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Chosen? · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Good evening, friends. We're going to worship God. We're going to sing to His praise from
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! Psalm 87. Sing Psalm's version of Psalm 87. You'll find that on page 115 in your psalm books.
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! Psalm 87. We're going to be singing the whole of this psalm on the tune of Sussex.
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Page 115, Psalm 87. On Jerusalem's holy mountain,
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he has founded his abode. More than all of Jacob's dwellings, Zion's gates are dear to God.
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The whole of this psalm, to God's praise.
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On Jerusalem's holy mountain, he has founded his abode.
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More than all of Jacob's dwellings, Zion's gates are dear to God.
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Glorious things of you are spoken, Zion's city of the Lord.
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Many drawn from all the nations, as your people I record.
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I will name as those who know me, Egypt, Zion and Babylon.
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Philistine, along with Cushite, I will count as Zion born.
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Yes, it will be said of Zion, this and that one here belong.
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And on her the highest blessing will descend and make her strong.
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Born in Zion, God will enter in the people's register.
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They will sing God's living music.
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All my fountains are in heart.
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So bow our heads as we call on God's name in prayer.
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Let's pray together.
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Our Father in heaven, may your name be hallowed.
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Lord, we come into the presence of the Holy One, aware of our own inadequacies, aware of our own failings, aware that we fall short of what we ought to be.
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But we thank you, Lord, that you welcome us.
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You call us to come.
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And we can approach you as we come in the name of our Lord and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And we pray, Lord, as we endeavor to draw near to you this evening, that you would be pleased to draw near to us.
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You are involved in the life of your people.
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We sang even in that psalm of your intimate involvement in the life of your people.
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You have a record of each one.
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The psalm spoke of a register where our names are recorded.
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Maybe that is the Lamb's book of life.
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But it's a reminder to us, Lord, that you know every one of us.
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And we pray, Lord, this evening that as we come to worship you, that you would speak to us afresh this evening.
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That we would hear your voice, the voice of the shepherd.
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And that we would respond appropriately to it.
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Our Lord said, I know my sheep and my sheep know me.
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They hear my voice and they will follow me.
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Lord, may we hear you tonight.
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And may we be drawn into a closer walk with you.
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May we desire, Lord, to be made more like Jesus.
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So bless us and to be with us and help us, Lord.
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Help those who are your people this evening.
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Those who are Christians.
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We realize that being a Christian is not a, it's no walk in the park.
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The Bible describes it as a narrow way.
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Jesus himself said, whoever will come after me must take up his cross daily and follow me.
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And Lord, while we know there are many burdens that we have to bear.
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We thank you, Lord, that we do not face these challenges alone.
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We thank you that you have promised that you are with your people.
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And you always will be.
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You will never leave us.
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And you will never forsake us.
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And yet we want to pray, Lord, for any who may be struggling with some particular difficulty in their own lives.
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Or their own homes.
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Or their own families.
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Or maybe at their work.
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Maybe those who are suffering specifically because they're Christians.
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And in their families do not approve.
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Or in their workplaces.
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Maybe those who have been overlooked for promotion simply because of what they believe.
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Lord, help us, we pray, to recognize when we are being persecuted for your name's sake.
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And Jesus said that if they persecuted me, they will persecute you as well.
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But, Lord, what we might experience in that way is so small compared to what some of your people,
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our brothers and sisters around the world experience.
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And we pray this evening, Lord, for those who are being persecuted for their faith.
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Those who tonight are in prison.
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Those who tonight, Lord, may be facing death.
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Those who've lost loved ones.
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And the pain that comes with that.
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Lord, be with your persecuted people.
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Give them a boldness, we pray.
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Even as they witness to their persecutors and pray for them.
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May you hear their prayers.
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And may they know your nearness in the midst of their trial.
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Lord, we have to thank you for how, for the freedoms that we enjoy.
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Even the freedom to come and worship you this evening.
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Help us to never take these things for granted, we pray.
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But help each one of us.
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Be with those who are grieving, Lord.
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Lord, we commit them to you.
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That you would be close to them, Lord.
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That you would help them.
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When they maybe feel that they cannot go on, Lord.
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That you would encourage them.
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And you would reassure them, Lord.
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That you will be with them.
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We pray for those laid aside, Lord, with illness.
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Whether that is at home or in hospital.
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Or maybe still struggling to go about their daily lives.
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Those who live with pain every day.
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Lord, give them grace for that situation, we pray.
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And those who may be cast down, Lord, in their minds.
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We ask that you would be close to them.
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And, Lord, we are aware that there will be others who have good news.
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Who are rejoicing.
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Rejoicing in the birth of a child.
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Or in an engagement.
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Or a marriage.
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Or whatever it may be.
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Lord, as we weep with those who weep.
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We also rejoice with those who rejoice.
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Bless the young people in the congregation, Lord.
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We thank you for seeing so many here this morning.
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Going out to Sunday school and Tweenies and Crest, Lord.
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We pray for those who are with us this evening as well.
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That you would bless their young lives, we pray.
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And protect them, Lord.
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From everything that would threaten to take them away from you.
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And to draw them away from your word and from Jesus.
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Watch over them, we pray.
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Instead, Lord, we ask that they would be drawn closer to you.
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And we pray, Lord, for those not so young as well.
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For those who may be elderly.
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And with that come different challenges and different struggles, Lord.
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Those whose mobility is not what it used to be.
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Those, Lord, whose memory is not like it used to be.
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Those who maybe have become dependent on others, Lord.
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For so much of what they used to do themselves.
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Who are losing their independence.
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Lord, we pray that you would be gracious to them.
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And help them, Lord.
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As they struggle to adjust with these changes.
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That can come with advancing years.
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So be with our elderly, we pray.
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Help us to be a people who look out for them.
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And to remember them.
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And to pray for them.
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And to seek to help them in any way that we can.
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And Lord, bless our nation.
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And those in authority over us.
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Lord, give them wisdom, we pray.
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We can quickly find fault with them.
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But not be so quick to do as your word instructs us.
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And to pray for those in authority over us.
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So we commit them to you, Lord.
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Our prime minister, our first minister, our MPs and our MSPs.
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Give them wisdom, we pray.
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And be with those of them who are Christians, Lord.
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As they face so much opposition.
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Help them, Lord, to choose their battles well.
