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robnaomi@oceana.net
Ephesians 1:3-14
The story was told of a Missouri town whose pride was being Democratic. Year after year they proudly presented their ballot tally to the state officials with a 100% Democrat vote regardless of the nominee. To do otherwise was considered unthought of until that fateful election: one Republican vote. The election workers recounted and recounted: surely there must have been a mistake. No. The count was correct. And so the town had lost its unique bragging rights. No problem, probably a fluke. Probably someone accidentally marked the wrong box without paying attention. Mistakes happen.
The next election came and they carefully watched who voted, made sure every one understood how to vote and there it appeared again. One Republican vote. Now there was a crisis. For years they had been counted on to deliver a solid Democrat vote but that was now gone. Now the question became: Who? Who was it?
The coffee shop and barber shop began to whisper among themselves in wonderment. Different names were brought up and dismissed until one old guy’s name was mentioned. He kept to himself, never bothered with actually getting involved in the politics or even talking to any one about it. So when the next election came, different members of the party would visit him. They would point out to him the need for his vote, how important it was to vote for the Democrat and what a civic duty he would perform by helping the town send a 100% Democrat vote. When the voting was done, there it appeared again: one Republican vote. People began to castigate the man. They were careful not to accuse him openly but everyone knew that he was the cause for their perfect vote to be flawed. Election after election one Republican vote kept showing up. And then one day the old man died. The whole town turned out for his funeral. They realized in his death that he was a man who really stood for what he believed. He was not afraid to buck the system. They buried him with honor and dignity. Afterall, he represented the American spirit.
The next election came. The election officials were unusually gleeful. Democratic party offcials in town were almost in a party mood. Finally, they would be back on track to delivering a 100% Democratic vote. And when the final count was taken, there it was again: one Republican vote. And in the words of the author, “We buried the wrong man.”
This next Tuesday we will go to the voting booths. Our American responsibility will be to elect leaders who will reflect the values and agenda that we, as a body of citizens, believe. Obviously, on Wednesday morning, we will either be happy or we’ll be upset or nonchalant. But whatever occurs, the world will not end. Our nation will keep moving forward. Because, and this is the beauty of the United States Constitution, we have a government that is by the people and for the people. My right to vote is not extended to me because the government agreed to give me that right. I was born with that right and when I turned eighteen, I registered to be a voter. In fact, I registered to vote when I was yet seventeen because my birthday was only a few weeks before the election and I needed to be registered thirty days prior. My rights and privileges are granted to me by the people of the United States of America and guaranteed by the US Constitution.
As a Christian I have a responsibility to pray for my government leaders. True, I may disagree with them and may even vote them out of office, but I must pray for them. Why? So that as a Christian, I may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and holiness.
I also have a responsibility to vote. As a Christian and as an American I must study the various candidates, not just listen to their constant drooling drivel on the television. I must look at the proposals that are offered and make consciencious choices that reflect my values as a Christian.
My vote needs to be about more than money. I believe that as a Christian who is also an American, I have to vote based on my moral conscience. What is the candidates moral fiber all about and how will this effect my family and their future? Will this leader offer to my family that opportunity to live a peaceful and quiet life in godliness and holiness? Will this leader allow me as a parent to raise my children to love God first? Will this candidate protect the sanctity of human life whether that life is aging and decrepit or still being developed in the womb? I would have a difficult time voting for someone who supports abortion or assisted suicide. These issues strike to the heart of Christianity. Our vote needs to be bathed in prayer and asking for God to help us vote for the right candidate regardless of party affiliation.
I want to preach about the election today. But not the election that is coming up this Tuesday. There is an election that is much more important that this. The election and vote cast has decided the fate of millions of people despite their political opinions.
Paul makes a great doctrinal statement that has been one of controversy and has prompted all kinds of debate by great Christian thinkers for centuries. This subject of election stirs the thoughts as we consider our actual roots of salvation. When did God actually choose us for salvation?
Turn to Ephesians 1:3-14
EPH 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
EPH 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
Please note the fourth verse: “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be blameless and holy in His sight.”
There is an assumption that is made from the words of that verse and even a study of the original language. God chose us before the creation of the world. Before the beginning of time God chose you and me to live blameless and holy lives in His sight before the creation of the world.
When Naomi and I married we understood that one of the risks of marriage was children. We knew going into this game that before it would be all said and done we might end up as grandparents. We knew this would be possible. Now I know there are those many children who have been planned for. A couple decides the time is right and they take the necessary steps to see that a child is born. But I would wager that more often than not the children we have born to us are not planned events as much as they are surprise packages. Our world is changed forever when a new human life enters into our cozy corner of the universe. That is the risk of marriage.
