Todd's Road Grace Church would
like to invite you to listen to a sermon by our pastor, Todd
Nyvert. 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 Nyvert. We're going to look this morning
from a passage of scripture in the Old Testament, and then look
at what the New Testament has to say about this passage of
scripture. And I'm asking this question,
does the Bible teach election? Does the Bible teach election? Perhaps you've heard that word
or even read that word in the scripture. Does the Bible teach
election? Now we're going to begin reading
in verse 19 of Genesis chapter 25, and I'm going to make a few
comments about that, and then go into the New Testament commentary
on what is being said in Genesis chapter 25. And somebody once
said, the book of Genesis is the seed plot of the Bible. Every doctrine of the New Testament
is illustrated in this book of Genesis. Yes, these are true
historical events. They took place literally, but
they're given to illustrate Jesus Christ and him crucified, every
single scripture. Now, we read beginning in verse
19 of Genesis chapter 25, and these are the generations of
Isaac Abraham's son. Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac
was 40 years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter
of Bethuel, the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister to Laban, the
Syrian. And Isaac entreated the Lord
for his wife because she was barren. And the Lord was entreated
of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. She was now given
life. Verse 22, and the children, and
she did not know this at this time, but she had twins. And
the children struggled together within her. And she said, if
it be so, Why am I thus? She did not understand why this
struggle was going on within. And it was a struggle. These twins in her womb were
adversarial. They were crushing one another. There was a fight going on within
her. And she went to inquire of the
Lord. And the Lord said unto her, two
nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be
separated from thy bowels, and the one people shall be stronger
than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger. Now this struggle did not begin
until there was life. And this word struggled is a
very strong word. They were crushing one another.
They were oppressing one another. It was an adversarial relationship
even within the womb. And so she comes to the Lord
to find out what's going on in me. I do not understand this. And he replies, two nations are
in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from
thy bowels. Two nations, two manner of people. Now I'm going to bring another
message on this next week regarding these two manner of people, but
this week I want us to focus on these two nations that were
in her womb. Now, what this is referring to
is the elect. and everybody else. We know this
from the New Testament. We're going to get to that passage
of scripture shortly. But these two nations represent
the elect and everybody else. Notice he says two manner of
people should be separated from my bowels. I couldn't help but
think of where the Lord separated the sheep and the goats on Judgment
Day. The elect are the sheep. The
Lord said, my father which gave them me, they're the ones he
died for. I lay down my life for the sheep. They are the ones who believe.
He said to the Pharisees, you believe not because you are not
of my sheep, as I said unto you. Jacob represents God's elect. Esau represents those who do
not believe. The elect and everybody else. Now, what I would like to do
at this time is look at the New Testament commentary on this
in Romans chapter nine. Now remember, we're asking the
question, does the Bible teach election? Does the Bible teach
election? Well, let's see what the Bible
has to say about this passage of scripture. Beginning in verse
nine of Romans chapter nine, for this is the word of promise.
This is God speaking. He said, at this time will I
come and Sarah shall have a son. Who is that son? Isaac. He's
the father of Jacob and Esau. Sarah shall have a son. That's the child of promise.
Verse 10, and not only this, but when Rebekah had conceived,
by what? Even by our father Isaac, for
the children, speaking of these twins in her womb that we just
read of, for the children being not yet born, neither having
done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election
might stand. Not of works, but of him that
calleth. Now that answers the question,
does the Bible teach election? Yes, it does. We read the children speaking
of Jacob and Esau being not yet born, neither having done any
good. They had no good works to recommend
them. They'd done no evil. They had
no evil works to disqualify them. But here is what's being taught
with these two boys, that the purpose of God according to election,
there's the word. It's a scriptural word. And it's
not talking about us voting somebody into office. This is God's choice. Not our choice. I once heard
a preacher say, election is the God voting for you and the devil
voting against you and you casting the deciding vote. No, sir, not
at all. Election is God's choice of his
people. The purpose of God according
to election might stand. Now, the first thing that we
need to do is See, what does the Bible mean by this term election? In Ephesians chapter one, verse
four, we read this. According as he hath chosen us
in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy. and without blame before Him. Now, here is the word or the
definition of election. He chose us. He elected us. Who chose who? He chose us. You know, preachers talk about
making a decision and choosing Jesus and all that kind of language
that preachers use. Scripture says He chose us. If you're a believer, it is because
God chose you to be a believer. It's not because you made a decision. It's not because you of your
own free will decided to accept Him as your personal Savior and
ask Him into your heart. Nothing like that. chose you. Second question, when was this
choice made? According as He hath chosen us
in Him before the foundation of the world. This choice was
made by God Before creation, when all there was was God and
the Trinity of His sacred persons, He chose us before the foundation
of the world. Now many people will try to get
away from what election teaches by making God a time traveler. He looks through time, and he
sees who's gonna believe, and he says, well, I see that person's
gonna believe, therefore I'm gonna elect them. That is not
so. That is a denial of what election
is in the first place. This is God's choice of his people
before the foundation of the world, before creation. Now, a third question that would
come to my mind is, What moved him to make this choice? Was it because he foresaw somehow
we would be beneficial to him? And he foresaw how we would help
him in his kingdom? Or he foresaw that we would believe? No, no. He did this to the praise
of the glory of his grace. Listen carefully. I'm gonna be
a trophy of his grace. No glory, no credit will go to
me or any other believer. We're saved to the praise of
the glory of His grace. Now, how does he make this choice?
