ELECTED FOR SALVATION AND SERVICE
Christians outside the Reformed
tradition have often poked fun at us Presbyterians for our doctrine of
predestination. Most of the time it is actually just good-natured fun because
most all orthodox Christians believe in the sovereignty of God; the question
really is to what degree of prominence is this belief held. Most of the time the
good natured teasing we Presbyterians endure about this doctrine is grounded in
a misunderstanding of what the doctrine actually claims, and what it is
intended to accomplish for our Christian discipleship. After all, doctrines or
formal articulated beliefs are intended to be helpful in our daily lives.
So,
then, we Presbyterians call this doctrine about the sovereignty of God predestination,
but to express it in proper biblical terms it is actually the notion of
election. Aside from the scriptural claim that God is loving and gracious to
us, there is perhaps no other more recurring theological theme in the Bible
than that of election. One way to grasp
the biblical notion of election is to say that God specifically claims his
children. One of our greatest strengths as a tradition is that we Presbyterians
have historically insisted that our theological doctrines be clearly grounded
in and linked to scripture.
Accordingly,
it is then, because of our insistence on strict biblical precepts as the basis
for our faith that we Presbyterians have been called the Frozen Chosen, as well
as, other more choice labels which are not suitable to be repeated in a sermon.
Because we have insisted that a faithful understanding of discipleship must
include this prominent and recurring scriptural emphasis on election, we have received
this good-natured kidding from our brothers and sisters in faith.
We
have insisted on making the doctrine of election central to our understanding
of faithful discipleship for two basic reasons. Number 1, it is a constant and
recurring teaching in the Bible with numerous texts to support it. Number 2, we
believe that the God revealed in scripture is a totally sovereign God who made
creation out of nothing and now sustains the created order out of love for his
creation.
Consequently,
due to these two bedrock beliefs concerning discipleship we have made the
teaching and preaching of election, or predestination, one of the hallmarks of
what it means to be a Presbyterian Christian.
The lectionary passage for this
morning comes from Paul’s letter to
Both of the biblical passages we
have read in worship this morning are concerned with this teaching. The 24th
Psalm reminds us that God created all things. “The earth is the Lord’s and all
that is in it; the world and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the
seas, and established it on the rivers.” The Psalmist is saying that God’s
power has been present in the word from the beginning. In other words, there is
a plan to creation, and that plan is unfolding according to God’s will – not
our will.
In
Paul’s letter, the Apostle claims that this same plan has been present from the
beginning of time and has now been fully revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Indeed, if there is any one thing
about Presbyterianism or the Reformed Tradition that has been corrupted and
misunderstood it is our teaching on election. Most people, many within the
Presbyterian church itself have understood this doctrine as a teaching that
states that God has pre-ordained everyone in this life to either heaven or hell
– no matter what we do in this life.
This
teaching offends many people. Actually, it offends me as well. To state the
doctrine in this way is to claim too much for the Bible. Yes, it is true that
the Bible does say we have been “chosen” in Christ before the foundation of the
world, but it does not say more than that. To claim that our decisions,
feelings, our actions, are meaningless is to claim too much for the Bible.
Clearly, we have been given freedom we are not mere robots or puppets on a
string.
To
say that we are mere robots and that this is the biblical doctrine of election
is to misunderstand it. The teaching of election is not intended to deprive us
of our integrity as individuals. Rather, it is intended to reassure us of God’s
ultimate control and design for the world we live in. In other words, yes the
world is a frightening place sometimes, but the biblical teaching on election
is to remind us that we are today and we will be tomorrow in God’s grace filled
hands.
In
these opening verses of his letter to Ephesus Paul has condensed and simplified
the entire salvation history of the world. It is a history of a relationship.
It is a relationship between creator and the created, between God and humanity.
It
is a story that is both comforting and frightening for us. It is frightening
because it reminds us our sinfulness. We see our sin most clearly in that part
of us that is self-centered and demanding.
It
is a story that is comforting because it reminds us that God has willingly
chosen to be with us in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God has made it clear that we
are worth dying for, that we are worth saving as God’s precious creation. In
Christ, our sinfulness is overcome and we are lifted beyond it through his
marvelous love.
Still,
we resist receiving this wonderful news that God loves us and forgives us. It
just seems too incredible to be true. We know how sinful we are at times. We
know how distrustful we are. We know how self-centered we can be. We know
ourselves so very well that we just can’t seem to see how God could ever love
us. Yet God does love us. We have not earned this love, it has just been given.
This
love makes no sense to us. The reason why it is so foreign to us is because it
is divine love. It is love that comes from God and not from our humanity.
We
will never know why God loves us, it will always be a mystery to us. It will
always be a mystery why God has chosen to share God’s love with us all we can
do is accept it.
Accepting
our salvation is not an easy thing for us. It makes no sense to us why God
would even bother with us, but in Christ we learn that God does want us. God
wants to love us. God wants us as God’s children. God offers all this freely.
This
is not easy for us to accept. Especially here in the South, the most important question
some Christians have for someone new that they meet is “Are you saved?” Such a
question reveals a particular understanding of the elect. To ask this question
is to reveal that the person believes in some way and to some degree that we
can earn our salvation.
Now,
if confronted on this issue, most people would deny that this is what they mean
by the question “Are you saved?” Yet, it is inescapable logic that this
question reveals an understanding of discipleship in which grace is earned
rather than accepted. However, grace is not something you earn, it is something
you accept. We do not need to worry about securing our salvation. It has
already been won for us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Our salvation is not the
issue. The issue is whether we will live in the salvation God has bought for us!
When
we profess our faith and make a public commitment to accept the fact that we are
children of God we are living in the salvation Christ has won for us. This does
not mean that we are making the claim that we are perfect. But it is to say
that we accept God’s claim on our life. People of faith are not perfect, that
is not the biblical claim. People who profess their faith and place their trust
in God are simply people who are aware that God loves them and cares for, them.
That is the claim.
The
reality is that no one can live a perfect life. In the end, in every situation
in life, our fallen humanity drives us into the arms of God’s grace. It is the
only place we can faithfully live. There are no super saints, only those who seek
to live as faithfully as we can, and trust in grace for the rest. This is what
it means to live as a child of God; to trust in grace and not in works.
It
is at this point in our understanding of discipleship that the doctrine of
election becomes so critical. Ultimately, our fate is in God’s hands not our
own. It is God who completes us. It is God in Christ who makes us righteous. We
do not complete ourselves. We do not make ourselves righteous.
Honestly,
the challenge we face is not whether we are saved, but whether we will live in
our salvation? What kind of lives will we lead? How will we spend our time? How
will we spend our money? To which causes and events will we devote our
energies? The way we answer these questions will reflect our confidence in our
salvation. Do we give ourselves over to God completely?
In
contrast, will we live in such a way as to do a little here and a little there,
hoping to curry just enough of our Lord’s favor to secure our salvation?
Properly
understood the biblical doctrine of election is an incredibly freeing
discovery. We are freed from constantly worrying about ourselves and can focus
on serving our Lord Jesus Christ through our service to others. God has taken
care of us, now let us take care of one another.
Let
us live in our salvation, filled with the assurance that God loves and forgives
us through our Lord Jesus Christ. So may it be for us. Amen.
Reverend
Marc v. Mason
July
16, 2006
Trinity
Presbyterian Church
Travelers
Rest, SC