Reflection
- (Luk 2:8 ESV) And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
- (Luk 2:9 ESV) And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
- (Luk 2:10 ESV) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
- (Luk 2:11 ESV) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
- (Luk 2:12 ESV) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
- (Luk 2:13 ESV) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
- (Luk 2:14 ESV) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Discussion
Election is maybe one of the most divisive concepts in Christian theology. Well, that, and the color of carpet for the fellowship hall. Election is the idea that God sovereignly decides who will and who will not be saved. That is difficult, in part, because it does cancel out some people. If it is God who decides, then He is condemning some people to hell. Understand, however, that we are already condemned to hell. As sinners, we are condemned from our conception. Before we are even born and can do right or wrong things, we are cursed sinners. It is the grace of God that allows any of us to pass over from sinner to saint. Praise God for that glorious grace!
Connection
What is hardest for you to process about God’s election of those who would be saved?
Do you find more comfort in the idea of choosing for yourself whether or not you would be saved?
What might stop a person from choosing to be saved? What might a person do in their mind to convince themselves to be saved?
Expansion
Salvation and Preservation
God saves people by their faith in Him alone according to His grace alone through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ alone, not on the basis of any human work. All of the redeemed are immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit and justified before God beginning the transforming sanctification of the whole person the fruit of which is shown by their attitude and conduct. Having been saved by faith, we are justified in Christ before God, forgiven of our sins, and held eternally secure by Christ alone forever where we will one day assume a glorified condition with Him forever. From beginning to end the salvation of people is entirely a work of God to bring glory to His name.
Acts 8:27-30, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:1-10, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, John 1:12-13, Romans 6:16-18, Romans 9:10-24, John 6:43-45, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Ezra 18:23, Romans 10:10-21, 2 Peter 3:9, John 12:32, Romans 14:10-12