Romans: Election, Israel, and Covenant Mercy

How Do I know I Am One Of God's Elect - Part 2 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2020-07-11

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver continues his message on assurance of election, expounding John 17 to show four biblical evidences that one is among God's elect: receiving the revelation of God in Christ, being preserved and persevering in faith, living a sanctified life and being sent as a witness, and being indwelled by the Spirit and loved by the Father with the same love He has for the Son. He emphasizes that election is unto salvation, not salvation itself, and that these evidences provide confident assurance.

[John Weaver] Let's open our Bibles into John 17 verses 1 through 3 We're going to pick up with the second part of the message. How do I know? That I am one of God's elect John chapter 17 will be dealing with other verses in this chapter, but these are the primary verses that we used the last week. Notice verse 1. These words spake Jesus and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hours come.

[John Weaver] Glorify thy son, that thy son also may glorify thee. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent. So the title of the message again is how do I know that I'm one of God's elect? The very question, how do I know that I'm one of God's elect, postulates the doctrine of election. I find it absolutely amusing that some who reject this doctrine or say they do not believe this doctrine, are constantly and continually fighting against it. My thought would be if you don't believe it, why in the world are you going to fight against it anyhow? But they do.

[John Weaver] Years ago I was preaching in Alabama and I had an older man come up to me after Sunday morning service. And that Sunday I had preached on 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. Now there's only 10 verses in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. My text was verse 3, and then verses 7 through 10 as they explained verse 3. And so since it was a small chapter, I just read the entire chapter. Well, verse 4 just simply says this, knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God. I didn't preach on that verse. I just read it because it's in the Bible. And so after service, this older gentleman came up to me and told me that I should not have read that verse. And I laughed. I said, why should I not read it? It's in the Bible. But he said, some people don't understand the doctrine of election, and it upsets them. I said, what you're telling me is that you don't understand the doctrine of election, and you're upset. Well, he said, yes. I said, well, sir, listen.

[John Weaver] I said, there are 73 verses in the New Testament that speak of the doctrine of election. I said, if you'll meet me in my motel room at 2 o'clock this afternoon, I said, I will sit down with you and go over all 73 verses and try to give you some understanding so that you will not get upset the next time you read the election in the Bible. He said, fine. Well, I hurried through my dinner meal and I ran to the motel room and I was sitting there making sure I had all 73 verses down so that I could show him when he got there.

[John Weaver] My phone rang about 15 minutes to 2. And it was the fellow who was supposed to meet me at two. And he said this, he said, Pastor, he said, I'm not going to meet with you at two o'clock. And I said, really? Why? And so help me. These are his exact words. I've never forgotten them. He said, because my mind is made up and I do not want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures.

[John Weaver] There is something very dishonest about someone who is so dishonest with Scripture and who cannot look upon Scripture honestly. I mean, you might not agree, you might not understand, but at least you can be honest with Scripture. I've trained a number of young men for the ministry. Years ago, I had a Bible institute where I taught on Monday night, Tuesday night, and Thursday night. And we'd go anywhere from two to four hours a night.

[John Weaver] Well, there was a church not too far away that did not have a pastor, and they needed a pulpit supply. So they contacted me, and I sent one of my young men to preach there on Sunday. Well, when he got there, there was a visiting pastor who showed up who was looking for a church. Well, they had already asked this young man to preach, so they asked the visiting pastor to teach Sunday school. Fine. This church did not use quarterlies or anything like that.

[John Weaver] They just used the Bible. And it just so happened that Sunday, the chapter they were to study for Sunday school was First Thessalonians chapter one. And so the young man that I sent over there to preach sat in that Sunday school. He came back on Monday morning and told me, he said, Pastor, you will never, ever believe this. He said, that pastor, read verse 1 and commented on it, read verse 2 and commented on it, read verse 3 and commented on it, read verse 5 and commented on it, all the way down through verse 10. He said he not only did not comment on verse 4, he would not even read verse 4.

[John Weaver] Now there's something wrong with someone like that. You may not understand, and you may not like, but you can still be honest with Scripture.

[John Weaver] Now, last week I dealt with the doctrine of election in general. Let me just point out the fact there is no way in the world that you can really and truly discuss this doctrine in just an hour's time. Years ago I preached a whole series, I think it was eight to ten hours on this doctrine. And so you cannot do justice in an hour for something that takes eight to ten hours.

[John Weaver] I did try to show you from John chapter 17 verse 2 when the Bible says that thou has given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as. And I showed you how that is a limiting phrase and we looked at several passages in the Bible and showed that it was always a limiting phrase. That's always the way it is.

[John Weaver] Now, let me point out that I showed you last week also that there is in the Bible a national election, a vocational election, a messianic election, and also a soteriological or a personal election, which we will look at just for a moment today as well. But let me go ahead and remind you what I said about verse 3 last week. Where our Lord says, and this is life eternal, that they may know thee, the only true God in Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Eternal life is not just simply living forever. Eternal life is a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. You do not get eternal life when you die. If you do not possess eternal life before you die, you're not going to have it when you die. Eternal life, again, is a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ. When he says in John 17, verse 3, that they might know thee, The word no is the Greek word ginosko and it literally means to perceive, to know, to understand, to acquire a personal knowledge.

[John Weaver] In fact, this word is used in the Bible as a word of intimacy because it is used in reference to sexual intercourse between a husband and wife. For instance, an Adam knew his wife and she conceived and bear a child.

[John Weaver] Now, the Bible says in Amos chapter 3 and verse 2, God is speaking to Israel and he said this, you only have I known of all the families of the earth. Therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities. Now notice what he said, you only have I known of all the families of the earth. What did he mean by that? Well, obviously he knew of all the other families for he created them. And he certainly knew of their wickedness, for he judged them. But when he said, you only have I known, he is saying, you only have I revealed myself unto. It was to Israel that he gave the covenants and the law. They had the adoption. They had the promises.

[John Weaver] They had all of this. They were the only nation on the face of the earth in which God was personally intimate with, and they were to have a relationship with him. Thankfully, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the one who came through and showed us and taught us the reality and the fullness of salvation as well.

[John Weaver] Now, let me point something out before I really take up the day where I left off last week. It is very clear from Scripture that there is a biblical doctrine of election. It is also clear from Scripture that God gave us to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world. So the question that I asked last week was this, how do I know that I'm one of God's elect? How do I know that I've been given to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world? Now, I said last week that election is not salvation. Election is unto salvation. Okay? Election may be the foundation, the basis of salvation, but it is not salvation in and of itself. Let me show you.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, first of all, to 2 Timothy 2. 2 Timothy 2. And then we'll look in 2 Timothy 1. But look in 2 Timothy 2, if you would, please. And let's begin reading there with verse 9 and 10. Look at what the Scripture says. Second Timothy chapter two, verse nine. Paul says, wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even under bonds, but the word of God is not bound.

[John Weaver] Therefore, I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. So he said, I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may obtain salvation. So election may be unto salvation, but it is not salvation. Notice, if you would please, back in chapter 1 in verses 9 and 10. Chapter 1, verses 9 and 10.

[John Weaver] The Bible says, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling. That's 1 Timothy 1, verse 9. Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. Watch carefully. which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began. When did God give us grace? Before the foundation of the world. How did he give us grace? He gave it to us in Christ Jesus, in that eternal covenant. But look at verse 10. But is now, that is Jesus Christ, in that great salvation and that grace, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death that brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. So election is unto salvation.

