Okay, the title of the lesson
this morning is, Are You One of God's Elect? That's a question
I'd like to know the answer to. Am I one of God's elect? Now,
if we're going to know if we're one of God's elect, we have to
define election. And we have to define election
because of the opposition of men. Because of man's hatred
of the truth of election, there's a lot of bad definitions out
there that people get stuck in their head. And the reason that
men oppose election is they're opposed by nature to God having
all the glory and salvation. That's why men are opposed to
election. And when men oppose something,
they put out propaganda. They put out propaganda that
doesn't necessarily have to be true. And these propaganda agents
say that election means that someone wants to be saved but
can't because God didn't choose them. Now, that's not so. If you say someone wants to be
saved and can't because God didn't choose them, what you're saying
is a sinner can choose God, but God won't choose him. Well, that'll
never happen because sinners by nature cannot and will not
choose God. Then these propaganda agents
say this, election means someone wants to come to Christ, but
they're not allowed to come to Christ because God didn't choose
them. Well, that can never happen. Because a sinner by nature will
never choose to come to Christ until God draws him. These propaganda
agents go on to say, well, God did elect the people. You know,
elections are clearly taught in the Bible. You know, eventually
it gets to the point you can't deny it. So they say this. God
elected a people because he looked down through the telescope of
time and he saw people who someday would choose him. So he chose
them. Now, that's not so. The reason
for election is all found in God. God elected a people because
of who he is. God elected a people because
he's loved. God elected a people because
God's merciful and gracious. The reason for election is only
found in God. The reason election is needed
is found in man. Man is sinful. We're lost. We cannot save ourselves. We
can't do anything to satisfy God. We will not come to Christ
that we might have life. We won't do it. So God had to
choose a people to give eternal life. Because we won't come to
Christ that we might have life. Man will not love God. The carnal mind is enmity against
God. So God had to choose a people
that he loved. He had to choose a people that
he would give a new nature to. A nature that does love him because
we won't love him by nature. Man loves darkness rather than
light. So we won't come to the light because the light exposes
us for what we are, disposes our depravity and our sin. So
God had to choose a people that he would save and that he would
give them a nature that loves Christ the light. I love to be
exposed for who I am in Christ. The only reason you say that
is because God put you in Christ. Now that's the definition of
election. The reason is in God. The reason
it's needed is in man. If you'll hold your finger there
in 1 Thessalonians, look at Ephesians chapter 1. Election has to do
with Christ. It's all about Christ. Ephesians
chapter 1, verse 4. According as he has chosen us,
in him, in Christ, 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, in Christ." You see, election all has to do with
Christ. Now, God elected a people into
salvation. The truth of that is so plain
in scripture, anybody can see it. And those people will be
saved. God will see to it. He's going
to accomplish his will. But now, the truth of election
does not relieve us, does not relieve man, from the responsibility
to repent and to believe and to come to Christ and to follow
Christ. If we preach the gospel, We must
preach election. You can't preach the gospel without
preaching God's electing love. But at the same time, we must
also preach man's responsibility to come to Christ, to believe.
Now, are you one of God's elect? Well, you know, you can know
the answer to that question. But we can't look into the Lamb's
Book of Life and go down through the pages in the ledger and find
our name and know if we're one of God's elect. But we can know
if we're one of God's elect. Peter says here, I know your
election of God. But how can he know that? Well,
he gives us seven distinguishing marks of God's elect in our text.
And as we go through these, I pray that we'll see these marks in
ourselves, because you see these marks in all of God's elect.
Now, we begin in verse four. Peter says, knowing, brethren,
beloved, your election of God. Now, God elected a people into
salvation for this reason. God loved those people. Peter
calls them the beloved. And when we talk about election,
you know, we don't preach the doctrine of election. You can
preach the doctrine of election and not preach the gospel. And
we're not preaching the doctrine of election. If we preach the
gospel, this is what we preach. God's electing love. That's who
we preach, God who in love elected a people. He elected, he chose
those people because he loved them. They're the beloved. And
Peter gives us evidences of God's electing love that are found
in every one of his people. Now, as Brother Henry told us
so many times, election is not salvation. Election is unto salvation. Election is the beginning of
the work of salvation. And these marks, are evidences
of God finishing the work in his elect. So here's the first
mark of God's elect in verse 5. God's word is not just words
to God's elect. If you're one of God's elect,
God's word came to you in power. Verse 5. For our gospel came
not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy
Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men
we were among you for your sake. If you're one of God's elect,
the gospel is not just words to you. It's not just doctrine.
