Here in our text verse, verse
4, knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. And our subject this morning
is election, damnable or delightful? Which is it? Our former pastor,
Brother Huntley, used to say, either God is God or He isn't. And we know he is. Now that pretty
much answers all the questions. Either God is God or he isn't. And we know he is. We know he
is. Our generation has not really
been taught that when Adam fell, he died spiritually. Dead people
have no appetite for God or the Word of God or the things of
God or the people of God. No appetite, no thirst, no strength,
no movement, no life. That's why people all around
us today don't see their need for God.
They're dead. They're dead. And unless God
had taken the initiative, we'd all be in that same boat. There
wouldn't be a church in this country or any country had not
God taken the initiative. And all Adam's race would perish. But thank God he did. He did
take the initiative. And what we're talking about
here this morning is that God thought enough of you not to
leave you to yourself. That's really what we're talking
about. That's precious. That's precious. Before we ever
got here, before the world was ever created, before man was
created, before Adam fell, God took the initiative and did
something about it. Now it is not my desire to speak
on this subject of election just to have a subject, but rather
my prayer is that the Lord might give us a measure of understanding
and blessing in considering this precious truth. Many would say,
most do say, it's such a controversial doctrine, why not just leave
it alone? Well, it's only controversial
because some people want to know the truth of this book and some
people don't. That's where all the controversy
is. Somebody else says, but it's such an offensive doctrine. Why
not just leave it off? It is only offensive to proud,
sinful flesh, which wants to be God instead of God being God. If you remember, when the serpent
came to Eve, that was his punchline, that was his pull. Ye shall be
as gods. In other words, you can be your
own god, you don't have to listen to God. Of course, that's what
fallen sinful flesh wants with all of us. Ignore God. Be your own god. Oh yes, it is
offensive. This doctrine is to sinful flesh,
and that's the bottom line of Adam's fall, is that we would
all be our own God. Well, is this doctrine really
taught in the Bible? How important is it? Well, the
words elect, elected, and election are found 23 times in the New
Testament. in some of the most beautiful
passages in the New Testament. And our text here, 1 Thessalonians
1-4, is one of those. He is writing to the church at
Thessalonica, and he says, knowing, brethren beloved, your election
of God. And I'm not going to read all
23 mentions. I would like to read a few, and
I'll not ask you to turn to these, but I'll give you the reference.
If you want to jot it down, you may, and look at it later. Romans
9, verse 11, for the children being not yet born, that was
talking about Jacob and Esau, neither having done good or evil,
that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not
of works, but of him that calleth. Then Romans 11.5, even so at
this present time also, there is a remnant according to the
election of grace. 1 Peter 1 verse 2, this is one
of our former pastor's favorite texts. He'd preach on it often.
1 Peter 1.2, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto the obedience
and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. And then 2 Peter
1.10, Wherefore, the rather, brethren, give diligence to make
your calling and election sure. Not make it sure to God, He knows,
but make it sure to yourself. Now other verses containing this
same Truth, not containing the words elect or election, but
there are many, many other verses we could mention. And I'll just
mention a couple. John 15, 16, Christ said to his
disciples, you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. That's the order. And then the
beautiful verse Paul wrote, 2 Thessalonians 2, 13. But we are bound to give
thanks. only to God for you, brethren
beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen
you to salvation through sanctification, that is the setting apart of
the spirit, and belief of the truth, the truth of the gospel. We might ask then, why is this
subject of election such an ignored doctrine? Well, it goes without
saying, you very seldom ever hear a sermon on the subject,
a message on the subject of Bible election. It's not something
that preachers just jump on because they want to. It has to be pressed
on a man by the Lord to do this. And no matter how much you go
to meetings around the country, no matter how much you listen
to the radio or the TV, it will be very unusual if you hear a
message on this subject. I knew a young man a few years
ago whom the Lord was showing these precious truths in the
scriptures, and he went to his so-called pastor And he was told
very emphatically and dogmatically, we don't go there. You stay away
from that. Yes, it's in the Bible, but we
don't go there. And some even call it damnable
doctrine. I've heard that statement from
pulpits. The doctrine, precious doctrine
of God's election. Damnable doctrine. Why would
they say that? It is simply because this is
a truth throughout the Bible that declares God to be God and
not us. It puts us at God's mercy and
not God at our mercy. It puts us helpless. and our will subject to God's
will instead of God being helpless and His will subject to our will. If He needs my permission for
anything, who's God? Me or Him? Fallen man, including you and
I, has a sinful flesh proud-hearted,
arrogant attitude of being self-sufficient and independent, and it's rotten
to the core, not to mention deceiving. You see, we don't mind God needing
us. It's us needing God we have a
problem with. See what I'm saying? People like to think God's doing
his best to do all he can for as many as he can, but he's not
getting a lot of cooperation, so he's greatly limited as to
what he can do in this world. And the idea is that it's you
and I and all people who are Mr. Big. I've left God hanging. He wants to save me, but I won't
let him. I'm bigger than he is. Well, that's the natural mindset
of depraved humanity, and especially those warped by religion. The idea is God can't do what
he wants. He can only do what I let him
do. This morning I have no right
to speak of the Bible doctrine of election in any sense other
than exactly as it is taught in the Scriptures. And at the
same time I have no right not to speak of it exactly as it's
taught in the Scriptures. It is not my prerogative to ignore
it as if it wasn't there. And I ask you who but a self-righteous
wolf in sheep's clothing will dare speak of any Bible doctrine
as damnable doctrine. Wow! Why, the most low-down thief,
drunk, dope-head, and whoremonger in this county wouldn't do that.