[John Weaver] Now, when you look back in John 17, I want to answer this question. How do I know that I'm one of God's elect? Remember, if you would please, that John 17 is the high priestly prayer of our Lord, and he is praying to his Father, and he is praying for his people. So let me show you, first of all, look in verse 6. Here's the first evidence. Here is the first way that you know whether or not you're one of God's elect. Look in verse six. Our Lord said, I have manifested thy name unto men, which thou gavest me out of the world. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me. And they have kept thy word. Now note, if you would carefully, here's the first evidence. I'm going to say it is revelation and reception. Revelation and reception. Because he says in verse 6, I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me. And then the latter part of verse 6, he says, and they have kept my word. So he has not only revealed the Father, then we have also received the words.

[John Weaver] Now the word manifested is the Greek word phanerao, And it literally means that which is revealed, that which is manifested, that which is declared, and that which is made thoroughly known and recognized. So let me show you. I want you to look at two passages. The first one is Matthew 11, Matthew 11, and verse 27. And then we're going back to John chapter 1. We'll look at Matthew 11 and verse 27. I said the very first evidence is revelation and reception. So in Matthew 11, in verse 27, our Lord said this.

[John Weaver] All things are delivered unto me of my Father. And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father. Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son. And he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. So the only one who really knows the Father is the Son. The one who really knows the Son is the Father. And it takes the revelation of God the Father to reveal the Son, and the revelation of God the Son to reveal the Father. So, he says, no man can know without this divine revelation. No man knoweth the Son, but the Father. Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in John chapter 1, and verse 18. Our Lord says the same thing, just a little differently. John one in verse 18. The Bible says no man has seen God at any time. The only begotten son, which is in the bosom of a father, he hath declared him. So let me say it again. Salvation is revelation. It is only God the Son that is able to reveal and declare God the Father, and only God the Father that is able to reveal and declare God the Son. You remember that passage I know in Matthew chapter 16, where Jesus Christ asked his disciples, Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am? And they answered and said, Some say that thou art Elias, or Jeremiah's, or John the Baptist, or one of the prophets. Wow. But Jesus looked at them and said, but whom say ye that I am?

[John Weaver] And that is when Simon Peter made this great confession. And he said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. Our Lord answered Peter, help me out now, because you'll find this in verse 17. And our Lord said to Peter, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for thou art smarter than anyone else, and thou hast figured this thing out all by thyself. Is that what he said? No. He said, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto you, but my Father who is in heaven. How did Peter know that Jesus Christ was the Messiah? How did he know that he was the Son of God? Because the Father revealed it unto him. Now, when you look back, in John 17 in verse 6. John 17 in verse 6. Note if you would, our Lord says, I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. The manifestation of the name is the manifestation of the person and all that he is. So when he says, I have manifested thy name, he is not only saying that, yes, here is a proper name for God.

[John Weaver] He is saying here are the attributes of God. Here is the character of God. Here is His law. Here is His will. Here is His grace. Here is His mercy. In other words, God is known by His name. His name reveals who He is in all of His attributes and all of His perfections.

[John Weaver] Now, it is true that there is some light that we have by virtue of creation. Psalm 19 will tell you that. Romans 1 will tell you that. There's enough light in creation to condemn you, but not enough light to convert you. You also had some light through the law of Moses in the sense of the sacrificial system. But those sacrifices did not save. In fact, all you have to do is read Hebrews 8, 9, and 10, and you'll find that out.

[John Weaver] It's not by the blood of bulls and goats that we're purged, but by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. So when you get to John 1 in verse 17, the Bible says this, for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Well, clearly, there was grace in the Old Testament, for Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Clearly, there's truth in the Old Testament, because everything that God says is true. But the apex of truth and the apex of grace, the very height, the highest of heights, came to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. So the fullness of that revelation was not only revealed by Jesus Christ, it was received by those who heard the word and kept the word. One of the greatest evidences that we are God's elect, that we have been given to Jesus Christ from before the foundation of the world, is that we keep his word. We are obedient. Now the word kept is a very interesting word, tereo, and it literally means to keep, to observe, to hold fast, to attend to carefully, and to guard, and to obey.

[John Weaver] It's just like the truth that our Lord revealed in John 8, verses 30 and 32, when the Bible says this, as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said he to those Jews who believed on him, if you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed, or then are you my true disciples, or then are you truly my disciples, if you continue in my word. So there is a revelation, and there is a reception of that revelation.

[John Weaver] I want to show it to you a little more clearly. If you look in your Bibles, holding John 17, But turn to 2 Thessalonians 2. 2 Thessalonians 2. I mentioned this verse last week, but I did not point out what I'm going to point out today. Look in 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 13. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 13. Paul says, but we're bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord. Why? because God have from the beginning chosen you to salvation.

[John Weaver] That is a soteriological election. That is a personal election. Paul said to these Thessalonican Christians, we're bound to thank God for you. Why? Because God has chosen you to salvation. But note how God chose them. Election may be the foundation, but he said he chose you through sanctification of the spirit and belief in the truth. When there is a revelation, there is a reception of that revelation.

[John Weaver] Then if you look at verse 14, it makes it even plainer. Where to He called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So what did God do? God chose them. Jesus Christ purchased their salvation and got the Holy Spirit, applied that salvation. He regenerated them. He convicted them. He converted them. He called them through the gospel. So, clearly then, you have a revelation and you have a reception.

[John Weaver] Now, go back in your Bibles to John 17. Look, if you would, at verses 6 through 8 and watch this. John 17, verse 6. Our Lord says, I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word.

[John Weaver] Now they have known at all things whatsoever thou hast given me, or of thee. Now look, for I have given them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. God says, through his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we have received the revelation of God, then we know that we are one of God's elect for God has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. He reveals himself to us and we receive his word.

[John Weaver] Let me put it to you very plainly. God's elect are not faithless. They believe. They believe in His Word, and they believe in Jesus Christ, and they believe that God the Father sent Jesus Christ to be our surety, our substitute, and our sacrifice. We believe that He came from the Father, was sent by the Father, and that He ascended and went back to the Father. And so this is what He's saying.

[John Weaver] There is a revelation, and there is a reception. So first of all, we may know that we're God's elect, if we have received the revelation of God in the Lord Jesus Christ and in his word. Second, we may know that we're God's elect because those who are God's elect are preserved and persevere. Look in verse 11. Our Lord prays and says, and now I'm no more in the world, but these are in the world and I come to thee.

[John Weaver] Holy Father, keep through thine own name. Note that. Keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest me, I've kept, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled. Note, if you would, we are then preserved in Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, skip down to verse 14. Look what he says. I've given them by word, and the world hated them, because they're not of the world, even as I'm not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but thou shouldest keep them or preserve them from evil.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just make a statement, and I'll show it to you from Scripture. God's elect are Preserved and I like to point out it is not the word pickles Because you pickle with brown and vinegar, but you preserve with onion sugar All right now look in your Bibles to Jude 1 and verse 1 the little book right before the book of Revelation only one chapter Jude 1 and verse 1 and Look if you would please at what is said Jude 1 verse 1. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called. We are preserved.

[John Weaver] You remember I quoted this passage last week in John 10 verses 27 and 30. Our Lord said, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand. I and my father are one."

[John Weaver] That means we are preserved. Then if you will turn back to 2 Timothy chapter 4, 2 Timothy chapter 4, and look, if you would please, at verse 18. 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 18. I'm just pointing out the fact that God's elect are preserved. Hang on, I'll show you this verse. 2 Timothy 4, verse 18. The apostle Paul said, and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.

