I Rejoice In Electing Love

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

The Bible teaches that God chooses whom He wills, demonstrating His sovereign grace in salvation (John 15:16). God's electing love is a profound aspect of His sovereignty, as highlighted in John 15:16, where Jesus says, 'You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.' This declaration showcases the grace of God in that our relationship with Him is established not by our own efforts or choices but solely by His divine will. It reflects the truth that before the foundation of the world, God chose His people in Christ, leading to their salvation and union with Him through faith. This choice is not arbitrary but rooted in God's purpose, which brings assurance of His love and intention.

Q: How do we know that predestination is true?

Predestination is affirmed in Scripture, particularly in passages like Ephesians 1:4-5, which declare that God chose us before the foundation of the world. The doctrine of predestination is clearly documented in Scripture, as seen in Ephesians 1:4-5 where it states, 'According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.' This underscores the truth that our selection for salvation is part of God's eternal plan, emphasizing His sovereignty and grace. The concept of predestination assures believers that their salvation is rooted in God's active choice and not dependent on their actions. Understanding this doctrine enhances our perception of God’s grace, as it clarifies that our relationship with Him is initiated by His love rather than our own merit.

Q: Why is abiding in Christ important for Christians?

Abiding in Christ is essential because it assures believers of their ongoing relationship and produces spiritual fruit (John 15:4-5). Abiding in Christ is not merely a suggestion but a command that denotes the importance of maintaining a close, intimate relationship with Him. In John 15:4-5, Jesus says, 'Abide in me, and I in you.' This relationship is depicted as a vine and branches, emphasizing that true life, growth, and fruitfulness come from remaining connected to Christ. The importance of this union lies in the nature of our spiritual life, where we draw sustenance, wisdom, and strength from Him. Additionally, as we abide in Him, we are transformed, resulting in the production of fruit—attributes such as love, joy, and peace—which glorifies God and testifies to our faith.

Q: Why did God choose some people to be saved?

God's choice to save some is based on His sovereign will and purpose, not on human effort or merit (Romans 9:15-16). The question of why God chooses some for salvation while passing over others is an essential aspect of His sovereign grace. Romans 9:15-16 explains, 'For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.' This statement underscores that God's choice is not influenced by human action or will but is entirely dependent on His wisdom and purposes. The doctrine of election is ultimately a source of humility and gratitude, recognizing that salvation is a gift given freely by God's grace, rather than something we earn or deserve. It highlights the depth of God's love and His intention to glorify Himself through the salvation of His chosen people.