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And to be ready, Lord, to take a stand when that is necessary.
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And appropriate to do so.
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And give them grace, Lord, as they speak.
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And as they take a stand, Lord, for the truths of your word.
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Bless our world leaders, we pray as well, Lord.
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And even today, as we see further unrest in Syria.
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As we see one, maybe an evil leader being taken out.
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Possibly to be replaced by something worse.
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Lord, we commit the Middle East to you.
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And all the unrest going on there.
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Lord, you are the God who is enthroned on high.
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And so all we can do, Lord, is bring these situations to you.
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And ask that you be with those who are suffering.
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With those caught up in conflict.
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With those, Lord, who have lost loved ones.
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And property.
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And everything else, Lord.
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In the midst of war.
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Lord, make us thankful for the peace that we enjoy.
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And make us thankful this evening as we turn to your word.
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That we have that ability to meet as we do.
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So presence yourself among us, we pray.
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Take from us, Lord, all that is offensive to you.
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Cleanse us from our sin, we pray.
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Anything that would grieve your Holy Spirit and cause him to withdraw from us.
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Take that away from us, we pray.
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Take away all our distractions.
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And may we be drawn to you.
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May we be still this evening.
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And know that you are God.
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All these things we ask with a cleansing and forgiveness of all our sins.
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In Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Let's continue singing praise to God.
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This time from Psalm 37 in the Scottish Psalter.
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You'll find this on page 254.
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Page 254.
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Psalm 37 and at verse 23.
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I'm going to sing from 23 down to 28.
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The tune is Argyle.
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Psalm 37 at verse 23.
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A good man's footsteps by the Lord are ordered aright.
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And in the way wherein he walks, he greatly doth delight.
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From verse 23 down to verse 28.
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To God's praise.
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A good man's footsteps by the Lord are ordered aright.
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And in the way wherein he walks, he greatly doth delight.
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Although he fall, yet shall he not be cast out.
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And in the way wherein he walks, he will be cast out.
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Because the Lord with his own hand apposed him mightily.
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I have been young and now am old.
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Yet have I never seen.
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The just man left, nor had his scene, for great a beggar's king.
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He's ever merciful and blest, this sin is blest therefore.
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Depart from evil and do good and will forevermore.
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For God loves judgment and his face, please not in any case.
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The ark of the chamber, but God all, shall be the sinner's praise.
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I'm going to read from God's Word now in the New Testament and Paul's letter to the Romans.
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And in chapter 9, Romans chapter 9, we're going to read the whole of this chapter together.
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And if you're using an ESV, you'll see that there's a heading that's been added before chapter 9,
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which says God's sovereign choice.
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And that's going to be our subject this evening, what we call election.
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But let's read the whole of the chapter together.
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Romans chapter 9, reading from the beginning.
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Let's hear God's Word.
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I am speaking the truth in Christ.
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I'm not lying.
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My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
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For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
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They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship and the promises.
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To them belong the patriarchs.
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And from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
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But it is not as though the word of God has failed.
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For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.
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And not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring.
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But through Isaac shall your offspring be named.
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This means that it's not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
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For this is what the promise said.
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About this time next year I will return and Sarah shall have a son.
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And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
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though they were not yet born and had done nothing, either good or bad,
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in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works, but because of his call.
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She was told the older will serve the younger.
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As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
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What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part?
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By no means.
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For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
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So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy.
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For the scripture says to Pharaoh,
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For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you,
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and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
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So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
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You will say to me then,
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Why does he still find fault?
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For who can resist his will?
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But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?
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Will what is molded say to its molder,
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Why have you made me like this?
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Has the potter no right over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use,
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and another for dishonorable use?
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What of God, deciding to show his wrath and to make known his power,
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has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
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in order to make known the riches of his glory,
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for vessels of mercy,
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which he has prepared beforehand for glory,
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even us whom he has called?
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Not from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles.
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As indeed he says in Hosea,
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Those who were not my people, I will call my people.
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And her who was not beloved, I will call beloved.
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And in the very place where it was said to them,
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You are not my people,
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there they will be called sons of the living God.
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And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,
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Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
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only a remnant of them will be saved.
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For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.
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And as Isaiah predicted,
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If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
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we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.
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What shall we say then?
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That Gentiles who did not pursue a righteousness have attained it,
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that is, a righteousness that is by faith.
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But that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness
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did not succeed in reaching that law.
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Why?
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Because they did not pursue it by faith,
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but as if it were based on works.
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They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
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as it is written,
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Behold, I am laying in Zion,
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a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.
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And whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.
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Amen.
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This is the word of God,
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and we trust and we pray that he will follow it with his blessing.
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I'm going to sing again now,
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this time from the Scottish Psalter,
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from Psalm 40.
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You'll find this on page 259.
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Psalm 40 on page 259.
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And we're going to sing from the beginning of that psalm
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down to the end of the double verse marked five.
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The tune is Balerma.
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Psalm 40,
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page 259.
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I waited for the Lord my God,
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and patiently did bear at length to me.
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He did incline my voice and cry to hear.
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Verses 1 to 5 of Psalm 40.
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To God's praise.
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I waited for the Lord my God,
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and patiently did bear at length to me.
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He did incline my voice and cry to hear.
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He took me from the fearful pain,
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and from the mighty clay,
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And on the road he set my feet,
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establishing my way.
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He put a new song in my mouth,
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Our God to magnify.
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Many shall see it and shall fear,
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And on the Lord rely.
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O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord rely.
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O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord rely.
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O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord rely.
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to lie.
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O Lord, my God, full many are the wonders Thou hast done.
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Thy gracious thought to us ward far above all thoughts are gone.
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In order none can record them, to thee if them declare,
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and speak of them I would say more than can be numbered are.
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Well, as we seek God's help, can we turn back in our Bibles
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to the passage that we read together there in Paul's letter to the Romans,
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chapter 9.
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And we can read again a couple of verses, verse 10 and 11.
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Romans 9, at verse 10, and not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived
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children by one man, her forefather Isaac,
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though they were not yet born and had done nothing, either good or bad,
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in order that God's purpose of election might continue,
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not because of works, but because of his call.
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She was told the older will serve the younger.
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In order that God's purpose of election might continue.
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It's that time of year where we're choosing presence for other people,
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and sometimes people will ask you, well, what do you want?
