Are We Privileged?

 

Are We Privileged? 

Malachi 1:2-3

SUBJECT: CHOSEN BY GOD

THEME: Be thankful for the blessings of love, privilege, and hope from God upon our personal lives, our homes, our churches, and our county.

RELEVANCE:  the Sovereign Choices of God (in the past) Concerning Israel’s General Conditions and Quality of Life Should be Viewed as an Act of His Love. 

INTRODUCTION: 

1. Again, thankfulness requires reflection on our lives as we consider or count what God has given us. We don’t want to ignore, dismiss, or take any blessings from God for granted.

2.  In contrast, it is quite common anymore to be counseled to “check your privilege!” This seems to indicate that some people enjoy certain opportunities while others aren’t as fortunate. There seems to be a violation of equality inherent to this notion…with certain privileges…it is perceived that something is unfair, inequitable, or fallacious. Today, we will examine this concept along with several others that Malachi, the prophet highlighted.

MESSAGE:

I. We Enjoy Great Love from God, but Some People Ignore It (Mal. 1:1-2).

We have studied this idea in the previous post.

II.  We Enjoy Great Privileges from God, but Some People are Irresponsible (Mal. 1:2-3).

   — It is a fact that there is a difference in the privileges afforded different peoples as a result of God’s own sovereign choices. “I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau.” This is the same as saying, “I choose Jacob for my purposes, but rejected Esau.”

The Hebrew words for loved and hated refer not to God’s emotions but to His choice of one over the other for a covenant relationship (cf. Gen. 29:31–35; Deut. 21:15, 17; Luke 14:26). To hate someone meant to reject him and to disavow any loving association with him (cf. Ps. 139:21). ^[a]

Including some while excluding others is at the heart of special privileges. When you're privileged, you enjoy some special rights or advantages that the majority or even no one else has. You could be privileged to live in a lighthouse and have a spectacular view of the bay. Those of us who have been around the US military know officers and senior NCOs who have certain privileges, but they also shoulder giant responsibilities for our country--‘RHIP’. Congressmen represent their states and districts, and they enjoy opportunities, prerogative, and freedoms many Americans do not, but they bear many obligations, duties, and burdens on our behalf. People can be privileged in many different ways and with a myriad of agencies, but it basically means that they’re getting some unusual deal that others don’t enjoy because they don’t qualify or were never initiated. Even being in this country comes with its share of privileges and responsibilities!

We as Christians belong to a special class who enjoy tremendous favor from God. We literally have rich spiritual privileges in Christ. Being chosen by God to join His Kingdom is a divine privilege (Ephesians 2:8-10). God invited us into an elite family. He included us with His most trusted servants and wanted us to live with Him forever. And God made Christ the head of His family. It has nothing to do with our ethnicity, political affiliation, socio-economic status, or social class, but weather or not you belong to God through Jesus Christ.

A.  GOD’S CHOICE IMPLY HIS PURPOSE.

Why was Jacob more privileged than Esau? Was God capricious or arbitrary in his selection?

     1.  Not According to Human Performance.  

         — Not because he had a better moral character.

         — In some respects he appears more unworthy than Esau. It was simply because God chose to distinguish him.

         — Unconditionally, and completely apart from any consideration of human merit, God elected Jacob and his descendants! 

         — No one should conclude that God does not love His people just because He afflicted them, but rather He loves them because He elected them.

     2.  But, According to Divine Purpose.

          A.  His purpose for them to become His heirs of promise (Rom. 9:6–29).

          B.  The reason for God’s choice was in His mind, and nowhere else. 

Ephes. 1:11, 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:

          C.  God always works in accordance with a plan, we must learn to trust Him and His will even during the difficulties of life. Romans 8:28-29, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. [29] 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.

God’s choice is neither capricious nor is it an arbitrary choice. God does not make choices like that.^[b]

B.  GOD’S CHOICE DOES NOT IMPLY OUR IRRESPONSIBILITY.

His sovereignty does not negate our responsibility; it does not imply either of two things.

