Teleios and other authors have shown Christian
belief actually can improve personal wellbeing! Therefore, we are examining the
Christian life in more detail to see if we can uncover some of the potential
underlying causes of the improved wellbeing. As a biblical basis for the
Christian life we are using 1
Thessalonians 1:5-7.
Here is verse 5:
1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto
you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much
assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
Based on the list of Biblical reasons noted in
our prior blog about our eternal security, this week we are examining Biblical
statements to those who do not believe in eternal security.
The fourth point of our wonderful salvation is that
God chose us for himself. Again, this was all God's doing and not from our own
efforts and work. Although some think this doctrine is controversial, let's
look at the scriptures and you can decide for yourself.
· God chose us - God elected us for salvation
before all time to come to faith (Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28-30).
· The Choice was individual - God did not
choose a group, such as the church, but each of us distinctively (John 6:37,44,65;
John 10:28-29; 2 John 1:1).
· God’s character - Choosing is consistent
with God's character and past actions. To accomplish His magnificent work on
earth He has always had to choose those that would serve Him (e.g., Noah,
Abraham, Moses and Israel).
· God dragging and convicting - After
choosing God had to convict and drag us to Himself or we would not have come
(John 6:44, John 16:8). The Bible uses the imagery here of having to ‘drag’
fish into a boat by use of a net. The fish, like us, do not come willingly!
By our very nature we never would have chosen God,
understood Him or desired Him because of our fallen nature into sin (Romans3:10-18, Ephesians 2:1-3). As you know from last week he causes us to
persevere. He alone keeps us in His hand and brings us to our eternal glory (John10:28-30, Romans 8:28-30).
Although some think that God's choosing is unfair
there was no other way and scripture says it was done out of love and knowledge
(Ephesians 1:4-7). If God had not intervened all would have perished!
God's glorious salvation accomplished by first
free gift on the cross that we can be saved by faith alone not our own work. Every
aspect of salvation is God's, and all to His glory.
To review, to date we have covered now four spectacular
Scriptural proofs of our eternal security:
- Direct statements (e.g., 1 Peter 1:4-5)
- Unchangeable positions in Christ noted in our recent blogs
especially our: spiritual baptism, justification, sealing by the Spirit
and adoption (Romans 6:2-9, Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:13-14)
- Perseverance (2 Peter 1:12)
- God chose us to salvation (noted above)
WC Stewart
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