We are grateful for our children. We thank God for them and do not believe for one moment that any of the three children in our home are accidents. No way, no how. But I can tell you that before the creation of our marriage we were not thinking “Charity” or “Joshua” or even “Eddie.” We were thinking eternal bliss together as we stepped on that starship and headed for the skies. We love our kids but did not plan on them. I guess you could say that it was a great result with no great planning.
But when we look at our relationship with God we must understand that before the creation of the world he chose us. Did God look through the ages and see each one us, individually, and choose us to be a part of His kingdom? Did God specifically think “Rob Henderson” at the foundations of the world? Did He know what He was getting into when He created all things?
I am not sure how to answer those questions but just to say that “He chose you before the creation of the world to live a blameless and holy life.” Over 500,000,000 years ago God chose us to for salvation. He chose us long before there was ever the choice of sin.
I guess the question might really be “Who?” Who was God choosing at the creation of the world? I will give you three quick answers that do not agree with each other. These have been the results of Christians attempting to parse scripture and look into its depths for meaning and thereby creating what we call doctrine. These three opinions you will find prevalent throughout Christianity.
1. God chose a few. These are called the elect. We don’t know who God chose or why God chose them but that is what He did. This view is classic Calvinism. The Calvinist believe that there are only a certain number that God has chosen for salvation. This doesn’t mean that the rest are chosen to go to hell. But that at the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, sin damned all of mankind to hell. We were left hopeless and lost. God has simply chosen out of those a certain number to enjoy the fruits of salvation. It’s not our choice nor is it our right to question God. What He has done is His business. The Calvinist would point out that the word “chose” actually means “to call from the masses.” And presumably, God chose a few to come from the masses of the lost to be saved. Why? Because man is so utterly and hopelessly lost that he cannot even choose on his own accord to be saved. We are lost and cannot save ourselves. I cannot lift my hand to beg for mercy from God. Only a few elect are chosen for salvation.
2. God chose everybody. Nobody is denied access to salvation. This is called Universalism. Everyone is saved because of the saving work of Jesus Christ. He died for all sinners and all sinners will be taken care of and allowed into the kingdom of heaven because Jesus sacrifice is for everyone. No one is denied. Everyone is saved. Remember the children’s movie many years ago “All Dogs Go To Heaven?” This is it: God chose everybody and their rejection or acceptance of salvation makes no difference.
3. God chose everyone. This is different from everybody- a general human term. God specifically chose everyone and everyone becomes responsible to respond. I am chosen by God- I am called out of the masses but so is everyone else. Each one of us must respond. This is Arminian theology. Christ suffered for everyone. “For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son that whosoever believed in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” We believe that you are responsible to choose or reject God.
Jacob Arminius was a John Calvin disciple through and through. One day he debated the issues of doctrine and felt that he had lost the debate. He believed that the other had made some serious points that he had overlooked. Arminius objected to Calvin’s doctrines and sought to modify it so that “God might not be considered the author of sin nor man a automaton in the hands of God.”
Arminius believed that God granted everyone primary or prevenient grace- that is every person is given the ability to respond to the call of the gospel. He opposed Calvin’s view that God chose a certain number to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell. God’s prevenient grace gives us the opportunity to choose this salvation.
In the Garden of Eden God did not create sin- He created the choice. Adam and Eve could have continued living in the Garden but what did they choose to do? They chose to disobey God and sin. This disobedience was an act of unbelief on their part because they chose to not believe God. Sin entered into the world and here we are today.
Our choice- to choose this great salvation or to choose to reject this salvation. The choice is put into our hands to decide. And unlike this coming election day, your choice will have eternal ramifications on your life.
The bottom line is this: God chose you. He chose you not to simply enjoy the fruits of a Christian life and someday go to heaven but He chose you to live a blameless and holy life. God has chosen you to not only be saved from sin but to be a follower of Christ. Living a life yes! to God always.
This Tuesday you will enter the voting booth. The vote you cast will help determine the next president of the United States as well as a host of other officials. The choices we make are extremely important. However, in the spiritual voting booth what choices are you making?
We find it easy to call ourselves Christians. But are our lives holy and blameless as God calls us to be? Are we voting to keep God first? And I don’t mean just for our country. True, our vote should be to see that we have leaders who will protect our rights as Christians and Americans and not force our Church to have to accept gay members and pastors. These are very real issues. But what about our personal life?
Am I loving my neighbor as myself. Think about your neighbors- those people that lieve on your street or you meet in the grocery store. Are you treating them with love and respect? That is a choice that we must make.
How about loving God? Do we put God ahead of our own interests? Do we regard God first when considering the things in life that we want to do? This is another choice that we must make.
Election time is exciting. Sure, there will be victories as well as disappointments. But our vote in our personal life should be for God. Why? He chose me first. He died for me while I was yet a sinner. “I was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see.”