If that's all it is, if it's just doctrine, that's no better
than the dead letter of the law that kills. It's not just words.
The gospel is not just enticing words of man's wisdom to you.
And it's not words to be debated. The gospel is not to be debated.
It's to be declared. We're not getting into a battle
of words here. The word came to empower. It's
not to be battled over. It's not to be debated. If you're
one of God's elect, you've received the gospel. You haven't received
church doctrine. You haven't received the preacher's
words. You've received the gospel, the word of God. All those other
things are words to no profit, but not God's word. The gospel
comes to God's elect in power, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And the power of the Holy Ghost, this is a supernatural power.
And none of us can hear. We can't hear the first time
and we can't hear at any time over the course of our lives
until the Holy Spirit comes in power and enables us to hear. We hear the voice of Christ in
the Word by supernatural power. That's the power of the Holy
Spirit. We pray for the Spirit's presence
in our worship service because We're not going to hear if he
doesn't bless. We're not going to hear if he
doesn't come and show us the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't hear
because of the power of the preacher. You know, I'd like to have a
well thought out, well prepared, well spoken message. But the
power of the preacher is not going to do you any good. King
Agrippa heard one of the most powerful preachers ever lived.
What good did it do him? None. He said, Paul. You're almost persuaded. Almost. He was almost persuaded because
all he heard was a powerful preacher. If he'd heard the gospel in the
power of the Holy Spirit, this almost business would have been
out the window. He'd have believed if he'd heard in the power of
the Holy Spirit. And that's when you and I believe. The gospel
comes to God's elect in power, the power of the Holy Spirit,
and he convinces us of sin, of our sin. The Word comes in power
and convinces us of Christ, convinces us to believe in Him and trust
in Him, rest in Him. The Holy Spirit reveals Christ
to us. And I tell you, that's the only time we'll ever be made
willing. When the God's Word comes to
us in the power of the Holy Spirit. Look at 1 Corinthians chapter
2. And this is what the Spirit does, comes in power to every
one of God's elect. 1 Corinthians 2, verse 4. If you're one of God's elect,
you can say this. You heard a preacher, and he'd tell you, my speech
and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,
but it was in demonstration of the spirit and of power that
your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the
power of God. Look down at verse 9, but as
it's written, I have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him. But God hath revealed them unto
us by Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all
things, yea, the deep things of God." God's word comes to
his people in power. Now, if you're one of God's elect,
you've heard the word in that kind of power. And when I hear
the word in power, this is how I know I've heard God's word
in power. I know I'm a sinner. I'm a sinner who needs Christ
to save me. That's how I know the words come
to me in power. And once I hear the word in power,
I'm going to quit critiquing every word that the preacher
uses. Now, I know men that do this. They critique every word
that the preacher uses. He's got to use a certain phrase
a certain number of times. It's not a good message. When I hear God's Word in power,
that critiquing is going to go out the window. I'm going to
quit hearing so I can critique and know if this guy, you know,
is he an A-level, B-level or C-level preacher. I'm going to
quit that business and I'm going to hear the Word of God in power. I want to hear God's Word. Thus
saith the Lord. That's when I've heard God's
Word in power. And when I hear God's Word in power, it'll be
good news. It will be such good news. Because
God teaches His elect. I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. When God's Word comes in power,
the Savior is revealed to me. And I'm telling you, it's good
news. The good news of Christ saving
me from my sin. And if I've heard God's Word
in power, the Word has come in much assurance. Now, the Gospel,
when it's preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, It does give
us assurance of our salvation, doesn't it? But this is talking
about more than that. This is talking about when I
hear God's word and power, if I'm one of God's elect, I'm assured
of this. Christ is the Savior. He's the
only Savior. He's all my hope. I'm assured. I know that in absolute certainty. Christ is my only hope and he's
all my hope. That's how I know I've heard
God's word and power. Every one of God's elect, and
the gospel came to them in power. Secondly, God's elect are followers. Look here at verse 6. And ye
became followers of us and of the Lord. Now our Lord said,
My sheep, his elect are his sheep. My sheep hear my voice, they
heard it in power, and they follow me. You know that you follow
Christ by following his servants. That's how you know you're following
Christ. You follow His servants as they preach Christ, as they
point you to Christ, as they follow Christ. Now, people say,
oh, I don't follow any man. I just follow Christ. You know,
that's just religious hogwash. That's all that is. You just
sound like those people in Corinth that want to sound so smart,
you know. This group says, I'm of Apollos. This group says,
I'm of Paul. This group says, I'm of Peter.