But a lot of so-called preachers do. Damnable doctrine. Well, let's consider this question.
How do they deal with it in the Bible? Well, I'll tell you this,
they dodge it all they can, but they have to come across it sometimes.
And there's several ways that they try and dodge it, deal with
it, explain it away. Some want to say that God's elect,
this election business, God's elect is national Israel. Well now, in the Old Testament,
national Israel was in some ways a type of God's elect. For example, God took care of
them in spite of them. I won't tell you God had all
kind of reason to smack that outfit, slam him into hell more
times than a few. But God took care of them in
spite of them. for the purpose of bringing his
son into the world. He had said he would do that,
and he did. And they told Christ, we're Abraham's
children. The Lord said, no, you're not.
Abraham believed me, and you don't. The devil is your pappy. He told them that. The Apostle Peter said, the church.
True believers are really Israel. He said you're the chosen generation,
royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. John wrote, behold what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we Of all people,
we should be called the sons of God. Others say, well, election
is simply God knowing what we would do when we heard the gospel. I remember when I was a young
man hearing a preacher say, God looked down through the pages
of time and saw that you would believe and therefore he elected
you. No, if he hadn't elected you,
you couldn't believe. Election is not God responding
to us. It's God's choosing us, uninfluenced,
outside of himself. He made that in the statement
of Jacob. Not even born yet, having done
neither good nor evil. Didn't know which one was the
good kid and which one was the bad kid. Didn't know which one
was the obedient one and the disobedient one. Having done
neither good nor evil, God said, I love Jacob and I hate Esau. Election, election. Everybody believes in election. It's just who's doing the electing.
That's the question. See, we all believe in it as
long as we get to do the electing. But God did it. God did it. That's the Bible truth. Somebody
said, well, don't we get to vote? Oh, yes. After the election. You ever heard of that? If you're elected in God's time,
in the day of His power, when the Holy Spirit has come to you
on His list personally, convicted your heart, brought you to repentance,
yes, then you vote yes and say, thank you, Lord. If you're not one of those, you'll
spit in God's face and say, I don't need that, I'll not have that,
and wind up in hell. There are still others who say
that election, the doctrine of election, is salvation. But no, the scripture teaches
election is unto salvation. We're not saved because we're
elected, we're saved because Christ died for us. And the Holy
Ghost convicted us, brought us to repentance and changed our
heart and set our affections toward God. But there are some people who
believe, and they've set right here in this congregation, that
a person might live all their life and never change. never be regenerated, never have
a heart for God, die and go to heaven because they were elected.
The Bible don't teach that and we don't believe that. Now all
the elect are going to heaven, but not because they're elected. They're going to heaven because
in that election, Christ died for them and they're brought
to believe on Him. You see, this was national Israel
error in the Old Testament and even in the time of Christ. They
thought they were God's children by election. And they argued
it, even with the Lord Jesus. They said, we're Abraham's children.
And they went to heaven, I mean, they went to hell believing they
were God's children and that Christ was an imposter and full
of the devil on the basis of election. Oh no, oh no. Salvation is in Christ, not in
election. Well, still others want to fight
this doctrine by saying that we who preach it are saying that
God predestinated some to go to heaven and some to go to hell. No, people go to hell because
they're in Adam. God never had to predestine anybody
to hell. By nature, by nature, we're determined
to go to hell unless God intervenes. Unless God intervenes, you wouldn't
have it any other way. Oh, I'm going to turn sometime.