[John Weaver] Do him be glory forever and ever. Amen. Paul said, I'm assured that I'm going to be preserved unto his heavenly kingdom.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the question that I have to ask. Since we already know that God's elect are preserved, how do we know whether or not we are God's elect and how do we know that we are preserved? And the answer is very simple. Those whom God preserves, He enables and empowers to persevere. That is, we continue in the faith We continue in repentance. We continue to believe the scripture. We do not leave the faith.

[John Weaver] We do not deny the scriptures. We do not turn from the truth. We do not cease believing. We do not cease repenting. We continue to hold fast all that God has given us in his word. It's like Job said in Job 17 verse 9. He said the righteous shall hold on to his way, and he that hath clean hands shall get stronger and stronger. So that simply means this. We don't quit. We don't give in. We don't give up. We don't give out. We don't fall. We don't fail. We continue to persevere in the faith, and our preservation in Jesus Christ is made evident by his enabling us to persevere.

[John Weaver] So how do I know I'm one of God's elect? First of all, by receiving the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Number two, because God preserves us and in that preservation, he enables us to persevere. That doesn't mean that we're never going to fall. Certainly we're going to fall, but we're not going to stand or lie down in that fall. We'll get up. The righteous man, the Bible says, falls down seven times and rises every time. In other words, we're not going to stay down. We will persevere.

[John Weaver] Now, the truth of the matter is this. If you're not persevering in the faith, you have no evidence that God has preserved you. Do not separate that which God has joined together. And he's joined together preservation and perseverance. He's joined together revelation and reception. The third evidence that we're God's elect is found in John 17, verses 17 through 19. Watch it. John 17, verse 17. Our Lord says, sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is true.

[John Weaver] As thou has sent me into the world, even so I've also sent them into the world. And for their sakes, I sanctify myself. that they also might be sanctified through the truth. So God's elect are those who have received a revelation, who are preserved and persevere. But now he tells us thirdly, his elect are sanctified and sent. I want you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say.

[John Weaver] follows justification just like night follows day. All of those whom God justifies by faith, He sanctifies by His Spirit and His Word. It is impossible for someone to be justified and unsanctified. There are many people who claim to be Christians who live unholy, ungodly, and unsanctified lives. And the truth is, they're not really Christians. Let me show you why. Look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6, beginning there with verse 9. Then we'll go to Galatians chapter 5. But look in Galatians 6, if you would, please, beginning there with verse 9.

[John Weaver] Note what the Bible says. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 9. Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And then he says, be not deceived.

[John Weaver] Now if you believe what I'm about to read here, you're deceived. Let me show you. He says, be not deceived. Don't think this. Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor violers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Now I said if you think these people are saved, you're deceived. I don't want you to be deceived. These people are not going to inherit the kingdom of God.

[John Weaver] But look at verse 11. And such were, that's past tense, such were some of you, But you are washed, you're sanctified, but you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. So those whom God justifies, he sanctifies. If you continue to live like verses 9 and 10 say, and you claim to be a Christian, you're deceiving yourself. Look in Galatians chapter 5. Galatians chapter 5. And let's begin reading there with verse 19. Galatians 5 verse 19. You're familiar with this passage. But look what the apostle says again.

[John Weaver] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envies, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. Now watch, of the which I tell you before, as I've also told you in time past, they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. So God's elect are sanctified people. That does not mean that they are holier than thou, But it does mean that they live holy, godly, and clean lives.

[John Weaver] We have been set apart for the Father. We've been sent by the Son. If we're going to be sent by the Son, that means we must be sanctified. I want you to turn, holding John 17, but turn in your Bibles to Hebrews 10, and then we'll go to Hebrews 13. Look in Hebrews 10. and verse 10. Look at what the scripture says. We're talking about sanctification. One of the ways that we know that we're God's elect is we live sanctified lives. Hebrews 10 and verse 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. We've been sanctified by the body of Jesus Christ. Look at Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 12. Hebrews 13 and verse 12.

[John Weaver] Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood suffered without the gate. May I remind you of that passage in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 26 when he's talking about the church. And he says this, that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of the water by the word." An interesting verse is 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 23. The apostle Paul was praying for the Thessalonians, and he said this. Listen carefully. And I and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly.

[John Weaver] That's W-H-O-L-L-Y. That means totally, completely. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. Listen to what he said. And I pray God, your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. So he said, and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. So here's the question. Since God's elect are sanctified, how then are we sanctified?

[John Weaver] And the answer comes back. by the Holy Spirit and by the Word of God. It is the Holy Spirit that enlightens our minds and shows us our sins and our wickednesses and shows us how contrary we are to the Word of God. As he convicts us, as he enlightens our mind, he also shows us the truth of God and then gives us grace to repent and turn from those things and to bring our lives into conformity to the Word of God. But it's also not only through the work of the Holy Spirit, it's through the Word of God. Because he said in John 17 and verse 17, sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you, this truth was understood in the Old Testament as well. David understood it. Because David said in Psalm 119 verses 9 through 11, he said this, wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee. Oh, let me not wander from my commandments. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

[John Weaver] I think it was Dwight L. Moody. who had written in the front of his Bible, either this book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book. And that's the truth.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you something. We're to be sanctified by the Spirit of God and by the Word of God. If we're to be sent into the world as a witness, then we have to be a sanctified witness. We cannot give forth a fragrant witness to Jesus Christ if we stink like the world and like the flesh. It's impossible. So he says, you're sanctified and you're sent.

[John Weaver] One of my favorite passages, and I've preached from this passage numerous times, is 1 Peter chapter 1, verses 13 through 16. You can turn there. You're close to it. Turn right over. right after the book of Hebrews, James, and 1 Peter. Hebrews, James, 1 Peter. Look at chapter 1, beginning there in verse 13. Look at what he says. 1 Peter 1, verse 13. Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be wrought to you by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Now watch verse 14.

[John Weaver] as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the form of lust in your ignorance. In other words, you're not living like you used to live. But as He which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation or conduct, because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy. Have you ever stopped to think that as you read the scripture, Jesus Christ was sanctified and sent by the father. And he died and gave himself that we might not only be justified, but sanctified.

[John Weaver] And he said in John 17 that he sanctifies us. And just as the father sent him in the world, so we are sent into the world. So how do I know I'm God's elect? Well, let's see. I've received the revelation of God. I'm preserved by Him and that preservation is coming to light by Him enabling me to persevere, to continue in faith and continue in repentance. Moreover, He is sanctifying me and sending me, by that I mean this, He's enabling me to live more holily and more godly. That doesn't mean that I'm perfect. No man is perfect on this earth. But it does mean that the general tenor of our lives that the general attitude and the general actions of our lives are lives and attitudes and actions of holiness and godliness and obedience. That's what it means. So, we have received the revelation, we persevere, and we are living a sanctified life and living in obedience as he sends us to be his witnesses. I want you to look back in John chapter 17, because here's the fourth evidence.

[John Weaver] You will find it in verses 24 through verse 26. The fourth evidence that we are God's elect is that we are indwelled and loved. Look at verse 24. Father, I will that they also who thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me. for Thou lovest me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee, but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. I said that we're indwelled and loved. I want to take the phrase indwelled first. If you look in the latter part of verse 26, he said, and I in them. Well, how in the world does Jesus Christ dwell in each of us?

[John Weaver] And the answer is by his spirit. If you would turn back in your Bibles to John chapter 14 Look if you would please beginning there with verse 16 John 14 verse 16 Our Lord said and I will pray the father and he shall send you another comforter By the way, let me just stop there the word comforter in the Greek is the word parakletos One of the names for the Holy Spirit is the paraclete The word paraclete comes from the Greek word paracletos. Para is a preposition, which means alongside of, and kaleo, I call, or kletos, would be one who's called. So the comforter is the paraclete, which means he's one called alongside of to help. So look what he said, and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, one called alongside of to help, that he may abide with you forever.

