The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Ephesians 1:3-7
Advent I
1. The teaching of the believer's eternal election in Christ Jesus is found
in the NT at Eph. 1:3-14; Rom. 8:28-39; II Thess. 2:13-17; Acts 13:48; II
Tim 1:9; I Pet. 1:3-7. The term "the elect" is used interchangeably with
"Christian", "believer", "saint", or "child of God".
2. God loves all people alike. Jn. 3:16. He truly wants all to be saved.
I Tim. 2:4. Man is solely to blame if he rejects the Gospel. Mt. 23:37; Luke
7:30; Acts 7:51; 13:46. God did not choose or elect anyone to damnation.
3. The teaching of election is only and always only for the comfort and
strengthening of Christians who grow weak in their faith, fearful of the
sins they've committed, doubting whether the Gospel is true. The teaching
of election is meaningless to the unbeliever.
4. In our test Paul praises the Father for what He has done for us in Christ:
He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing, every heavenly blessing.
This happened because the Father chose us in Christ before the world was
created. This resulted in our being holy and blameless in our faith and
living, despite our many sins, while we live on this earth. What prompted
the Father to do this? The good pleasure of his saving will. His glorious
grace which He showered on us in His beloved Son is to be praised. The
first doxology is found in vs. 6. Have you become a Christian? If so, then
rest assured that you are one of God's children forever and ever. You did
not choose Him. He chose you in Christ and ordained you to eternal life.
Election is simply the true understanding of the grace of God in Christ
Jesus.
5. Note how often Jesus Christ is referred to in vss. 3-14: In vs. 3 twice;
in 4 once; in 5 once; in 6 once; in 7 at least twice; in 9 once; in 10 twice;
in 11 once; in 12 once; in 13 twice, for a total of fourteen times. If ever a
person comes to you, worried about whether or not he is one of God's
elect, ask him this simple question: "Do you believe that Jn. 3-16 applies
to you?" If to this he answers "yes", assure him that he is one of God's
elect. This assumes, of course, that his attitude towards the remainder of
Scripture is like that of his attitude towards Jn. 3-16. This assumes that
he is fighting sin. This assumes that he does not use his freedom to live in
sin.
6. At the end of vs. 4 of our text the older English translations made the
phrase "in love" go with vs. 4. That I also found in the older Russian
translation. This makes "in love" refer to our Christian living. However, in
the newer English translations, the phrase goes with vs. 5. That is found in
the newer Russian translation. That makes "in love" refer to what God did
for us. Neither translation will militate against what the Bible says about
these matters.
7. The Formula of Concord in the _Book of Concord_ says (Tappert 626.65):
"We should accordingly consider God's eternal election in Christ, and not
outside of or apart from Christ. For according to St. Paul's testimony we
have been elected in Christ 'before the foundation of the world was laid'"
(Eph. 1:4), as it is written "He has loved us in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6).
8. At Jn. 10:27-30 Jesus said: "My sheep hear My voice and I know them and
they follow me and I give to them eternal life and they will never perish
and no one will take them out of My hand." After Paul discussed election at
Rom. 8:29-30 he wrote: "If God is for us who can be against us? . . . Who
will accuse God's elect of anything? God is the One Who justifies. Who
condemns (us)? Christ died (for us). Yes He rose for us. At Thess. 2:13 Paul
tells us not to fear the Antichrist because He has chosen us for salvation.
In 1 Pet. 1 the writer comforts the Christians who were suffering because
of their faith. He addresses them as "the elect". I am God's from eternity
to eternity only because of His grace and love in Christ Jesus. Praise the
Lord.
The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Ephesians1:3-7
Advent I
THEME: Praise the Lord for His spiritual, heavenly gifts to us!
INTRODUCTION
Happy New Year! Today is Advent I, the first day of the church year. For the
next six months we will concentrate on the great things God did for us at
Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. Our text for today is a very fitting text
to introduce these great things which God has done for us.
I. What these spiritual, heavenly blessings are.
A. The Word of truth, the Gospel of salvation. Actually our text goes
to vs. 14. In vs. 13 Paul mentions the Word of truth, the Gospel of
salvation. That is given to us through the Word of God Only there do
we find the truth about mankind and also about God. The Word shows
us the vanity of man, his inability to save us. But the Word also
shows us the good news that our Father is Christ Jesus. The Holy
Spirit uses this good news to seal us to eternal life.
B. Redemption through Jesus' blood, the forgiveness of sins. This gift
is mentioned in vs. 4. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all
sin. I Jn. 1:7. We see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world. Jn. 1:29. He was made sin for us so that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him. II Cor. 5:21.
C. Adoption through Jesus Christ. Vs. 5. We are no longer foreigners
and strangers but fellow citizens of the saints and members of God's
household. Eph. 2:19. Our citizenship is in heaven. Php. 3:20. Satan is
no longer our father. Now God is our Father and we can say: "Our
Father Who art in heaven."
II. What caused these spiritual, heavenly blessings.
A. God chose us in Christ before He laid the foundation of creation.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Rom
8:39. That is so because God chose us in Christ Jesus. Jesus said: "No
one can take My sheep out of My hand." Jn. 10:28. That is so because
God chose us in Christ Jesus before eternity. Absolutely nothing can
hurt us lastingly. Lk. 10:19. That is so because God chose us in Christ
Jesus.
B. The basis for this choosing. It was the good pleasure of His will.
Vs. 5. It was from the riches of His grace. Vs. 7. "By grace you've
been saved." Eph. 2:8. Your birth did not depend on your choosing or
goodness. Only God did that. And that is why the Lord wants us to
repent, to confess our sins, to confess our unworthiness. Because we
earned absolutely nothing except hell and punishment. No wonder the
Lord said: "O Israel, you have destroyed yourself but in Me is your
help!" Hos. 13:9. No wonder David cried: "Remember not the sins of my
youth!" Ps. 25:7. No wonder Paul exclaimed: "Not having my own
righteousness which is of the Law but the righteousness of God
which comes by faith in Jesus." Php. 3:9.
C. The purpose of this choosing. So that I live a holy and blameless
life before Him. Vs. 4. God did not choose me so that I could go out
and live a life of sin. As Zacharias said: "That we should serve Him
without fear in righteousness and holiness all the days of our life."
Lk. 1:75. Jesus chose us that we might go and bear much fruit. Jn. 15.
A Christian is like a tree planted by the rivers of water. It brings
forth its fruit in its season. Ps. 1:3. On the last day He will say to
you: "Well done, good and faithful servant." Mt. 25:23.
CONCLUSION
Happy New Year! Welcome to your Lord Jesus Christ who died so that you
might live. Welcome to your Father who chose you from eternity because
of His grace in Christ Jesus. Welcome to the Holy Spirit Who sealed you to
eternal life.
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