The sermon delivered by Eric Bechler focuses on the theological concept of God's decree, particularly the doctrine of unconditional election as articulated in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession, Chapter 3, Paragraph 5. The speaker discusses the sovereignty of God in predestinating some to eternal life and others to condemnation, emphasizing that God's choices are not based on human actions or foresight but are according to His eternal purpose, secret counsel, and good pleasure. Various scriptural references are cited to support this, including Romans, Ephesians, and Isaiah. The idea of 'chosen in Christ' is explored, indicating that while Christ's mediation is necessary for the execution of God's electing love, it is not the cause of election itself. The sermon concludes with a reflection on the fruit of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, encouraging believers to examine their lives for these qualities as evidence of a spirit-filled life.

In the last two weeks we focused on that there are some men and angels who are foreordained, predestinated to eternal life or to condemnation. And the number of them is certain and unchangeable. This week we jump into a topic, unconditional election. There's much controversy regarding election, even though there are numerous verses supporting election and supporting it unconditionally. It is included here in our confession to emphasize what the Bible says about God's sovereignty and election.

Let's break down what our paragraph for today states. Let's start with God. God, the creator of the universe, the author and finisher of life, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Almighty, the only true God. Our chapter focuses on God's decree. He is the one doing something here.

He has the authority. He has the power. We look in Isaiah 46, 9. Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is none else. I am God and there is none like me.

From 1st Chronicles 29-11, Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine, thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and now art exalted as head above all." And finally in Psalm 145 verse 3, great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable. So what is God doing here? God has chosen those of mankind predestinated to life. God has not chosen all of mankind for everlasting life. From our previous discussion in paragraph 3, God has predestinated some for eternal life and some to condemnation.

Thus not all are predestinated for eternal life. We refer to 1st Thessalonians 5, 9, For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. If we go to Paul's letter to the Romans 9 20 through 22, Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay?

Of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor? What if God willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering, the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. So we see two different directions. Paul gives us the example of Jacob and Esau and he gives us also the word spoken to Moses about mercy also in his letter to Romans, again from chapter 9 verses 12 through 16. It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." So when did God make this choice? Did he make it by looking into the future to see what choices each person would make? God made his choice before the foundation of the world. We look at Ephesians 1, 4, According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. And in Acts 15, 18, no none to God are all His works from the beginning of the world.

In the second Timothy 1, 9, who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." Well, what were the basis for God's choices here? How did he decide or choose? We see several points here listed in our paragraph today. The first one, according to his eternal and immutable purpose. Paul's letter to the Romans described two purposes of God.

The first to show his wrath and power. The second to make known the riches of his glory. These are eternal and never changing. Again, Romans 9, 22 through 23. What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.

Proverbs 16, 4, The Lord hath made all things for himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." In Hebrews 6, 17, wherein God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath. The second basis here, according to the secret counsel of his will, we go to Isaiah 46 10, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. In Ephesians 1 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. And according to the good pleasure of his will, we touched that on Ephesians 1-11 just now, but also Ephesians 1-5, having predestinated us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. In Ephesians 1 9, having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in his self.

It is his will whether by the counsel of his will or his good pleasure, it's not a reaction based upon anyone or anything outside of himself. The next one here is out of his mere grace, free grace, and love. In Ephesians 1 6, to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted into the beloved Ephesians 4 7 but unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ and 2nd Thessalonians 2 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father which had loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. So are there any conditions placed on God with respect to His choices, His election? Our paragraph states, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto.

We refer to Romans 9 and 11, for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not works, but of Him that calleth." Romans 11, 5 and 6. Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works. Otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace.

Otherwise work is no more work. God is choosing certain people before the foundations of the world and before they are alive and doing anything of their own. Does God see or foresee what they will do or how they will respond? Certainly. But this is not the basis of his choice.

God is electing certain people, all who deserve eternal condemnation. He is electing certain people according to his purpose and by his counsel and good pleasure. God has ordained all things. God is sovereign. And God is sovereign over all.

There's one phrase in this paragraph we haven't touched on, and that is, in Christ unto everlasting glory. God has chosen those of mankind predestinated to life before the defundation of the world. He has chosen them in Christ unto everlasting glory. From Romans 8 30, moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified." In Romans 9, 23.

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. Robert Shaw comments on the phrase found here, in Christ. There is one circumstance connected with election that remains to be noticed. The elect are stated to have been chosen in Christ, which indeed is the expressed language of Scripture, if you refer to Ephesians 1-4. This cannot mean that the mediatory work of Christ was the cause of their election, for as has been already shown, election proceeds from the mere sovereign will of God and the scripture represents the mission of our Savior as the effect of the love of God." Refer to John 3.16.

The mediation of Christ was necessary in order that the effects of electing love might be bestowed upon God's chosen, in a consistency with the rights and honor of His justice. But election itself originated in divine sovereignty and had no other cause than the good pleasure of God's will. Ephesians 1.5. The divine purpose is one, embracing the means as well as the end, but according to our conceptions of the operations of the divine minds, the end is first in intention, and then the means are pointed by which it is to be carried into effect. The phrase, chosen in Christ, signifies therefore we apprehend that God had our respect to the mediation of Christ not as the cause of their election, but as the means by which the purpose of election was to be executed.

In summary, we have in this paragraph, God predestinates those to life before the foundations of the world were laid. Number two, circumstances don't determine what he ordains. What he foresaw in the future does not dictate or influence what he will do. God freely by himself without any conditions predetermines all that happens. God knows what will come to pass.

God ordains all that will happen. He is sovereign over all that was, all that is, and all that will be. He's completely sovereign. He is perfectly sovereign. He does this at his good pleasure, and he does this for his glory.

Again, each week I'm saying this should bring us great comfort to the elect, to those who he has called. In our uncertain world, God is certain. God is faithful, and God is sovereign. As I mentioned, our actions, our works do not influence God's choosing those to eternal life. Our actions and our works are a response to God's grace, God's love.

I'd like to read from Galatians 5 22 and 23, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law. This is a wonderful verse. If you don't have it already memorized, I would encourage you to spend some time to put this on the list of those verses you want to memorize, put in your heart. At the same time, Spend time this week thinking about each of these qualities.

They are the byproduct of a spirit-filled life. Examine your actions, examine your speech, examine your heart. Do you see any of these qualities exhibited in your daily life? If you do, note them down. If you have a journal, note them down in your journal and thank God for what He has done and is doing in you.

If you don't see any of these qualities, maybe it's time to humble yourself, repent, and seek the Lord. Amen.