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What would you like for yourself?
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And in choosing, I guess we all have our own criteria.
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You would choose something because it was attractive,
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or appealing, or appetizing.
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But tonight we're looking at God's choice,
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and it had nothing to do with anything of these considerations whatsoever.
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When I talk about God's choice, I mean God's choice of who would be saved,
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what is referred to as election.
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And it has nothing to do with how good or how bad you might be.
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It is simply God's sovereign choice.
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Nobody else had a say in it.
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Nobody influenced his decision,
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and never will God regret it.
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God has chosen everyone who would be saved before the world began.
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Let me repeat that in case you didn't get it.
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God has chosen everyone who would be saved before the world began.
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Now, that is a statement that people get tied in knots about,
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and it raises all kinds of objections and questions,
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such as, so if a person's not saved, that's not their fault, but God's?
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Or if a person is saved, does that mean they can live as they please,
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because they can never be lost?
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They'll be saved anyway.
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People also ask, well, if this is the case,
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if God's chosen, who will be saved?
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And they will be saved, and nobody else will.
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What's the point in preaching?
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What is the point in appealing to people to come to trust the Lord,
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if those who are chosen will come anyway,
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and those who are not will never come?
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Well, these are all reasonable questions,
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reasonable objections.
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And the Apostle Paul, who wrote this letter to the Romans,
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he expected that people would have objections to what he's saying.
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He expected that there would be that kind of reaction.
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Look at what he says in verse 19.
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You need to have your Bible open for this evening,
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if you're going to be able to follow it.
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Verse 19 of chapter 9, Paul says,
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You will then say to me, why does he still find fault?
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For who can resist his will?
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In other words, God can't blame us,
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because it's his choice.
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So he was expecting these kind of objections.
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So that's what I want to study with you this evening.
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God's choice of who will be saved.
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We call it unconditional election.
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The unconditional meaning, his choosing of who would be saved,
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was not conditional on anything about them at all,
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or anything in us at all.
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This teaching, doctrine if you want to call it that,
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it may be something that you've been familiar with most of your life,
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or it may be something that you're not familiar with at all.
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And maybe what you know of it,
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or even what you've just heard of it this evening,
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you might love it,
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you might loathe it,
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or you might be completely baffled by it.
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So I want to try my best this evening to explain it to you as simply as I possibly can.
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And I'd like to do that under three headings this evening.
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First of all, clarity.
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Secondly, confusion.
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And thirdly, comfort.
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These three words, clarity, confusion, and comfort.
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So let's start with clarity.
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And what I mean by that is that this teaching is clearly taught in the Bible.
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It is crystal clear from Scripture that God had chosen those who will be saved.
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That's what the Apostle Paul is telling us here in verses 10 to 12.
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He talks about Jacob and Esau.
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They were two brothers.
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They were twin brothers, actually.
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The sons of Isaac, grandsons of Abraham.
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And Paul says very, very clearly to us in verse 10 that before these boys were born,
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before they had done anything good or bad,
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God had chosen one of them.
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God had chosen Jacob.
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And while Paul probably states it more clearly and more starkly than others,
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it is a teaching that you'll find in many places in Scripture.
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So, for instance, in the letter to the Ephesians,
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we read this,
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He chose us in Christ before the creation of the world.
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God chose those who'd be saved before He ever made the world.
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Or going to the letter to the Thessalonians,
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it says,
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From the beginning God chose you to be saved.
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This is what I mean by clarity.
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This teaching is clearly there in the Scriptures from beginning to end.
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Now, if you're on the ball, you might say,
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Well, that's only Paul you've quoted.
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It was Paul that wrote to the Romans.
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It was Paul that wrote to the Ephesians.
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It was Paul that wrote to the Thessalonians.
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But Jesus was clearly aware of this as well.
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Jesus speaks of His own people as,
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Those whom the Father has given to me.
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They were already given to Him.
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And in John 6, He says,
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All that the Father has given to me will come to me.
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Those who had already been chosen.
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Jesus says they're going to come.
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So if you study the Scripture with an open mind,
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there can be absolutely no doubt
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that God has a chosen people,
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what we call the elect,
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and that they alone will be saved.
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They alone will be saved.
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And you'll find that clearly in passages such as in Acts 13.
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We read this.
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Listen carefully to this.
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All who were appointed for eternal life believed.
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All who were appointed for eternal life believed.
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You've got to note what this is not saying.
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It's not saying that they believed.
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It's not saying they were appointed because they believed.
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Sorry.
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It's saying they believed because they'd already been appointed.
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They had already been chosen.
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All who were appointed for eternal life believed.
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And Jesus says virtually the same thing,
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although He's talking about the opposite group.
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He's talking about those who didn't believe.
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In John 10, verse 26,
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Jesus says,
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You do not believe because you are not my sheep.
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Again, you have to think about what He's not saying.
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He's not saying you're not my sheep because you haven't believed.
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What He said was,
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You don't believe because you're not my sheep.
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You're not my chosen ones.
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If you're a Christian tonight,
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the very reason you believed is that God appointed you to believe,
33:58
that God chose you to be saved.
34:00
Now that much,
34:03
and I know you will already have questions and objections,
34:06
but that much is clear, crystal clear from Scripture.
34:10
You cannot argue with it,
34:11
that God has His elect people.
34:14
And it's not because they're better than others.
34:18
It's not because there's anything good in them whatsoever.
34:21
The Shorter Catechism captures that when it says this,
34:25
that God, having out of His mere good pleasure,
34:28
from all eternity,
34:30
elected some to everlasting life.
34:34
It chose them out of His mere good pleasure.
34:38
That's His prerogative.
34:39
Not because they were better than others.
34:42
Let's deal with some of the objections that you might be having
34:46
to this at this stage.
34:50
You may be saying,
34:51
Well, that's not fair.
34:54
That is not fair that God chose some and leaves others.
35:00
Well, if you really wanted fairness,
35:04
there would be no hope for any of us.
35:07
If we really wanted fairness and justice,
35:10
we would all be heading for a lost eternity.
35:15
Maybe you say,
35:16
Okay, fair enough,
35:17
but it's still unfair, surely.
35:19
It's still unfair that those who are not chosen
35:22
will go to a lost eternity
35:24
through no fault of their own.
35:27
Well, that statement's just not true.
