Feb 12
27
Doctrinal Standards WSC #20 (2 of 4 weeks)
- Q. Did God leave all mankind to die in sin and misery?
- A. From all eternity and merely because it pleased Him God chose some to have everlasting life. These He freed from sin and misery by a covenant of grace and brought them to salvation by a redeemer.
Memory Verses
- “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet” (Matthew 5:13, ESV).
Study Passage: Ephesians 2:11-22
Support Passages: Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 13
Bible Story: Matthew 5:13-16
Insight and Application
- Scripture teaches us that we have faith in Christ because God has chosen us for salvation. We must understand that God’s choosing has nothing to do with us but has everything to do with Him. Everything is for His will, purpose, and glory.
- Isaiah 46:10 (ESV) declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.
- Psalm 115:3 (ESV) Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
- Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
- Ephesians 3:8–10 (ESV) To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
- Deuteronomy 10:14–15 (ESV) Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. 15 Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.
- Psalm 33:12 (ESV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
- Psalm 106:5 (ESV) that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.
- Haggai 2:23 (ESV) On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”
- Exodus 33:19 (ESV) 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
- Deuteronomy 7:6–7 (ESV) “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,
- Matthew 11:27 (ESV) 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
- Matthew 22:14 (ESV) 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Matthew 24:22 (ESV) 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
- Matthew 24:24 (ESV) 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
- Matthew 24:31 (ESV) 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
- Luke 18:7 (ESV) And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
- Romans 8:28–30 (ESV) 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
- Romans 8:33 (ESV) Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
- Colossians 3:12 (ESV) Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (ESV) For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Titus 1:1 (ESV) Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,
- 1 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
- 1 Peter 2:8–9 (ESV) and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
- Revelation 17:14 (ESV) They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
- Mark 13:20 (ESV) And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
- Ephesians 1:4–5 (ESV) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
- Romans 9:11–13 (ESV) though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
- Romans 9:16 (ESV) So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
- Romans 10:20 (ESV) Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:27–29 (ESV) But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV) who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
- John 15:16 (ESV) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
- Acts 13:48 (ESV) And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
- Philippians 1:29 (ESV) For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
- 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 (ESV) For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
- 2 Timothy 2:10 (ESV) Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
- Because we are chosen in Christ we must view our position appropriately with humility. We must realize that our salvation and purpose is rooted in the glorification of our great King. This is why the Lord Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth. This is why Jesus told us to love one another. This is why scriptures tell us to live as set apart and not to live like the world. Our contact towards one another and the way with live our life is to bring glory and honor to the one and true God.
- We begin to lose a biblical perspective and start developing pride when we think that salvation and this life are about ourselves. God has chosen you and I to live in order that He may be seen and praised my many.
Discussion Questions
- If God was not obligated to save any human being, why did He?
- What should be the response of those who God has chosen? Explain
- Why did God give commands to follow? Explain
- Is salvation about God or man? Explain
- What is this life about? (WSC #1)
- Does your life reflect that truth? Explain
