The Electing Love of God
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. -Romans 8:28-33
“Of all the doctrines of the Bible none is so offensive to human nature as the doctrine of God’s sovereignty.” -J.C. Ryle
Yet, the doctrine of total human inability and the absolute Sovereignty of God remains much of a frustrating and heart-wrenching doctrine to crack… it is quite possibly the believers refuge in the midst of complete madness and confusion. God’s electing love surely gives us confidence in his deliverance during our inability to understand the hysteria of life. [28] Despite our “untimely” circumstances and situations, we have the complete assurance that ALL things will surely work together for our good and His glory. God’s will proves far from “untimely” but rather promptly when he considers the sanctification of His kingdom and his peoples. Furthermore, “all things” do not work together for randomness but for purpose. [29] To continue, we know that all things work together for a divine purpose because that same purpose has been initiated from the very beginning! The Father’s infinite, beautiful, and irresistible love has surely been foreknown and predetermined to be shed upon every tribe, nation, and tongue before the foundation of the world. Moreover, God’s electing love has not been shed out of meaninglessness, but that God’s people would learn to love and enjoy Jesus Christ forever. In that, God’s elect have not only been the plan from the very beginning… but that Jesus Christ has also been in the scope of eternity. [30] Praise God the He himself, a Sovereign Lord, would/will have the first and the last words! Praise God that the peoples of the entire world will be reconciled and redeemed to God the Father, not only to be called but to be justified by his grace and glorified with his Son.
[Romans 9:20-21] How should we respond, how should we go forward? Is God just? Is there fault with God? BY NO MEANS! Has the potter have no right over the clay? Is God not God? [31] In fact, through His predetermining nature… He is still for us. His love and mercy are without a doubt on display, and are rather magnified through His electing love. To clarify, God has mercifully and graciously saved His peoples with the full scope of all our sin, shortcomings, and wretchedness. God, being infinite in knowledge, has still chosen to shed His grace upon those whom relentlessly ran towards sin. This is the greatest gift. [33-34] In conclusion, He has graciously given us all things, and sent His own Son as a propitiation for our sins. Who shall even given a charge against God’s elect? No one, for God has eternity in the palm of his hands. Praise God that a perfect being has orchestrated the very aspects of his our lives, and not our wretched souls.
Prayer
Father,
We thank you for your everlasting love for us. In a world of mania and craziness, we cling to the truth that you have intricately knitted our lives together for our eternal good and your eternal kingdom. With heavy hearts we praise you for your sovereignty. We were rebels, feeling in our depravity – and not according to our own works but your grace, you saved us. For if our eternity was dependant on us, we would surely choose the sinfulness of this broken world. We will further run the race of this life with our hearts fixed upon the author and protector of our faith, Your Son, whom you have foreknown from the beginning. We praise you despite our circumstances, knowing that your ways direct our own.
In Christ Name,
Amen.