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New Hampshire Confession of Faith #9

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

Ephesians 2:8-10 

IX. OF GOD'S PURPOSE OF GRACE

We believe that Election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effect in all who truly believe the gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence. 

  1. THE PURPOSE OF GRACE
    1. God's Purpose Is Eternal
      1. To make God's purpose of election less than an eternal purpose is to make God a trivial and arbitrary God, trifling with souls.
      2. If God could only frame and execute a plan in time, he would not be God at all.
    2. God's Purpose Is Holy
      1. God's purpose reflect and represents his character
      2. God's purpose includes perfect justice as well as his mercy and holiness
    3. God's Purpose Includes An Act of Electing Grace
      1. The word election is used six times in the New Testament (Rom. 9:11; Rom 11:5, 7; Romans 11:28; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Peter 1:10).
      2. The word election means chosen (See Matt. 20:16; 22:14; Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 17:14).
    4. God's Purpose Is Not Easy To Understand
      1. We do not understand all aspects of the working of God's election and the responsibility of man.
      2. We do know, however, that one without the other without God violating Himself.
    5. God's Purpose Brings Salvation
      1. In electing grace, God plucks the brands from the burning (Amos 4:11)
      2. The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and sanctification


  2. THE MEANS IN GRACE
    1. In God's Exercise of Grace, He Uses Means
      1. God deals with the mind with ideas
      2. God deals with the will using motives
      3. God deals with affections using affections and desire
      4. So man is not completely passive in salvation, except in regeneration itself
    2. In God's Exercise of Grace, He Meets The Free-acting Soul of Man
      1. God, then, does not force a man to be saved
      2. Man is made willing (Psalm 110:3). He is wooed by the Holy Spirit.
      3. After a man is regenerated, he wants to trust the Lord just as Lazarus wanted to come out of the grave when he was resurrected.
    3. In God's Exercise of Grace, He Manifests His Goodness
      1. The Sovereign has become a Savior
      2. Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?


  3. THE RESULTS OF GRACE
    1. No Boasting In Grace
      1. Man cannot boast, because he did not and cannot save himself
      2. Man is not deserving of grace, so he cannot boast in his worth.
      3. Man paid nothing for his redemption, so he cannot boast in his resources.
      4. Man did not initiate his salvation, so he cannot boast in his initiative
    2. No Pride In Grace
      1. Man is broken and is delivered from his pride in salvation
      2. Without pride, man can now surrender himself to God's service
    3. Only Dependence in Grace
      1. Man must depend upon God in every step of his saved life.
      2. Man will find expression in love, prayer, praise and trust toward God
      3. To refuse to love, pray, praise and trust, then you will be proving the absence of life in his grace.


  4. CONSIDERATIONS OF GRACE
    1. The Preaching and Publishing of The Gospel Is God's Imperative
      1. The Holy Spirit does not do his work on a blank mind.
      2. The election of God includes an election of means.
      3. The word of God must be preached for a person to be saved (Rom. 10:17)
    2. How Can I Know I Am God's Elect?
      1. You can know that you are God's elect when you believe in Jesus Christ, his death, burial and resurrection.
      2. You can know that you are God's elect when you have a desire to serve him
      3. You can know that you are God's elect when his love constrains you to serve and worship him.
    3. Answering God's Call In The Gospel Is A Personal And Solemn Duty
    4. God's Call And Man's Response Work Together To Bring About God's Purpose In Grace.

 

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