   1. It Does Not Mean Partiality on God’s Part.

The fact that the Jewish people, the descendants of Jacob, in their history endured, perhaps, calamities as great as those that befell the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, proved that there was no partiality on God's part. He is no Respecter of persons. God remains unbiased, unbigoted, conscientious, independent, and egalitarian!  

Romans 9:15-16, 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. [16] So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Romans 2:11, For there is no respect of persons with God.

Application: God does not show partiality or favoritism based on external factors such as social status, ethnicity, or outward appearance. We need to underscore the impartiality of God’s judgment and His fairness in treating all people equally. God loves everyone alike. There is nothing we can ever do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can ever do that will make God love us less. God’s nature is love! Yet even though we’re loved by God, people still have a serious dilemma. God will still judge people fairly.

Application: We must not view God as some friendly TV sitcom dad. God sits in heaven on a sovereign throne, not an easy chair. The heavenly Father is the holy Judge.

   2.  It Does Not Mean Irresponsibility on Man’s Part. There are some applications it would be to our advantage to heed….

        A.  Do God’s Will with the Privileges He Affords You.

              1.  QUOTE: “They who have least, and bear most, may become better and happier than they who have most and suffer least.”— Godwin

              2.  QUOTE: “The permanent value of all things depends on the use which is made of them: the first often becoming last, and the last first.”  —D. Thomas

        B.  Be Responsible for the Choices You Make Regardless of Your Circumstances.

No argument can be drawn from the differences in a person’s circumstances as to which will be the most morally advantageous or disadvantageous according to their conduct. While the differences of one kind depend solely on the Divine will, the differences of the other kind are not irrespective of human choice.

Application: 1 Peter 1:17, And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  Beloved, we should stop trying to convince ourselves and the people around us that we belong to this world. We should stop trying to fit in with many groups and stop sacrificing our responsibilities to be Christ-like. Believe me Jesus was not a closet-Christian! We must embrace our status as foreigners, strangers, and people in exile from our rightful country of Heaven. We need to live ‘holy’ like the Father we wait to be united with. And, yes, we should live with some amount of healthy fear or respect for Him. Christians are children of the God who is Father and Judge.

Application: We must choose to act as those who are God’s own people, rejecting the evil desires that drove our actions before we knew better. Our choices matter—“Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1Pet.1:16). Our God placed a high value on our lives, paying for them with the blood of Christ. Since God has made us able, we must now strive to earnestly give love to God and each other.

Application: What are some of our privileges as God’s People?

1. Believers have the privilege of continually coming into the presence of Christ. Let’s do this daily through prayer, study of the Word, and the Christian church; this is our greatest honor (1Pet. 2:4; Heb. 4:15-16).
2. Believers have the privilege of being built into a house of God. We need one another, a brick has very little usefulness by itself. Also, because we are the house of God, we should be a holy place, set apart for God’s worship. Everything we do can be worship because we are his temple (1Pet. 2:5; 1Cor. 6:19-20).
3. Believers have the privilege of being priests that offer spiritual sacrifices. We should labor in prayer for others; we should serve others as priests in order to please and honor our God (1Pet. 2:5; Heb. 13: 15-16; Rom. 15:15-16).
4. Believers have the privilege of sharing in the honor of Christ. The glory given to Christ by God has been given to us (John 17:22). Though rejected by the world, along with Christ, we must rejoice in the coming honor and glory. We are co-heirs with Christ, and therefore, recipients of the coming kingdom. This honor shines even brighter against the destiny of the lost (1Pet 2:6-8; Rom. 8:28).

Let us give glory to God for our great and awesome privileges. Thank you, Lord, for these incredible honors. (Greg Brown, U.S. Navy Reserve Chaplain)

Application: Being defensive and argumentative complaining are typical of feeling ashamed, hurt, guilty, or attacked by God and the prophet Malachi. When facing such convictions by the Holy Spirit a wayward person tries to defend themselves from feeling angry, hurt, or ashamed! They perceive the truth or think that God is too harsh and critical for confronting them. This incredible lack of pliability is not recommended!