35:31
Nobody will go to a lost eternity
35:34
through no fault of their own.
35:36
Nobody will be lost
35:39
or judged eternally
35:42
who didn't deserve that.
35:45
Everybody is condemned
35:46
by their own sin.
35:50
Coming back to the passage.
35:51
We've not done much in the passage,
35:52
but I intend to.
35:53
But verse 13.
35:54
Look at verse 13.
35:55
Now, before I read this,
35:56
this sounds harsh.
35:58
This is hard to hear.
36:00
Verse 13.
36:00
As it is written,
36:01
Jacob I loved,
36:03
but Esau I hated.
36:10
I don't believe that God hated Esau
36:13
before he was born.
36:16
The verses before that
36:17
are speaking about
36:18
what happened before birth,
36:19
that God had chosen Jacob
36:22
before he was born.
36:23
But I don't believe God hated Esau
36:25
before he was born.
36:27
God came to hate Esau
36:28
because of Esau's sin.
36:30
That's what the Bible tells us.
36:31
The Bible tells us
36:32
that God hates sin
36:33
and he hates a person
36:34
who continues in sin
36:36
rejecting God
36:38
and determined to go on
36:40
in that path
36:41
and that was Esau.
36:43
Esau was condemned
36:45
because of his own
36:47
ungodly behavior,
36:49
his own attitude
36:50
and his own actions.
36:53
So if you read about Esau,
36:54
go back to Genesis.
36:55
Genesis 25.
36:57
I think it's the last verse
36:58
of the chapter.
36:59
It says this about Esau.
37:01
Esau despised his birthright.
37:04
That was his spiritual heritage.
37:07
It doesn't just say
37:08
he couldn't care about it.
37:10
He despised it.
37:12
And then you read about Esau
37:13
in Hebrews chapter 12.
37:15
It says this.
37:16
Esau was sexually immoral
37:17
and godless.
37:21
These are the things
37:21
that condemned Esau.
37:23
not the fact that
37:25
he wasn't chosen.
37:27
And that's why
37:28
in the very next verse,
37:29
verse 14,
37:30
Paul then says,
37:31
so having says,
37:32
Jacob I loved,
37:32
Esau I hated.
37:34
Verse 14,
37:34
what shall we say then?
37:35
Is there injustice
37:36
on God's part?
37:38
By no means.
37:41
He says,
37:41
you can't accuse God
37:43
of being unjust.
37:44
Esau got what he deserved.
37:50
But I want to push this
37:54
a bit further.
37:56
Hoping you're still with me.
37:59
I want to suggest
38:01
to you this evening
38:02
that God's choosing of some
38:04
to eternal life
38:06
and consigning of others
38:09
to eternal judgment,
38:11
that these two
38:14
are not symmetrical.
38:16
By that I mean
38:17
that God is not
38:18
equally involved
38:20
in both.
38:22
He's very involved
38:24
in the choosing
38:25
of those who will be saved.
38:28
But he passes
38:29
by the rest.
38:31
He passes
38:32
by the rest.
38:33
He's not equally involved
38:35
in both.
38:38
So I want to draw
38:39
your attention
38:39
to verse 22.
38:41
And when you read this,
38:42
it sounds like
38:43
I've blown my own argument.
38:46
Verse 22.
38:47
Let's read it together.
38:51
What if God,
38:52
deciding to show his wrath
38:53
and to make known
38:54
his power,
38:56
has endured
38:56
with much patience
38:57
vessels of wrath
38:59
prepared for destruction
39:03
or objects of wrath
39:04
prepared for destruction?
39:07
So you read that
39:08
at first reading at least.
39:10
And it sounds like
39:11
God created people
39:14
just to destroy them.
39:16
That's what it sounds like,
39:18
which would clearly
39:19
blow my argument.
39:22
But that verse,
39:24
you'll agree with me,
39:25
it's speaking about
39:25
what God does.
39:26
God is active
39:27
in verse 22.
39:28
This is him.
39:29
This is what he's doing.
39:31
He's active
39:31
until you come
39:32
to the word prepared.
39:34
Now this is not as clear
39:35
in your English translation,
39:36
but remember
39:38
your New Testament
39:38
was written in Greek.
39:41
And in Greek,
39:41
that word prepared
39:42
is passive.
39:45
It's a passive.
39:46
In other words,
39:47
God is not involved
39:48
in that bit.
39:50
It's not God
39:51
who prepares people
39:53
for destruction.
39:54
Who does it then?
39:55
They do it themselves.
39:57
They do it themselves.
39:59
God is passive
40:00
in that part.
40:01
Now, if you're not convinced,
40:04
let me take you
40:05
to the next verse
40:06
that speaks of
40:07
his involvement
40:07
in those who will be saved.
40:10
And you're going to notice
40:11
a very subtle difference.
40:13
Verse 23.
40:15
In order to make known
40:16
the riches of his glory
40:17
for vessels of mercy,
40:20
which he has prepared
40:22
beforehand for glory.
40:24
That prepared word
40:25
is there again.
40:27
God's preparing people
40:29
for glory.
40:29
But in this verse,
40:32
in Greek,
40:32
it's active.
40:34
It's God that does it.
40:37
Now, you will see
40:38
the difference
40:38
in your English translations
40:39
because in verse 23,
40:42
it includes the word he,
40:45
which he,
40:46
God,
40:47
prepared
40:47
for glory.
40:50
In verse 22,
40:52
there is no he.
40:54
Vettels of wrath
40:55
prepared
40:56
for destruction.
40:58
God is passive
41:00
in the first
41:01
preparation.
41:04
Those who will be lost,
41:05
he's active
41:05
in the second.
41:08
So, if you haven't
41:09
followed me,
41:09
let me just state that
41:11
as plainly
41:11
as I can.
41:13
Where these verses
41:14
are speaking
41:15
about people
41:16
being prepared
41:17
for glory,
41:19
it is God
41:19
that does that.
41:21
Where it speaks
41:22
about people
41:22
being prepared
41:23
for destruction,
41:25
they do that
41:26
themselves.
41:26
Hence my argument,
41:29
God is not
41:30
equally involved
41:31
in both.
41:33
It's not symmetrical.
41:35
He is very involved
41:36
in the choosing
41:37
of those
41:38
who will be saved.
