Biblical Order Of Salvation - Election

          Previously, we looked at a general outline of the biblical order of salvation.
          Now, we'll go a little deeper into each step, beginning with God's "Election."
    

         

                                                                 ELECTION


          Election is the act of God, before creation, in which He chooses some people
     to be saved, not on account of any unforeseen merit in them, but only because of His
     sovereign good pleasure.
    
    

          Election is found throughout the New Testament, and one verse that illustrates
     the doctrine is 2 Thessalonians 2:13, as Paul is writing to the church at Thessalonica.
     "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because
     from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of
     the Spirit and through belief in the truth."

          The trinity is in view in this passage as the Lord Jesus Christ loved His people,
    and the Father chose them to be saved, through the sanctifying work of the Holy
    Spirit and belief in the truth.
   

          For many Christians, the Doctrine of Election is largely ignored and/or mis-
     understood.  The idea that God chooses some, but not all for salvation, is abhorrent
     to them.
          However, God's Election is never arbitrary or capricious, but always according
    to His good pleasure and in conformity with the purpose of His will.

          Some believe this doctrine teaches that God forces a
     person to believe in Him, even if that person doesn't wish to do so.   That's a
     misunderstanding of election.
          Charles Spurgeon, known as the "Prince of Preachers," wrote this about God's
     Election:  "A man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing by the operation
    of the Holy Spirit.  A mighty grace which he does not wish to resist, enters into the
    man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved."  This is the new birth
    or regeneration, which we'll address in step three.

         
          In his letter to the believers in Ephesus, Paul taught the doctrine to the saints.
     "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ
     with every spritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He 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 as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the
     purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in
    the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
    trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom
    and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which
    He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in
    heaven and things on earth."

    
   
   


    "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, so that we who were the
    first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory.  In Him you also, when you heard
    the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
    who is the guarantee of out inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of
    His glory" (Ephesians 1:3-14).


          God's chosen people belonged to Him from the beginning.  John MacArthur said, "The
    words of Jesus, 'They were yours,' in John 17:6, asserts that even before conversion, the elect
    were God's possession, because of His election."

         God the Father gives them to Jesus, He accepts them as a love gift from the Father, they
     come to Him, and He will never drive them away.
     "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive
    away" (John 6:37).
    It is the Father's will that Jesus lose none of them, but to raise them to eternal life at the last
    day.  "And this will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me,
    but raise them up at the last day" (John 6:39).


         God has chosen, predestined, adopted, and redeemed His people, according to His
     purpose and will.  Furthermore, the Holy spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance, salvation,
     and eternal life with God, to the praise of His glory.


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        Next time we'll look at the next step in the biblical order of salvation - God's "Call."