Who Chose Who?

Q: What does the Bible say about God's election?

The Bible teaches that God chooses individuals for salvation before the foundation of the world, as seen in John 15:16 and Ephesians 1:4. Scripture clearly outlines the doctrine of election, where God elects specific individuals for salvation based on His sovereign will, not on any foreseen merit or action. In John 15:16, Jesus states, 'You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,' emphasizing that the initiative in salvation comes from God. Ephesians 1:4 further emphasizes that believers are chosen in Christ 'before the foundation of the world,' signifying that this divine election is rooted in God's eternal plan. Election is foundational for understanding the grace of God, as it underscores that salvation is entirely a work of God, based on His sovereign choice rather than human action.

Q: How do we know election is true?

Election is affirmed in Scripture, particularly in passages like Romans 9 and Ephesians 1, highlighting God's sovereignty and grace. The truth of election is established through numerous biblical passages that demonstrate its significance within God’s plan of salvation. Romans 9 discusses God's sovereign choice in the instances of Jacob and Esau, revealing that 'the purpose of God according to election might stand,' indicating that ethical merit plays no role in salvation. Furthermore, Ephesians 1:4-5 shows that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, suggesting that election is grounded in God's grace and not human effort. Such Scriptures affirm that God exercises His sovereignty in choosing who will receive mercy, ultimately substantiating the doctrine of election.

Q: Why is God's election important for Christians?

Election assures Christians of their salvation, emphasizing that it is based on God's grace and not human works. The doctrine of election is vital for Christians as it underscores the foundation of salvation through grace alone. If our salvation depended on human choice, it would introduce uncertainty and potential failure. However, as affirmed in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 'God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation,' indicating that the security and assurance of salvation lie in God's unchanging purpose. Furthermore, understanding election helps Christians appreciate the character of God as sovereign and gracious, highlighting our dependency on His mercy rather than our efforts. This perspective leads to deeper worship and reliance on Christ as the true source of redemption, eliminating any notion of self-salvation.

Q: What is the relationship between election and the grace of God?

Election is a demonstration of God's grace, affirming that salvation is entirely a gift rather than a reward for human performance. Election and grace are inextricably linked, as election highlights God's initiative in salvation and His free grace bestowed upon undeserving sinners. Scripture teaches that election is not based on any foreseen merit but solely on God's sovereign will. This is exemplified by passages such as Romans 9:16, which emphasizes that 'it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.' The reality of election reveals that salvation is a reflection of God's grace, leading believers to understand that their salvation is rooted in the sacrificial work of Christ, completed on their behalf, and not in their own efforts or decisions.

Todd's Road Grace Church would like to invite you to listen to a sermon by our pastor, Todd Nyberg. We are located at 4137 Todd's Road, two miles outside of Manowar Boulevard. Sunday services are at 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible study is at 9.45 a.m. Wednesday services are at 7 p.m. Nursery is provided for all services. For more information, visit our website at toddsroadgracechurch.com. Now here's our pastor, Todd Nybert.

This is the Lord's last address to his disciples, and he will be nailed to the cross the next day. And he says to his disciples in John chapter 15, verse 16, you have not chosen me. but I have chosen you. I've entitled this message, Who Chose Who? The Lord says, you did not choose me, but I chose you.

That's unmistakable. There aren't different ways to take that. I've heard it said, we choose Christ because he chose us. That's not what Christ says. He says, you have not chosen me. If you're a believer, he says this to you, you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. I did not choose to believe. A choice involves two or more options or alternatives. I believed Christ because I had no other choice. You're shut up to Christ. You have nowhere else to go. When the Lord said to the disciples, will you also go away? Peter said, to whom shall we go? It's not like we have any other options. Thou hast the words of eternal life.

You believe something because it's true. I believe two and two is four because it is four. I don't choose to believe it's four. I believe because it is four. You believe the truth. You don't choose to believe the truth, you believe the truth. Now you have to choose to believe error. If I believe two and two is three, I got to make a choice to believe that. Or if I believe two and two is five, I make a choice to believe that. But you believe the truth because there are no other options. It is the truth.

I never in my experience said I'm going to make a conscious decision to become a Christian, to believe on Christ. The leper did not say to the Lord, I am going to allow you to cleanse me. I'm going to accept your offer to cleanse me. He spoke in no such way. As a matter of fact, that's offensive. That's repugnant. He said, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.