CONCLUSION.

Aren’t we as individuals, homes, churches, and Americans among the peoples whom God has specially blessed and smiled upon? Are these words not especially applicable to us, “I have loved you, saith the Lord”?

Above all, what about our Lord Jesus Christ? 1 John 4:10, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions. There are many more blessings to thank You for, and they are as countless as the stars in the night sky. Your grace never fails to amaze me, O God.

---

^[a] Craig A. Blaising, “Malachi,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1576.

^[b] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 993.

Count Your Blessings

Ephesians 1:4-6

Theme: a tremendous blessing God communicates to believers is the wonderful truth that we belong to Him; our heavenly Father brought us into an eternal relationship with Himself by His infinite grace towards us in Christ Jesus. We should reflect deeply upon these blessings and then “bless” or praise Him for the unmatched benefits of election, adoption, and acceptance in Christ.

Introduction:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

·        Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.]

--Johnson Oatman, Jr., pub.1897

So familiar…so precious…and so true is this old hymn! Taking the time to reflect upon the blessings of God can literally fuel our praise, but it also improves the condition of our thoughts, brings balance to our perspective, and corrects our outlook on life. By counting our blessings we can become Christians whose praise is richly informed and deeply motivated in the right ways.

We all are naturally inclined to ponder the painful, fret over the threatening, and dwell on what went wrong. It’s a part of our innate desire to protect and preserve life. Honestly, we face a great deal of this kind of input every week and life can degrade into an existence marked by anxiety and discouragement if we only focus on these matters. God knows this also and he helps us by prescribing a Bible discipline called “counting your blessings.” If done correctly this will lead to praising God with an informed mind and heart for His involvement, nearness, and benefits towards us. This should lead to a round of appreciating Him for who He is and His great gracious heart towards us. Certainly, all of this is automatically beneficial to the believer mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.

Taking the opportunity to reflect on such information and messages from God is the key. In Ephesians 1:4-6, we discover blessings from God our heavenly Father; this is how He has been extremely gracious to us. There are three specific blessings in this text afforded to every genuine believer in Christ Jesus without a singular exception! Let us count them together….

A.                Blessing #1: God Has Chosen us (v. 4). This is the marvelous doctrine of election, a doctrine that has confused some and confounded others. A seminary professor once said, "Try to explain election and you may lose your mind. But try to explain it away and you may lose your soul!"

1.       That salvation begins with God, and not with man, all Christians will agree. “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16 see also Matt 9:12-13). The lost sinner, left to his own ways, does not seek God (Rom 3:10-11; 1Cor. 2:14); God in His love seeks the sinner (Luke 19:10; John 6:44, 65).

2.       First election teaches that God does choose men to salvation (2Thess. 2:13-14). It addresses believers as those who are “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” (1Pet. 1:2).  It teaches that people can know whether they are elect by their response to the gospel: those who hear and believe are elect (1Thess. 1:4-7).

3.       On the other hand, the Bible never teaches that God chooses men to be lost.  The fact that He chooses some to be saved does not imply that He arbitrarily condemns all the rest.  He never condemns men who deserve to be saved (there are none), but He does save some who ought to be condemned.  Compare Rom. 9:23 to 9:22. God prepares vessels of mercy to glory, but He does not prepare men for destruction: they do this for themselves by their unbelief. God simply respects their decision.

i.        The doctrine of election lets God be God. He is sovereign, that is, He can do as He pleases, although He never pleases to do anything unjust. If left alone, all men would be lost. Does God then have the right to show mercy to some?

ii.      But there is another side to the story. The same Bible that teaches sovereign election also teaches human responsibility. No one can use the doctrine of election as an excuse for not being saved. God makes a bona fide offer of salvation to all people everywhere (John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; Rom. 10:9, 13). Anyone can be saved by repenting of his sins, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, if a person is lost, it is because he chooses to be lost, not because God desires it.

iii.    The fact is that the same Bible teaches election and free salvation to all who will receive it.  Both doctrines are found in a single verse: “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). The first half of the verse speaks of God’s sovereign choice; the last half extends the offer of mercy to all.

