The chapter is divided into seven subsections.
“Too many Christians, the doctrine of election seems to theoretical and irrelevant to their lives. It appears as useful as the medieval debate over how many angels can dance on the head of the pin. They are reluctant to believe in election until they see its practical use.”
Living to God. Two paragraphs. The great English Puritan William Ames is quoted. The Irish Articles of 1615 provides a summary. R. T. Kendall is mentioned.
Assurance of Election. Thirteen paragraphs. Mention is made of Dave Hunt, Heinrich Heppe, Christopher Love, Joseph Alleine, Jonathan Edwards, the Synod of Dort, Peter Martyr Vermigli, Jerome Zanchius, the Second Helvetic Convention, and C. H. Spurgeon.
Humility. Three paragraphs. “Pride keeps many Christians from believing in election. Nothing humbles a person more than knowing how sinful he is and that God chose him by sheer sovereign grace and not for anything good in him. Christians should never lose the humble awe that God saved them by grace … Arminianism is tempted to pride because it says that God chose us based on our foreseen faith. But Calvinism produces humility because it asserts that God chose us by near sovereign grace, and even our faith is a gift of God’s grace.”
Holiness. Four paragraphs.” Ephesians 1:4 says that God chose us to be holy, and holy we shall be in Heaven … A person who claims to be elect but lives a life of flagrant sin is lying and self deceived, as much as the person who claims sinless perfection (1 John 1:8).
Praise. Two paragraphs. References made to Jay Adams, Augustine, Edward Polhill, and Ephesians 1:6.
Love. Two paragraphs. God chose the elect out of love and predestined them to an eternal ocean of love (Ephesians 1:4-– 6; 2:7). Between our conversion and our glorification, we enjoy this love in our hearts and are moved to love God and return: we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Conclusion. “Assurance
of election causes great joy: rejoice that your names are written in heaven (Luke
10:20). Christians should not only love the God who elected them but love the
doctrine of election as well. Edwin Palmer asked, ‘Be very honest now. Do you
like the teaching of election? Why?’ Non-Calvinists do not like it; some even
hate it. That is sad. They do not know what blessings they are missing. Some
Calvinists only grudgingly accept it. We should joyfully believeth and love God
for electing us.”