We're going back tonight to a scripture I was dealing with
Sunday morning, John chapter 15. John chapter 15. I told you that these four chapters,
chapter 13, 14, 15, and 16 of John are the words which our Lord spoke to His disciples before
He went to the cross. Just a matter of hours, 48 or 72 hours before He went to
the cross, He spoke these words. In the 13th chapter of John,
he had washed the disciples' feet. And you're quite familiar
with that. With that in John chapter 13,
our Lord had washed the disciples' feet and told them he'd given
them an example that they should do as he had done to them. And Judas had gone out to bargain
with the priest. concerning his betrayal of the
Lord. And then in John 14, our Lord
talked to his disciples about his leaving them. He said, I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I'll come again and receive you unto myself. that
where I am there you may be also. And the disciples were so troubled
and distressed. And they said, Lord, we don't
know where you're going. We don't know where you're going.
How can we know the way? And that's when he said, I'm
the way. I'm the truth and the light. No man comes to the Father
but by me. And then he said to them, I'll
not leave you comfortless. I'm not going to leave you alone.
He said, yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more,
but you see me, because I live, you shall live also. And he said,
I'll send you another comforter, the Holy Spirit, that he may
abide with you. And he'll take the things of
mine and show them to you. And then in John, well, look
at the last two verses of John 13. This is interesting. He said
in John, Chapter 14, the last two verses, John 14, verse 30.
He said, Hereafter I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world
cometh and hath nothing in me, but that the world may know that
I love the Father. And as the Father gave me commandment,
even so I do. Now rise and let's go hence.
Let's go. And evidently they left wherever
it was that they were at that time, and he was speaking to
them. They went out. And I sort of believe that the
Lord may have passed a vineyard. That was a country where there
were many vineyards, olive trees and grape arbors. And they must
have passed a vineyard because in chapter 15, He said unto his disciples, he
said, now, I'm the true vine. He might have pointed out there
to this vineyard and the vine and the branches and the many
grapes hanging on those branches. And he said to them, I'm the
true vine, and my father's the husband one. And every branch
in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away, and every branch
that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more
fruit. Now you are clean through the
word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you."
Now here is what he is saying. He is saying that our relationship
is a living union, like a vine and a branch. And I was reading
today, and this is so difficult for the average person to get
a hold of. I was reading a hymn in an ancient
hymn book, and the man was talking in the hymn
about branches and the vine. He says, I cling to Christ like
the vine clings to the branch. Well, in a sense that's so, in
another sense it's not so. The vine doesn't cling to the
branch. The branch doesn't cling to the vine. It's a part of the
vine. You see what I'm saying? It's a part of the vine. It's
growing out of the vine. The vine gives life to the branch. It's not as if the branch was
clinging to the vine like some separate entity, you know. It's
part of the vine. that you may be one as my Father
and I are one. I in you and you in me. I in
Him and He's in me. Our relationship is like the
vine and the branch. They're one. They're one. And like the head and the body,
it's one. You don't say there's a head
and a body, you say there's a person that has a head and a body. This
is what he's saying here to these disciples, is our relationship
is one of a living union. A living union. Abide in me. Alright, then he goes on, and
in verse 9 he says that our relationship is not only a living union, but
it's a union of love and approval. a relationship of love. He says in verse 9, as the Father
hath loved me, so have I loved you. I love you like the Father loves
me. That's how Christ loves us. How
does the Father love the Son? Indescribable. And Christ's love
for us is infinite, immeasurable, immutable, indescribable. infinite love. As the Father
loved me, in that same way I love you, you continue in my love,
in my love. If you keep my commandments,
you shall abide in my love, even as I kept my Father's commandments
and I abide in His love. These things I have spoken unto
you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might
be full, and this is my commandment. Jew love one another as I've
loved you. This is not, what we have is
not supposed to be just a religion, a doctrinal persuasion, an association
of doctrinal, doctrinally correct people. It's a living union with
a living Lord. And it's a union of love. The
father loves the son in the same way the son loves his people,
in the same way they love one another. And they love him. And he that loveth not knoweth
not God. No matter how much of the doctrines
he knows, or the history of the Bible he
knows, He doesn't know God unless he's in that union of love. That's
what he says. And then thirdly, he goes on. In verse 13, he said, and I'll
give you an example of what kind of love I'm talking about. Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends. His friends. Watch this word,
friends. The man laid down his life for
his friends. Our union, he says, is a living
union. A living union. One. One. We are one as my father and I
were. It is a union of approbation. Love. Love. Approval. It's an intimate, familiar union
with friends. Greater love hath no man than
this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Now, you're
my friends. You're my friends. Scripture
says that God talked to Abraham like a man talks to a friend.