You did not choose me. but I have chosen you. This is election. That glorious truth of God's choice of his people before the foundation of the world. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. He said a couple of verses down to his disciples, if you were of the world, the world would love his own. but because you're not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. therefore the world hateth you." Why even on judgment day he's going to say, come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. That's when this choice was made before time began. You've not chosen me, but I have chosen you." Literally, you've not elected me, but I have elected you.

So is the language, same word. Now, one cannot deny that in the Old Testament, Israel was chosen by God over all the nations of the world. All you've got to do is read the Bible and you'll conclude that. And I think this is very interesting. The angels that did not fall, Paul calls in I Timothy chapter 5, the elect angels. The reason they did not fall and follow Satan in this revolt that took place is because God elected them not to. And there are many scriptures in the Old Testament that speak of personal election. I've heard of people saying, well, election just has to do with nations. Well, yes, but it has to do with individuals. David said, blessed is the man whom thou choosest. and cause us to approach unto thee. God said, I'll be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I'll show mercy on whom I will show mercy."

Now, God. God. One God in three distinct persons. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God chose who would be saved before time began. Christ said, you did not choose me, but I chose you. The Spirit of God, in the eternal covenant of grace, covenanted to quicken and give life to the elect. It's the Spirit that quickeneth. The flesh profits nothing.

Now, if somebody's wondering, What is election? Why did the Lord say that? Let me read you a verse of scripture from Ephesians 1, verse 4. Paul said, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy. and without blame before Him, in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." Somebody says, what is election? Well, let me ask you these questions from this verse of Scripture.

Who chose who? It says, he chose us. When was this choice made? Was it when he saw we would believe? No, it was made before the foundation of the world. Well, why did He choose us? Is it because He foresaw the faith we would have? Well, He did foresee the faith we have because He foresaw He would give it to us. You see, He's absolutely sovereign. Faith is the gift of God. Yes, He foresaw we'd believe, but it's not what he foreknew, it's whom he foreknew. He loved his people beforehand. Well, how did he make this? How did he do this? According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.

Election can't be separated from being in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, Now, a man wrote me once after I put an article in the paper entitled, Does the Bible Really Teach Election? And the man wrote me back and said if they were answering questions nobody was asking, you'd get the award for it. Now, that man was being dishonest. Everybody who reads the Bible has wondered what this means.

Election, what does that mean? What does predestination mean? The issue of election, you have not chosen me. but I've chosen you. You've not elected me, but I've elected you. It's something that was done before time began, according as it chose us in him before the foundation of the world. The issue of election is twofold.

Number one, the character of the living God. Election says God is God. He's the God of election. He is the God who really is God, who really controls everything. The second issue of election is salvation by grace. Election secures that. If election is not true, then salvation is not all of grace. Now, these are the two issues of this biblical, holy doctrine of election. God really is God. It's the character of God. And salvation really is all of grace. Now, the objections men have made to this holy truth are mainly twofold. And I've made these objections.

Number one, it's not fair. It's not fair for God to choose one and not choose another. How can that be right? It's not fair. And the second objection is if God didn't choose me, how can he hold me responsible? If I can't save myself and he didn't choose me, how could it be right for him to hold me responsible for my sin if he didn't choose me? That does not seem fair.

That does not seem right. Now both of these objections, and I'll tell you that I made those objections when I first heard. As a matter of fact, this is what the Lord used to teach me I was a sinner. When I found out about God electing a new people, it angered me. I thought, that's not fair. That means I can't do it. I'm totally in his hands. I can't do anything to save myself. And that angered me. This is not fair. And how can he hold me responsible if he didn't choose me?

Paul anticipates those objections in Romans chapter 9. I'm going to read beginning in verse 11 for the children. Romans 9, 11 for the children, talking about Jacob and Esau, twins, being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to election, might stand. Not of works. This is God's purpose. That salvation might not be of works.

But of him that calleth, it was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger, as it's written, this is God speaking, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. You mean God hates somebody? His hatred's not like our hatred. Our hatred's evil. His hatred has to do with justice and righteousness and holiness. Esau didn't consider God to be worth a bowl of soup. Esau have I hated."

Well, what should we say then? How are we going to respond to this? Paul says, is there unrighteousness with God? Is God unfair to choose one and not choose the other, to love one and not love the other? Is this not being fair on God's part? Listen to Paul's answer, God forbid.