And the group wants to sound real smart, so I'm of Christ.
I just follow Christ. No, you don't. You're going to
follow Christ as you follow one of his servants preaching him.
And I tell you this, you better better follow one of God's preachers,
because if you're going to hear the gospel, you're going to hear
it from a sinful man. You're not going to hear it any
other way. You're going to hear it from a man that God sent with his
message declaring Christ to you. And if God shows you that man,
you follow him as he follows Christ. I want to show you that
in scripture. Look at Luke chapter 10. HB told me one time somebody
accused him, well, you just follow Henry. He said, well, that's
fine. You can say that. I do follow him as he follows
Christ. Remember that you told me that.
That's what that's what believers do. Luke chapter 10, verse 16. He that heareth you, heareth
me. And he that despiseth you, despiseth
me. And he that despiseth me, despiseth
him that sent me. That's how you know if you're
hearing Christ. Do you hear his preacher? And here's how you
know that you despise Christ. Do you despise his preacher?
Do you despise his message? Look at 1 Corinthians chapter
4. 1 Corinthians 4 verse 14. I write not these things to shame
you, But as my beloved sons, I warn you, I warn you this because
I love you. For though ye have ten thousand
instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers. For in Christ
Jesus I have begotten you through the preaching of the gospel.
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. You follow me
as I follow Christ." And one more scripture, Hebrews 13. Hebrews 13 verse 7, Remember them which have the
rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose
faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, considering
the goal of their message. What's the goal of their message?
Christ. What's the subject of their message?
Now, you follow that faith. You follow that message. God's
elect are followers. And I think it's important to
point this out. I'm not saying a preacher is any better than
anybody else, or God's preachers are on a higher plane than anybody
else. Believe me, that's not true. It's just not true. Janet
will tell you that. It's just not true. Any preacher
will tell you this. Any one of God's preachers will
tell you this. I'm just as sinful and just in
need of a Savior as anybody else. Any of these men in this congregation
who preach the gospel will tell you that. John, Dale, and Eric,
every one of them will tell you that. But this is what I know. It's pleased God by the foolishness
of preaching to save them that believe. And God's people, His
elect, are going to follow those preachers. It's pleased God to
feed His sheep, to comfort His sheep, edify his sheep through
the preaching of the gospel. He sends his messengers to do
that, not so they get a following for themselves, but so that they
point men to Christ. And God's elect will always follow
the message of the man who preaches Christ to them. Third, third
mark of God's elect, they all receive God's word. Verse six,
you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received
the word in much affliction. with joy of the Holy Ghost. Now,
this word received, it means to receive favorably, to welcome
or to embrace. Well, of course you received
the word of God favorably. Of course you welcomed God's
word and embraced it. It's good news. You never heard
better news than that. You received the good news of
God's word as a gift of God's grace. That word brings you joy
unspeakable, full of glory, doesn't it? The word revealed Christ
in your soul. You're telling me from God's
word, God saved me? Yeah, I'll embrace that. That's
good news. Every one of God's elect receive,
embrace God's word that way. And you receive God's word in
much affliction. Affliction, trouble and trial
will not drive one of God's elect away from God's Word. It always
drives us to God's Word. Every time. These believers in
Thessalonica, they received the Word in much affliction. Paul
was just there a short time. And a mob, an angry mob, ran
Paul out of town. They were so angry he was preaching
the Gospel. Immediately, when these believers
received the Word, they became under fire. Immediately. Well,
it didn't run away, did it? It didn't make them quit. They
weren't shaken. Paul said, you became examples
to people all over this whole place. Because the time of trial
and affliction drove them to the word and they had growth
and faith and strength of believing God's word. They also found comfort
in God's word. God's elect are comforted by
God's word in times of trial. Everyone that's been through
a time of difficulty knows this. You come and hear the word and
it's just like, ah. And the child just seems to kind
of vanish for a while, doesn't it? Because you're comforted
by God's word. It doesn't drive you away from
the word, it drives you to it. Four, fourth mark of God's elect. God's elect are examples of faith. Verse seven, so that you're examples
to all that believe of Macedonia and Achaia. Now, this is not
just talking about you're an example of faith and love to
younger believers. It's not just talking to older
believers who ought to be an example of conduct and faith
and love and generosity. You older believers, now, these
young believers are watching you. You be a good example of
faith to them. You be an example of love and
kindness to them. Older believers ought to be that.
