60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”  66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.  John 6:60-71

A. Sovereign Election: A Tense-Filled Doctrine

1. Jesus establishes the tension: John 6:35-37, 44, 65

2. Properly responding to the tension: Romans 11:33-36, Deuteronomy 29:2

a. Accept its difficulty and the impossibility of our finite minds fully understanding the infinite mind and wisdom of God.

b. Submit to its truth in humble worship of the God whose ways are not our ways and thoughts not our thoughts.

c. Avoid attempts to enter the secret things of God.

B. Sovereign Election: Is it taught in the Bible?

1. Affirmed in the Old Testament: Deut. 7:6-8

2. Affirmed by our Lord Jesus Christ: Matthew 24:22, 31; Mark 13:20; Luke 18:7

3. Affirmed by the early church: Acts 13:44-48

4. Affirmed by the Apostle Paul: 1 Thess. 1:2-7; 2 Thess. 2:13

5. Affirmed by the Apostle Peter: 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:10

THIS WEEK

C. Common Misunderstandings about Election

1. God is unfair choosing select people to salvation: Romans 9:14-21; Isaiah 64:8

2. People are reduced to puppets on a divine string: John 5:39-40; Revelation 22:17; John 7:37

3. Evangelistic zeal is minimized: Romans 9:1-3; Romans 10:1

4. Passive pursuit of holiness is accepted

– Understanding the purpose of election: the call to love: Ephesians 1:3-4

– Understanding the privilege of election: the call to fellowship: 1 Corinthians 1:9