From a previous week’s post: Rather than suggest any smugness, this doctrine ought to humble each of us to the dust. …The number of references in Scripture to God’s sovereign, electing love are overwhelming.
7. Those whom God chooses unto salvation will believe.
- Acts 13:48 “Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
- Phil. 1:29 “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”
- I Thess. 1:4-6 “… knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.”
- II Thess. 2:13-15 “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”
- II Tim. 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
- James 2:5 “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
8. The election of particular people unto salvation rests on the absolute sovereign grace and power of God who controls all aspects of His creation. Apart from God’s plan and power, nothing may take place.
- Ex. 33:19b “… I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (see also Romans 9:10-24)
- Job 42:1, 2 “Then Job answered the LORD and said: I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.”
- Psalm 115:3 “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.”
- Is. 14:24, 26, 27 “The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand: This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?”
- Is. 45:12 “I have made the earth, and created man on it. It was I – My hands that stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded.”
- Is. 46:9-11 “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure, calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.”
- Is. 55:11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
- Matt. 20:15 “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?”
- Rom. 9:21 “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”
- Rom. 11:33-36 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”
Blog post content is taken from Rev. Paul Treick’s book, Faith of Our Fathers, Living Still: A Study of the Five Points of Calvinism, available for purchase. It is posted with the gracious permission of the author.
If you’d like to read the blog series from the beginning, start here.