But that's not just what this is talking about. This is talking
to everyone of God's elect. Even the newest believer, the
babe in Christ, you're one of God's elect, but you can't be
an example like that yet, can you? You will be, but you can't
be an example like that yet. This word example that Peter
uses means a pattern. Now look at 1 Timothy chapter
1. Here's a good illustration of what this is talking about
here. 1 Timothy chapter 1. A pattern. Verse 15. This is a faithful saying, and
worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners, of whom I am chief. How be it? For this cause
I obtain mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth
all longsuffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter
believe on him to life everlasting. What is Paul talking about here,
for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe? He is talking
about himself. The way God saved Paul is the
way he saves every one of his elect. It's a pattern that God
always uses. Now, what was Saul? Saul of Tarsus.
He was the chief of sinners, wasn't he? Boy, I mean, this
guy was rotten. Saul of Tarsus was the last person
you and me would ever expect God to save. The last one. The least likely. Saul wasn't
seeking the Lord. What was Saul doing? He was on
his way to Damascus to persecute, throw in jail, and if he could,
kill those ones who were followers of this way who lived in Damascus.
He wasn't seeking God. He was trying to persecute the
church of God. But what happened to Saul? God
Almighty stopped him on his mad rush to hell. He unhorsed him,
he humbled him, put him down in the dust, and sent him to
a preacher. And when it pleased God, he revealed
himself to Saul and in Saul, and then he changed his name.
Now that's the pattern that God follows to save everyone of his
elect. Everyone of God's elect says,
I see myself there. I'm the chief of sinners. There's
nobody with a heart more wicked and vile than mine. I'm the chief
of sinners. I'm so sinful. I'm the least
likely candidate to ever live for God's mercy. But in his mercy,
God stopped me on my mad rush to hell. If he hadn't, I'd be
there right now. The only reason I'm here is God's
mercy. He stopped me. I wasn't seeking
the Lord, but he stopped me. He bought me. He found me. He
made me his. And I can tell you the exact
moment I say, will it please God? He revealed Himself to me
and in me. He gave me faith to believe.
He put me in His Son and changed my name. I don't bear Adam's
name anymore. I bear the precious name of my
Savior, Jehovah Sid Kenyon. That's the pattern. Every one
of God's elect say, I tell God, save me. That's the pattern that
He's talking about. Todd mentioned yesterday, we
went to the preacher school. And he, I couldn't believe how
many times he mentioned things I had in my notes, but he had
this illustration. He said that people say, I don't
want to be a cookie cutter Christian. And Todd said, I do. This is
the pattern that God uses to save his elect. And he don't
vary from it. Here's the fifth mark of God's elect. God's elect
sound out the gospel. Look at verse eight. For from
you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and
Achaia, but also every place your faith to God were to spread
abroad, so that we need not to speak anything." God's elect
sound out the gospel. And this phrase Peter uses, sound
it out, is like you sound out a trumpet. That's the way we
preach the gospel. Sounding out a trumpet. And I
thought of three times in scripture that trumpets used. And all three
of these ways are illustrations of how we preach the gospel.
The first was on the Day of Jubilee. On the Day of Jubilee, they sounded
that trumpet. And the sound of that trumpet
meant three things. It meant freedom to every slave. It meant the debts paid. Every
debtor, their debt was paid on the Day of Jubilee. And third,
that trumpet meant this. If you lost your inheritance,
it's all been restored. That's the way we preach the
gospel. We sound the gospel. So that every slave hears there's
freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ. We sound the gospel so that every
sinner knows our sin that's been paid by the blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ. We sound the trumpet of the gospel
so sinners will know everything we lost in Adam has been restored
in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the gospel that this congregation
sounds out here in Ashland and everywhere Everywhere the internet
reaches, everywhere the radio reaches, everywhere the missionaries
reach that you support, you're sounding out that gospel. Secondly,
a trumpet was used when soldiers went to war. Well, you better
not give an uncertain sound. Men are going to get killed if
they don't know what they're supposed to do, where they're supposed
to go. They've got to work together, don't they? You better not sound
an uncertain sound. Well, that's the way we preach
the gospel. Now, don't sound an uncertain sound. Make it clear,
make it simple. Men may not believe what we say,
but now they better understand what we say. It's a clear note.
