One lady, in particular, was quite troubled. She said, “This is the most awful thing I’ve ever heard! You make it sound as if God is intentionally turning away men who would be saved, receiving only the elect.” I answered her in this vein. “You misunderstand the situation. You are visualizing that God is standing at the door of heaven, and men are thronging to get in the door, and God is saying to various ones, ‘Yes, you may come, but not you, or you, or you…’ The situation is hardly this. Rather, God stands at the door of heaven with his arms outstretched, inviting all to come. Yet all men without exception are running in the opposite direction towards hell as hard as they can go. So God, in election, graciously reaches

Page 10

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development – out and stops this one, and that one, and this one over here, and that one over there, and effectually draws them to himself by changing their hearts, making them willing to come. Election keeps no one out of heaven who would otherwise have been there, but it keeps a whole multitude of sinners out of hell who otherwise would have been there. Were it not for election, heaven would be an empty place, and hell would be bursting at the seams.” That kind of response grounded as I believe that it is in scriptural truth, does put a different complexion on things doesn’t it? I you perish in hell, blame yourself, as it is entirely your fault. But if you should make it to heaven, credit God, for that is entirely his work! To him alone belong all praise and glory, for salvation is all of grace from start to finish!” (Mark Webb, “What Difference Does It Make?” Reformation and Revival Journal, Vol. 3, No. 1, Winter 1994, pp.53-54)

IV.

Why is This Important? Practical Implications of Election A. Some pastoral words of caution 1. The doctrine of election is difficult to understand and, for some, it’s hard to embrace. Take your time with this. Do some reading. Ask God to deepen your understanding as you read and study the Scriptures. 2. The doctrine of election, though important, does not define us as a church. We are not more passionate about election than we are about the gospel. Only the gospel is of “first importance.” 3. A person does not have to believe in, understand, or agree with the doctrine of election in order to be saved. 4. Our unity with Christians outside of CrossWay does not require full agreement on the doctrine of election. 5. It is important to view this doctrine in the way the New Testament itself views it.

B. Election provides assurance But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:4-8

Page 11

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development –

C. Election provides comfort The New Testament authors often present election as a comfort to believers. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” - Romans 8:28-30 Paul's point is to say that God has always acted for the good of those whom he called to himself… But if God has always acted for our good and will in the future act for our good, Paul reasons, then will he not also in our present circumstances work every circumstance together for our good as well?

D. Election helps us cultivate humility “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” – 1 Corinthians 4:7 “God intentionally designed salvation so that no man could boast of it. He didn’t merely arrange it so that boasting would be discouraged or kept to a minimum – He planned it so that boasting would be absolutely excluded. Election does precisely that.” - Mark Webb

E. Election encourages us to evangelize “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” - Acts 18:9-10 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. - Acts 18:11 Election is Paul’s guarantee that there will be some success for his evangelism.

Page 12

5/17/2013

The Doctrine of Salvation Leadership Development –

F. Election motivates us to worship God If salvation is a work of God – not dependent on human wisdom – not dependent on evangelistic skill – then all glory and praise for salvation belongs to God. Paul tells the Christians at Thessalonica, "We give thanks to God always for you all.... For we know brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you" (1 Thess. 1:2, 4).

RESOURCES 1. Bible Doctrine, by Wayne Grudem. Zondervan, 1999. 

See chapter 21 on Conversion



See chapter 18 on Election



See chapter 8 on God’s Providence

2. Chosen by God, by R.C. Sproul. Tyndale House Publishers, 1986. 3. Chosen for Life: The Case for Divine Election, by C. Samuel Storms. CrossWay Books, 2007.

Page 13

5/17/2013