Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Sunday, Sept. 5,

John 15:16 Predestined to Glorify God!

Jesus selected the Eleven and endued them with power for a special mission. Mat 10:1; Mark 3:13-15; Luke 6:13-16

His choice was in behalf of Himself and His plans. He was calling them to ministry here, not to salvation.

God had already elected them to salvation, now Jesus is reminding them of His personal selection of them to be the foundation of the Church.

Just as God has elected you to an eternal salvation, of the same import He has selected you for a specific ministry and has appointed you for Divine Good Production.

As the prototype for the spiritual life, Jesus Himself was chosen by God.

As the prototype for the spiritual life, Jesus Himself was chosen by God. a) Compare Luke 9:35 (the Transfiguration) with Mark 9:7, and Mat 3:17 and Mark 1:11 (His Baptism).

b) At the Cross Jesus is referred to as “the chosen one”, Luke 23:35, as well as in the opening of John’s Gospel, John 1:34.

Election and Appointment:

1. Though in a subordinate sense, human choice is involved in conversion, John 1:12, 13, 47-49; 2:11, 23; 3:15-18, 33-36; 4:42, 50; 5:24, 40; Rev 22:17; etc. ….

John 3:14-15, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”

…in the final analysis it is Christ, (as well as the Father and the Holy Spirit), who chose us. John 1:43; 6:37, 40, 44-46, 65, 70; 2 Thes 2:13; etc.

2. We were chosen not merely to escape hell, but to bear the fruit of Christian character and witness. Mark 4:20; John 15:8; Gal 5:22-23

Mark 4:20, “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

3. Scriptures on Election and Appointment include. Deut 7:7-8; Isa 48:11; Dan 9:19; Hosea 14:4; Rom 5:8; 1 John 4:10, 19; 1 Cor 12:28; Acts 20:28

4. Election is the expression of the sovereign will of God in eternity past before the universe existed and before mankind lived on the earth.

5. Election is the sovereign right of God over His creation.

6. Election, along with foreknowledge, predestination, justification and glorification, are all from the sovereignty of God as part of His Divine Decree.

Therefore, they belong only to the believer. Rom 8:28 ‑ 30; Eph 1:4-6

7. The Biblical Order of God’s Divine Decree (called Infralapsarianism) is:

a. Create all mankind

a. Create all mankind b. Permit the fall of man

a. Create all mankind b. Permit the fall of man c. Provide salvation

a. Create all mankind b. Permit the fall of man c. Provide salvation d. Leave the reprobate or unbeliever to their just condemnation

a. Create all mankind b. Permit the fall of man c. Provide salvation d. Leave the reprobate or unbeliever to their just condemnation e. Elect and predestine believers only.

Communion

Grace Offering

Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, September 05, 2010 Tape # Predestined to Glorify God, Part 2 Upper Room Discourse, Part 411 John 15:16; Rom 8:28-30; Eph 1:4-6 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010