For he saith to Moses, I'll have mercy on whom I will have mercy, I'll have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it's not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, not of man's will, not of man's efforts, but of God that showeth mercy. Somebody says that's not fair. Fair is hell.

If God gives me and if God gives you what we deserve, he will send us to hell. Thank God for electing grace. There's a vast majority that he's going to be saved because God is gracious. He delights in mercy. You will not be saved if there's no election. I will not be saved because we're sinful. We're sinners. Thank God for this. Yes, it's not fair in the sense that God's not giving us what we deserve. He's giving us what Christ deserves. But oh, the fairness of God in this. Now, the next objection is, well, how can he hold me responsible if he didn't elect me? That means I don't have a chance. That's wrong on God's part. How can he hold me responsible?

Let's go on reading, for the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will, he heartens. Thou wilt say unto me, why does he yet find fault? How can he hold me responsible for who hath resisted his will?

I can't resist his will. If this is his will, I can't resist it. How can he hold me accountable? I love the way Paul answers this. Nay, but O man. Who are you to reply against God? Since when are you in a position where you can sit as God's moral authority and say, I disagree with this. This is not right. He should not hold me responsible. You are a sinner. He is God. You and I have no right to try to judge what he is doing. What he does is always perfect, right, holy, just, and true.

And how horrible it is when a sinner sits in judgment on God. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. Now, election doesn't cause people to be damned who might have otherwise been saved. It saves people who most assuredly would have otherwise been damned. And these are the Lord's words. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.

Now, if this is not preached, the gospel is not preached. Let me repeat that. If this is not preached, The gospel is not preached. There's never been a man that God called to preach the gospel that did not believe and preach God's electing grace. First thing Paul heard when Ananias came to him, he said, the God of our fathers hath chosen thee. First thing Paul heard. It's absolutely necessary to preach election to preach the gospel. Let me give you the reasons why. And don't try to hide behind what's just deep theology. No, it's not. It's simple. A child understands this. You did not choose me, but I chose you.

Now, here's why it is necessary to preach election to preach the gospel. Number one, you can't preach the character of God and not preach election. Deny election, you deny God's sovereignty. He doeth according to his will in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say unto him, what doest thou? A God who is not absolutely sovereign is a God who's not independent. He has needs outside of himself that have to be done for his will to be done. He's not all powerful. He's not all wise. He's not absolutely just. He's not omniscient.

This is necessary for the character of God. If election is not preached, the character of God is denied. Election is God being God. If we do not believe election, if we do not preach election, we don't believe in the true character of man as the Bible presents him.

Ephesians 2.1 says, and you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.

Remember when God said to Adam in the day you eat thereof, talking about the forbidden fruit in the day you eat thereof, you'll surely die. Well, he ate. He didn't die physically, but he died spiritually. And the natural man is dead in trespassing sins.

He doesn't have the ability to believe. He doesn't have the ability to repent. He doesn't have the ability to come to Christ. The Lord said, no man can come to me except the Father which has sent me. Draw him. Men are dead in sins. They have no ability. And if God doesn't elect the people, nobody will be saved because men don't have any ability.

Thank God for election. That's how dead sinners are brought to the Lord Jesus Christ, but God chose them to be that way. You know, the idea of man in any other light than being dead in sins is just not according to the scripture. Genesis 6, 5, and God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination, the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

There's none righteous. No, not one. There's none that understands. There's none that seeks after God. They've all gone out of the way. They're together, become unprofitable. There's none that doeth good. No, not one. The carnal mind is enmity against God. It's not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Now, if there's no election of grace, there's no hope of my salvation. If we don't believe in election, we have no understanding of sin. Because if we had any understanding of sin, we would see the necessity of election. Without election, no one will be saved. If we don't believe and preach election, we have no understanding of the cross of Christ.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came for a particular people, the elect. Matthew 121, thou shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people. Not everybody is his people in this sense. The elect, the sheep. I lay down my life for the sheep. Other sheep I have which are not of this fold. His people are the elect.

And when he came to this earth to die, it was to save his people from their sins. Now, most of what goes on under the name of Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the entire human race. These are the same people who deny election, and that He paid for your sins. and offers you salvation, but as to whether or not you're actually saved and stand among the redeemed in heaven is going to be up to your choice.