[John Weaver] Even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him. But you know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you."

[John Weaver] Now look what he says. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. How does he come to us? How does he indwell us? And the answer is, by His Spirit. Remember, there is one God. The Holy Spirit is God. God the Son is God. God the Father is God. Three persons, but one God. And when the Holy Spirit indwells us, so is the Father, so is the Son. Now, look in your Bibles, John 15 and verse 26. John 15, verse 26. Our Lord says, but when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth which proceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn to the book of Romans, chapter 8. And I want you to mark this chapter because we're going to come back here just momentarily. Romans, chapter 8. And I want you to look, please, at verses 14 through 17, Romans 8, just reading verses 14 through 17. Watch this if you would, please. First of all, I want you to know that the Holy Spirit is a witness, the Bible tells us, with us. He is a witness in us. Look at it. The Bible says in Romans 8, verse 14, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Well, we know we're a son of God if we're led by the Spirit of God. He says in verse 15, for you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, and of children and heirs, heirs of God and joined heirs with Christ.

[John Weaver] If so be that we sever with him, that we may also be glorified together. Go back, if you would, to verse 15. He says, We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you receive the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Now, the word Abba is actually a Hebrew word. You know what the word actually means? Here's what it means. Papa. Whereby we cry, Papa, Father. Alice can tell you, I used to, and I still do, but especially more so when they were small, I would delight in my grandchildren calling me Papa. I would all the time get phone calls, especially from my oldest grandson, and he would say, Papa, I need this. And I'd say, well, have you talked to your mother and father? Yes, sir.

[John Weaver] And they told me to call you. Translation, they won't buy it for me, but Papa will. But the point I'm trying to make is this. It's a term of endearment. It's a term of intimacy. Papa. Whereby we cry, Abba, Father. We cry, Papa, Father. In other words, it is the Holy Spirit who is a witness with us and in us. that enables us to acknowledge God as my Father. Listen to this. It is just as natural for a child of God to acknowledge God as his Father as it is for an earthly child to acknowledge an earthly man as his Father. The Holy Spirit enables us to cry, I have a Father. But that's not all. Look in verse 26. Look what else the Holy Spirit does. Likewise, the Spirit also help with our infirmities. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself make an intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. So oftentimes he prays for us when we don't even know how to pray and what to pray for.

[John Weaver] And a lot of times we fall down before God and we just groan, and the Holy Spirit praise in us and praise for us. It was Calvin who said this, Paul means the Spirit of God gives us such a testimony that when he is our guide and teacher, our spirit is made assured of the adoption of God, for our mind of its own self, without the preceding testimony of the Spirit, could not convey to us this assurance.

[John Weaver] What he is saying is this. If the Holy Spirit did not give you the liberty and the power to acknowledge and call God your Father, you would not be able to do it. Not at all.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the second thing. The Holy Spirit is not only a witness with us or in us, He is also a witness to us. So if you look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10, Hebrews chapter 10, and look if you would please, beginning there with verse 15. Hebrews 10, verse 15. We'll read through verse 18. Watch. Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 15. The Bible says, whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us. He's not only a witness in us and with us, he's also a witness to us. Wherefore the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us, For after that he had said before, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord.

[John Weaver] I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

[John Weaver] Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. In the context, the witness of the Holy Spirit to us is external and objective. because it is a witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is a witness to the Bible, to the revelation of God. The very fact that we've experienced regeneration, the very fact that we've experienced conviction and conversion, the very fact that we've experienced repentance and faith and reconciliation, evidences the fact that the Holy Spirit is a witness to us.

[John Weaver] Because without Him, none of that would have happened. That reminds you that God the Father ordained salvation, God the Son purchased salvation, and God the Holy Spirit applies salvation.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back to John chapter 17. I want to show you something. I hope, I pray, that this will excite you and stir you. Look in John 17 verse 26. Our Lord said, I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. Here is an amazing truth. Look at that verse again. And I have declared unto them by name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, wow, the love that God the Father has for God the Son may be in them. indwelled and loved. Has it ever dawned upon you that God loves you just as much and exactly as he loves his son? He cannot look upon us without looking upon his son. And he can't look upon his son without looking upon us. Why?

[John Weaver] because he is the head and we are the body. And he said, I pray, I pray that the love that thou hast loved me may be in them. I want to show you just how much God loves his people. I know that he loved us enough to send the Lord Jesus Christ. But go back in your Bibles to Romans chapter eight. I told you that we would come back there. And I want you to look at this again. Romans chapter eight. And look, if you would please, at verses 16 and 17. Romans eight, verse 16. The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs. Heirs of God.

[John Weaver] That is, we inherit Him. True, He inherited us, but we inherit Him as well. Now watch. And if children, then heirs. Heirs of God. And joint heirs with Christ. If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.

[John Weaver] Now, let me try to explain this. Let's suppose that Steve and Lorraine happen to be my children. They're brother and sister. And let's suppose, of course they're not brother and sister, and they're not my children, but let's suppose that they are my children and they're brother and sister, and let's suppose that I'm a multi-millionaire. And I own thousands of acres of land, which I'm not. We're disposing. And so I write in my will that when I die, Steve and Lorraine are joint heirs of everything that I have. What does that mean? It means that each one has access to everything that I am. Fully, totally, completely. Has it ever hit you that God the Father loves us so much that He's made us joint heirs with Jesus Christ that whatever Jesus Christ inherits, we get. We get. He's the head. We're the body. We're one with Him, which means we're not only indwelled, but we're alive. Now let me try to put this together for you.

[John Weaver] When you think about what our Lord prayed for in John 17, He's teaching us that salvation is basically revelation. It's a revelation of God the Father, it's a revelation of God the Son, and we receive So if we have received the revelation, if you and I have been preserved and are persevering in the faith, we're not denying the faith, we're not walking away, we're persevering, if we're living a sanctified life and being sinned and used by the Father according to His will, that means that we are indwelled and loved by Him.

[John Weaver] So we can have absolute confidence and absolute assurance that yes, we are God's elect. Yes, God the Father gave us to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world. That's why he said in John 6 in verse 37, all that the Father giveth me shall come unto me. And he that cometh unto me I shall in no wise cast out. So we who've been given to God the Father will always, are given to God the Son by God the Father, will always come to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. He will receive us, and we will never, ever be cast out.

[John Weaver] Now, some are going to say, well, I still don't like the doctrine of election. Well, you have to remember this. If God did not choose some to be saved, none would be saved. Because each one of us was desperately wicked, rebellious, ungodly, and enmity to God. And God in His grace and mercy just spared us. And it's like the Apostle Paul said, like Isaiah said, except the Lord of the Sabbath had left us a remnant, we should have been made as Sodom and Gomorrah.

[John Weaver] But here's what we can rejoice in. We can rejoice in the fact that, yes, there is an election of grace, and we can rejoice in the fact that we could know that we are God's elect by our Lord's prayer of John 17, where he prayed that we would receive the revelation, that we would persevere in our preservation, that we would live a sanctified life and be sent by Him.

[John Weaver] and we would be indwelled and loved by Him. We are His people. And when you stop and think that He loves us as much as He loved the Lord Jesus Christ, it should make you fall on your face and worship and thank Him for His infinite grace. Father, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We ask, Lord, that You would teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, and help us to love Thee, to adore Thee, to worship Thee, rejoice in Thee.

