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…If you have visited the Gettysburg Battlefield, no doubt you have seen the
panorama of the battle. It is a
beautiful pictorial of the battle and how it unfolded.
…Paul does the same thing with the wonder of our salvation, he presents the
panorama of it from its beginnings, in eternity past, all the way to its
finish in eternity future. It is glorious!
…Your salvation does not depend upon your faith in God, or your love of Him.
No! It is entirely dependant upon God Himself. It is His work from beginning
to its end. To God be all glory and praise!
FIVE LINKS IN THE
GOLDEN CHAIN OF SALVATION ENCOURAGING US THAT SALVATION IS GOD’S WORK.
For each link
is forged in heaven, and each describes what God has done. There is no
greater panorama given of God in salvation in all the Bible.
I. God’s
Foreknowledge: He Selected Ones To Whom He Would Save. (v.29)
…This is the very beginning of your salvation, from eternity past in the
choice of God.
A. This
is the most important of all five terms, for had not God done this for you,
none of the rest would have come about. Yet, surprisingly, this is the most
misunderstood.
B.
The
word “foreknowledge” is made up of two words, “fore” meaning beforehand, and
the word “knowledge.” It has been taken to mean that God saw who would
exercise faith in Him, and it is those men and women whom He chose.
…This completely and utterly
false! No telescopes in
this word!
C. This
word foreknowledge means that salvation, your salvation, had its origin in the
eternal counsel of God, and not in man. God fixed His love upon some. This
whole passage is not about man, rather it is all about what God has done.
God has foreordained all of this!!
II. God’s
Predestination: He Has Determined Our Destination. (v.29)
A. This
is not the same as foreknowledge, for predestination takes us one step
further.
B. The
word is also made up of two words, “pre” which means beforehand, and
“destination.” This word means to determine a person’s destination ahead of
time.
…God tells us that He has marked out our final destination…to be conformed to
Christ’s likeness
C. Remember,
these words that refer to time, “fore” and “pre” speak in ways that we
understand. We are creatures of time. God is not. It is foreknowledge to us,
but it is simply knowledge to God. God simply knows and determines all
things. He alone is Great!
III. God’s
Calling: He Is Calling His Sheep Out By Name. (v.30)
A. God’s
foreknowledge and predestination lead to this.
B. This
work of God breaks into our time and world. God’s choice from eternity past
now works within our world. This calling intersects the days of our lives.
C. Don’t
confuse the two types of callings found in our Bible:
1.
One is external, general, and universal. It is an open invitation to all
persons to repent of sin, turn to the Lord Jesus, and be saved. Jesus issues
this kind of call in Matt 11: 28 “come unto me, all you who are weary and
burdened and I will give rest.”
…The problem: left to ourselves, none of us would respond positively to this
call.
2.
One is internal, specific, and effectual. This not only issues an invitation,
but provides the ability and willingness to respond positively. This is the
Father’s drawing, (Jn 6:44)
IV. God’s
Justification: He Declares Sinners Righteous. (v.30)
A. Justification
means: the act of God as judge, whereby He declares sinful men and women to
be in right standing with Him. This is never based upon our own
righteousness!
B. The
basis for this, is the substitutionary death of our Lord. He paid for our
sins. Further, His righteousness is placed into our accounts. When God sees
us, He does so through Christ.
…our faith is but the by-product of regeneration. You are not saved because
of your faith.
V. God’s
Glorification: He Will Certainly Makes Us Like Jesus. (v.30)
A. Glorification,
like all the other four, is given in past tense, meaning it is completed.
This is so certain, that God writes through Paul in past tense. (Phil 1:6)
“God will complete it…” Done!!!
B. Your
salvation is not left up to you. God has taken the whole thing upon Himself.
Secure!!!!
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1.
Be encouraged...God always finishes what He begins. Your salvation is
certain!
2.
Do not be troubled by: "foreknowledge / predestination". Learn to let
God's Word form your thinking!
3.
If you know Jesus as Savior...one day you will experience glorification!!
4.
Salvation is all of God! (Not you!)
5.
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ today and be saved from the wrath of God.
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