DRAWING NEAR
January 17
Praising God for Your Election
"Having been predestined according to [God's] purpose who works
all things after the counsel of His will" (Eph. 1:11).
God took the initiative in salvation by choosing you and granting you
saving faith.
In Ephesians 1:4 Paul says that God "chose us in [Christ] before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before
Him." In verse 11 he reiterates that marvelous truth by affirming
that believers have been predestined to salvation according to God's
own purpose and will.
Many reject the teaching that God chose (predestined) believers to
salvation. They think believers chose God. In one sense they're
right: salvation involves an act of the will in turning from sin to
embrace Christ. But the issue in predestination goes deeper than
that. It's a question of initiative. Did God choose you on the basis
of your faith in Him or did He, by choosing you, enable you to
respond in faith?
The answer is clear in Scripture. Romans 3:11 says that no one seeks
for God on his own. Unregenerate people have no capacity to
understand spiritual truth. It's all foolishness to them (1 Cor.
2:14). They are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1), blind (2 Cor. 4:4), and
ignorant (Eph. 4:18).
How can people in that condition initiate saving faith? They can't!
That's why Jesus said, "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who
sent Me draws him. . . . All that the Father gives Me shall come to
Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out" (John
6:44, 37). Paul added, "God . . . has saved us, and called us with a
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own
purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all
eternity" (2 Tim. 1:9).
God took the initiative. He chose you and gave you saving faith (Eph.
2:8-9). Rejoice in that truth. Rest in His power to conform all
things to His will. Draw strength and assurance from His promise
never to let you go (John 10:27-29). Then live each day as God's
elected one by shunning sin and following after holiness.
Suggestions for Prayer:
1. Praise God for placing His love upon you and granting you
salvation.
2. Pray for the salvation of others and seek opportunities to share
Christ with them today.
For Further Study: Read Ezekiel 36:22-32
1. Why will God one day redeem Israel?
2. What does that passage teach you about God's initiative in
salvation?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Romans 3:11 (NKJV)
11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
1 Corinthians 2:14
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of
God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned.
Ephesians 2:1
2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins
2 Corinthians 4:4
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe,
lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image
of God, should shine on them.
Ephesians 4:18
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the
life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
John 10:27-29
27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no
one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
Ezekiel 36:22-32
22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:
"I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy
name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you
went.
23 "And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among
the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations
shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am
hallowed in you before their eyes.
24 "For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of
all countries, and bring you into your own land.
25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean;
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I
will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart
of flesh.
27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My
statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
28 "Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;
you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
29 "I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for
the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you.
30 "And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of
your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine
among the nations.
31 "Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were
not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your
iniquities and your abominations.
32 "Not for your sake do I do this," says the Lord GOD, "let it be
known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of
Israel!"
~~~
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://www2.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
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
http://www.gty.org/Gospel/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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