You're my friends. He says, you are my friends if
you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants. You know, a servant is one thing,
a friend is another. I looked up the word friend.
There are two or three words, but the word I liked most of
all was an associate, an associate, a friend, an associate. A servant's
not informed concerning his master's will. He carries out his master's
orders, but he's not informed concerning why his master's doing
what he's doing. His ways and his will and his
counsel, he just carries out the orders. He doesn't even know
the outcome. But a friend, an intimate, personal
friend, You're my friends. He said, I don't call you servants,
I call you friends. I call you friends. He said in
verse 15, the servant doesn't know what his Lord's doing, but
I've called you friends for all things that I've heard of my
Father, I've told you. Like a man talks to a friend.
A real friend. He shares his innermost secrets
and will and ways and motives. God talked to Abraham like a
man talks to his friend. His friend. You see, a friend is an associate. A real friend is an associate.
There's not many people who have a friend. You see, he that would have friends
must show himself friendly. Friendship can't be one-sided.
That's not friendship. Abraham talked to God as a man
talks to his friend because Abraham talked to God the same way. Their
hearts were together. Their purposes were the same.
They had the same goal, His glory. And they were intimate friends.
That's the way a father and a son is, they're friends. That's the way a true husband
and wife are, they're friends. I sent Doris a card recently
and I said, my favorite place to be is with you. That's a friend. A friend. You see, if you'll
let me show you something over here in Psalm 103. Psalm 103.
It says here, in Psalm 103, verse 7, That God made known His ways
unto Moses, His friend. He made known His acts to the
children of Israel. That's all they ever saw. That's
all they ever experienced. Acts. But Moses, come here Moses,
you're my friend. I will share with you my secret
will and way and purpose." And Moses was able to sit down right
of Christ because the Father revealed Christ to him. And I'll tell you another scripture.
Turn to Luke chapter 10. Luke chapter 10. This is heavenly
secrets, spiritual secrets. manifested manifold mysteries. Luke 10, verse 21, Our Lord said
in Luke 10, 21, In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and
He said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that
thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent. They
don't know anything, but you have revealed them unto
babe. For even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.
All things are delivered to me of my Father. And no man knoweth
who the Son is but the Father, and who the Father is but the
Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned unto
his friends, his disciples, his associates, and he said privately,
blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see. For
I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see
those things which you see and have not seen them, and to hear
those things which you hear and have not heard them." So this relationship of Christ and His people is a living union. A living union. You can't even describe it that
way. That's not the way it is. It's a living union. It's not
something holding to something. It's something that's part of
someone. It's a living union. And this relationship of Christ
with His people is a union of love, trust, And it's a union of intimate
friendship in which secrets are shared, and mysteries are revealed,
and a will is made known. And then he says this, John 15
verse 16, and this didn't come about by
anything you did. This relationship is a choice
I made. I made this choice. Look at it. You have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you. This world just has no taste
for that. They have no understanding of
the other and no taste for this. But this union, this birth, this
life, this living person, this relationship of love and friendship,
association, is something that I did. You didn't do it. You
didn't do it. You didn't choose me. But I've
chosen you. And listen, and I've ordained
you. preordained you, foreordained
you, predestinated you, I've ordained you, that you should
go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. And whatsoever you ask of the
Father in my name, He'll give it to you. He'll give it to you. Now when I read this, you didn't
choose me, I chose you. You didn't choose me. He told
them what this is all about, what this relationship is. And
then he said, you didn't choose me. You didn't bring this to
pass. I did. And two things just struck
me Empirically here, the first statement he made is, you have
not chosen me. What an indictment. What an indictment. Here stands the Lord of Glory,
the Holy One of God, the Creator, the One who has a rightful claim
on us. And he said, you didn't choose
me. What a serious charge. What a revelation of our depravity.
We don't choose light, which is darkness. You didn't choose
me. You said, give us Barabbas. Old Pilate stood there that day
and he said, customary to release unto you
the prisoner of your choice. Whom would you that I release
unto you? Jesus, which is called the Christ, or Barabbas? We all with one accord said,
you can give us Barabbas. You didn't choose me. I've come in my Father's name,
and you receive me not. You search the Scriptures. In
them you think you have life, and there they which testify
of me, and you will not come to me that you might have life.
What an indictment. Make all excuses we will. It
doesn't matter. Justify ourselves. But these
words still hold, stand bold and clear. You have not chosen
me. You have not chosen me. And natural men do not choose
Christ, and they will not choose Christ, and the blanket reason
is they're dead. They're dead in sins and trespasses,
the scripture says, without help, without hope, Without God, without