Oh, I'm going to change my way sometime. That sometime never
comes unless God intervenes. People don't understand the helpless,
spiritually dead condition humanity is in unless God intervenes. All right, enough about that
election being called damnable doctrine. Why is it that God's
children call it a delightful doctrine? It's because we know that apart
from it, we'd perish. Did you change your heart or
did God change it? If you think you did it, it hadn't
been changed. But if God did it, you will gladly
confess that He did it. Give all the praise and the glory
to Him and not go around tooting your own horn. That's the difference. That's the difference. John said it like this, here
in his love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us. Can't give ourselves any credit
for this business. He loved us. And then it says
we love him because he first loved us. No other way that we
would or could love him. except that he first loved us
and gave himself for us. I heard a dear old preacher,
Henry Mahan, Brother Henry Mahan, up in years now, he told a story
and he said an old preacher was working in his garden and a woman
next door came over and said, I'd like to know about this election
business. And he said, well, are you saved?
And she said, yes. And he said, well, who saved
you? And she said, God did. And he said, well, do you think
he saved you on purpose or accidentally? She said, he did it on purpose.
And that's pretty much the story. That's pretty much it. He did
it on purpose. He did it on purpose. And he
dealt with it before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1-4,
all the redeemed, all the elect are chosen in Christ before the
foundation of the world. I'd add this to that story. If
God is unchanging, and He is, Did he not say, I'm the Lord,
I change not? Just how long has he been going
to save you on purpose? And there's but one answer. Forever. Forever. You say, I don't understand
that. Of course you don't. Neither
do I. Now quickly, two or three things
from our text passage here, 1 Thessalonians 1. There is such a teaching in
Scripture. as election. It means to choose,
make a definite choice when there were other alternatives. God
was not obligated and God was not lonely and all that kind
of garb you hear. For no reason outside of himself,
influenced by no one or no thing, He chose within himself to claim
for his own and to redeem forever a specific number of Adam's fallen
race to be his family, his children, forever. And that's exactly what
he's done. Now not all of them know it yet,
but they will. Now some would say, well, why
didn't he choose everybody? The bigger question is, why did
he choose anybody? Why didn't he create another
race instead of one that was in the shape we were in? I mean, since all men deserve
to go to hell, don't charge God with being unjust for letting
some go to hell. God was not wrong to hate Esau. He wouldn't be wrong to hate
you. The Lord knows you've given him reason enough. And outside of Christ, he'd have
to hate you or quit being God. God's holy. God is not wrong to have mercy
on whom He will have mercy. He's not wrong, He's not unjust
to have compassion on whom He will have compassion. You don't have a problem with
doing as you please with what's yours. Why should we have a problem
with God doing as He pleases with His creation? You wouldn't let anybody tell
you what to do with what's yours. Why would we want to tell God
to do what to do? This doctrine is delightful to
God's children, because without it, we'd all have perished in
our sins. It's delightful, it's precious,
because God never changes His mind. He never aborts a mission. I confess to you, I start a lot
of stuff and quit. God never does. I admire anybody, and I know
some of you are like this, say, I'm going to do so and so. And
a little ways down the road, look around, you've done it.
Well, I'm not that nice. I'm not that honest. I'm too
much of a Too full of hot air and I'll say I'm going to do
this, do that. God never aborts a mission. Romans 8.29, for whom, not what,
but whom. This is persons he's talking
about. For whom he did foreknow. That don't mean he just had a
previous knowledge of. It means whom he foreknew to
know as Adam knew Eve intimately, to beget, to bring life to as
his children. Those whom he foreknew, he also
did predestinate. That's a big word. It means simply
a predetermined destiny. He did predestinate. Predestinate
what? That we'd go to heaven? No. But he predestinated us to be
conformed to the image of his Son. That's delightful to God's
children and only to God's children. We're going to be like Christ. Oh yes. Oh yes? You say, well
I don't see making much progress. I don't either. But God's doing
it. We're going to be like Christ.
You see, this doctrine is precious to me, not just as a ticket to
heaven, but because the package includes the promise that I'll
be like Christ. I'll be honest with you, I'm
tired of being like me. Don't anybody say amen? I'm tired
of being like me. And I'm getting more sick of
it every day. And if you're God's child, you're tired of being
like you. We sing, there's a land that's
fairer than day. Well, I've thought about that
song. The fairness of it is not in the landscape. Oh, no. It's
the perfection of Christ. That's what will make it fair.