4.       This poses a difficulty for the human mind. How can God choose some and yet offer salvation freely to all men? Frankly, this is a mystery. But the mystery is on our side, not on God’s. The best policy for us is to believe both doctrines because the Bible teaches both. The truth is not found somewhere between election and man’s free will, but in both extremes. The blessing is we belong to Him who selected us.

5.       W. G. Blaikie summarizes:

Divine sovereignty, human responsibility and the free and universal offer of mercy are all found in Scripture, and though we are unable to harmonize them by our logic, they all ought to have a place in our minds. –MacDonald, William: Believer's Bible Commentary

B.                 Blessing #2: God Has Adopted us (v. 5).

1.       Here we meet that misunderstood word “predestination.”

i.        This word, as it is used in the Bible, refers primarily to what God does for saved people. Nowhere in the Bible are we taught that people are predestined to hell, because this word refers only to God’s people. The word simply means “to ordain beforehand, to predetermine.”

ii.      Election seems to refer to people, while predestination refers to purposes. The events connected with the crucifixion of Christ were predestined and not an accident (Acts 4:25-28; 1 Pet. 1:19-21; Rev. 13:8). God has predestined our adoption—sonship (Eph 1:5; Jn 1:12), and our conformity to Christ (Rom 8:29-30), as well as our future inheritance (Eph 1:11). God has great plans for the future and they include us as His children.

2.       “Adoption” has a dual meaning, both present and future.

i.        You do not get into God’s family by adoption. You get into His family by regeneration, the new birth (John 3:1-18; 1 Peter 1:22-25).

ii.      Adoption is the act of God by which He gives His “new born ones” an adult standing in the family. Why does He do this? So that we night immediately begin to claim our inheritance and enjoy our spiritual wealth! A baby cannot legally use this inheritance (Gal 4:1-7), but an adult son can - and should! This means that you do not have to wait until you are an old saint before you can claim your riches in Christ.

iii.    The future aspect of adoption is found in Rom 8:22-23, the glorified body we will have when Jesus comes for us. We already have our adult standing before God, but the world cannot see this. When Christ returns to earth, this “private adoption” will be made public for everyone to see (Rom. 8:17-19)!

3.       What are the results of this adoption into the Family of God?

i.        We have the Spirit of adoption, we have lost the spirit of bondage and fear.  This occurred at the moment of the new birth through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

ii.      We have been given the spirit of liberty. The fear of condemnation by the law and the liberty from the law is senses (Rom. 8:15).

iii.    We are entitled to bare His name; we are a part of the household and Family of God (Lev. 26:12; 1Pet. 2:9-10).

iv.     We enjoy the present protection and consolation, which only God can give along with perfect provision for all our needs (Luke 12:7; Heb. 13:5).

v.       The Father’s love and chastening for our spiritual good—maturity/holiness/peace—and His glory (Heb. 12:6, 11).

vi.     We are also heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:17).

vii.   Then lastly we have eternal security as a part of God’s family and our inheritance is reserved for us in heaven (1Pet. 1:4; Rom. 8:38-39).

4.       God predestinated us to be adopted into His family in accordance with His will and to His praise—that His grace may be glorified (Eph 1:5, 6).

i.        Praise means celebrating God. Undoubtedly you have seen, and probably participated in, celebrations like Fourth of July fireworks displays and Memorial Day parades. The purpose of such festivities is not simply to set off firecrackers and Roman candles or to watch graying veterans march down city streets. The events are held to remember and honor the sacrifices of men and women who went before and paid the price for freedom.