Christ in this world, at their wit's end, every imagination
of their heart is evil continually. Man at his best state, at his
highest point, pinnacle, peak, acme, is vanity and lies. Best state. None good, none righteous. None that understand. None that
seeketh after God. And you didn't choose me. I'll tell you why men do not
choose Christ. They don't have a need for Christ.
If you can find someone with a need, you can tell them about
Christ. But they don't need Christ. They
don't need Christ. like the old slave owner. I read
about way back during the Civil War, before the Civil War, one of his old black slaves was
a believer, a preacher of the gospel. He preached to the slaves. And this slave owner stood before
him one day and he said, He said to him, why would God
choose you over me? Here stands this ragged, uneducated, illiterate man in bondage with his stooped
shoulders and his gnarled hands and dirt all over him, picking
cotton. Here stands this arrogant, proud, rich plantation owner with his
expensive hat and clothes and boots, looking down at him, why
would God choose you over me? And the old slave answered and
said, Master, look at you. Then look at me. You don't need
God. I do. You don't need a robe, I do.
You don't need bread, I do. You don't need life, I do. You
don't need help, I do. I'm poor and needy. You're not
poor and needy. The Lord came to save the poor
and needy. And the reason men do not choose
Christ is they don't need Christ. I'll tell you another reason
men do not choose Christ, because they do not see the wisdom of
God in Christ. Christ crucified to the average
person in this world is foolishness. It's embarrassing. To talk about a crucified Savior,
a dying Lamb, a suffering substitute is embarrassing to people. You bring up Christ and Him crucified,
and the grace of God in a suffering substitute in the average circle
and people find a reason to leave the room. It's embarrassing. And somebody will say, you don't
talk about things like that here. Well, where do you? It's embarrassing. Job asked, how can man be just
with God? But men, they don't see any law
to be honored. They don't see any justice to
be satisfied. They don't see any will to be
done. They don't see any righteousness needed. They don't see those
things. So they don't see the wisdom
of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, they don't choose
Christ. Christ said, you didn't choose me. You didn't need me. You didn't need me. I went to see a dear lady the
other day in Huntington, forty-five years
old, body devastated with cancer. She wanted to talk to me because
she needed him, hadn't ever needed him before.
Never had any interest before. Never attended church before.
But now she needs something. That's the reason men... I choose
Christ. I need Him. Desperately I need
Him. Don't you? Desperately. And I see the wisdom of God in
Christ. To those who are being saved,
Christ is the wisdom of God. The title of this message is,
I Rejoice in Electing Love. I Rejoice in Electing Love. I
Rejoice in Electing Love. And then men do not choose Christ
because they do not wish to be made holy by Christ. They do
not prefer to walk with Him. They prefer to walk with the
world. That's their preference. That's their crowd. They enjoy
Him. They do not prefer the lifestyle
of an associate, of a disciple, of a friend. Oh, they'll pay
homage and tribute to him on Sunday, but they don't prefer to walk
with him all the time. A man said to me one time, you
expect me to come to all the services down there, don't I
really don't expect you to come to any of them, but I expect
his friends do. A man wants to be where his friends
are, especially the friend that's a ticket closer than a brother.
No, I don't expect you to come to all the services. I really
don't. I really don't. But I expect that little girl
I talked to Monday would love to come. Aspectual. She needs him. She needs him. She needs what
I'm talking about today. They don't prefer the lifestyle
of a disciple. They have no taste for the harassment
of Calvary. They have no taste for the offense
of the cross. Don't have any taste for it.
So he said, you didn't choose me. You didn't choose me. Oh, my soul, I'm thankful he
added that next statement, but I've chosen you. You know, in that movie, The
Ten Commandments, I don't know how many of you saw it, and I know a great deal of its
fiction. But I tell you, when Moses left
Egypt and came out there to Midian, or wherever it was he came, and
he got a glimpse of that mountain, the mountain of God, with its
rumbling and fire and smoke, he turned to his wife and said, I don't know your God. And I never will forget what
she said. You remember? He said, I don't know your God.
She said, but Moses, he knows you. He knows you. You didn't choose
me. I chose you. I hear people all
the time asking other people, do you know God? Well, that's
a good question, but I'll tell you a better one. Does He know
you? Does He know you? A lot of people
claim to know Him whom He does not know. I never knew you. They
say, well, we preached in your name. I never knew you. We cast
out devils. I never knew you. We did many
wonderful works. I never knew you. Moses, he knows
you. You're his friend. You didn't choose me. You'd never do it in a million
years. You'd never do it with all the persuasive powers of
the greatest prophets and preachers. You'd never do it. Because you
don't need me, you don't see the wisdom in me, and you don't
prefer My lifestyle. But I chose you. That old hymn
writer said, It is not that I did choose thee, Lord, that could
not be. This heart would still refuse
thee, but thou hast chosen me. Thou from the sin that stained
me, wash me and set me free. And to this end ordain me that
I should live with thee. My heart owns none above thee,
for thy rich grace I thirst, this knowing. If I do love you,
you must have loved me first." He could have passed me by, but
thank God he didn't. He could have left me in my religious
darkness satisfied, but thank God he didn't. He could have
