Unconditional Election

The first of two messages on unconditional election. Pastor Martin gives a simple statement of the doctrine from the Westminster Shorter Catechism, then establishes its biblical basis first through the explicit testimony of key words (elect, foreknow, predestinate) and key passages (Matthew 11, John 6, John 17, Acts 13, Romans 9, 1-2 Thessalonians), and begins the implicit testimony drawn from God's pattern of dealings with Israel, the doctrine of sin, and the doctrine of God's sovereignty.

The second message on unconditional election answers the four most common objections to the doctrine and traces its practical influence. The objections — it is not just, it is not fair, it kills personal concern and effort for salvation, and it makes evangelistic passion unnecessary — are answered primarily from Romans 9, with appeals to the life and labors of Christ, Paul, Whitefield, and Spurgeon. Pastor Martin concludes by showing that rightly received, the doctrine impels gratitude, engenders stability, constrains confidence, motivates faithfulness, humbles in the face of usefulness, and drives us to self-examination.