The Doctrine Of Election - Part 5
John Piper teaches that God's sovereign election is fulfilled through Christ, calling believers to embrace Jesus as Savior and experience the assurance and transformation that come from a personal relationship with Him.
This sermon emphasizes God's sovereign plan in choosing His own through Christ Jesus, highlighting the importance of believing in and embracing Jesus as Savior and Lord. It encourages listeners to hear and follow the voice of Jesus, experiencing eternal life and security in God's hands. The message calls for a deep, personal relationship with Christ, leading to forgiveness, righteousness, and a heart filled with love for others.
Full Transcript
He planned how to make us His own, and who would be His own. He had Christ in mind, chosen in Christ Jesus, chosen in relationship to Christ Jesus. He knew that when He called us decisively to Himself, He would call us through Jesus, which means that He never seeks to save anybody by revealing to them ahead of time that they are elect.
That would completely short-circuit the centrality of Christ. Rather, what He does is send Christ into the world and then say, He who believes on the Son has everlasting life. That's the way He says it.
Or here's a more significant one from 1 John 5, what's the verse, 10, whoever believes on the Son has the testimony in himself. To what? I'm a sheep, I'm chosen, I'm His, the testimony is within me now, it's rising up and crying out, Abba, Father, the testimony of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with my spirit that I belong to Him because I have seen the Son and loved Him and trusted Him and embraced Him and treasured Him. So that's my closing exhortation to you.
Don't turn away from the Son tonight. Embrace the Son of God tonight. Everyone who believes in the Son, everyone who believes that Jesus is their Savior, their Lord and embraces Him as their treasure, freely is forgiven for all your sins, righteousness from Him is imputed to you freely, not your own, you have a standing before God that can withstand the worst justice and He pours His Spirit into your life and He gives you a heart for street kids, for neighbors in wealthy suburbs or urban kids here or who knows where love may lead you if you are gripped and embraced like this.
My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give them eternal life and they shall never perish and nobody will ever pluck them out of my Father's hands. I and the Father are one. If you have the Son, you have the Father.
Do you hear the voice of Jesus tonight? I know my own and they know my voice and they follow me. Let's pray. Father in heaven, I pray that tonight and tomorrow morning as this message has been heard, there would be ears given to hear the voice of Jesus as the distinguishing shepherd voice among all the false shepherds in the world, the money shepherds, the power shepherds, the lust shepherds.
Oh Father, come grant ears so that we will follow and we'll have the testimony within ourselves that we are His chosen before the foundation of the world and would you Lord set us free, set us free for love like Kristen. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Sermon Outline
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I
- God's sovereign plan to choose His own in Christ Jesus
- Election is centered on relationship with Christ, not prior knowledge
- Christ is the means by which God calls and saves
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II
- Belief in Jesus as the pathway to eternal life
- The testimony of the Holy Spirit confirms our identity as God's chosen
- The internal witness produces assurance and a heart for others
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III
- The security of the believer in God's hands
- Jesus as the Good Shepherd who knows and protects His sheep
- The unity of the Father and the Son in salvation
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IV
- Exhortation to hear and follow the voice of Jesus
- Warning against false shepherds and worldly distractions
- Prayer for ears to hear and hearts to embrace Christ fully
Key Quotes
“He planned how to make us His own, and who would be His own. He had Christ in mind, chosen in Christ Jesus.” — John Piper
“Everyone who believes in the Son, everyone who believes that Jesus is their Savior, their Lord and embraces Him as their treasure, freely is forgiven for all your sins.” — John Piper
“My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give them eternal life and they shall never perish and nobody will ever pluck them out of my Father's hands.” — John Piper
Application Points
- Embrace Jesus as your Savior and Lord to receive forgiveness and righteousness.
- Listen attentively to the voice of Jesus amidst worldly distractions and false teachings.
- Trust in the Holy Spirit's testimony within you as assurance of your identity as God's chosen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does election mean in this sermon?
Election refers to God's sovereign choice of individuals to be His own through a relationship with Christ Jesus.
How does one know they are chosen by God?
The testimony of the Holy Spirit within believers confirms their identity as God's chosen, producing assurance and faith.
Why is Christ central to the doctrine of election?
Because God calls and saves through Jesus, making belief in Him the means to eternal life rather than prior knowledge of election.
What is the role of the believer after being chosen?
Believers are called to hear and follow the voice of Jesus, live in assurance of salvation, and demonstrate love for others.
What assurance does the believer have about their salvation?
Jesus promises eternal life to His sheep who hear His voice, and no one can snatch them from the Father's hands.