41:39
He passes
41:40
by
41:41
the rest.
41:44
Now,
41:44
if you're on the ball,
41:45
you might have noticed
41:46
verse 18,
41:47
which again
41:49
seems to go
41:49
against my argument
41:50
because it talks
41:51
about God
41:51
hardening
41:52
a heart.
41:53
let's read
41:57
verse 18.
41:59
So,
41:59
then he has
42:00
mercy
42:00
on whomever
42:02
he wills
42:02
and he hardens
42:04
whomever
42:04
he wills.
42:06
So,
42:07
if God
42:07
hardens hearts,
42:08
then surely
42:08
that's him
42:09
preparing people
42:10
for destruction.
42:13
But you've got to
42:14
ask,
42:15
what's the context
42:16
here?
42:17
The context
42:17
here is the verse
42:18
that comes before it
42:19
that mentions
42:20
a specific person,
42:21
verse 17.
42:21
for scripture says
42:23
to Pharaoh.
42:26
This is talking
42:26
about what God
42:27
did in Pharaoh's
42:28
heart.
42:29
You can read
42:30
about that
42:30
in Exodus 8
42:31
and Exodus 9.
42:33
And in Exodus 9
42:33
you will read
42:34
that God
42:35
hardened
42:35
Pharaoh's
42:37
heart.
42:39
But you've got
42:40
to read Exodus 8
42:41
where you will
42:42
see that,
42:43
read that,
42:44
Pharaoh hardened
42:45
his heart,
42:46
Pharaoh hardened
42:46
his heart,
42:47
Pharaoh hardened
42:48
his heart.
42:50
And in chapter 9,
42:51
Exodus 9,
42:51
God gave him
42:52
what he wanted.
42:54
God gave Pharaoh
42:54
what he'd already
42:55
chosen,
42:57
a heart that
42:57
was hard
42:58
against God.
43:01
So,
43:02
that was our
43:02
first point,
43:04
longer than
43:05
the other,
43:06
clarity.
43:09
And if you're
43:09
thinking,
43:09
well,
43:10
if that was
43:10
clear,
43:10
I'm not
43:11
looking forward
43:11
to point 2,
43:13
confusion.
43:14
But confusion,
43:15
I think,
43:16
is simpler
43:16
and easier
43:17
to follow
43:17
than the clarity
43:18
was.
43:18
What I mean
43:19
by clarity
43:20
is that
43:21
this teaching
43:22
that God
43:22
has chosen
43:23
those who
43:24
will be
43:24
saved
43:24
is crystal
43:26
clear
43:26
in the Bible.
43:29
Absolute
43:29
clarity on it.
43:30
We can't
43:31
deny it.
43:32
But then let's
43:32
come to confusion.
43:34
So,
43:34
what I mean by
43:34
confusion is that
43:35
once you
43:36
maybe get over
43:38
any objections
43:38
you have
43:39
or once you
43:40
accept that
43:40
this is the
43:41
teaching of
43:41
the Bible,
43:43
you will come
43:44
up with lots
43:44
of questions,
43:45
lots of
43:45
objections,
43:46
lots of
43:46
confusing
43:47
issues,
43:49
such as,
43:51
if I'm not
43:52
in the elect,
43:53
I'll never
43:55
be saved.
43:57
So,
43:57
why bother
43:58
doing anything?
44:00
Or,
44:01
closely related
44:02
to that,
44:03
if God's
44:04
already chosen
44:04
everyone who
44:05
will be saved,
44:05
what's the point
44:06
of preaching?
44:06
Why would we
44:07
appeal to anyone?
44:09
If they're going
44:09
to be saved,
44:09
they're going
44:10
to be saved.
44:11
And then there's
44:12
this third
44:12
confusion.
44:13
confusion.
44:15
If God
44:15
has chosen
44:16
those who
44:17
will be saved
44:18
and they'll
44:19
be saved
44:19
and never
44:20
be lost,
44:21
are they not
44:22
liable to
44:23
live carelessly
44:24
as Christians?
44:27
These are all
44:27
good points
44:28
to raise.
44:29
They're real
44:29
objections,
44:31
confusions
44:32
that we have
44:33
to process
44:34
as we think
44:35
about this.
44:35
So,
44:35
I want to
44:36
address each
44:37
of these
44:37
three one
44:37
at a time
44:38
just now.
44:39
So,
44:39
first of all,
44:40
this objection
44:43
that leads
44:43
to confusion.
44:44
If I'm not
44:45
in the elect,
44:46
I'll never
44:47
be saved.
44:48
So,
44:48
what's the
44:49
point in
44:49
doing anything?
44:51
Well,
44:52
people who
44:52
reel out
44:53
that argument
44:54
usually do
44:57
so because
44:57
they don't
44:58
want to
44:59
trust the
45:00
Lord.
45:01
They don't
45:02
want to
45:02
come under
45:03
his authority.
45:04
They don't
45:05
want to
45:05
be answerable
45:06
to him.
45:07
And they're
45:07
looking for
45:08
an excuse
45:08
to justify
45:09
their position.
45:12
And let me
45:12
tell you,
45:12
God will
45:13
not allow
45:13
you to
45:14
hold on
45:14
to that
45:14
excuse.
45:16
God will
45:16
not allow
45:17
you to
45:17
hold on
45:18
to that
45:18
excuse.
45:19
Because God
45:19
has commanded
45:20
us to
45:22
seek the
45:23
Lord.
45:23
That's your
45:24
duty,
45:25
to seek
45:26
the Lord.
45:26
And he's
45:27
promised if
45:27
you do,
45:28
you will
45:28
find him.
45:30
Listen to
45:31
Acts 17.
45:34
God
45:34
commands
45:35
all people
45:36
everywhere
45:37
to repent.
45:41
No loophole.
45:42
all people
45:44
everywhere
45:45
are commanded
45:46
to repent.
45:47
That's your
45:47
duty.
45:49
And there's a
45:50
promise that
45:50
goes with it.
45:51
If you do
45:51
repent,
45:52
you turn from
45:52
your sin
45:53
and you
45:53
seek the
45:53
Lord.
45:54
Matthew 7,
45:55
ask and you
45:56
will receive.
45:57
Seek and you
45:58
will find.
45:59
Knock and the
45:59
door will be
46:01
opened to
46:02
you.
