Weekly Bible Study – December 22, 2014

Doctrine of Election, Part 9.
Election and the Winner Believer.

PLEASE READ FIRST

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings

STUDY TITLE:

Doctrine of Election, Part 8.
Election and the Winner Believer.



OPTION: If you would prefer to go directly to the Grace Bible Church website to read this study message, all verse reference links are active there (but not hover active) and Enlarged Text is also an available option – right click the above link then left click “Open Link in New Window” or “New Tab”

Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing

BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible

Doctrine of Election, Part 9.
Election and the Winner Believer.

In our study of the Doctrine of Election, we have now begun to note the the Christian Winner. Remember the main principle concerning election which is the fact that Under election, God wills the highest and best for every believer. That means that as a loving Father, He willed for you to have the highest and best He has to offer.

Election connotes the grace work of God the Father on your behalf in eternity past. For example, in the Bible we have the illustration and the analogy of at least five categories of Crowns for believers which are found in the word of God:

The first four are available to all believers; the last is available to pastor teachers only.

1) The crown of righteousness.
2) The crown of life.
3) The incorruptible crown
4) The crown of rejoicing.
5) The crown of glory.

Some will have the Crown of Righteousness for loving his appearing or being totally occupied with the lord Jesus Christ and producing divine good.

2TI 4:6-8, For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Some will have the Crown of Life for enduring trials, heartaches, disasters and coming out glorifying the Lord, JAM 1:12, REV 2:10.

JAM 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

REV 2:8-10, “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the Crown of Life.”
Some will have the incorruptible crown for mastering their O.S.N.

1CO 9:24-27, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

Some will have the Crown of Rejoicing for being soul winners. 1TH 2:19, For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

Some will have the Crown of Glory for being willing to feed the flock of God, 1PE 5:4. Then there is the ultimate decoration: The order of the morning star. The winner who receives the above crowns not only has vast estates in the eternal state, but he receives this decoration and others that go with it. The order of the morning star is given to winners as the highest of all decorations in escrow blessings given by God.

REV 2:26,28, “Furthermore, the winner, even he who keeps my assignments [execution of the pre-designed plan of God] until the end [perpetuation of spiritual maturity through evidence testing], to him I will give authority over the nations.”

Verse 28, “Furthermore I will give to him the order of the morning star.”

The mature believer will be a king over a Gentile nation and rule during the Millennium.

Receiving this decoration is the highest manifestation of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ in the Church-age.

This is just a tiny glimpse of what you have been elected to receive. Someone says, well that's fine for the eternal state, what about time? What kind of blessings does God bless His people with in time?

GEN12:2, blessings of success
GEN17:16, blessings of posterity
DEU 7:13, blessings in business
DEU 15:4, blessing of finance
DEU 23:20, blessing of land
DEU 28:12, blessing of prosperity
DEU 30:16, blessing of property
PSA 5:12, Blessing of divine protection
PSA 29:11, blessing of peace (inner peace)
PSA 132:15, blessing of more blessing
GEN 49:25, blessing of sexual prosperity
GEN 24:35, blessing of silver & gold
2SA 6:11, blessing of entire household
DEU 29:5, blessing of divine character
1KI 3:13, blessing of riches & honor
EXO 23:25, blessing of health & no sickness
1KI 3:14, blessing of length of days
DEU 7:15, blessing of vengeance upon your enemies
ISA 41:10, blessing of strength

All of this is based upon your attitude towards Bible doctrine.

PRO 3:15-18, She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.

PRO 4:7-10, ‘The beginning of wisdom {is:} Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty. Hear, my son, and accept my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.

PRO 4:20-22, My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their whole body.

PRO 8:10-36, “Take my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold. For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things can not compare with her. I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge {and} discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly. I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield than choicest silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. Now therefore, {O} sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways. Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect {it.} Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts. For he who finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord. But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death.

When God the Father completed this work of election in eternity past He said in effect, it is finished, because everything you would ever need as a Christian was provided. And since this existed in eternity past, it continues to exist forever. However, the purpose of election only becomes apparent when living in the PPOG under the ministry of the Spirit, and by hearing correct and accurate Bible teaching so that we become inculcated with the PPOG. Blessings for time are distributed to the Church-age believer shortly after he attains spiritual growth.

Peter gives us some insight regarding election and the fantastic blessings given to us in 1PE 1:3.

1PE 1:3-5, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a deliverance ready to be revealed in the last time.


