Charles Spurgeon said, “You cannot look to Christ before He has looked to you. If you are willing to be saved, He gave you that will”
(Effectual Calling, March 30, 1856).
We didn’t choose God; He chose us.
Chapter CONTEXT from MHCC: We have gone through the former part of this epistle, which consists of several important doctrinal truths, contained in the three preceding chapters. We enter now on the latter part of it, in which we have the most weighty and serious exhortations that can be given. We may observe that in this, as in most others of Paul’s epistles, the former part is doctrinal, and fitted to inform the minds of men in the great truths and doctrines of the gospel, the latter is practical, and designed for the direction of their lives and manners, all Christians being bound to endeavour after soundness in the faith, and regularity in life and practice. In what has gone before we have heard of Christian privileges, which are the matter of our comfort. In what follows we shall hear of Christian duties, and what the Lord our God requires of us in consideration of such privileges vouchsafed to us. The best way to understand the mysteries and partake of the privileges of which we have read before is conscientiously to pracv. 1). II. An exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them (v. 2-16). III. An exhortation to Christian purity and holiness of life; and that both more general (v. 17-24) and in several particular instances (v. 25 to the end).
If this looks familiar is the same heading from yesterday’s devotional where we talked about being worthy of our calling. Today we will look at being CALLED.
There are differing views on the doctrine of election. Some say the Bible doesn’t teach it. For those of you who think this, consider the following: Paul refers to the Colossians in Col.3:12 as “those who have been chosen of God.” When he sent his first letter to the Thessalonians, he was thankful to God for them after he saw their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, he knew their “election by God” ( 1 Thess.1:4, NKJV). In his second letter to the Thessalonians he said that “God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (2 Thess.2:13). When he was speaking with Timothy concerning persecution and suffering he said 2 Timothy 2:10, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.” When he wrote to Titus, he said in Titus1:1, “Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness.” It is clear from these passage, the Bible teaches the doctrine of election. But because of human depravity men fight against it. A.W. Pink said, “No doctrine is so detested by proud human nature as this one, which make nothing of the creature and everything of the Creator; yea, at no other point is the enmity of the carnal mind so blatantly and hotly evident” (The Doctrine of Election). He further says, ““God is not working at random: the gospel has been sent forth on no uncertain mission: the final outcome in the conflict between good and evil has not been left indeterminate; how many are to be saved or lost depends not on the will of the creature. Everything was infallibly determined and immutably fixed by God from the beginning, and all that happens in time is but the accomplishment of what was ordained in eternity.” So “Let it be plainly announced that salvation originated not in the will of man, but in the will of God (see John 1:13; Rom. 9:16), that were it not so none would or could be saved—for as the result of the fall man has lost all desire and will unto that which is good (John 5:40; Rom. 3:11)—and that even the elect themselves have to be made willing (Ps. 110:3), and loud will be the cries of indignation raised against such teaching” (The Doctrine of Election).
If you have never investigated this truth, let me encourage you to study it, you will be humbled by it.
Extract: https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/chosen-by-god-steve-hereford-sermon-on-salvation-108616
SERMON
Charles Haddon Spurgeon / March 30, 1856
Scripture: Luke 19:5 / From New Park Street Pulpit Volume 2
Additional Reading Resources:
What is the doctrine of election?
What Is the Doctrine of Election?
Chosen by God by Sproul, R. C. (Robert Charles), 1939-2017
Chosen by God; S t u d y G u i d e
Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach 
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