46:02
If you go
46:05
into the
46:05
next chapter,
46:07
Romans chapter
46:07
10,
46:09
and verse
46:10
9,
46:12
we read
46:12
this.
46:13
Here's another
46:14
promise,
46:15
a clear
46:15
promise.
46:17
Romans 10,
46:17
verse 9,
46:18
if you confess
46:18
with your
46:19
mouth that
46:19
Jesus is
46:20
Lord and
46:20
believe in
46:21
your heart
46:21
that God
46:21
raised him
46:22
from the
46:22
dead,
46:23
you will
46:24
be saved.
46:26
You will
46:26
be saved.
46:27
That's
46:28
God's
46:29
promise.
46:31
So friends,
46:32
the ball is
46:33
firmly in
46:33
your court.
46:36
No excuses.
46:38
No hiding
46:39
place.
46:40
God tells
46:41
you to
46:43
seek him.
46:44
And if you
46:44
do, you
46:45
will find
46:46
him.
46:47
And you'll
46:48
find then
46:48
that you
46:50
were chosen
46:50
by God
46:51
to be
46:52
saved.
46:54
Whoever
46:55
comes to
46:56
me, he
46:56
says,
46:57
I'll
46:57
never
46:58
turn
46:58
away.
46:59
I'll
46:59
never
47:00
turn
47:00
away.
47:01
There's
47:01
no room
47:02
for excuses.
47:03
There's
47:03
no room
47:04
for a
47:04
hiding
47:04
place.
47:05
So that's
47:06
the first
47:06
objection
47:06
that causes
47:07
confusion.
47:07
If I'm
47:08
not in
47:08
the elect,
47:08
I'll
47:08
never be
47:09
saved.
47:10
The second
47:10
is this.
47:10
Why
47:11
preach?
47:12
Why
47:13
preach?
47:13
If all
47:13
who are
47:14
going to
47:14
be saved
47:14
are going
47:14
to be
47:15
saved
47:15
anyway?
47:16
And if
47:17
they're
47:17
not in
47:17
the elect,
47:18
they're
47:18
never
47:18
going to
47:18
be
47:18
saved.
47:20
Well,
47:20
we preach
47:21
because God's
47:23
choice is
47:23
his business,
47:25
not ours.
47:27
We don't
47:27
know who
47:28
are in
47:28
the elect.
47:29
So we
47:30
appeal to
47:30
all to
47:31
come to
47:33
Christ for
47:33
salvation.
47:35
That's the
47:35
instruction that
47:36
the Bible
47:36
gives us,
47:37
and that's
47:37
the example
47:38
that the
47:39
Bible gives
47:40
us.
47:43
Jesus
47:43
called us
47:43
to go
47:44
and make
47:44
disciples
47:45
of all
47:47
nations.
47:48
He didn't
47:48
tell us to
47:48
be selective.
47:51
Paul to
47:53
the church
47:53
at Corinth
47:53
said,
47:55
we plead
47:55
with you
47:56
on Christ's
47:57
behalf.
47:58
Be
47:58
reconciled
47:59
to God.
48:01
And then
48:02
there's
48:02
Jesus'
48:02
own
48:02
example.
48:03
Remember
48:04
that wonderful
48:06
invitation that
48:06
Jesus gave?
48:09
Matthew 11,
48:10
come to
48:10
me,
48:11
all you
48:12
who are
48:13
weary
48:14
and burdened,
48:15
and I
48:16
will give
48:16
you rest.
48:18
All
48:19
you.
48:20
Well,
48:21
just before
48:21
he gave
48:21
that invitation,
48:22
Jesus said
48:23
this in
48:24
Matthew 11,
48:24
he said,
48:27
I praise
48:27
you,
48:27
Father,
48:27
Lord of
48:28
heaven and
48:28
earth,
48:29
because you've
48:30
hidden these
48:30
things from
48:31
the wise
48:32
and learned
48:32
and revealed
48:34
them to
48:35
little children.
48:37
Jesus knew
48:38
that not
48:38
everyone would
48:39
believe.
48:41
He knew
48:41
that not
48:42
everyone would
48:42
believe,
48:43
and yet he
48:44
still appeals
48:45
to them all
48:46
to come.
48:47
That's his
48:48
example.
48:49
That's what we
48:50
follow.
48:50
then there's
48:51
a third
48:52
confusion or
48:54
objection that
48:54
causes confusion,
48:56
and that is
48:57
that if those
48:58
whom God has
48:58
chosen will
48:59
be saved and
49:00
cannot be
49:00
lost,
49:02
might they
49:02
get careless?
49:04
Might they
49:05
live recklessly
49:05
as Christians?
49:07
Well,
49:07
there's always
49:07
that danger
49:08
that a
49:09
Christian
49:10
could live
49:11
carelessly.
49:13
But God
49:14
will not
49:14
allow any
49:15
believer to
49:15
continue on
49:16
that route
49:17
indefinitely.
49:18
he will
49:19
bring his
49:20
own people
49:20
back one
49:21
way or
49:21
another.
49:22
He'll
49:23
either draw
49:23
them back
49:24
with his
49:24
love,
49:26
or he'll
49:28
bring them
49:29
back through
49:29
his
49:30
justicement,
49:31
maybe through
49:31
some difficult,
49:33
painful trial
49:33
that he brings
49:35
into that
49:35
experience.
49:37
But the
49:38
person who
49:39
is convinced
49:40
that God
49:40
chose them
49:42
when there
49:43
was nothing
49:44
worth choosing
49:46
within them
49:47
whatsoever,
49:48
rather than
49:50
cause you
49:50
to be
49:51
careless and
49:52
reckless in
49:53
the way you
49:54
live.
49:55
That instead
49:56
causes us to
49:57
want to
49:58
please him
49:59
in any way
50:00
we can.
50:02
And that
50:02
was God's
50:03
purpose in
50:05
choosing his
50:06
own.
50:08
Scripture says
50:08
this,
50:09
Ephesians 1,
50:10
he chose us
50:11
in Christ so
50:12
that we would
50:13
be holy and
50:14
blameless in
50:16
his sight.
50:17
that was why
50:18
he chose us,
50:19
to be holy and
50:20
blameless in
50:21
his sight.