The note better be, look to Christ, go to Christ, plead with Christ
for mercy. Men will die if they don't sound
a clear note. And third, they use the trumpet
to play beautiful music. Any of you that's been to Lexington,
Rich Berg plays his trumpet. Knows exactly what I'm talking
about. Beautiful music. Isn't that the gospel? We preach
the gospel that's beautiful. We don't use the gospel to beat
people up and tear. I hate when people use the gospel
just to trump their own agenda and just beat people up with
it. Preach Christ. and the beauty
of holiness, beautiful music. That's what the gospel is. That's
the gospel that God's elect sound out everywhere they can. And
God's elect, they publicly identify with that place where the gospel
is preached. They attend it, they support
it so that they can hear it, their children and grandchildren,
their friends and neighbors can hear it, and so others can hear
it. We support missionaries. It's one of the great blessings
God's given this congregation to support missionaries. So the
gospel sounded out. Oh, it's so important. Every
believer wants to support that. We want people to know the Lord,
to hear his name. Unbelievers will say, you know,
if I believe that election stuff like you do, I wouldn't bother
preaching. Why bother sending out missionaries
that men by nature can't hear? I'll tell you, I wouldn't preach
if I didn't believe in God's electing love. We preach, and
we preach the gospel to our community. We support missionaries who preach
in other places because we know this. God's sheep are going to
hear. Now they're going to hear and
they're going to believe. They're going to follow Christ.
But now they're only going to hear if they're a preacher. So
we preach. Knowing this, God's sheep will
hear His voice. Six. God's elect, they turn from
their idols. They turn to God from their idols. Verse 9. For they themselves
show of us what manner of entering in we have unto you, and how
ye turn to God from idols, to serve the living and true God.
Now, at one time, every one of God's elect was an idolater.
And if you were never an idolater, you're not saved. Every one of
God's elect at one time was an idolater. Now, you either worship
the stone statue or like many of us, like me, you sat here
in the gospel of God's sovereign and free grace over and over
and over again. There you sat in the pew. Worshipping
an idol. Worshipping self. Every one of
us was an idolater at one point, but we turned to God, didn't
we? God turned us. He turned us to him. And notice
you didn't turn from your idols and then find God. No, you turn
to God from your idols. You know, when you turn to God,
why did you turn from that idol? God showed you somebody better
and you turn to him. And if you love the truth, you
hate the lie that you once loved. You're ashamed of it. You don't
brag on that stuff like you're proud of it. You're ashamed of
it. Well, how'd that happen? God, the Holy Spirit revealed
Christ to me. He revealed someone better to
you. And last, God's elect, every one of them, wait for Christ's
return, verse 10, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom
he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from
wrath to come. Now, you could preach a whole
message on this verse, but we'll combine it in just a minute.
God's elect, they're waiting for the return. of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Now, you're not just waiting
for anybody. You're not waiting for this little manby-pandy Jesus
you hear. You're waiting for a specific
person. You're waiting for the Savior.
You're waiting for the Son of God. Now, if you're waiting for
the Son of God, isn't it obvious God's your Savior? That's who
you're waiting for. You're saying your Savior is
God Himself. Well, you're saying your Savior
was raised from the dead? How did God die? How did God
die? He became a man so that he could
be a substitute for a sinful man like me. Well, why did he
die? Because he was made to be sin
for me. He bore all my sin. He bore all
the condemnation of my sin. And he died in my place. He died because that's what I
deserve. And he became my substitute. Well, why was he raised from
the dead? Because all the sin that was charged to him is gone.
It's put away under the blood of his sacrifice. And I'm justified
in him. When he was raised, it showed,
it proved my justification in him. And I'm delivered from God's
wrath against my sin. Now that wrath is sure to come.
The day of judgment that's coming is real and it's certain. But
every one of God's elect is delivered from that wrath to come because
Christ already bore All the wrath that your sin deserves. There's
no wrath for you. Christ took it all away. He bore
it all. Well, then what are you waiting on him for? Why are you
waiting on him to return? Because he promised he would.
He promised he would. And I believe him. Luke Titus
chapter 2. We'll quit. Titus chapter 2. Verse 12. Teaching us that denying
ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously
and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from
all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous
of good works. Now these things speak, and exhort
and rebuke with all authority, but let no man despise Well,
some might, but God's elect won't. That's their Savior. That's the
message of their Savior. And those are the seven marks
that Peter gives us if God's elect. All right, well, God bless
that too.