Does he just arbitrary look at men and say, well, I'm going
to choose this one and I'm going to reject that one? Not at all. The scripture says, according
as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. You can't separate election and
the person of Jesus Christ. God's people were chosen in Him,
in the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, when He stood as
their surety and their guarantee. Election is God choosing His
people. The time was before the foundation
of the world. The reason was the praise of
the glory of His grace, and they were chosen in Christ. We're accepted in the Beloved. I love the way the Lord said,
this is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. He didn't
say with whom I am well pleased, though he was well pleased with
him. But he said in whom. Everybody in him. God the Father
is well pleased with. Now let's read this verse again.
Romans chapter 9 verse 11. Does the Bible teach election? For the children, being not yet
born, either having done any good or evil, That the purpose,
God's a God of purpose. Now, the word plan is not found
in the Bible. I've heard people say God's got
a wonderful plan for your life, as if if you don't do your part,
his plans are gonna get messed up. No, God is a God of purpose,
and his purpose is always done. His purpose can never be frustrated. That the purpose of God, according
to election, might stand, that salvation might not be of works,
And this is God's purpose, that salvation is done by works. Works
are anything you do. If any part of your salvation
is dependent upon you doing something, you believe in salvation by works.
You've never really believed the gospel. But God's purpose
is that salvation might not be of works, but of him that calleth. You see, salvation is of the
Lord. Salvation is not what you do
for God. Salvation is what he does for
you. Now let's go on reading. He quotes
two passages of scripture from the Old Testament. First, the
one we just read in verse 12, it was said unto her, the elder
shall serve the younger, as it's written. Now he quotes Malachi
chapter one, as it's written, Jacob, have I loved, this is
God speaking, Jacob, have I loved, but Esau have I hated." Now this
blows out of the water the misconceptions religious men and women have
about the love of God. God doesn't hate anybody, does
he? Well, he hated Esau. And remember this, his hatred
is not like our hatred. His hatred is with regard to
His absolute justice and holiness. Esau deserved the hatred of a
just and holy God. Why, for one morsel of meat,
he sold his birthright. He didn't care anything about
God. He could care less about God. And he is an object of the
holy hatred of God. And let me say this. Somebody
says, how can that be? Well, I can sure see why he'd
hate me. I have no problem with that at
all. I'm amazed that he loved me. I'm amazed that he loved
Jacob. I see the glory of his grace in this. But as far as
saying, well, how could God hate somebody? I know why he would
hate me. because of how sinful I am, of
how unlike him I am, because he's holy, because he's just,
because he's righteous. But thank God he loves sinners
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those he elected, he loves. The love of God is the foundation
of election. Behold, I've loved you with an
everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness,
have I drawn thee. Jacob have I loved, Esau have
I hated. Now, Paul anticipates the objection
he knows men will make. After making this quotation where
God says, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated, he says
in verse 14, what should we say then? Is there unrighteousness
with God? Is God unfair in loving the one
and hating the other? Look at his answer. God forbid. For he saith unto Moses, this
is God speaking, this is God's testimony. He saith unto Moses,
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. And I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion. Now to say God is unfair in being
sovereign in giving out his mercy is the same way as the one hour
or the 11 hour, 12 hour workers saying he was unfair to give
the one hour workers the same as him. You remember that parable.
The man hired men at six o'clock in the morning and kept going,
then nine, then 12, then three, then five. And the ones who worked
only one hour, he gave the same pay as the ones he gave that
worked 12 hours. And they got upset. They said,
this is not fair. You've made them equal to us. And he said,
can I not do what I will with my own? Is it unfair for me to
decide to be gracious to that one-hour person? No. This is
the mystery of my grace, that I would give grace to that one
who only worked one hour. Is my eye evil? Is your eye evil
because I'm good? What we're doing when we do this
is we're becoming God's judge. And that's the problem. Is God
unfair in His love to Jacob and his hatred of Esau. Now to even
question God's fairness about anything, all of a sudden we've
taken it upon ourselves to be God's judge. The scripture says,
thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, the judge
is another. For you, the judge, do the same things. You can't
judge any man because of your own present sinfulness. Me too.
