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Today we’re going to talk about the Sovereignty of God in his choosing people. Our topic today is “election” – so we’re going to be talking about God choosing people but it’s important to know that election is a sub-catagory under a much larger concept – God’s Sovereignty. God is the King. God possesses all power and is the active ruler of everything that exists.

Psalm 135:6 – Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Daniel 2:20–21 – Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. ²¹ He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

Romans 11:36 – …from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

When we talk about election, we are getting narrower in our focus. Now were talking about God choosing people. So, we’re getting very personal here. But then again, God as Sovereign IS very personal.

What I’ve found is that our foundation – our disposition before God – is very important in this discussion. If we come to this discussion as a proud, self-sufficient, hopeful-in-humanity, faith-in-the-human-spirit, type of person; we will question God’s goodness in his choosing. If we come to this discussion as a humble, God-dependent, hope-in-God, faith-in-God’s-wisdom, type of person; we’ll – by God’s grace – be O.K.

As I read Scripture one thing becomes very clear and obvious – if anything good is going to happen in this world, God is the reason. It is only because of God’s kindness and his merciful hand that good things happen. In a world swimming in sin and rebellion, God chose to stay and work out his plan of mercy toward those who deserve nothing. The Bible is the story of God – his holiness, his justice, his anger over sin, his mercy, his patience, and his love for those who don’t deserve it.

When we speak of “election” in a broad sense we are talking about God choosing. And primarily God choosing people. So, let’s look at a few examples:

God choosing Israel as his special people – Deuteronomy 7:6–8 – “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

God choosing Jeremiah as his prophet – Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

God choosing Paul as his apostle – Acts 9:15 – But the Lord said to [Ananias], “Go, for [Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

God choosing Pharaoh an object of God’s hardening – Romans 9:14–18 – What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

The Bible also speaks of God electing some – who deserve only wrath – to eternal life.

Ephesians 1:3–5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

John 6:65 – And [Jesus] said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

Acts 13:48 – And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 16:14 – One who heard us (Paul) was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

If, this morning, you are a helpless person who has no hope on your own before a holy God, and you are trusting in Jesus to be your substitute… if you are trusting Jesus as the One who faced God’s judgment in your place… if you reject your merit (you have none) and take the merit of Jesus as yours, you should know that God has reveled this to you. God has granted you repentance. God has granted you faith.

The Biblical concept of election – and it’s implications – should have a profound impact on us. The biblical truth of election should move into every aspect of our thinking and I’ll just say, it should drive us to our knees in praise and humility and thanksgiving. It should be a catalyst in defeating idolatry and for living for King Jesus. It should drive the way we pray, the way we think about evangelism, and the way we worship. And it should be fuel under the way we raise our children and the way we interact with the world around us.

Praise – Ephesians 1:3–4 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him…

Comfort – John 10:27–29 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Righteous living – Colossians 3:12–14 – Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Mission – John 15:16–17 – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Mission – 2 Timothy 2:8–10 – Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

God’s undeserved kindness to us should result in humility, continual repentance, rejection of idols, great faith, etc.