Does Jesus Need My Permission To Save Me? Part 2

    
     In part one, we noted that man needs repentance and faith to be saved, and we established that both are gifts from God.  Faith and repentance are not something that comes from within us, but are granted to us by God.

     Giving us these things is not all God has done for us, of course.  Let's go back to the beginning - before the foundation of the world.

     Ephesians 1:4-14 - "For He CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD to be HOLY and BLAMELESS in His sight.  In love HE PREDESTINED US to be ADOPTED as His sons THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS PLEASURE AND WILL - to the praise of HIS GLORIOUS GRACE, which HE HAS FREELY GIVEN US in the ONE he loves."

     "IN HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RICHES OF GOD'S GRACE THAT HE LAVISHED ON US with all wisdom and understanding."

     "And He made known to us the MYSTERY OF HIS WILL ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE, which HE PURPOSED IN CHRIST, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ."

     "IN HIM WE WERE ALSO CHOSEN, HAVING BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF HIM WHO WORKS OUT EVERYTING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS WILL, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory."

     "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
HAVING BELIEVED, YOU WERE MARKED IN HIM WITH A SEAL, THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT, WHO IS A DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THOSE WHO ARE GOD'S POSSESSION - TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY."


     John MacArthur writes, "The doctrine of election is emphasized throughout Scripture (Deut. 7:6; Isa 45:4; John 6:44; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:29; 9:11; 1 Thess. 1:3-4; 2 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 1:2).  The form of the Greek verb behind "chose" indicates that God not only chose by Himself but for Himself to the praise of His own glory" (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). 

     "God's election or predestination does not operate apart from or nullify man's responsibility to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior" (Matt. 3:1-2; 4:17; John 5:40). 

     (To be declared holy and blameless) means "unrighteous persons are declared righteous, unworthy sinners are declared worthy of salvation, all because they are chosen "in Him" (Christ).  This refers to Christ's imputed righteousness to us (2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9), a perfect righteousness which places believers in a holy and blameless positon before God."

     (Adoption) means "God miraculously give His own nature to those whom He has elected and who have trusted in Christ.  He makes them His children in the image of His Son, giving them not just Christ's riches and blessings but also His very nature" (John 15:15; Rom. 8:15).

     "THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF ELECTION TO SALVATION IS THE GLORY OF GOD" (Eph. 1:12, 14; Phil. 2:13; 2 Thess. 1:11-12).

     (Sealed with the Holy Spirit) means "God's own Spirit comes to indwell the believer and secures and preserves His eternal salvation.  The Holy Spirit is given by God as His pledge of the believer's future inheritance in glory" (2 Cor. 1:21). 

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     In Ephesians 1:1, Paul tells us to whom he is writing this letter:  The SAINTS (Christians, believers, elect, the chosen ones of God).  When he uses the words "us," "we," and also "you," he is referring to the saints or elect, not to everyone in the world.

     Unbelievers are not "chosen," "predestined," "adopted," or "marked" in Him.  Those words apply only to God's people.

    

    

     So, as you can see from all the above, God is the one who does the choosing and deciding in regards to salvation. 

     The answer to the question in the title of this series is "No, Jesus does not need our permission to save us."  Yes, we do need to repent and trust in Him, but as we've shown, repentance and faith are gifts from God, that he "lavishes upon us," because He loves us.

     If He didn't give them to us, we would never come to Him and believe (more about this in parts six and seven). 

     Repentance and faith and salvation, all come TOTALLY from God, not from within us.

     What a wonderful God He is to choose, predestine, adopt, and mark US, His people, for salvation!!!

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     In part three, we'll look even more closely at God's sovereignty in salvation.