230 – The Profit of the Doctrine of Election

SEMESTER 2

230 – The Profit of the Doctrine of Election

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  SOTERIOLOGY II LESSON # 30
THE PROFIT OF THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION

INTRODUCTION:

1. It is realized by most anti-electionists that the doctrine was extremely prevalent among strong Christians of bygone days. (Hear a quote from Spurgeon in T. P. Simmons – page 233, on tape.)
2. Many of my brethren today confess the fact but deny the value.
3. That is to say it is truth, but like endless genealogies, it has no practical purpose.

III: I do not mind you believing it so long as you do not preach it.

4. We might well reject this philosophy concerning any doctrine, but let us see the practical value of this one.

I. IT GIVES AN EXALTED VIEW OF GOD

1. He is God (Deu 7:9) – high and lifted up. (Isa 6:1-3)
2. The God of the anti-electionist is forever the subject of his creature.

II. IT WARRANTS FAITH

1. If God subjects Himself to my will in saving me, who must I ultimately trust?
2. Belief in election demands simple faith, thus it lays the foun­dation for our whole relationship to God.

III. IT REMOVES US FROM THE STANDARD OF REASON

1. Once this is accepted, any Bible truth can be accepted.

IV. IT TRAINS US TO PREACH THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD

1. Once you can preach this doctrine, the “fear of man” will have lost its grip.

V. IT IS AN IMPREGNABLE FOUNDATION FOR THE SECURITY OF THE SAVED

1. The Scripture about eternal election always utterly defeat the arguments for falling from grace.

VI. IT EXCLUDES ALL BOASTING

1. God has ordained salvation after such a fashion that no boasting (of anything) is reasonably possible. (Rom 3:27, 1Co 1:29)
2. The believer, under this economy must confess. (1Co 15:10)
3. He knows that only God, makes him to differ. (1Co 4:7)
4. This realization will produce love for God in the believer. (1Jo 4:19)

III: Has God been better to me, than to the heathen?

VII. IT ENCOURAGES THE USE OF MEANS

1. Without election no one’s salvation is certain, thus God’s word could conceivably return void.
2. With this doctrine we may be fully assured that our work in pro­claiming the Word cannot return void. (1Co 15:58)
3. It makes us willing to sacrifice and suffer for the gospel’s sake. (2Ti 2:10)

VIII. IT MOTIVATES AND CONTROLS EVANGELISM

1. It shows us God’s ultimate purpose and our ultimate motive in the salvation of sinners; i.e., God’s glory. (Eph. 1:12)
2. This in turn restricts our methods of evangelism, to those which can glorify God.

IX. IT HAS ITS PROPER EFFECT UPON SINNERS

1. Christ preached election to hardened sinners. (Mat 11:25-26, Joh 6:37,44,65 and Joh 10:26)
2. Yes, it can be profitable even to the awakening of sinners.

i. It should drive them from presumptuous sinning.

III: Spurgeon’s testimony of preaching it.

3. This is true because it leaves the sinner in a position of self-hopeless­ness.

III: A quote (on tape) from Spurgeon from T. P. Simmons – page 238.

4. It tends to awaken the unconcerned sinner.

i. If unconcern is in worldliness, the preaching of election rudely invades his thoughts.
ii. If he comforts himself with promises of future action, election cries, “but can you act?”

III: On tape drifting toward the falls.

iii. Because it excludes “respect of persons” it gives the poorest or worst sinner equal occasion to look to Christ for mercy.