Doctrine

Blessed with Every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavens – Election (Part 2)

Pastor Tan Thai · Jun 23, 2018

Ephesians 1:3Ephesians 1:4-6Ephesians 1:11Ephesians 2:1-3Ephesians 2:8-9Ezekiel 33:112 Peter 3:91 Timothy 2:4Deuteronomy 30:19Deuteronomy 7:6-7Deuteronomy 32:10Joshua 24:15John 6:37John 15:16Matthew 5:44-45Matthew 11:281 Peter 1:1-2Acts 13:48Romans 8:28-301 Corinthians 1:26-311 Corinthians 15:9-10Psalm 51:5Genesis 2:15-17Genesis 2:19-20

This sermon expounds the doctrine of divine election and predestination based on Ephesians 1:4-6, 11 and Romans 8:28-30. The pastor presents three biblical teachings on salvation: God desires all to be saved, humans have free will, and God has predestined and chosen certain people for salvation. The sermon also addresses the difficult question of God's fairness in election and argues that grace, not merit, is the foundation of salvation.

This sermon is part of a series on Ephesians 1:3, focusing on the spiritual blessing of divine election. The pastor recalls that Ephesians divides into two sections: chapters 1-3 as doctrinal foundation and chapters 4-6 as practical application. The doctrine of predestination and election is considered one of the most difficult to understand and believe, second only to the Trinity, yet it is essential for grasping the spiritual life.

The pastor presents three biblical teachings on salvation that are not contradictory: first, God desires all people to be saved (Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4); second, humans possess free will (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; John 6:37; Matthew 11:28); third, God has predestined and chosen specific individuals for salvation (John 15:16; 1 Peter 1:1-2; Acts 13:48). The pastor uses the illustration of a dog naturally choosing meat over vegetables to show that sinful human nature cannot turn to God on its own without the Holy Spirit's conviction and calling.

Regarding the order of salvation, the pastor cites Romans 8:28-30 to show that God foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified in sequence. Even the faith to believe is itself a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9), not arising from human merit or character. God's election is entirely based on love and grace, not on any wisdom, beauty, or virtue of the chosen, as 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 makes clear.

The pastor addresses the question of God's fairness in election by distinguishing two kinds of grace: common grace given to all people (sun, rain, talent, beauty as taught in Matthew 5:44-45) and saving grace given to those God has predestined to believe. He also cites the example that roughly 25% of believers in Vietnam are ethnic minority peoples from the highlands—those despised by society—as a living demonstration that God chooses according to grace, not worldly standards.

The sermon concludes with the reminder that those chosen by God will say 'Your will be done,' while those not chosen will hear God say at the final judgment 'Your will be done.' Understanding this doctrine is not meant to provoke debate but to deepen gratitude, humility, and joyful service in the life of faith.