ii.      As Christians, our lives are living tributes to God’s grace. God selected us as believers so that we might give Him praise. When others look at our lives, what kinds of “tributes” do they see? Liberated, engaging individuals, full of gratitude for all God has done for us? Or shriveled, sullen, embittered shells that feel as though we’ve been cheated out of life’s good things? Let your prayer life and worship express your gratitude to God. –The Life Application Commentary Series 

C.                Blessing #3: God Has Accepted us (v. 6).

1.       We cannot make ourselves acceptable to God; but He, by His free grace, makes us accepted in Christ.  The phrase “hath made us accepted” means to ‘endue with special honor’ or ‘to highly favor’ and thus ‘make acceptable.’ There is not only the imparting of God’s grace, but also the adoption into God’s family in giving special kindness, which is different from forgiveness.

2.       We are not trying to make ourselves acceptable to God so that we can be saved or to avoid losing our salvation.  No, we are presently fully acceptable to God because of trust in Christ, “the Beloved.”

i.        This Greek word for “love” is the same one found in John 3:16, Romans 5:5, 8, Gal. 5:22, I John 4:8. It speaks of the love that God is, and with which He loves the lost, the love which is the product of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the yielded believer. The perfect tense speaks of an action completed in past time having present, and in a context like this one, permanent results. It speaks of the fact that God the Father has always loved God the Son with an absolute love which is a permanent attitude on His part.

ii.      The words “in the Beloved” are indicative of a sphere. That is, God the Father freely bestowed on us the grace which saved us, and did so in the sphere of the Lord Jesus, His Person and His work on the Cross. His grace could not operate in our salvation apart from the atoning death of our Lord, for God is not only a loving God, but a righteous and just God who cannot pass by sin, but must require that it be paid for. Only thus can He manifest His grace. The word “Beloved” is a perfect participle, the perfect tense being used by Paul to show the degree of the love with which the Father loves the Son. Vincent says: “Beloved par excellence.” He refers us to Col. 1:13 and the expression, “the Son of His love.” –Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament

3.       Acceptance is one facet of our eternal position; it will never change, “He hath made us accepted in the Beloved” (Col. 1:13; Matt. 3:17; 17:5).

i.        We are received by God through the substitutionary death and imputed righteousness provided by Jesus Christ (Rom 3:24; 5:15). The glorious truth is that we are accepted by God and before God, thus because we are accepted in Christ, then we, like Him, are beloved of God.

ii.      Christ receiveth sinful men, even me with all my sin; purged from ev’ry spot and stain, heav’n with Him I enter in.  Sing it o’er and o’er again: Christ receiveth sinful men; make the message clear and plain: Christ receiveth sinful men. –Osbeck, K. W.  Amazing Grace

Sometimes we struggle through life longing for someone to accept us for who we are and the way we are. Not someone we have to pretend to be in order for them to like us and then finally accept us. What strengthens this impulse to “fit in” is the reality that none of us likes rejection or feeling like we don’t belong. If we sense we don’t measure up in some way, we will even resort to living someone else’s life to impress others. We seem to be convinced that our associates would not like us if they really knew the real version of us. As a result, life becomes one long episode of dishonesty, hypocrisy, shame, guilt, more lies, and struggles with who we really are and what we have become. The fear of rejection…the fear of being alone…the fear of being perceived as unworthy…this is what drives such insecurities and relational struggles. It is part of what drives some into sin and holds them there. Such folks are convinced they cannot do any better and do not deserve any better….

But God frees us from the need to live to impress Him or anyone else in order for us to finally be accepted. By His infinite grace He places us “in Christ” and there we are most wanted, loved, and accepted by God Himself. This frees us form the temptation to compromise our values, beliefs, and lifestyle to be acceptable to mere men.  Since we know to whom we belong and where we belong, we do not have to try to belong!