50:22
Or Romans 8,
50:24
for those God
50:25
foreknew,
50:27
he also
50:28
predestined
50:29
to be
50:30
conformed to
50:31
the image
50:32
of his
50:33
son.
50:34
He chose
50:35
you to
50:36
make you
50:37
like Jesus.
50:39
So while
50:39
there's always
50:40
the danger
50:40
that any
50:40
believer will
50:41
stray,
50:41
God will
50:44
bring his
50:44
people back
50:46
to himself.
50:47
So that's
50:48
our second
50:48
point this
50:48
evening.
50:49
There's
50:49
confusion.
50:50
People have
50:50
all these
50:51
questions and
50:51
objections to
50:53
the doctrine
50:53
of election.
50:55
So we
50:55
talked about
50:56
clarity,
50:57
we talked
50:57
about confusion,
50:58
thirdly and
50:58
finally,
50:59
comfort.
51:00
Comfort.
51:02
This doctrine
51:03
is one of the
51:04
believers'
51:05
greatest
51:05
comforts.
51:06
things.
51:08
And if the
51:09
God who
51:09
doesn't
51:09
change,
51:11
the God
51:11
who cannot
51:11
change,
51:12
chose you
51:13
to be
51:14
saved,
51:15
and his
51:16
choice was
51:16
not conditional
51:17
on anything
51:18
whatsoever
51:19
about you,
51:22
then that's
51:22
never going
51:23
to change.
51:24
Because God
51:25
doesn't change.
51:27
So even at
51:27
your worst,
51:30
God never
51:30
chose you
51:30
because you
51:31
were good.
51:32
And he's
51:33
not going
51:33
to change
51:33
because you're
51:35
bad.
51:36
Your salvation
51:36
is not
51:37
dependent on
51:38
you,
51:38
but on
51:39
him,
51:40
and on
51:40
him alone.
51:42
Charles Spurgeon,
51:42
the great
51:43
preacher of
51:44
yesteryear,
51:44
once said,
51:46
I'm glad
51:47
God chose
51:47
me before
51:48
I was
51:48
born,
51:49
because he'd
51:50
see nothing
51:51
worth choosing
51:52
after that.
51:54
And if
51:55
you're a
51:55
Christian who
51:56
knows your
51:56
own heart
51:57
tonight,
51:58
you know
51:58
that's
51:59
true of
51:59
you too.
52:00
He'd
52:00
see nothing
52:01
worth choosing
52:02
after that.
52:05
If God
52:06
has chosen
52:06
you,
52:07
nothing
52:07
you do
52:08
will ever
52:09
affect his
52:10
choice.
52:12
Jacob,
52:13
this verse,
52:14
they're talking
52:14
about Jacob
52:15
and Esau.
52:15
Jacob wasn't
52:17
saved because
52:18
he was good.
52:20
He was saved
52:20
despite the
52:21
fact that he
52:21
was bad.
52:23
If you know
52:24
anything of
52:24
Jacob,
52:24
he was a
52:25
liar,
52:25
he was a
52:26
deceiver,
52:26
he was a
52:27
schemer.
52:29
And yet
52:30
God chose
52:30
him.
52:31
As verse
52:32
15 puts
52:33
it,
52:34
I will
52:35
have
52:35
mercy
52:35
on whom
52:37
I will
52:37
have
52:37
mercy.
52:39
I
52:39
remember
52:39
hearing
52:40
about
52:40
someone
52:41
who
52:41
went
52:41
to see
52:41
their
52:42
minister
52:42
because
52:42
this
52:42
verse
52:43
troubled
52:43
them.
52:44
And they
52:45
said,
52:45
I really
52:46
struggle
52:46
with this
52:47
verse,
52:48
verse 13.
52:50
Jacob have
52:50
I loved
52:51
and Esau
52:51
have I
52:51
hated.
52:53
How can
52:53
God hate
52:54
someone?
52:55
And the
52:56
preacher's
52:56
reply was,
52:57
well,
52:57
I struggle
52:58
with this
52:58
verse as
52:59
well.
53:00
But not
53:01
that bit,
53:01
but the
53:01
other bit.
53:03
Jacob have
53:04
I loved.
53:06
Jacob was
53:07
a deceiver.
53:09
There was
53:10
nothing
53:10
lovable
53:11
about
53:12
Jacob.
53:14
And yet
53:14
God loved
53:15
him because
53:17
God chose
53:17
him.
53:19
And God
53:20
loves still
53:22
unlovable
53:23
people like
53:24
you and
53:25
like me
53:25
this evening.
53:26
the
53:28
doctrine of
53:29
election.
53:29
And it's
53:29
a great
53:30
reassurance
53:31
to the
53:32
believer.
53:33
When Jesus
53:34
said in
53:34
John 6,
53:35
I think I
53:35
quoted this
53:36
already,
53:36
when he
53:36
said,
53:37
all that
53:37
the
53:37
father has
53:37
given me
53:38
will come
53:38
to me,
53:39
he also
53:40
said this,
53:41
and I
53:42
shall lose
53:42
none of
53:44
all that
53:44
he has
53:45
given me,
53:46
but shall
53:46
raise them
53:47
up of
53:48
the last
53:48
day.
53:50
I shall
53:50
lose none
53:52
of them,
53:52
Jesus said.
53:53
Once
53:53
saved,
53:54
always
53:55
saved.
53:55
God's
53:56
elect
53:57
cannot
53:58
be lost.
54:00
And surely
54:00
that is a
54:01
comfort to
54:02
God's
54:03
people this
54:03
evening.
54:05
But what
54:05
have you
54:05
not saved?
54:09
What have
54:09
you not
54:10
saved?
54:10
And tonight
54:10
you're
54:11
wondering,
54:11
well,
54:11
am I
54:12
one of
54:12
God's
54:13
chosen
54:13
people?
54:15
Well,
54:15
there's
54:15
one sure
54:16
way that
54:18
you can
54:18
find out.
54:20
Look again
54:20
at the
54:20
next chapter,
54:21
Romans chapter
54:22
10,
54:22
and this
54:22
time verse
54:23
13.
54:23
Romans 10
54:26
and verse
54:27
13 says
54:28
this,
54:29
for everyone
54:30
who calls
54:31
on the
54:31
name of
54:32
the Lord
54:32
will be
54:34
saved.
54:36
Again,
54:37
no
54:37
loopholes.
54:39
Everyone.
