Sermon Notes By Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. for Sunday December 22, 2013
Text: Ephesians 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (vs4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (vs5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (vs6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (vs7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
2 Timothy 1:9-11 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (vs10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (vs11) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gen’tiles.”
Acts 2:40-42 “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward (difficult to manage, restrain or control; perverse; stubborn or willful)generation. (vs41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (vs42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary,Vol20, Page 33, a comment on Eph.1:4 “Holiness and perfection are the ends aimed at God’s electing love. It is because this is lost sight of that we have so much confusion on this subject. God could not elect any soul to a salvation without holiness; the idea has no meaning in the Divine mind. Men may desire to separate salvation from holiness, to carry their sins with them into the heavenly world; but such desires are vain, and under God’s government they can have no realization. The election is unto holiness. So long as a soul loves sin and hates holiness, he has no warrant to affirm election. He may subsequently turn from sin to God, and thus receive the evidence within him; but a soul that loves sin and hates holiness has no business dabbling with this doctrine of election. God saves no man except in the process he makes him holy. Hence we must remember “they were not chosen because they were viewed as holy, and therefore deserving to be distinguished as God’s favorites, on account of their obedience or personal purity, but that they should be holy.”