condemned me with the rest of the rebels, but thank God he
didn't. Why did he choose us? That's
a natural question, isn't it? Why did he choose us? It's a natural question. It's
a difficult question, but you study as long as you like, as
many years as you will, and you won't come up with one answer. One answer. One day he lifted his eyes to
heaven. He said, Father, I thank Thee, Lord of heaven and earth, because
You have hid these things from the wise and the prudent, and
You have revealed it to babes. Why? For so it seemed good in
Thy sight. That's it. I'm glad it pleased
the Lord who separated me from my mother's womb to reveal his
Son in me. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable
gift. I know when he chose us, he chose us in Christ before
the foundation of the world. And I know the results and end
to which he chose us. Look at this verse 16 again.
You didn't choose me, he said, but I've chosen you and I've
ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit. We're back here to that vine
and branch, aren't we? He said, you abide in me and
my words abide in you. You continue. Abide is to stay
where you are. Continue. Be faithful. Faithful steward in Christ and
you'll bring forth much fruit. And that fruit is love, joy,
peace, long-suffering, meekness, gentleness, goodness, faith. Fruit. Not fruits. Fruit. that you should bring forth fruit,
and that fruit will remain. It will remain. And this answers any of the so-called
fatalistic, hard-shell, hyper-Calvinist, whatever you call them, who want
to do away with responsibility, who want to do away with godliness,
who want to do away with that walking in the Spirit. And then he says this, And whatsoever
you shall ask of the Father in my name, he'll give it to you." I made this statement Sunday
when I read this scripture over here in verse 7. If you abide in me and my words
abide in you, you shall ask what you will. Ask what you will. Ask what you will, and it shall
be done unto you. Whatsoever you ask my Father
in my name, he'll give it to you. Ask what you will. And I
said that I didn't believe, I'm sure it touches material and
physical and earthly things, because we're identified with
these things. Some of our beloved ones in the hospital. Mindy's
in the hospital. Mamie McPeak's in the hospital. Little Jared's in the hospital. Dan Parks is having a terrible
time. And I'm asking God to heal them
and raise them up. I'm asking God to do it. I'm
asking Him if it be His will. But He says here, ask what you
will. and I'll give it to you. You
know what he's saying? Ronnie, am I reading that wrong?
If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you'll ask what
you will. Well, if you abide in me and
my words abide in you, what are you going to ask? What are you
going to will? What are you going to will and
ask and expect? I found it in an old hymn written
by John Newton, 1700 and something. Listen to it. Lord dost thou say, ask what
thou wilt? Ask what thou wilt? Lord, I would
seize this golden hour, I ask. to be released from guilt,
freed from self and Satan's power. That's what I ask. I ask more
of thy presence, Lord, impart. More of thy image let me bear. Erect thy throne within my heart
and reign without a rival there, I ask. I ask, give me to read my pardon
sealed, and from thy joy to draw my strength. I ask to have thy boundless love
revealed to me in its height and depth and breadth and length.
I ask. I grant these requests, and I
ask no more. But lead to thy care the rest
I resign. For living or dying, rich or
poor, it'll all be well if thou art
mine." That's what I asked. And he said, God give it to you. If we can get our thoughts and
desires out of the flesh, off the world, on to him, you ask
what you will. And I'll give it to you. That's
it. Tom, that's it. Ask what you
will. What do you will? That which
fades away, passes away, vanishes away, really is of no significance
as far as my relationship with God is concerned, except to be
detrimental detrimental, ask what you will. You see, you
didn't choose me and I chose you and I ordained you to go
bring forth fruit and your fruit remained and if you ask what
you will, I'll give it to you. Our Father, bless this word to our hearts,
experience, Work that mighty work of grace
in us. As Mr. Newton has so wonderfully
stated, if I have thee, all else will
be taken care of. Everything will fall in place if I have thee. Thy grace, thy
mercy, and thy love. Now bless the word tonight, make
it effectual. Do for all of us what only you
can do, that eternal, almighty, saving work of grace. And we pray so sincerely and
humbly before thee for our beloved brothers and sisters who are
ill. touch their bodies. Lord, thou art able to do all
things, and we pray that it may be in thy will and pleasing to
thee to heal them and to give wisdom to those physicians who
test them and minister to them and examine them and diagnose
their problems. Lord, give them skill beyond
themselves. understanding, enlighten their
minds. It's thy child that they're dealing
with. And we know that he whom thou
lovest is sick. So we commit them to thee. Raise them up. Raise them up
according to your will. Give strength to those who love
them. minister to all of us. Help Gary
and I and Don as we preached in Pikeville this weekend. Lord,
leave us not alone. Do a work of grace. We pray in
Christ's name. Amen.

I Rejoice In Electing Love

What does the Bible say about God's electing love?

How do we know that predestination is true?

Why is abiding in Christ important for Christians?

Why did God choose some people to be saved?

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I Rejoice In Electing Love

What does the Bible say about God's electing love?

How do we know that predestination is true?

Why is abiding in Christ important for Christians?

Why did God choose some people to be saved?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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