Finally beloved, it is right, helpful, holy, and good to focus on such messages from God your heavenly Father. Remember, He has chosen you in Christ Jesus. Reflect often on the truth that He has adopted you as His own and given you status as an adult child before Him. Recall the wonder that He currently and forever has accepted you in Jesus Christ. Believe these truths my friend. Drink deep from this well. Repeat these truths to yourself until they sink deep into your perspective. They will transform your praise towards God because He intentionally provided a place “in Christ” for you. Go ahead and praise Him for such a meaningful provision. Clear off a moment to bless His Name and exalt in His grace. Shout if you must, but certainly rejoice in Him. He is a merciful and gracious Lord. Beautiful and excellent is He. How magnanimous and generous He is! Who can match such thoughtfulness and kindness to us who are so underserving? God is communicating to you and me that He wants us, and He has planned the best for us. In fact, He planned forever with us! You matter because you matter to your heavenly Father.

So, make it a habit to count your blessings. Schedule it and write is down in a journal or a note book once a twice a week. Ponder what God has done and then think about what His actions reveal about His character and motive. Reflect on it and write it down. We will learns so much more about our God by reflecting on His blessings towards us. It will fuel your worship. Such disciplines will inspire your praise. Fall deeply in love with your Father in heaven. This habit will transform the climate inside of you. It could potentially improve your relationships. Every believer enjoys being around a grateful person with unwavering confidence in our heavenly Father. Start today…count your blessings name them one by one. It will surprise you what the Lord has done.

A Saved Membership

1THESS. 1:1-4

Subject: A Strong Church 

Theme: The Church of the Thessalonians is a positive example because of its leadership, members, teaching, service, and God’s work among them. The Thessalonians provide us with a wonderful model to imitate.

Introduction:  

That the membership of a New Testament Church would be comprised of saved individuals should be a given…right? Yes, you would think so…. It makes sense to me that many different peoples at very different places in their personal spiritual journeys would darken the doors of a church. The worshiper, the seeker, the curious, the seasoned, the churched, the recent convert and even the skeptic may all have their occasions for attending a church service. To be sure all are wanted, and the church would rejoice to welcome any and all visitors to a given worship service. For a church to sustain a warm and welcoming environment is completely consistent with godly character and a desire to serve the community for Christ’s sake.

The issue I raise is that of ignoring the need for a genuine conversion experience, the requirement of biblical baptism, and the expressed submission to the Spirit of God’s leadership to unite with a specific body of believers. Commitment is a dirty word in the 21^st Century, but God still requires real commitment in conversion, baptism, and church membership. Every believer should have a basic conviction that the Spirit of God led them and placed them in a local church body. Every NT church should have a standard requirement for becoming a church member. The most fundamental requirement is salvation—conversion—candidates for baptism and membership must be people who know the Lord Jesus as Savior.

This is not a recent emerging view, Paul addresses the Church at Thessalonica as saved people who were growing in their commitment to Jesus Christ. First recall some observations from previous articles about a Strong Church Model.

Lesson:

I.  A Strong Church Has Faithful Ministers.  Vs 1, 2

1Thes 1:1, Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus… 

II. A Strong Church Exists in the Sphere Of God’s Power. Vs 1

1Thes 1:1, … unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

III. A Strong Church Engages in Energetic Service.  Vs 3

1Thes 1:3, Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

  

IV. A Strong Church Has a Saved Membership.  Vs 4

1Thes 1:4, Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. How can one know he is truly saved?

Paul refers to the church members’ “election of God.” They were genuinely saved folks who were committed to Christ and his church at Thessalonica. They were even suffering some persecution because of their sincere witness and authenticity. These believers were chosen by God; they belonged to the Father who called them unto himself. 

This is the marvelous teaching of election, a doctrine that has confused some and confounded others. A seminary professor once said, “Try to explain election and you may lose your mind. But try to explain it away and you may lose your soul!” (Wiersbe)

In the following thoughts I want to note the simple truth that church members are saved people. No, they are not perfect; in fact, in order to be saved they had to admit their sinfulness. It is here that we witness the ministry of God in a believer’s conversion. Note three vital facts:

1.     The Fact That God Has Chosen us in Grace (Eph 1:4-6).

a.       What Election Is.