54:41
That
54:41
includes you.
54:42
You call
54:42
on the
54:42
name of
54:43
the Lord
54:43
and you
54:44
will be
54:45
saved.
54:45
That is
54:46
God's
54:46
promise.
54:46
and then
54:47
you'll
54:47
know.
54:48
You'll
54:49
know that
54:50
you are
54:51
one of
54:52
God's
54:52
chosen
54:53
people.
54:55
You know,
54:55
the Bible
54:55
tells us that
54:56
God doesn't
54:56
want any
54:57
to perish,
54:59
but that
54:59
all should
55:00
come to
55:01
repentance.
55:03
We saw it
55:03
with Jesus.
55:04
Jesus wept
55:05
outside of
55:06
Jerusalem,
55:07
looking over
55:07
Jerusalem,
55:08
and he
55:08
said,
55:09
how often
55:09
I would
55:10
have gathered
55:10
you as a
55:11
hen gathered
55:11
her chicks
55:12
under her
55:13
wing,
55:14
but you
55:15
wouldn't
55:16
come.
55:18
You
55:18
wouldn't
55:19
come.
55:21
And is
55:22
that what
55:22
he's saying
55:23
of you
55:24
this evening?
55:26
I long
55:27
to save
55:27
you,
55:29
but you
55:30
wouldn't
55:30
come.
55:32
Tonight,
55:34
the only
55:36
thing
55:36
preventing
55:37
you from
55:37
being saved
55:39
is yourself.
55:42
The only
55:43
reason
55:44
why anyone
55:45
would be
55:47
unsaved
55:47
here this
55:48
evening
55:48
is that
55:50
you've
55:50
never
55:51
genuinely
55:52
asked
55:53
God
55:53
to do
55:55
so.
55:58
You can
55:59
change that
55:59
tonight
56:00
if you
56:02
want to.
56:04
Amen.
56:04
Let's
56:04
pray.
56:05
Lord,
56:10
there are
56:12
so many
56:13
parts of
56:14
the Bible
56:15
that we
56:16
struggle
56:17
with,
56:18
we wrestle
56:18
with,
56:19
we find
56:20
difficult,
56:21
and yet
56:22
there are
56:23
passages
56:24
that are
56:25
crystal
56:25
clear.
56:27
Believe
56:27
on the
56:28
Lord Jesus
56:29
Christ
56:29
and you
56:31
will be
56:31
saved.
56:31
no ifs,
56:34
no buts.
56:35
Lord,
56:35
if we've
56:36
never
56:36
believed
56:36
before,
56:38
help us
56:38
to do
56:39
so this
56:39
evening.
56:40
And if
56:41
we have
56:41
trusted in
56:42
you,
56:42
may we
56:42
leave this
56:43
place
56:44
humbled,
56:46
knowing
56:47
that we're
56:48
saved not
56:49
because of
56:49
any good
56:50
in us,
56:51
but simply
56:52
because of
56:53
your sovereign
56:53
choice.
56:55
Draw us
56:56
closer to
56:56
yourself,
56:57
we pray.
56:57
Give us
56:58
thankful
56:58
hearts.
57:01
We ask
57:02
all these
57:02
things in
57:03
Jesus'
57:03
name.
57:03
Amen.
57:08
I'm going
57:08
to finish
57:09
singing from
57:09
Psalm 130,
57:10
the Scottish
57:11
Psalter version
57:12
of Psalm
57:12
130.
57:13
You'll
57:14
find it
57:14
on page
57:14
421.
57:24
Psalm 130,
57:25
we're going
57:26
to sing the
57:26
whole of
57:26
this psalm.
57:27
The tune
57:27
is Martyrdom.
57:28
We're on
57:30
page 421.
57:33
Lord,
57:34
from the
57:34
depths,
57:35
to thee I
57:35
cried,
57:36
my voice,
57:37
Lord,
57:37
do thou
57:37
hear,
57:38
and to
57:38
my
57:39
supplication's
57:39
voice,
57:40
give an
57:41
attentive
57:41
ear,
57:42
and down
57:42
to the
57:42
last
57:42
verse,
57:43
and
57:43
plenteous
57:43
redemption
57:44
is ever
57:45
found with
57:46
him,
57:47
and from
57:47
all his
57:47
iniquities
57:48
he,
57:49
Israel,
57:49
shall
57:50
redeem.
57:51
Psalm
57:51
130,
57:52
to God's
57:52
praise.
57:52
Lord,
57:58
from the
58:01
depths,
58:02
to thee
58:04
I cry,
58:07
my voice,
58:10
Lord,
58:11
do thou
58:13
hear,
58:15
hear,
58:16
until I
58:19
saw,
58:20
make
58:21
ancient's
58:24
voice,
58:26
give an
58:28
attempt
58:29
tear,
58:30
to me.
58:34
Lord, who shall
58:38
stand
58:39
heaven, O Lord,
58:44
just
58:46
part
58:47
in
58:48
equity,
58:53
but yet
58:55
with thee
58:57
forgiveness
59:01
is
59:03
that fear
59:06
the
59:07
layest
59:09
be.
59:12
I
59:13
wait for
59:15
God,
59:17
my soul
59:19
not
59:21
wait,
59:23
my hope
59:25
is
59:26
in
59:27
his
59:29
work
59:31
more
59:32
than
59:34
thee,
59:35
thou,
59:36
for
59:37
morning
59:39
watch
59:41
my
59:43
soul
59:44
wait for
59:46
the
59:48
Lord.
59:50
I
59:52
say
59:52
more
59:54
than
59:55
they
59:57
that
59:58
to
59:59
watch
1:00:01
the
1:00:02
morning
1:00:04
light
1:00:06
to see.
1:00:08
Let
1:00:10
Israel
1:00:13
hope
1:00:16
in the
1:00:18
Lord,
1:00:20
for
1:00:21
with
1:00:23
mercy
1:00:25
mercy
1:00:25
be!
1:00:29
!
1:00:29
God
1:00:29
and
1:00:29
plentious
1:00:30
redemption
1:00:35
is
1:00:36
ever
1:00:40
found
1:00:42
within
1:00:44
!
1:00:45
And
1:00:47
from
1:00:48
all
1:00:49
his
1:00:51
in
1:00:51
in
1:00:52
in
1:01:21
Thank you.