If you've chosen to let him save you. Preachers say, let God have his way. My dear friend, God has his way. You don't let him have his way. Now, I completely reject this blasphemous notion that Jesus Christ will pay for your sins and you can go to hell anyway. There will not be anybody in hell that Christ died for. As far as that goes, that's accusing God of double jeopardy. God can punish your sins in the cross and then once again punish you and send you to hell if you don't do your part to make what he did work. There's not a drop of gospel in that message. It's not the teaching of Holy Scripture. Now listen very carefully as the Lord enables you.

I have a hope to be in heaven. What's your hope? Here's my only hope. It's that Jesus Christ died for me and put away my sins so that I have no sin to be condemned for. That's my hope. That's my only hope. If you tell me that Jesus Christ can die for my sins and I can go to hell anyway, I have no hope. That's a horrible, blasphemous doctrine to think that Jesus Christ can die for your sins and you can go to hell anyway. My hope is that Christ is a successful Savior, that when He said, it is finished, my salvation was accomplished. If I deny election, I deny what Christ did on Calvary's tree.

He's a complete and sufficient Savior for everybody He died for. He died for His elect. Now, there's no understanding of the work of God the Holy Spirit without election. The Spirit of God comes and gives life to the elect through the preaching of the gospel. Listen to this scripture.

II Thessalonians 2.13, Paul says, we're bound to thank God always for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord. Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. God the Holy Spirit comes to those people that God elected and Christ died for and gives them life through the belief of the truth. Now what is the evidence of election? How can I know if I'm elect? You're not called upon to figure out whether or not you're one of the elect. You're going in the wrong direction if that's what you're doing.

Listen to this scripture from Acts 13, verse 48. After Paul had preached this message, we read, as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Who believed? As many as were ordained to eternal life. What do those who are ordained to eternal life do? They believe the gospel. You're called upon to believe the gospel. And if you do believe, if you do rely on Jesus Christ only as everything in your salvation, you're one of God's elect.

Now, I want to close by reading a passage that will teach us how to deal with election with this Syro-Phoenician woman in Matthew chapter 15, beginning in verse 21. Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan, a Gentile, came out of the same coast, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David!

My daughter is grievously vexed with the devil. But he answered her not a word. He didn't pay any attention to request. She comes with a great need. She comes with respect. She comes with reverence. She comes asking for the right thing, mercy. And he answered her, not a word. He ignored her. And his disciples came and besought him saying, send her away for she crieth after us. Evidently she kept crying. How'd she deal with his silence? She kept crying. Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David.

But he answered and said, I'm not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. How does he answer this woman? I didn't come to save everybody. I only came to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. I have only come to save the elect." Now what was her response? Did she say that's not fair? Did she get angry? Did she turn on her heels and just leave him?

No. Verse 25, then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me. You know, you'll only worship a sovereign. There is no worship without some understanding that I'm in his hand and he can do with me whatever he's pleased to do and whatever he does is right. She came and worshiped him for who he was and said, Lord, help me.

If you don't help me, I won't be helped. Now look at his answer, verse 26. But he answered and said, it's not me to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs. The implication, you're a dog. You don't deserve my mercy. Look at her answer. Truth, Lord. That's the truth.

I am a dog and I don't deserve your mercy. Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table. I'm a dog, but I'm your dog. And I'm not expecting a place setting at the table, but like a dog under the table, I'd be grateful for any crumbs of mercy that fall my way. This is how this woman dealt with the doctrine of election And Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith. Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.

Divine election, the great stripping doctrine. You can't preach the gospel and not preach election because it's who God is. It's how he saves by his grace. And it strips me of any hope of self-salvation and causes me to cry out to him for mercy. Thank God for election. What comes to your mind when the Lord says, you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you? Yes, Lord. You understand that. You understand that if He didn't choose you, you would never have chosen Him because of your sinfulness. And your response is, thank God for His electing grace. To receive a copy of the sermon you have just heard, send your request to todd.neibert at gmail.com. Or you may write or call the church at the information provided on the screen.

Who Chose Who?

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about God's election?

How do we know election is true?

Why is God's election important for Christians?

What is the relationship between election and the grace of God?

Sermon Transcript

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Who Chose Who?

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about God's election?

How do we know election is true?

Why is God's election important for Christians?

What is the relationship between election and the grace of God?

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

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