Canon 1 Article 18, 16

Predestination can be a hard doctrine for some to swallow. So Pelagians make man, rather than God, the decisive factor in salvation in hopes of saving man’s freedom.

Bound by Freedom

Fair (differently)

Article 18: The Proper Attitude toward Election and Reprobation

Our fathers in the faith are here calling us through the word to the chief virtue in/for right doctrine—humility. Let God be God and you will find a sovereign God worth worshipping. Paul in 2 Thessalonians binds worship to election.

The doctrine of God’s election is worthy of thanksgiving.

Now it's not just Arminians who struggle…

Article 16: Responses to the Teaching of Reprobation

First, there are those who do not yet “experience… a living faith in Christ.”

Hear and Fear (experience)

There is however one great clue that they are. They avail themselves to the one place where assurance is found. The canons say, “who nevertheless use the means by which God has promised to work these things in us.”

Glorified by most

What is the first thing God hallowed in Scripture?

What is the first thing God hallowed in Scripture? A moment, a time for the church to spend in worship. Keeping the Sabbath holy by corporate worship is the best experience. It is the obedience God requires of his church. The Sabbath is our day. A day to be strengthened in faith. Find your obedience in this that you come to the call to worship.

Keeping the Sabbath Expeirence

It is the obedience God requires of his church. The Sabbath is our day. A day to be strengthened in faith. Find your obedience in this that you come to the call to worship.

There is here another experience of faith. It’s this suffering lack of assurance.

Terrible Child (find joy)

Here’s the deal, we are promised by Christ to suffer various trials. I often say… not safe. . It’s not all health and wealth, jingle bells, look under your seat, you get a Honda…

Trouble is common to all Christians and yet the trouble varies. For some, their cross, their thorn… assurance. It’s part of this sad world to feel lost. Our fathers knew this and say to you, “[do not] be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor count [yourself] among the reprobate.” Just because you don’t feel like you are God’s child does not mean you are not God’s child.

There is solid evidence in the struggle that you are a Christian. There is solid advice here for you who struggle, “continue diligently in the use of the means.” We are called here to “desire fervently a time of more abundant grace.”

Thirsty… hunger… desire… experience of God’s love?

Do you wish to feel the joy of your salvation? The canons say, “be patient.” This patience is faith. It is belief that God will give you all you need for body and soul. Trust that God gives grace through his ordinary means, through the preaching of the Word and sacraments. Thus you are called to the Supper, “Come believing sinners, taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Carry your cross and trust the Lord to lighten the way. Jesus says (). We are not to conclude that we are among the reprobates if we have not yet received. Don’t listen to your heart. Don’t trust your reasoning. Listen to Jesus.

Second class of hearer are those who “seriously desire to turn to God, to be pleasing… to be delivered… but are not yet able to make such progress along the way … as they would like.”

Don’t measure? More? Progress? Beat?

Heidelberg 114 “Can those converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?” We answer, “No. In this life even the holiest have only small begins of this obedience.”

Heidelberg 114 “Can those converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?” We answer, “No. In this life even the holiest have only small begins of this obedience.”

This is the life. With the apostle Paul, we must be aware of that old man… Paul’s warning again the law of the mind and the law of the flesh that keeps us from doing the good we want to do, but the evil we do not want to do. The life doesn’t get easier. The more holy we become… It seems to get worse and more sinful. Does it follow then that we are reprobate? Can even the holiest in this life keep God’s law perfectly? says no.

The Christian life is a life of struggle. Why? Because we whole heartily agree that God is good. We therefore hate sin. This is the conflict. It is the Christian, who hates sin and struggles at his lack of sanctification.

Die (attitude)

Do you hate that you still sin? Are you tormented by your lack of obedience? Then you are a Christian.

What do we want to do? To live righteously before the face of God. To serve righteously before our neighbor. Do you want this perfection? It should be the desire of every believer. This is the willingness of election. But here’s the deal, election never promises perfection this side of glory. Strive you must, but look to Christ and not yourself when you fail. See your election in Christ.

The third class of hearers are those who don’t care. In fact they would prefer to never hear this doctrine again.

Honda

These hearers are not Christian. They don’t care. They don’t lie awake at night struggle. They don’t seek council. They don’t shed tears in counsel with others about their doubt and sin. They are not beating down my door, “Pastor, I don’t really care, but do you think I’m elect?” The heart broken over sin and doubt is a heart that belongs to God. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Cling to the gospel, which promises that God will not “quench the smoking flax nor break the bruised reed” ().

Jesus has experienced

Despise (sympathizes)

He hears your cries, and says to you, “Come to me, abide in me, and I will give you rest.” Hear those words and trust that you belong to God for they are the truth of election.