Song of Solomon, thou art all fair, there is no spot in thee. That's the land we're looking
for. All God's children will one day experience that perfection, imperfection. It'll be a reality with no trace
of sin and no remembrance of sin. forever. Oh yes, this is
most delightful, most delightful. Election, election. Dear old
preacher Roth Barnard, been gone for a good number of years now
from Winston-Salem, came through these mountains years ago with
the message, do you want to be made like Christ? That's the issue. Not do you
want to go to heaven, of course you do, It's not, do you want
to escape hell? Of course you do. But do you
want to be made like Christ? That's the issue. Well, all God's
elect children are going to be just like his son. Now you may ask, how can I know?
How can I know if I'm one of God's elect? I really hope you'd like to know.
I really hope you have that much interest, that much longing to
know. Well, that verse we read in 2
Peter 1.10 said, give diligence, give diligence, be in earnest,
be serious about it, pursue it, give diligence to make your calling
and election sure. How can I know? Well, here in
1 Thessalonians 1, Paul said to these folks, he said, I know
about you, I'm persuaded, I'm convinced in my heart, knowing,
brethren beloved, your election of God. How did he know? Well
first, by the effect that the gospel of Jesus Christ had in
their hearts. Not because they talked a good
story, Not because they never missed a service. Not because
they had talent. Not because they carried a big
Bible. No. By the effect that the gospel
of Jesus Christ had in their hearts. Look at verse 5. For our gospel came not unto
you in word only. It didn't go in one ear and out
the other. Like it does with a lot of folks. but also in power, and in the
Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. God took a hold of you, and you
took a hold of Him. That's how we know. How was it evidenced? Verse 3,
he says, I remember some things about you. This is evidence. This is how I'm persuaded, knowing
your election of God. I remember this about you. Actually,
I can't forget it. I remember without ceasing, he
says. I just can't forget about your interest and your commitment
and your steadfastness, your work of faith, your labor of
love, your patience of hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to tell you something. I'm not being mean. Paul's not
talking to a gang that shows up for church once a month and
sings, oh, how I love Jesus. Lives like hell the rest of the
time. No. He says in verse 6, you became
followers of us and of the Lord. having received the word in much
affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost. People didn't have to
ask where you stand. They know. So that you were in
samples, examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. In other words, he said you were
concerned, he went on to say you were concerned with spreading
the gospel. For from you sounded out the
word of the Lord. Not only in Macedonia and Achaia,
but also in every place your faith to God is spread abroad
so that we need not to speak anything. Your life speaks for
itself. Then he said in the end of verse
9, how that you turned to God from idols. Note the order of
the statement there. Not from idols to God, but to
God from idols. I've had so many people tell
me through the years, well, one of these days I'm going to get
my life straightened. I've got to get some things straightened
out. No, no, no. You don't turn from idols to
God. You turn to God from idols. To serve the living and true
God for a month or two? No. A year or two? No. But to
wait for His Son from heaven. Paul never had any problem saying
to these folks, I'm convinced, knowing your election of God. How? By the effect that the gospel God's Word had
in their life. A lot of folk like to whine,
well, I just don't know if I'm saved or not. So-and-so said
they got saved and they did this and I didn't do that and I didn't
feel that and I just don't know about me. Yeah, you do. Yeah,
you do. I don't care if you swing from
chandeliers or never open your mouth. It don't make any difference
to me. Does Christ have a place in your
heart? That's the question. Do you love
Him? Do you love Him enough to forsake
all other gods? I'm not talking about statues
out here. I'm talking about all those little ones you got hid
in here and in here. Do you love Him? A bigger question,
do you even want to love Him? Do you really want to? Is Christ anything to you? Is
God's Word anything to you? Or can you just take it or leave
it? Do you need the Lord or does
He need you? I'm answering your question. Do you need the Lord or does
He need you? That's the issue. Do you need the church or does
the church need you? That's the question. There's
a whole lot of people out yonder that's somewhere this morning
other than in church. And you know what they think?
I mean, some profess to be believers, some don't. But you know what
they think? They wouldn't say this out loud,
but here's how they think. I don't need the church, but
the church needs me. They'd love it if I'd come, but I'm not going. I don't need
it. The church needs me, but I don't need it. And they have
the same idea from the sissified, wishy-washy, watered-down, so-called
gospel in our day and time. They have the same idea that
God needs me, but I don't need him. That's all wrong. That's all
wrong. How can I know? How can I know? How can I know I'm one of God's
elect? Has his gospel had any effect
in my heart? Changed my heart? Changed my
life? Am I living for him? Am I following
him? Oh yes, you know. Thank God for
this precious, precious, delightful, doctrine of God's election. Bless his holy name. Stand with
me if you would.