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Election
Election
There
was a boy who did not have much athletic ability. Every time he and his friends
would play some game he was always the last to be chosen. One day two new
fellows came to play with them and were allowed to be team captains because they
were older. The first team captain chose the boy who had always been chosen
last before. Why? Because they were brothers
and he loved his brother.
So
it is with God. He chose us not because of our abilities
but because he loves
us. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Election
The
mere preaching of the gospel does not save an individual. The gospel message
must be activated by the election and calling of God for an individual to be
drawn to him. It would be as if one had thrown a rope to a drowning man. The
throwing of that rope could not save the man unless someone were at the other
end drawing him into shore.
This
is what God has done. By his election
God draws to himself the one who has
heard the message. The man may have the rope
but he still needs the efficient
force of God drawing him in. Who
therefore
deserves the praise for salvation
the man who grabbed the rope? No—the God who draws him in! ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Election
The
resolution of election and free will has troubled theologians for centuries.
One found an explanation in a picture of the door to heaven. On the side of the
door facing the one who was about to enter heaven were written the words “Every
one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13). One the
side of the door facing those who were already in heaven were written the words
“called through his grace” (Gal. 1:15). ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Election
The
general call of the gospel is like the sheet lightning we sometimes see on a
summer evening—beautiful
grand—but who ever heard of anything being stuck by
it? But the special call is the forked flash from heaven; it strikes
somewhere.— C.H. Spurgeon
Election
Many
a young man thought that he had chosen the young lady who became his wife—only
to find out after the wedding that she had first chosen him. ── Michael P.
Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Election
It
is a good thing that God chose me before I was born
because he surely would
not have afterwards!— C.H. Spurgeon
Identity of Election
When
C.H. Spurgeon preached on “election” somebody said to him
“Why don’t you just
preach to the called
to the elect?” He replied
“Well
if you’ll run around
and pull up everybody’s shirttails so I can see if they have an ‘E’ stamped on
their back
I will.”
Only
God knows who is elect and who is not. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Definition of Election
C.H.
Spurgeon told of a time when he was preaching to a group of Methodist brethren.
In his own words he gave us an account of what transpired:
“Preaching
a few months ago in the midst of a large congregation of Methodists
the
brethren were all alive
giving all kinds of answers to my sermon
nodding
their heads and crying
‘Amen! Hallelujah! Glory be to God!’ At last a part of
text led me to what is styled high doctrine. So I said
this brings me to the
doctrine of Election. There was a deep drawing of breath. Now
my friends
you
believe it. They seemed to say
‘No
we don’t’ But you do
and I will make you
sing ‘Hallelujah’ over it. I will so preach it to you that you will acknowledge
it and believe it. So I put it thus: Is there no difference between you and
other men? ‘Yes
yes
glory be to God!’ There is a difference between what you
were and what you are now? ‘Oh
yes
yes!’ There is sitting by your side a man
who has been to the same chapel as you have
heard the same gospel; he is
unconverted
and you are converted. Who has made the difference
yourself or
God? ‘The Lord!’ said they. ‘The Lord! Glory! Hallelujah!’ Yes
cried I
and
that is the doctrine of Election; that is all I contend for
that if there be a
difference
the Lord made the difference.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Predestination and Election
Election
is God’s deciding who gets on the plane bound for heaven.
Predestination
is his charting the route the plane will take
the schedule
the accommodations
both during and after the flight
and each passenger’s safety. With God as the
pilot of the plane and the plane itself
all who board the plane make it to
heaven. Predestination means God himself makes sure the elect actually board
the plane. Their response of faith in Christ is like checking in at the gate
with a boarding pass.
The
gospel call
in contrast
is like advertising for the trip. The church is
commissioned to get the word to the whole world. Unfortunately most people
treat God’s free offer as “junk mail” and throw it in the trash. However
those
whom God has elected to salvation he also moves to accept his free offer. Many
are called
but few are chosen. Yet all who are chosen are predestined to end
up in heaven. ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
Election of Judas
A
man once asked a theologian
“Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot to be his
disciple?” The reply was insightful
“I do not know
but I have an even harder
question: Why did Jesus choose me? ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
No
illustrations yet.
The elect are the whosoever wills
the non-elect are the whosoever
won'ts.
D.L.
Moody.
"Elect" is always used of those who have already become
believers
never of those who have not yet received the call.
J. Huther
Ed.
Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the
Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy and Titus
Meyer's Critical and Exegetical
Commentary on the N.T.
Paul begins here to extend as it were his hand to restrain the
audacity of humans
in case they should clamor against God's judgments. We
cannot by our own faculties examine the secrets of God
but we are admitted
into a certain and clear knowledge of them by the grace of the Holy Spirit. And
just as we ought to follow the guidance of the Spirit
so where He leaves us
we ought to stop there and fix our standing. "If anyone will seek to know
more than what God has revealed
he shall be overwhelmed with the immeasurable
brightness of inaccessible light. But we must bear in mind the distinction
between the secret counsel of God and His will made known in Scripture. For
though the whole doctrine of Scripture surpasses in its height the mind of man
yet an access to it is not closed against the faithful
who reverently follow
the Spirit; but with regard to God's hidden counsel
the depth and height of it
cannot be reached.
John
Calvin.
Predestination and Election
Election is God’s deciding who gets on the plane bound for heaven.
Predestination
is his charting the route the plane will take
the schedule
the accommodations
both during and after the flight
and each passenger’s safety. With God as the
pilot of the plane and the plane itself
all who board the plane make it to
heaven. Predestination means God himself makes sure the elect actually board
the plane. Their response of faith in Christ is like checking in at the gate
with a boarding pass.
The
gospel call
in contrast
is like advertising for the trip. The church is
commissioned to get the word to the whole world. Unfortunately most people
treat God’s free offer as “junk mail” and throw it in the trash. However
those
whom God has elected to salvation he also moves to accept his free offer. Many
are called
but few are chosen. Yet all who are chosen are predestined to end
up in heaven.
Predestination
Dr. Harry Ironside told of a man who gave his testimony
telling how God
had sought him and found him. How God had loved him
called him
saved him
delivered him
cleansed him
and healed him. It was a tremendous testimony to
the glory of God.
After
the meeting
one rather legalistic brother took him aside and said
“You know
I appreciate all that you said about what God did for you
but you didn’t
mention anything about your part in it. Salvation is really part us and part
god
and you should have mentioned something about your part.”
“Oh
”
the man said
“I apologize. I’m sorry. I really should have mentioned that. My
part was running away
and God’s part was running after me until he found me.”