[John Weaver] May we enjoy full assurance of heart that we are Your children. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen. you you you

How Do I Know I Am One of God's Elect - Part 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	n0mul_jl9ao
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Election, Israel, and Covenant Mercy
Genre	Sermon
Date	2020-07-11
Dictation Name
Book	Book 143: How Do I Know I'm One of God's Elect? — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	84

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the doctrine of election, noting its biblical basis and the common resistance to it. He recounts personal anecdotes illustrating how some refuse to engage with Scripture on this topic.

Let's open our Bibles to John 17, verses 1 through 3. We're going to pick up with the second part of the message, "How Do I Know That I Am One of God's Elect?" John chapter 17—we'll be dealing with other verses in this chapter, but these are the primary verses that we used last week. Notice verse 1:

Scripture Reading — John 17:1-3

"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come." "Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

So the title of the message again is "How Do I Know That I'm One of God's Elect?" The very question, "How do I know that I'm one of God's elect?" postulates the doctrine of election. I find it absolutely amusing that some who reject this doctrine, or say they do not believe this doctrine, are constantly and continually fighting against it. My thought would be, if you don't believe it, why in the world are you going to fight against it anyhow? But they do.

Years ago I was preaching in Alabama, and I had an older man come up to me after Sunday morning service. And that Sunday I had preached on 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. Now there's only 10 verses in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. My text was verse 3, and then verses 7 through 10 as they explained verse 3. And so since it was a small chapter, I just read the entire chapter. Well, verse 4 just simply says this:

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 1:4

"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God."

I didn't preach on that verse. I just read it because it's in the Bible. And so after service, this older gentleman came up to me and told me that I should not have read that verse. And I laughed. I said, "Why should I not read it? It's in the Bible." But he said, "Some people don't understand the doctrine of election, and it upsets them." I said, "What you're telling me is that you don't understand the doctrine of election, and you're upset." Well, he said, "Yes." I said, "Well, sir, listen."

I said, "There are 73 verses in the New Testament that speak of the doctrine of election. I said, if you'll meet me in my motel room at 2 o'clock this afternoon, I said, I will sit down with you and go over all 73 verses and try to give you some understanding so that you will not get upset the next time you read the word 'election' in the Bible." He said, "Fine." Well, I hurried through my dinner meal and I ran to the motel room and I was sitting there making sure I had all 73 verses down so that I could show him when he got there. My phone rang about 15 minutes to 2. And it was the fellow who was supposed to meet me at two. And he said this, he said, "Pastor," he said, "I'm not going to meet with you at two o'clock." And I said, "Really? Why?" And so help me, these are his exact words. I've never forgotten them. He said, "Because my mind is made up and I do not want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures."

There is something very dishonest about someone who is so dishonest with Scripture and who cannot look upon Scripture honestly. I mean, you might not agree, you might not understand, but at least you can be honest with Scripture. I've trained a number of young men for the ministry. Years ago, I had a Bible institute where I taught on Monday night, Tuesday night, and Thursday night. And we'd go anywhere from two to four hours a night. Well, there was a church not too far away that did not have a pastor, and they needed a pulpit supply. So they contacted me, and I sent one of my young men to preach there on Sunday. Well, when he got there, there was a visiting pastor who showed up who was looking for a church. Well, they had already asked this young man to preach, so they asked the visiting pastor to teach Sunday school. Fine. This church did not use quarterlies or anything like that.

They just used the Bible. And it just so happened that Sunday, the chapter they were to study for Sunday school was 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. And so the young man that I sent over there to preach sat in that Sunday school. He came back on Monday morning and told me, he said, "Pastor, you will never, ever believe this." He said, "That pastor read verse 1 and commented on it, read verse 2 and commented on it, read verse 3 and commented on it, read verse 5 and commented on it, all the way down through verse 10. He said he not only did not comment on verse 4, he would not even read verse 4."

Now there's something wrong with someone like that. You may not understand, and you may not like, but you can still be honest with Scripture. Now, last week I dealt with the doctrine of election in general. Let me just point out the fact there is no way in the world that you can really and truly discuss this doctrine in just an hour's time. Years ago I preached a whole series, I think it was eight to ten hours on this doctrine. And so you cannot do justice in an hour for something that takes eight to ten hours. I did try to show you from John chapter 17 verse 2 when the Bible says that "thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as." And I showed you how that is a limiting phrase, and we looked at several passages in the Bible and showed that it was always a limiting phrase. That's always the way it is.

Election Is Unto Salvation

Using 2 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1:9-10, Weaver argues that election is the foundation for salvation but not salvation itself; grace was given in Christ before the world began.

Look in your Bibles, first of all, to 2 Timothy 2. 2 Timothy 2. And then we'll look in 2 Timothy 1. But look in 2 Timothy 2, if you would, please. And let's begin reading there with verse 9 and 10. Look at what the Scripture says. Second Timothy chapter 2, verse 9. Paul says, "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound."

"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." So he said, "I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may obtain salvation." So election may be unto salvation, but it is not salvation. Notice, if you would please, back in chapter 1 in verses 9 and 10. Chapter 1, verses 9 and 10. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:9-10

"Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling."

That's 2 Timothy 1, verse 9.

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:9-10

"Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace."

Watch carefully:

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:9-10

"which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

When did God give us grace? Before the foundation of the world. How did he give us grace? He gave it to us in Christ Jesus, in that eternal covenant. But look at verse 10: "But is now"—that is Jesus Christ, in that great salvation and that grace—"but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." So election is unto salvation.

Now, when you look back in John 17, I want to answer this question: How do I know that I'm one of God's elect? Remember, if you would please, that John 17 is the high priestly prayer of our Lord, and he is praying to his Father, and he is praying for his people. So let me show you, first of all, look in verse 6. Here's the first evidence. Here is the first way that you know whether or not you're one of God's elect. Look in verse 6. Our Lord said, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." Now note, if you would carefully, here's the first evidence. I'm going to say it is revelation and reception. Revelation and reception. Because he says in verse 6, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me." And then the latter part of verse 6, he says, "and they have kept my word." So he has not only revealed the Father, then we have also received the words.

First Evidence: Revelation and Reception

From John 17:6-8, Weaver explains that the elect receive the revelation of the Father through the Son and keep His word, demonstrating belief and obedience.

Scripture Reading — John 17:6

Now the word "manifested" is the Greek word *phanerao*, and it literally means that which is revealed, that which is manifested, that which is declared, and that which is made thoroughly known and recognized. So let me show you. I want you to look at two passages. The first one is Matthew 11, Matthew 11, and verse 27. And then we're going back to John chapter 1. We'll look at Matthew 11 and verse 27. I said the very first evidence is revelation and reception. So in Matthew 11, in verse 27, our Lord said this.

"All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." So the only one who really knows the Father is the Son. The one who really knows the Son is the Father. And it takes the revelation of God the Father to reveal the Son, and the revelation of God the Son to reveal the Father. So, he says, no man can know without this divine revelation. "No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."

Now, if you look in John chapter 1, and verse 18. Our Lord says the same thing, just a little differently. John 1 in verse 18. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — John 1:18

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."

So let me say it again. Salvation is revelation. It is only God the Son that is able to reveal and declare God the Father, and only God the Father that is able to reveal and declare God the Son. You remember that passage I know in Matthew chapter 16, where Jesus Christ asked his disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" And they answered and said, "Some say that thou art Elias, or Jeremiah, or John the Baptist, or one of the prophets." Wow. But Jesus looked at them and said, "But whom say ye that I am?"

