CHRISTMAS: THE SAVIOR HAS COME!

CHOSEN: THE GIFT OF SALVATION

INTRODUCTION: THE WORK OF SALVATION SPANS ETERNITY. IT is the greatest of the miracles of God!

CHRISTMAS and EASTER are the commemorations and celebrations of this greatest of Miracles. CHRISTMAS REMINDS US OF THE MIRACULOUS NATURE OF SALVATION.

We, as CHRISTIANS, may be Aliens and Outcasts to the World, but have been lovingly and graciously CHOSEN by GOD THE FATHER for SALVATION: The Father FOREKNOWS those who will be saved—The Spirit SANCTIFIES those whom the Father Foreknows—The Son CLEANSES those whom the Spirit has Sanctified and the Father Foreknows. GOD HAS CHOSEN TO BRING US INTO AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMSELF.

1 Peter 1:1–2 (NASB95)

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (MODERN DAY TURKEY) who are CHOSEN according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”

WHEN WE WERE CHOSEN: THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER

Foreknowledge is His ability to look down the corridors of time and know the outcome of an activity before it even begins.

R. C. Sproul

Not only was the SUFFERING and SACRIFICE of Jesus, the LAMB of GOD known by God before Creation—so too was the EFFECT of that Sacrifice known by God before Creation.

In FOREKNOWLEDGE, God knows the end from the beginning.

The NAMES of all who will be Redeemed was known from before Creation.

2. HOW WE ARE CHOSEN: TO BE SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

The primary work of Christ in redemption is to justify, sanctify and ultimately to glorify a company of persons salvaged from the ruin of the human race.

A. W. Tozer

...it is not sanctification that saves, but salvation that sanctifies.

Charles Spurgeon

Salvation is the work of God for man; it is not the work of man for God.

Lewis Sperry Chafer; John Walvoord

In His love, GOD THE FATHER PURPOSES Salvation.

In Submission to the Father, the GOD THE SON PROCURES Salvation through the CROSS and EMPTY TOMB.

In Submission to the Father and Son, the SPIRIT APPLIES the SAVING WORK of Christ.

3. WHAT WE ARE CHOSEN FOR: OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST AND THE SPRINKLING OF HIS BLOOD

The foreknowing work of God and the sanctifying action of the Spirit result in human obedience and the sprinkling of Christ’s blood.

Thomas Schreiner

IT IS THE BLOOD of Jesus that makes salvation and sanctification possible

We are SET APART from the world because of the Sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus by the Spirit.

We are in a COVENANT RELATIONSHIP with Holy God through the sanctifying blood of Jesus.

For obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood thus means that God’s plan for them is not obedience marred by unforgiven sin but obedience whose failings are cleansed by the blood of Christ; it means ‘for continual daily obedience and forgiveness’

Wayne Grudem

4. WHAT WE ARE CHOSEN TO ENJOY: THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S GRACE AND PEACE

Christ is the A, and he is the Z of the salvation alphabet. He is not only the helper of our salvation, but the God of it, the maker of it, the all-in-all of it. Have any of you a salvation which you have manufactured for yourselves? Then drop it overboard and row away from it as fast as you can, lest it should be a torpedo to work your ruin. The only salvation that can redeem from hell is a salvation which comes from heaven. Eternal salvation must come from an eternal God. Salvation that makes you a new creature must be the work of him who sits on the throne and makes all things new.—58.459

Charles Spurgeon

The virgin birth of Christ is an unmistakable reminder that salvation can never come through human effort, but must be the work of God himself.

Wayne Grudem