                                                               i.      That salvation begins with God, and not with man, all Christians will agree. “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16 see also Matt 9:12-13). The lost sinner, left to his own ways, does not seek God (Rom 3:10-11; 1Cor. 2:14); God in His love seeks the sinner (Luke 19:10; John 6:44, 65).

                                                               ii.      Election teaches that God does choose men to salvation (2Thess. 2:13-14). It addresses believers as those who are “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” (1Pet. 1:2).  It teaches that people can know whether they are elect by their response to the gospel: those who hear and believe are elect (1Thess. 1:4-7).

                                                              iii.      The fact is the same Bible teaches election and free salvation to all who will receive it. Both doctrines are found in a single verse: “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). The first half of the verse speaks of God’s sovereign choice; the last half extends the offer of mercy to all. (MacDonald)

2. What Election Is Not.

                                                               i.      On the other hand, the Bible never teaches that God chooses men to be lost.  The fact that He chooses some to be saved does not imply that He arbitrarily condemns all the rest.  He never condemns men who deserve to be saved (there are none), but He does save some who ought to be condemned.  Compare Rom. 9:23 to 9:22.  God prepares vessels of mercy to glory, but He does not prepare men for destruction: they do this for themselves by their unbelief. God simply respects their decision. (Wiersbe)

                                                              ii.      The doctrine of election lets God be God. He is sovereign, that is, He can do as He pleases, although He never pleases to do anything unjust. If left alone, all men would be lost. Does God have the right to show mercy to some?

                                                            iii.      But there is another side to the story. The same Bible that teaches sovereign election also teaches human responsibility. No one can use the doctrine of election as an excuse for not being saved. God makes a bona fide offer of salvation to all people everywhere (John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; Rom. 10:9, 13). Anyone can be saved by repenting of his sins, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, if a person is lost, it is because he chooses to be lost, not because God desires it.

                                                            iv.      This poses a difficulty for the human mind. How can God choose some and yet offer salvation freely to all men? Frankly, this is a mystery. But the mystery is on our side, not on God’s. The best policy for us is to believe both doctrines because the Bible teaches both. The truth is not found somewhere between election and man’s free will, but in both extremes. W. G. Blaikie summarizes:

Divine sovereignty, human responsibility and the free and universal offer of mercy are all found in Scripture, and though we are unable to harmonize them by our logic, they all ought to have a place in our minds. –MacDonald, William: Believer's Bible Commentary

2.     The Fact That the Chosen are Changed by Grace.

a.       The Way We Were Chosen. How did God choose his people? (Eph. 1:4)

                                                             i.      Before All Creation—“before the foundation of the world.” The time of God’s election is indicated to be before He created the universe, so that our salvation is wholly of His grace and not on the basis of anything we ourselves have done.

1.       The doctrine of election teaches that we are saved only because of God’s grace and mercy; as believers we are not saved by our own merit.

2.       Election and predestination focus on God’s purpose or will (Eph. 1:5, 9, 11), not on ours. God does not save us because we deserve it but because he graciously and freely gives salvation. We did not influence God’s decision to save us; he saved us according to his plan. Thus, we may not take credit for our salvation or take pride in our wise choice (Rev. 17:8). (Wiersbe)

                                                            ii.      He chose us in Christ, not in ourselves (Eph 1:3). There is the positional aspect of the truth, in Him: it is in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus that all God’s purposes for His people are brought to pass.

b.      The Reason We Were Chosen.

                                                             i.      We have a clear purpose of holiness: to be “holy and without blame before him in love” (Eph. 1:4).

1.      In the Bible, election is always unto something. It is a privilege that carries a great responsibility. The purpose is that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

2.      This purpose will not be completely realized until we are with Him in heaven (1 John 3:2), but the process should be going on continually in our lives down here.

3.      Perhaps we all should pray, “Lord, make me holy now, since this is Your eventual purpose for me. Amen.”

                                                             ii.      We have a clear motive of love.  Love fits well with holiness and blamelessness, for this would denote a balance between holiness and love. God is love and believers, because of God’s electing love, should manifest love with holiness. 