And that is when Simon Peter made this great confession. And he said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Our Lord answered Peter—help me out now, because you'll find this in verse 17. And our Lord said to Peter, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for thou art smarter than anyone else, and thou hast figured this thing out all by thyself." Is that what he said? No. He said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." How did Peter know that Jesus Christ was the Messiah? How did he know that he was the Son of God? Because the Father revealed it unto him. Now, when you look back in John 17 in verse 6. John 17 in verse 6. Note if you would, our Lord says, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world." The manifestation of the name is the manifestation of the person and all that he is. So when he says, "I have manifested thy name," he is not only saying that, yes, here is a proper name for God.

He is saying here are the attributes of God. Here is the character of God. Here is His law. Here is His will. Here is His grace. Here is His mercy. In other words, God is known by His name. His name reveals who He is in all of His attributes and all of His perfections.

Now, it is true that there is some light that we have by virtue of creation. Psalm 19 will tell you that. Romans 1 will tell you that. There's enough light in creation to condemn you, but not enough light to convert you. You also had some light through the law of Moses in the sense of the sacrificial system. But those sacrifices did not save. In fact, all you have to do is read Hebrews 8, 9, and 10, and you'll find that out.

It's not by the blood of bulls and goats that we're purged, but by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. So when you get to John 1 in verse 17, the Bible says this: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Well, clearly, there was grace in the Old Testament, for Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Clearly, there's truth in the Old Testament, because everything that God says is true. But the apex of truth and the apex of grace, the very height, the highest of heights, came to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. So the fullness of that revelation was not only revealed by Jesus Christ, it was received by those who heard the word and kept the word. One of the greatest evidences that we are God's elect, that we have been given to Jesus Christ from before the foundation of the world, is that we keep his word. We are obedient. Now the word "kept" is a very interesting word, *tereo*, and it literally means to keep, to observe, to hold fast, to attend to carefully, and to guard, and to obey.

It's just like the truth that our Lord revealed in John 8, verses 30 and 32, when the Bible says this:

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said he to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed"

—or

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"then are ye my true disciples,"

or "then are ye truly my disciples"—

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"if ye continue in my word."

So there is a revelation, and there is a reception of that revelation. I want to show it to you a little more clearly. If you look in your Bibles, holding John 17, but turn to 2 Thessalonians 2. 2 Thessalonians 2. I mentioned this verse last week, but I did not point out what I'm going to point out today. Look in 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 13. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 13. Paul says, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord." Why? "because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation."

That is a soteriological election. That is a personal election. Paul said to these Thessalonian Christians, "We're bound to thank God for you." Why? "Because God hath chosen you to salvation." But note how God chose them. Election may be the foundation, but he said he chose you "through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." When there is a revelation, there is a reception of that revelation.

Then if you look at verse 14, it makes it even plainer: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." So what did God do? God chose them. Jesus Christ purchased their salvation and God the Holy Spirit applied that salvation. He regenerated them. He convicted them. He converted them. He called them through the gospel. So, clearly then, you have a revelation and you have a reception.

Now, go back in your Bibles to John 17. Look, if you would, at verses 6 through 8 and watch this. John 17, verse 6. Our Lord says, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." "Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." God says, through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, if we have received the revelation of God, then we know that we are one of God's elect, for God has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. He reveals himself to us and we receive his word.

Let me put it to you very plainly. God's elect are not faithless. They believe. They believe in His Word, and they believe in Jesus Christ, and they believe that God the Father sent Jesus Christ to be our surety, our substitute, and our sacrifice. We believe that He came from the Father, was sent by the Father, and that He ascended and went back to the Father. And so this is what He's saying.

There is a revelation, and there is a reception. So first of all, we may know that we're God's elect if we have received the revelation of God in the Lord Jesus Christ and in his word. Second, we may know that we're God's elect because those who are God's elect are preserved and persevere. Look in verse 11. Our Lord prays and says, "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee."

Second Evidence: Preservation and Perseverance

Based on John 17:11-14, Weaver teaches that God preserves His elect, and this preservation is evidenced by their perseverance in faith and repentance.

"Holy Father, keep through thine own name"—note that—"keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." Note, if you would, we are then preserved in Jesus Christ. Now, skip down to verse 14. Look what he says: "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them"—or preserve them—"from the evil."

Now, let me just make a statement, and I'll show it to you from Scripture. God's elect are preserved. And I like to point out it is not the word "pickles," because you pickle with brine and vinegar, but you preserve with onion, sugar... All right, now look in your Bibles to Jude 1 and verse 1, the little book right before the book of Revelation, only one chapter. Jude 1 and verse 1. And look, if you would please, at what is said. Jude 1 verse 1: "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called." We are preserved.

You remember I quoted this passage last week in John 10 verses 27 and 30. Our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — John 10:27-30

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one."

That means we are preserved. Then if you will turn back to 2 Timothy chapter 4, 2 Timothy chapter 4, and look, if you would please, at verse 18. 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 18. I'm just pointing out the fact that God's elect are preserved. Hang on, I'll show you this verse. 2 Timothy 4, verse 18. The apostle Paul said, "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom."

"To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Paul said, "I'm assured that I'm going to be preserved unto his heavenly kingdom." Now, here's the question that I have to ask. Since we already know that God's elect are preserved, how do we know whether or not we are God's elect and how do we know that we are preserved? And the answer is very simple. Those whom God preserves, He enables and empowers to persevere. That is, we continue in the faith. We continue in repentance. We continue to believe the scripture. We do not leave the faith.

We do not deny the scriptures. We do not turn from the truth. We do not cease believing. We do not cease repenting. We continue to hold fast all that God has given us in his word. It's like Job said in Job 17 verse 9: "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." So that simply means this: We don't quit. We don't give in. We don't give up. We don't give out. We don't fall. We don't fail. We continue to persevere in the faith, and our preservation in Jesus Christ is made evident by his enabling us to persevere.

So how do I know I'm one of God's elect? First of all, by receiving the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Number two, because God preserves us and in that preservation, he enables us to persevere. That doesn't mean that we're never going to fall. Certainly we're going to fall, but we're not going to stand or lie down in that fall. We'll get up. The righteous man, the Bible says, falls down seven times and rises every time. In other words, we're not going to stay down. We will persevere.

Now, the truth of the matter is this: If you're not persevering in the faith, you have no evidence that God has preserved you. Do not separate that which God has joined together. And he's joined together preservation and perseverance. He's joined together revelation and reception. The third evidence that we're God's elect is found in John 17, verses 17 through 19. Watch it. John 17, verse 17. Our Lord says, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

Third Evidence: Sanctification and Being Sent

From John 17:17-19, Weaver shows that the elect are sanctified by the Spirit and the Word, leading to holy living and being sent as witnesses.

"As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." So God's elect are those who have received a revelation, who are preserved and persevere. But now he tells us thirdly, his elect are sanctified and sent. I want you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say. Sanctification follows justification just like night follows day. All of those whom God justifies by faith, He sanctifies by His Spirit and His Word. It is impossible for someone to be justified and unsanctified. There are many people who claim to be Christians who live unholy, ungodly, and unsanctified lives. And the truth is, they're not really Christians. Let me show you why. Look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6, beginning there with verse 9. Then we'll go to Galatians chapter 5. But look in 1 Corinthians 6, if you would, please, beginning there with verse 9.

Note what the Bible says. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 9:

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?"

And then he says, "Be not deceived." Now if you believe what I'm about to read here, you're deceived. Let me show you. He says, "Be not deceived." Don't think this.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

Now I said if you think these people are saved, you're deceived. I don't want you to be deceived. These people are not going to inherit the kingdom of God.

