DRAWING NEAR
July 14
Elect in Christ
"You are a chosen race" (1 Pet. 2:9).
Election is a spiritual privilege from which all others flow.
Unlike those who are destined to destruction because of their
rejection of Christ (1 Pet. 2:8), Christians are an elect race of
people, bound together by God's redeeming grace. That's cause for
great celebration!
First Peter 2:9 is an allusion to Deuteronomy 7:6-9, which says, "You
are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen
you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who
are on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you
nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the
peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord
loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the
Lord brought you out by a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the
house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know
therefore that the Lord your God, He is God."
Like Israel, the church is the redeemed community of God, "chosen
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying
work of the Spirit" (1 Pet. 1:1-2). Before the foundation of the
world, God placed His love on you, then brought you into His kingdom
by granting you saving grace. That's the doctrine of election.
Many people misunderstand election, but it's a wonderful doctrine
that brings marvelous benefits. It exalts God by demonstrating His
love and grace toward miserable sinners. It eliminates pride by
affirming that you are totally dependent on God's grace. It should
promote such gratitude in your heart that you long to live in
holiness and serve Him at any price. It should also give you joy and
strength, knowing that God will never let you go and His purposes
will be accomplished in you. You can face any challenge with utmost
confidence in His provisions.
Rejoice in your election. Worship God and yield to His Spirit's
leading so His choice of you will be evident to all who know you.
Suggestions for Prayer:
What has the spiritual privilege of being chosen by God meant in your
life? Express your answer to God in prayer, thanking Him for His
wondrous grace.
For Further Study:
Read Romans 5. What benefits of election does Paul mention?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Peter 2:8-10
8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble,
being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of
Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had
not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Romans 5
5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which
we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that
tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a
good man someone would even dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through Him.
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the
death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be
saved by His life.
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and
death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all
sinned;
13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed
when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those
who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of
Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one
man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by
the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who
sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in
condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses
resulted in justification.
17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one,
much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men,
resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act
the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also
by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where
sin abounded, grace abounded much more,
21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign
through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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