Let’s look at the comparison between grace, election and the free will of man. This is a very heated topic among many denominations and churches. But the answers to our questions are found within the pages of the Bibles that we have with us.
THE GRACIOUS
OF GOD
What is God’s purpose? If you were to think about it and write it down, what would you say is the purpose of God’s Grace? Even answer the question of why is He gracious?
2 Peter 3:9 says:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Matthew 18:11 says:
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
There are a few biblical teachings that we need to look at today when we are talking about the purpose of God’s Grace. Our first word is…
John 15:16 says:
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
In understanding this view of election we MUST keep it within the context of scripture. Which means that God has chosen us/all unto salvation and that…
Election will never be
The beauty of God’s Grace and Election is that the Father has drawn us to Himself with an everlasting love. The way He draws us is through the Son that He has sent unto us. Look at these scriptures…
John 6:37 says:
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:44 says:
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
WE MUST VIEW THESE VERSES IN LIGHT OF…
John 6:35 says:
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
After reading these scriptures, what do you think is the purpose of God’s Grace is now? Salvation!
Ephesians 1:11-12 says:
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
This scripture teaches us that everything
God has chosen us to salvation. Just as all others. God has chosen us to be saved through His Son, not because of who we are. This is
THE
WILL OF HUMANITY
God is sovereign, the supreme leader of humanity and as humans we are given free agency (choice)and personal responsibility
I’m not sure that in heaven we shall be able to know where the free agency of man and the sovereignty of God meet, but both are great truths. —Charles H. Spurgeon
Romans 11:33 says:
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
We must realize that God has chosen us to salvation, and humanity is responsible for responding to that calling of the Father.
LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES. TELL IF IT DEALS WITH THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OR THE FREE WILL OF MAN
John 3:15-16 says:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 5:24 says:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 15:16, 19 says:
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Acts 13:48 says:
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Romans 8:29-30 says:
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Romans 10:9-13 says:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 says:
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 says:
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:17 says:
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
WE ARE…
BY GOD’S GRACE
John 3:14-15 says:
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 12:32 says:
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
BY GOD’S GRACE
Romans 3:24 says:
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Titus 3:7 says:
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
BY GOD’S GRACE
1 Peter 1:1-5 says:
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Conclusion
The
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Chorus: Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!