{"id":3968,"date":"2013-01-23T16:26:04","date_gmt":"2013-01-23T22:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=3968"},"modified":"2013-01-23T16:26:11","modified_gmt":"2013-01-23T22:26:11","slug":"resource-on-the-doctrine-of-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/2013\/01\/resource-on-the-doctrine-of-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Resources on the Doctrine of Election"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In Sunday&#8217;s Message, &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/messages\/Date\/JAN_20_2013.php\">How God Makes\u00c2\u00a0Christians<\/a>,&#8221; Ryan unpacked the doctrine of election from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.esvbible.org\/search\/1+Peter+1%3A1-2\/\">1 Peter 1:1-2<\/a>. For Peter and his readers, the truth of God&#8217;s election of sinners to salvation was not understood as a matter for controversy, but for comfort.<\/p>\n<p>At the close of Ryan&#8217;s sermon he mentioned several\u00c2\u00a0appropriate\u00c2\u00a0responses to the sermon. Some need to resolve to study this more from Scripture. Some need to accept what they have seen in Scripture. Others need to cherish what they&#8217;ve accepted.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some resources to help you see, embrace, and cherish the doctrine of God&#8217;s electing love:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=498\">Bible Verses on the Love and Power of God<\/a>,&#8221; a DSC Blog post with several dozen verses on the greatness of our need and the greatness of God&#8217;s love, including his election of sinners to salvation.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/messages\/Date\/JAN_03_2010.php\">When God Speaks<\/a>,&#8221; a sermon by Ryan Kelly on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.esvbible.org\/search\/Ezekiel+37%3A1-14\/\">Ezekiel 37:1-14<\/a><\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/messages\/Date\/APR_10_2011.php\">Conversion: Now That&#8217;s How it&#8217;s Supposed to Go!<\/a>,&#8221; a sermon by Ryan Kelly on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.esvbible.org\/search\/Acts+16%3A6-15\/\">Acts 16:6-15<\/a><\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gracesermons.com\/robbeeee\/paradox.html\">God&#8217;s Part and Man&#8217;s Part in Salvation<\/a>,&#8221; an article by John G. Reisinger<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Chosen-Life-Case-Divine-Election\/dp\/1581348436\/desesprichur-20\">Chosen for Life: The Case for Divine Election<\/a>,&#8221; a book by Sam Storms<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Chosen-God-R-C-Sproul\/dp\/0842313354\/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1358977296&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=chose+r.c.+sproul\/desesprichur-20\">Chosen by God<\/a>,&#8221; a book by R.C. Sproul<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.desiringgod.org\/resource-library\/sermons\/the-pleasure-of-god-in-election\">The Pleasure of God in Election<\/a>,&#8221; a sermon by John Piper<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.desiringgod.org\/resource-library\/ask-pastor-john\/how-can-i-help-someone-who-thinks-they-arent-elect\">How Can I Help Someone Who Thinks They Aren&#8217;t Elect?<\/a>,&#8221; a Q&amp;A with John Piper<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.desiringgod.org\/resource-library\/sermons\/pastoral-thoughts-on-the-doctrine-of-election\">Pastoral Thoughts on the Doctrine of Election<\/a>,&#8221; a sermon by John Piper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition, it may also be helpful to read the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/about\/beliefs\/PDF\/Elders'_Doctrinal_Statement.pdf\">Elders Doctrinal Statement<\/a>, which is more narrow and doctrinally specific than the doctrinal statement required for membership at DSC. Both are\u00c2\u00a0available\u00c2\u00a0on our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/about\/beliefs\/\">Beliefs<\/a> page. This document expresses the doctrinal understanding of Scripture that our elders share together and the doctrinal commitments that govern the teaching ministry of our church. Several sections will be helpful for you to read, including Section 3, &#8220;God&#8217;s Eternal Purpose in Election,&#8221; Section 7, &#8220;The Saving Work of Christ,&#8221; and Section 8, &#8220;The Saving Work of the Holy Spirit.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Section 9 of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/about\/beliefs\/PDF\/Elders'_Doctrinal_Statement.pdf\">Elders Doctrinal Statement<\/a> addresses a specific question raised by the doctrine of election: the relationship of gospel preaching and human responsibility.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>9. The Offer of the Gospel and the Responsibility of Man<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>9.1 We believe that human beings are genuinely responsible for their decisions, actions, and motives. God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s providence mysteriously involves human wills and real choices in such a way that neither God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sovereignty nor human will is violated or sacrificed for the reality of the other. This mysterious harmony is sometimes called \u00e2\u20ac\u0153compatibilism\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153concurrence,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d indicating that divine sovereignty and human responsibility are compatible and run concurrently through every decision and event. Often times in the Scriptures, complete divine sovereignty and genuine human responsibility are unblushingly affirmed in the same passage.<\/p>\n<p>9.2 We believe that genuine human choices, though simultaneously and intimately involving God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s active providence, are made according to ability and desire. Sin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s effects have devastated our spiritual abilities and desires, so that it may be rightly said that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no man seeks after God.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Our spiritual waywardness, then, is the free, conscious, and repeated choice of those born into sin and under condemnation.<\/p>\n<p>9.3 We believe that the gospel should and must be proclaimed in all the world and among all men. The legitimate gospel offer and genuine call to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153believe and repent\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is an offer to all, and a reality for those (and only those) who consciously and passionately confess, repent, believe, receive, and seek Christ\u00e2\u20ac\u201dall synonyms for faith. God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gospel call, in the Bible and through His people, is a genuine call to come, and those who do not come to Christ do not come precisely because they do not want to, choosing according to their wayward desires.<\/p>\n<p>9.4 We believe that belief unto salvation is one of innumerable instances in the Scriptures where \u00e2\u20ac\u0153concurrence\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is essential to a proper and biblical understanding of divine sovereignty and human responsibility\u00e2\u20ac\u201dneither negated, overruled, or dismissed by the other.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As we ponder the Word of God, meditate on God&#8217;s gracious election of sinners, and pray for the conversion of the lost, let&#8217;s keep in mind these important words from the famous 19th century preacher, Charles Spurgeon: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There is no more humbling doctrine in Scripture than that of election, none more promoting\u00c2\u00a0of gratitude, and, consequently, none more sanctifying. Believers should not be afraid of it, but adoringly\u00c2\u00a0rejoice in it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Sunday&#8217;s Message, &#8220;How God Makes\u00c2\u00a0Christians,&#8221; Ryan unpacked the doctrine of election from 1 Peter 1:1-2. For Peter&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/2013\/01\/resource-on-the-doctrine-of-election\/\">Continue Reading &rsaquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[41],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3968"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3968"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3972,"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3968\/revisions\/3972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}