What We Believe As Baptist

Week #8 What We Believe About God’s Purpose of Grace

Power Point

 

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

 

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

 

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews 11:39-12:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.

 

1 Timothy 2:4

2 Peter 3:9

 

  1. Election

 

John 6:37-40—37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

  1. What is Election?

 

  1. So, What does the biblical term “election” mean?

Rom. 8:33; Col. 3:12; Titus 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1

 

  1. The biblical teachings highlight three aspects of election.
  2. God’s graciously chose undeserving Israel to be His people.

Deut. 4:37; 7:6

 

  1. God graciously chose individuals to serve in various roles.

Acts 9:15;  Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13

 

  1. Biblical election is Christocentric.

Lk 9:35; 1 Pet 1:20; Eph 1:3-14; Eph 1:4, 6

 

  1. Election is filled with the infinite grace of God.

 

  1. Election manifests God’s sovereign goodness by displaying His mercy and His justice.

Eph 1:14

 

Illustration: Dr. Danny Akin, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, authored the article in their book on this particular section of the BF&M. In his article Akin says that it is “instructive to note what is said here and what is not said. Election is an act of grace, rooted in the purpose of God. Election unto salvation starts with God, not man. Election to salvation is rooted in grace, not works. It is unmerited and undeserved. And yet the nature and basis of election is not defined.”

 

  1. Election is consistent with the free will of man.

 

  1. Perseverance of the Saints.

1 John 3:6; 1 John 3:9

 

  1. The Assurance of Salvation.

John 6:37-40; 1 Peter 1:5

 

  1. First, the strong biblical language of God’s guarding or keeping power assures that believers will persevere.

1 Cor 1:8; 1 Pet 1:5

 

  1. Second, the promises of Jesus reassure the believer.

John 6:37; John 6:39; John 10:28

 

  1. Third, the ministry of the Spirit assures a believer.

2 Cor 1:22b; Eph 1:14; 2 Cor 1:26; Eph 1:13; 4:30

 

  1. Fourth, the nature of salvation gives assurance to the saints.

John 5:24

 

There are a number of scriptures which give us assurance of our salvation and affirm this doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.

 

John 10:27-30—“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish – ever. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

 

Romans 8:38-39—“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Philippians 1:6—“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

 

John 3:16—“For God loved the word in this way: He gave His one and Only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

 

You see the scripture is filled with the assurance that our salvation is secure.

 

Illustration: Vance Havner said, “The faith that fizzles before the finish was faulty from the first.” The sign of perseverance is continuance in faith. We keep on because we are kept by God.