The apostle Paul tells us that not all believers will receive their inheritance of fantastic blessings in TIT 3:7.

TIT 3:7 That being justified by His grace, we might become heirs on the basis of the confidence of eternal life.

Paul also tells us that the means of receiving these blessings is pre-destination.

EPH 1:11 ‘In Whom also we have received an inheritance, having been predestined with reference to a predetermined plan [PPOG] from Him who works all things in conformity with the purpose of His will.

So you have been elected, not only to receive salvation, but to receive the greatest blessings for time and for eternity and that especially includes spiritual blessings. Spiritual blessing means maximum awareness of life. This means that you are very much alive and you treasure every moment of life, whether in adversity or prosperity. You have zeal for life and an enjoyment of every moment of life, regardless of what it brings. And this zest for life excludes being depressed or upset by the up's and downs of life.

- Spiritual blessing means orientation to reality, a maximum amount of objectivity in your life, and the accumulation of all the characteristics of spiritual adulthood.
- Spiritual blessing means maximum contentment, tranquility, and happiness in life regardless of your station, circumstances, or status quo in life.
- Spiritual blessing means maximum use of the problem solving devices provided by God for spiritual growth.

These problem solving devices are used in varying degrees until you reach spiritual maturity when they are used to the maximum. And the use of these problem solving devices gives you an edge on life which no one else has.

In a moment's time, you can use; rebound, the filling of the Spirit, the faith rest life, grace orientation, doctrinal orientation, a personal sense of destiny, personal love for God the Father, impersonal unconditional love for all mankind, contentment and perfect happiness with God, the ultimate-occupation with the Lord jesus Christ.

All of which produce a fantastic confidence unique and exclusive to spiritual maturity. Spiritual blessing means that your relationship with God is fantastic and is based upon a tremendous confidence that, while you have never seen God, you know Him and understand Him as He wants to be understood through the mystery doctrine for the Church-age, 1PE 1:8. And you will also be blessed in your contacts with all kinds of people, both loving and antagonistic. This means that people can no longer disturb you or cause you to be disillusioned and full of self pity. And you also have a relationship with yourself that is honest and virtuous.

Although the emphasis is on spiritual blessings, God also provides temporal blessings. Temporal blessings vary with the individual and with his environment. But some of the categories can be noted.;

- Establishment blessing includes the blessings of privacy and freedom; the enjoyment of both life and property; protection from crime, reprisal, violence, and vindictiveness from others.

COL 3:4-7, When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

- Professional blessing is maximum success or efficiency in a profession, whether law, medicine, engineering, science, military, teaching, law enforcement, athletics, art, music, literature, etc.

- Business blessing, where applicable, means success in business as an owner or an executive of a large corporation; or where pertinent, success as a salesman, administrator, laborer, etc.

- Social blessing is the possession of loving, faithful, reliable, and stable friends, and maximum enjoyment of your relationships with them. It is the ability to handle all sorts of social situations. Your great happiness and enthusiasm for life is expressed both vocally and in silence with friends.

- Romantic blessing can mean a wonderful relationship with a member of the opposite sex where happiness replaces sinfulness. Rromantic prosperity is perpetuated under all circumstances of adversity and prosperity. This includes sexual prosperity in marriage. Or it could just mean not having a nagging wife; nevertheless, a successful marriage can be a reality.

- Mental blessing is the ability to concentrate; to organize both your thinking and your life; to synthesize, to analyze; and to have courage, which is the ability to think under pressure.


- Mental prosperity also includes freedom from the mental sins of fear, worry, and anxiety. You will have a relaxed mental attitude and a true sense of humor. Perhaps this category also includes freedom from the mental diseases of old age.

- Cultural blessing is maximum capacity for good entertainment; the enjoyment of the best in music, art, literature, drama, history, and whatever your hobbies.


- Health blessing is given to some mature believers as well.

But if you have violated too many principles of health already, you may not have good health, but you will have the ability to cope with your lack of good health.

- Leadership blessing, though not for everyone, is a blessing for some by virtue of either their genetics or spiritual gift, or it can be acquired. This is the ability to take any assigned responsibility and do it efficiently, cheerfully, and effectively. Several passages refer to some of these forms of prosperity.

PRO 8:18, “Riches and honor are with me [doctrine], enduring wealth and virtue [righteousness].”

PSA 23:6, “Surely prosperity and grace pursue me all the days of my life [your blessings for time], and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever [the blessings for all eternity].”

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.