Sermon Tone Analysis

*Election of Grace — *The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles.

(2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut.

7:6; Rom.

9:4).

(3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thess.

2:13; Eph.

1:4; 1 Pet.

1:2; John 13:18).

 

2 Thess.

2:13

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose youa to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachingsb we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

[1]

 

Eph.

1:4

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

In love 5 hea predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

9 And heb made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

[2]

 

 

The ground of this election to salvation is the good pleasure of God (Eph.

1:5, 11; Matt.

11:25, 26; John 15:16, 19).

God claims the right so to do (Rom.

9:16, 21).

Rom.

9:16, 21

16 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”g

18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us?

For who resists his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ”h 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

[3]

 

 

It is not conditioned on faith or repentance, but is of sovereign grace (Rom.

11:4–6; Eph.

1:3–6).

All that pertain to salvation, the means (Eph.

2:8; 2 Thess.

2:13) as well as the end, are of God (Acts 5:31; 2 Tim.

2:25; 1 Cor.

1:30; Eph.

2:5, 10).

Faith and repentance and all other graces are the exercises of a regenerated soul; and regeneration is God’s work, a “new creature.”

Rom.

11:4–6

4 And what was God’s answer to him?

“I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”b 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.c[4]

Eph.

2:8

*8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith*—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.[5]

 

 

 

 

Men are elected “to salvation,” “to the adoption of sons,” “to be holy and without blame before him in love” (2 Thess.

2:13; Gal.

4:4, 5; Eph.

1:4).

The ultimate end of election is the praise of God’s grace (Eph.

1:6, 12).

(See PREDESTINATION.)

[6]

 

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a Some manuscripts /because God chose you as his firstfruits/

b Or /traditions/

[1]/The Holy Bible : New International Version/.

1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (2 Th 2:13-15).

Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

a Or /sight in love.

He/

b Or /us.

With all wisdom and understanding, he/

[2]/The Holy Bible : New International Version/.

1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Eph 1:4-10).

Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

g Exodus 9:16

h Isaiah 29:16; 45:9

[3]/The Holy Bible : New International Version/.

1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ro 9:16-21).

Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

b 1 Kings 19:18

c Some manuscripts /by grace.

But if by works, then it is no longer grace; if it were, work would no longer be work./

[4]/The Holy Bible : New International Version/.

1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ro 11:3-6).

Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

[5]/The Holy Bible : New International Version/.

1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Eph 2:7-10).

Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

[6]Easton, M. (1996, c1897).

/Easton//'s Bible dictionary/.

Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.