But look at verse 11. "And such were"—that's past tense—"such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." So those whom God justifies, he sanctifies. If you continue to live like verses 9 and 10 say, and you claim to be a Christian, you're deceiving yourself. Look in Galatians chapter 5. Galatians chapter 5. And let's begin reading there with verse 19. Galatians 5 verse 19. You're familiar with this passage. But look what the apostle says again.

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like." Now watch: "of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." So God's elect are sanctified people. That does not mean that they are holier than thou, but it does mean that they live holy, godly, and clean lives. We have been set apart for the Father. We've been sent by the Son. If we're going to be sent by the Son, that means we must be sanctified. I want you to turn, holding John 17, but turn in your Bibles to Hebrews 10, and then we'll go to Hebrews 13. Look in Hebrews 10 and verse 10. Look at what the scripture says. We're talking about sanctification. One of the ways that we know that we're God's elect is we live sanctified lives. Hebrews 10 and verse 10: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." We've been sanctified by the body of Jesus Christ. Look at Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 12. Hebrews 13 and verse 12.

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." May I remind you of that passage in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 26 when he's talking about the church. And he says this: "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." An interesting verse is 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 23. The apostle Paul was praying for the Thessalonians, and he said this. Listen carefully. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." That's W-H-O-L-L-Y. That means totally, completely. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." Listen to what he said: "And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." So he said, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." So here's the question. Since God's elect are sanctified, how then are we sanctified?

And the answer comes back: by the Holy Spirit and by the Word of God. It is the Holy Spirit that enlightens our minds and shows us our sins and our wickednesses and shows us how contrary we are to the Word of God. As he convicts us, as he enlightens our mind, he also shows us the truth of God and then gives us grace to repent and turn from those things and to bring our lives into conformity to the Word of God. But it's also not only through the work of the Holy Spirit, it's through the Word of God. Because he said in John 17 and verse 17, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

Now, let me show you, this truth was understood in the Old Testament as well. David understood it. Because David said in Psalm 119 verses 9 through 11, he said this: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." I think it was Dwight L. Moody who had written in the front of his Bible, "Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book." And that's the truth.

Now, let me show you something. We're to be sanctified by the Spirit of God and by the Word of God. If we're to be sent into the world as a witness, then we have to be a sanctified witness. We cannot give forth a fragrant witness to Jesus Christ if we stink like the world and like the flesh. It's impossible. So he says, you're sanctified and you're sent. One of my favorite passages, and I've preached from this passage numerous times, is 1 Peter chapter 1, verses 13 through 16. You can turn there. You're close to it. Turn right over, right after the book of Hebrews, James, and 1 Peter. Hebrews, James, 1 Peter. Look at chapter 1, beginning there in verse 13. Look at what he says. 1 Peter 1, verse 13: "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Now watch verse 14.

"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance." In other words, you're not living like you used to live. "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation"—or conduct—"because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." Have you ever stopped to think that as you read the scripture, Jesus Christ was sanctified and sent by the Father. And he died and gave himself that we might not only be justified, but sanctified. And he said in John 17 that he sanctifies us. And just as the Father sent him into the world, so we are sent into the world. So how do I know I'm God's elect? Well, let's see. I've received the revelation of God. I'm preserved by Him and that preservation is coming to light by Him enabling me to persevere, to continue in faith and continue in repentance. Moreover, He is sanctifying me and sending me, by that I mean this, He's enabling me to live more holily and more godly. That doesn't mean that I'm perfect. No man is perfect on this earth. But it does mean that the general tenor of our lives, that the general attitude and the general actions of our lives are lives and attitudes and actions of holiness and godliness and obedience. That's what it means. So, we have received the revelation, we persevere, and we are living a sanctified life and living in obedience as he sends us to be his witnesses. I want you to look back in John chapter 17, because here's the fourth evidence.

Fourth Evidence: Indwelling and Love

In John 17:24-26, Weaver highlights that the elect are indwelled by Christ through the Spirit and loved by the Father with the same love He has for the Son, making them joint-heirs.

You will find it in verses 24 through verse 26. The fourth evidence that we are God's elect is that we are indwelled and loved. Look at verse 24: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." I said that we're indwelled and loved. I want to take the phrase "indwelled" first. If you look in the latter part of verse 26, he said, "and I in them." Well, how in the world does Jesus Christ dwell in each of us?

And the answer is by his Spirit. If you would turn back in your Bibles to John chapter 14. Look if you would please beginning there with verse 16. John 14 verse 16. Our Lord said, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter." By the way, let me just stop there. The word "Comforter" in the Greek is the word *parakletos*. One of the names for the Holy Spirit is the Paraclete. The word Paraclete comes from the Greek word *parakletos*. *Para* is a preposition, which means alongside of, and *kaleo*, I call, or *kletos*, would be one who's called. So the Comforter is the Paraclete, which means he's one called alongside of to help. So look what he said: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter"—one called alongside of to help—"that he may abide with you for ever."

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Now look what he says: "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." How does he come to us? How does he indwell us? And the answer is, by His Spirit. Remember, there is one God. The Holy Spirit is God. God the Son is God. God the Father is God. Three persons, but one God. And when the Holy Spirit indwells us, so is the Father, so is the Son. Now, look in your Bibles, John 15 and verse 26. John 15, verse 26. Our Lord says, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."

Now, I want you to turn to the book of Romans, chapter 8. And I want you to mark this chapter because we're going to come back here just momentarily. Romans, chapter 8. And I want you to look, please, at verses 14 through 17, Romans 8, just reading verses 14 through 17. Watch this if you would, please. First of all, I want you to know that the Holy Spirit is a witness, the Bible tells us, with us. He is a witness in us. Look at it. The Bible says in Romans 8, verse 14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Well, we know we're a son of God if we're led by the Spirit of God. He says in verse 15, "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."

"If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Go back, if you would, to verse 15. He says, "We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Now, the word "Abba" is actually a Hebrew word. You know what the word actually means? Here's what it means: Papa. Whereby we cry, "Papa, Father." Alice can tell you, I used to, and I still do, but especially more so when they were small, I would delight in my grandchildren calling me Papa. I would all the time get phone calls, especially from my oldest grandson, and he would say, "Papa, I need this." And I'd say, "Well, have you talked to your mother and father?" "Yes, sir."

"And they told me to call you." Translation: they won't buy it for me, but Papa will. But the point I'm trying to make is this: It's a term of endearment. It's a term of intimacy. Papa. Whereby we cry, "Abba, Father." We cry, "Papa, Father." In other words, it is the Holy Spirit who is a witness with us and in us that enables us to acknowledge God as my Father. Listen to this. It is just as natural for a child of God to acknowledge God as his Father as it is for an earthly child to acknowledge an earthly man as his Father. The Holy Spirit enables us to cry, "I have a Father." But that's not all. Look in verse 26. Look what else the Holy Spirit does. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." So oftentimes he prays for us when we don't even know how to pray and what to pray for.

And a lot of times we fall down before God and we just groan, and the Holy Spirit prays in us and prays for us. It was Calvin who said this: "Paul means the Spirit of God gives us such a testimony that when he is our guide and teacher, our spirit is made assured of the adoption of God, for our mind of its own self, without the preceding testimony of the Spirit, could not convey to us this assurance." What he is saying is this: If the Holy Spirit did not give you the liberty and the power to acknowledge and call God your Father, you would not be able to do it. Not at all.

Now, here's the second thing. The Holy Spirit is not only a witness with us or in us, He is also a witness to us. So if you look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10, Hebrews chapter 10, and look if you would please, beginning there with verse 15. Hebrews 10, verse 15. We'll read through verse 18. Watch. Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 15. The Bible says, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us." He's not only a witness in us and with us, he's also a witness to us. "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord."