I'm not talking about you and not me. I'm talking about all
of us. We're incapable of judging any man. We don't know the facts.
We're guilty of doing the same things. We're just as sinful
as they are. So if I can't judge a man, what makes me think I
can judge God? We're in a terrible position when we think we can
judge God. Now let's go on reading. So then,
Paul says in verse 16, so then it's not of him that willeth,
nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. God is merciful, and he does
show mercy to whom he will show mercy. Verse 17, that gives us
another scriptural example of this. For the scripture saith
unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised you 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 hardens." Does
not the scripture say that God hardened Pharaoh's heart? Now Paul anticipates our objections. Every one of us have thought
this. I thought this. You might be thinking it right now. Thou
wilt say unto me, why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted
his will? If God hardened my heart, how
can he hold me responsible for my sin? How can I be held responsible
if he's the first cause and sovereign over all things? That doesn't
seem fair. Once again, that's somebody judging
God. And I liken that to Let's say I sinned against you grievously. And then I came up to you and
said, I want you to forgive me. And if you don't forgive me,
it's not fair. It's your duty to forgive me. How would you
respond to that? Not very well. And when people
say with regard to God, it's your duty to forgive me. It's
wrong for you to not save me. All of a sudden we become God's
judges. And I love the way Paul responds. He says, nay, but old man, Who
are you to reply against God? How insolent. Who do you think
you are that you can sit in judgment on God and say, I do not agree
with what you are doing? Now, let me close with these
thoughts with regard to does the Bible teach election? Well, number one, yes. Real clearly,
there's no way that you can look at the Bible and say it doesn't
teach election. Charles Spurgeon, an old preacher
from the 1800s, tells the story of a man that came up to him
and said, I've read the Bible twice through on my knees and
I've never seen the doctrine of election. He said, well, maybe
you need to get off your knees and get in a chair where you
can be more comfortable because it's surely there. If you read
it, you will see it is there. Election is God being God. Election is the divine character. It's the result of his attributes. He is sovereign. He is in absolute control. He is eternal. There's no past
or future with Him. He's in the eternal now. He's
independent. He has no needs. He doesn't need you. He doesn't
need anything from you. He is independent. You need Him.
I need Him. But He doesn't need us. He never
responds. He's immutable. He cannot change. He can't change in the objects
of his love. He can't love somebody and then
turn around and throw them into hell. Election is who God is. Election is God being God. And if you're listening to what
I'm saying, you know that's so. That's the only thing that could
be. Election is God being God. Election is in Christ. According as He hath chosen us
in Him. God's elect have never been viewed
independently of Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. Election is the love of God. God's love Behold, I've loved
you with an everlasting love, electing love. Election is God's
choice. The Lord said in John chapter
15, verse 16, you've not chosen me, but I have chosen you. I heard someone say relatively
frequently, recently, If you choose God, it's because He chose
you. That's not what the Lord said. He said, you did not choose me,
but I chose you. And if you're one of God's elect,
you know the reason you're saved is because He did something for
you. He chose you. You know you're so sinful you
would never choose Him had He not first chosen you. And listen, election is the result
of the goodness of God. Election isn't bad news. It's
not keeping people from being saved who otherwise would have
been. It's saving people who most assuredly would have been
damned. The root of election, the foundation
of election is the goodness of God. Election is divine grace. Paul called it in Romans 11 6,
the election of grace. Listen, you don't believe election,
you don't believe grace. You can't believe grace and not
believe in election. If you reject election, you say
man has something to do with salvation. Man's works are needed. In reality, like Paul said, the
children being not yet born, neither having done any good
or evil. Your works have nothing to do with your election. It's
God's grace, God's gracious choice. And you know there's no understanding
of the work of Christ on the cross for that election. Election
tells us that he wasn't simply making salvation possible, he
was saving. He wasn't making an atonement
available, he atoned. He put away the sins of all God's
elect. You can't really understand the
work of the Holy Spirit apart from election. God the Holy Spirit
gives life to those God elected and those Christ died for. And our preaching is this, all
that the Father giveth me shall come to me. And this is good
for an unbeliever to hear. Somebody says election is confusing.
No, it's not, but you need to know this. You're in the hands
of a sovereign God who can do with you whatsoever he's pleased
to do. Cry out for mercy for Christ's
sake. Now we have this message on DVD
and CD. If you call the church, write,
email, or look on our website, you can get a copy of this message.
This is Todd Nyberg praying God will be pleased to make himself
known to you. Amen. To receive a copy of the sermon
you have just heard, send your request to todd.nyberg at gmail.com. Or you may write or call the
church at the information provided on the screen. Hmm