Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
November 1, 1992
2 Peter 1:3-11
WHO WILL BE ELECTED?
I. Elections demand a lot of a person.
A. Running for class treasurer my junior year.
1) Had to give a speech, ran against a popular girl.
2) Must have come down to the character issue.
B. Elections take a lot of dedication.
1) Everything about you is laid on the line.
2) Candidates may spend years plotting their campaign.
a) Clinton was thinking of the presidency while in college.
3) Yet in the end they are at the mercy of the voters.
II. Human elections are interesting, but God's election is vital.
A. First, God elected (chose) Jesus to be our Savior. 1 Peter 2:4
1) Yet he wasn't even good looking. Isaiah 53:2
2) Contrast modern politicians and makeup.
B. Second, God elects Christians to salvation.
1) God takes the initiative.
a) Love is at core of his decision. 1 Thess 1:4
b) Once again, good looks don't count. 1 Cor 1:26-29
c) We don't really chose (elect) him, he elects us. John 15:16
d) He is the only one who casts a vote.
2) Dilemma of predestination and "puppets."
a) Election is divorced from works. Romans 9:11-16
1> Before birth, God "hates" and "loves". Romans 9:13
A> (But refers to nations more than individuals)
2> Seems unjust. Romans 9:16
A> (Not really unjust - he would be fair to condemn all.)
Chuck Swindoll tells of a group of theologians who were
discussing predestination and free will.
The longer they talked, the hotter it got.
And, as you might expect, the dissidents split into two
groups.
One poor fella didn't know which he believed, so he
slipped into the ranks of the predestination crowd.
They challenged him as to why he was there.
"I came of my own free will," he answered innocently.
Frowning, they responded, "Free will? You can't join us.
You get over there!"
He retreated to the opposite group and faced the same
challenging spirit.
"Listen, I was sent here," he answered honestly.
"Leave!" they demanded.
"You can't join us unless you come of your own free will!"
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b) D. L. Moody tried to resolve the conflict between
predestination and human freedom like this:
"I come to the door of salvation and see written over it
`Whosoever will may come.'
I enter the door, and look above it, and it says,
`Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.'"
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c) Progression of election: (and Trinity) 1 Peter 1:1-2
1> Elect according to foreknowledge of God.
2> Through sanctifying work of Spirit.
3> For obedience to Jesus.
III. Our election is not a "sure thing." We have to make it so.
A. It is not a rigid system of unfeeling predestination.
1) A person can be called, but then not elected. Matthew 22:14
2) Israel is elect, but individuals will be lost. Romans 11:28
B. Election is affirmed by obedience.
1) Elect show faith by continuing to pray to God. Luke 18:7
2) Elect people clothe themselves with love. Col 3:12
3) Election made sure by practicing godly living. 2 Peter 1
C. Those who are truly elect, tough it out till the end. Matt 24:31
IV. Implications of election.
A. Many religions have used it to judge and divide people.
1) Typical of Jewish sects of Jesus' day.
2) "We are saved, and you're not."
B. Divine election is meant to emphasize God's love for us.
1) He chooses, reaches out, and brings us to him.
2) Those who seek him, will discover they are elect.
3) No one is refused, except by their own rejection.
C. If God is for us, nothing else matters.
1) We will be forgiven, not indicted. Romans 8:33
2) Our eternity is not at the whim of humans or nature.
3) No calamity can block us off from God.
D. The importance of knowing we are chosen.
Several years ago, a California aerospace company hired a
motivational consultant to examine and stimulate its work force.
The consultant found out about a particular section where
production and performance were extremely high.
Turnover and absenteeism in this department were the lowest in
the company, and morale was very high.
What puzzled the consultant was that the work done there was
mechanical and repetitive.
This group of employees maintained the pipes in the plant.
Their job was checking temperatures and pressures.
The delicacy of the equipment meant that the pipes had to work
within strict tolerances or there would be expensive damage.
But why was morale so high?
The consultant noticed that all the workers wore green surgical
smocks, and he asked the foreman about it.
The foreman explained that he got them from his son, a
cardiovascular surgeon.
The consultant said, "Ah, so you wear them for comfort."
"No, no!" the foreman said, "It's because we are surgeons.
Just like my son.
He takes care of the pipes of the body.
We take care of the pipes of the plant!
The plant isn't going to have any breakdowns as long as we're
working on its arteries.
We take care of these pipes exactly the way a doctor takes care
of your heart."
The consultant even noticed the stencils on their locker doors
said, "Dr." and then the worker's name.
What was happening here?
The workers in that maintenance department believed their work
was important--just like a doctor's work is important.
They felt privileged doing what they were doing.
They felt chosen.
It makes a difference in anybody's life if they feel chosen.
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*************************** NOTES *******************************
Kittel, IV:179ff, Schrenk.
I. Five-fold use of "to elect" in Paul.
A. Divine selection of the patriarches. Rom 9:11.
1) Emphasis is on the free decision of God.
B. Election of all Israel in the Fathers.
C. Election of whole Christian community. 1 Thess 1:4
D. God's selection of a part of Israel out of the whole. Rom 11:5
1) Remnant is chosen according to principle of grace.
2) Christian community itself does not have a remnant, or an
elite.
E. The passive of the above. Rom 11:7
II. Use of "to elect" in Peter.
A. Called and chosen paralleled in 2 Pet 1:10; cf. Rev 17:14.
1) In Gospels to be called but not chosen has a different sense.
B. Not static rigidity, but used in the movement of responsibility.
1) The purely divine aspect is made sure only by people.
2) In Gospels, also, election is established by obedience.
III. "The elect" in the New Testament.
A. Always used in an eschatological connection in the Gospels.
1) "Many are called, few are elect" (Matt 22:14) sums up Matt 21-22.
a) It undoubtedly belongs to the idea of the elect that the
reference should be to God's final choice in the light of
the universal principle of the calling of the Gentiles.
But the very word eklektos shows that the invitation
implies an obedience corresponding to grace.
b) Total obedience is always the issue. Matt 21:31,43
c) Even the man without a garment is called, but because he
brings disobedience to the wedding he cannot be a real
participant. Election is fulfilled only in obedience.
d) Dynamic theology, not static.
e) To receive gifts is of no avail if there is no readiness
to obey.
f) Election demands responsibility and decision.
g) It is an eternal pronouncement, like everything having to
do with God's work, but does not enslave the historical
moment and decision fatalistically.
h) Election establishes decision. Nowhere do we read that
those invited are forced to refuse. (We chose our
garment.)
2) Luke 18:7 - the elect can influence God by their believing
prayer. They are heard and receive justice.
a) Basis of election not given, but right attitude shown.
b) Question "will Jesus find faith on the earth?" shatters
human assurance of election.
c) The possibility of falling away is not suppressed, or
final question would be pointless.
3) Mark 13:19-27. Not sectarian, but all of Christ's followers.
B. Christ as the Elect in Luke 9:35; 23:35.
1) God's electing divine will does not depend on appearances.
C. The elect in Paul.
1) Election takes in all of a Christian's life, and cannot be
separated from the love of God. Rom 8:37-39
2) The aim of election is love.
3) Individuals can be described as elect - Rufus in Rom 16:13.
D. 1 Peter and John's letters.
