Predestination-a doctrine rich in comfortBible study
Predestination-a doctrine rich in comfortBible study
1. Martin Luther pointed us in the right direction when he spoke about the certainty and comfort of our election.
Recalling the advice of his counselor in the monastery, he wrote, “Staupitz consoled me with these words: ‘Why do you torture yourself with these speculations? Look at the wounds of Christ and the blood he shed for you; from these your election will shine forth. Therefore, we must hear the Son of God, who was sent into the flesh and has appeared for the purpose of destroying the work of the devil and making you certain of your election. So he tells you: "You are my sheep because you hear my voice; and no one shall pluck you out of my hands.” (What Luther Says, Volume One, #1357, page 460).
A. For the certainty of our election we focus not on ourselves, but on what a gracious God has done and is doing for us.
a. We look at God’s Word
- Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
-note where these verses lie, in a book in which Paul sets forth clearly the message of God justifying sinners through his Son Jesus’ payment for sin and then God bringing sinners to faith through the gospel.
-note where the emphasis is - on God who does it all.
-note the “golden chain” that God has woven for us. To his election of us he links our calling to faith. To our calling to faith he links our justification - that is his giving us the faith to embrace his verdict of forgiven through Jesus. To our justification he links our being glorified, that is, sharing his glory already now on earth and guaranteed his glory in heaven.