                                                            iii.      We have a certain appointment to share the glory of Christ. 

1.      2Thess. 2:14, Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.      God called us to salvation by using the gospel as it was preached. God’s purpose in doing so was that we might one day share the splendor and honor that Jesus Christ now enjoys, seated at the right hand of the Father (2Thess. 1:10-12).

3.      For the “obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Here the apostle peers into the future and sees the ultimate outcome of salvation—to be with Christ and be like Him forever. J. N. Darby captures the thought in his beautiful hymn:

a.      And is it so—I shall be like Thy Son?

Is this the grace which He for me has won?

Father of glory, thought beyond all thought!

In glory, to His own blest likeness brought!—Believer's Bible Commentary

3.     The Fact That People Believe and are Fruitful.

a.       Paul Knew That These Believers Were Among the Elect.   But How Did He Know?

                                                               i.      He Knew Because They Received the Gospel (1Thess. 1:4).

1.      II Th 2:13-14, 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:

2.      Eph 1:13, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

3.      It strengthens a church greatly when every member is truly saved and has evidence in their lives of genuine salvation. Assurance is essential to spiritual strength.

                                                             ii.      He Knew Because of Their Christian Service (1Thess 1:3).

1.      1Thes 1:3, Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

2.      A genuine conversion should always lead to good works! Titus 3:8, This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

2. Is the Sinner Forced to Respond to God’s Grace Against His Will?

                                                              i.      No, we responded through an act of our choice and will (Jn. 1:11-12). Certainly, this must be in the context of God’s Spirit and the Word of God working in the heart convicting and persuading us.  But, this is not in any way irresistible grace (Matt. 23:37).

                                                             ii.      It is the sinner who must exercise faith (Isa. 45:22; John 3:15, 16; Rom. 1:16; 10:11-13; 2Pet. 3:9; 1John 2:2).

                                                            iii.      The mystery of divine sovereignty and human responsibility will never be solved in this life. Both are taught in the Bible (John 6:37). Both are true, and both are essential.

Conclusion:

Yes, this is a great model of a strong church.  We would be wise to follow their example of:

I. Serving as faithful ministers

II. Existing in the sphere and power of God

III. Engaging in energetic service

IV. Sustaining a saved membership

So, again these were truly saved folks. While they belong to the local community they had a personal faith encounter with Jesus Christ that made them a part of God’s family. Being a member of God’s family subsequently led to joining Christ’s body—the Church at Thessalonica. Only saved individuals could become members. Yes, anyone can attend a church and benefit in many ways, but membership is exclusively for those saved, and biblically baptized converts, who follow the Spirit’s leadership to unite or join the church. It is a specific commitment. If you have never made this commitment as a saved person, then you need to. I did not say all churches are the same; I did not say the church you consider must be perfect. There are no perfect churches, but trust God’s Spirit to lead you to join the church of his desire for you. He places the members in the body.

What should we look for when considering a home church? Look for a church with leaders serving as faithful ministers of Christ. Join a congregation that understands it exists in the sphere or God’s power and grace. The church’s first identification and obligation are to Christ and not the community. Choose a church that manifests the characteristics of working in faith, serving in love, and enduring because of hope in Christ. A place that makes much of Jesus Christ, proclaims the entire Bible, develops committed witnesses and disciples, emphasizes the importance of walking in the Spirit, and reaches out to its community and the world with the Gospel is worth considering. Join, learn, grow, and serve with the people of God.

In light of our calling, pursue this spiritual ideal. Recognize that we are in constant danger of being swept downstream by the currents of our ungodly culture. We are also prone to let the truths we know and the relationships we enjoy with God grow cold. We need to vigorously pursue what we have been taught from God’s Word. Refuse to succumb to the danger of slipping backward in your Christian experience because of the pressures of your trials and the daily negative influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Pursue this goal of becoming strong churches with a saved membership.