"I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." In the context, the witness of the Holy Spirit to us is external and objective, because it is a witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is a witness to the Bible, to the revelation of God. The very fact that we've experienced regeneration, the very fact that we've experienced conviction and conversion, the very fact that we've experienced repentance and faith and reconciliation, evidences the fact that the Holy Spirit is a witness to us. Because without Him, none of that would have happened. That reminds you that God the Father ordained salvation, God the Son purchased salvation, and God the Holy Spirit applies salvation.

Now, I want you to go back to John chapter 17. I want to show you something. I hope, I pray, that this will excite you and stir you. Look in John 17 verse 26. Our Lord said, "I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." Here is an amazing truth. Look at that verse again. "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me"—wow—"the love that God the Father has for God the Son may be in them." Indwelled and loved. Has it ever dawned upon you that God loves you just as much and exactly as he loves his Son? He cannot look upon us without looking upon his Son. And he can't look upon his Son without looking upon us. Why?

Because he is the head and we are the body. And he said, "I pray, I pray that the love that thou hast loved me may be in them." I want to show you just how much God loves his people. I know that he loved us enough to send the Lord Jesus Christ. But go back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. I told you that we would come back there. And I want you to look at this again. Romans chapter 8. And look, if you would please, at verses 16 and 17. Romans 8, verse 16: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God."

That is, we inherit Him. True, He inherited us, but we inherit Him as well. Now watch. "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

Now, let me try to explain this. Let's suppose that Steve and Lorraine happen to be my children. They're brother and sister. And let's suppose—of course they're not brother and sister, and they're not my children, but let's suppose that they are my children and they're brother and sister, and let's suppose that I'm a multi-millionaire. And I own thousands of acres of land, which I'm not. We're supposing. And so I write in my will that when I die, Steve and Lorraine are joint heirs of everything that I have. What does that mean? It means that each one has access to everything that I am. Fully, totally, completely. Has it ever hit you that God the Father loves us so much that He's made us joint heirs with Jesus Christ that whatever Jesus Christ inherits, we get. We get. He's the head. We're the body. We're one with Him, which means we're not only indwelled, but we're loved. Now let me try to put this together for you.

Conclusion and Assurance

Weaver summarizes the four evidences, affirming that they give confident assurance of being God's elect, and closes with a prayer of thanksgiving.

When you think about what our Lord prayed for in John 17, He's teaching us that salvation is basically revelation. It's a revelation of God the Father, it's a revelation of God the Son, and we receive it. So if we have received the revelation, if you and I have been preserved and are persevering in the faith—we're not denying the faith, we're not walking away, we're persevering—if we're living a sanctified life and being sent and used by the Father according to His will, that means that we are indwelled and loved by Him. So we can have absolute confidence and absolute assurance that yes, we are God's elect. Yes, God the Father gave us to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world. That's why he said in John 6 in verse 37, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." So we who've been given to God the Son by God the Father will always come to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. He will receive us, and we will never, ever be cast out.

Now, some are going to say, "Well, I still don't like the doctrine of election." Well, you have to remember this. If God did not choose some to be saved, none would be saved. Because each one of us was desperately wicked, rebellious, ungodly, and enmity to God. And God in His grace and mercy just spared us. And it's like the Apostle Paul said, like Isaiah said, "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a remnant, we should have been made as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah."

But here's what we can rejoice in. We can rejoice in the fact that, yes, there is an election of grace, and we can rejoice in the fact that we could know that we are God's elect by our Lord's prayer of John 17, where he prayed that we would receive the revelation, that we would persevere in our preservation, that we would live a sanctified life and be sent by Him. and we would be indwelled and loved by Him. We are His people. And when you stop and think that He loves us as much as He loved the Lord Jesus Christ, it should make you fall on your face and worship and thank Him for His infinite grace. Father, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We ask, Lord, that You would teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, and help us to love Thee, to adore Thee, to worship Thee, rejoice in Thee.

May we enjoy full assurance of heart that we are Your children. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Biblical Doctrine of Election

Summary: Election is a clear biblical teaching, though often resisted; it is the foundation of salvation, not salvation itself.

Evidence: Weaver states there are 73 verses on election in the New Testament and recounts a man refusing to hear them, saying 'my mind is made up and I do not want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures.'

Revelation and Reception as Evidence

Summary: The elect receive the divine revelation of the Father through the Son and respond by keeping His word.

Evidence: John 17:6: 'I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me... and they have kept thy word.'

Preservation and Perseverance

Summary: God preserves His elect, enabling them to persevere in faith and repentance; lack of perseverance indicates lack of preservation.

Evidence: John 17:11: 'Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me.'

Sanctification and Holy Living

Summary: The elect are sanctified by the Spirit and the Word, leading to a life of holiness and being sent as witnesses.

Evidence: John 17:17: 'Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.'

Indwelling Spirit and Divine Love

Summary: The elect are indwelled by Christ through the Holy Spirit and loved by the Father with the same love He has for the Son.

Evidence: John 17:26: 'that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.'

Assurance of Election

Summary: These four evidences provide confident assurance that one is among God's elect.

Evidence: Weaver concludes: 'we can have absolute confidence and absolute assurance that yes, we are God's elect.'

Key Arguments

Election is not salvation but unto salvation

Summary: Election is the foundation, but salvation is obtained through faith; 2 Timothy 2:10 shows Paul enduring for the elect's sake that they may obtain salvation.

Evidence: 2 Timothy 2:10: 'Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.'

Revelation is necessary for knowing God

Summary: No one can know the Father except through the Son's revelation; Matthew 11:27 and John 1:18 affirm this.

Evidence: Matthew 11:27: 'neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.'

Perseverance proves preservation

Summary: Those whom God preserves will persevere in faith; if one is not persevering, there is no evidence of preservation.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'If you're not persevering in the faith, you have no evidence that God has preserved you.'

Sanctification follows justification

Summary: All whom God justifies He also sanctifies; those who live ungodly lives are not truly Christians.

Evidence: 1 Corinthians 6:11: 'but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.'

The Holy Spirit witnesses to our adoption

Summary: The Spirit enables believers to cry 'Abba, Father' and assures them they are children of God.

Evidence: Romans 8:15-16: 'ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.'

Believers are loved as Christ is loved

Summary: God the Father loves believers with the same love He has for the Son, making them joint-heirs with Christ.

Evidence: John 17:26: 'that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them.'

Scripture References

John 17:1-3

Context: Primary text for the message; Jesus prays for glorification and defines eternal life as knowing God.

1 Thessalonians 1:4

Context: Mentioned as a verse some avoid because it speaks of election.

2 Timothy 2:9-10

Context: Paul endures for the elect's sake that they may obtain salvation, showing election is unto salvation.

2 Timothy 1:9-10

Context: Grace given in Christ before the world began, now manifested through the gospel.

John 17:6

Context: Jesus manifested the Father's name to those given Him, and they kept His word.

Matthew 11:27

Context: No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son reveals Him.

John 1:18

Context: The only begotten Son has declared the Father.

Matthew 16:17

Context: Peter's confession of Christ was revealed by the Father, not flesh and blood.

John 8:30-32

Context: True disciples continue in Jesus' word.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

Context: God chose believers to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

John 17:11-12

Context: Jesus prays for the Father to keep those given Him; none is lost except the son of perdition.

Jude 1:1

Context: Believers are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ.

John 10:27-30

Context: Jesus' sheep hear His voice, receive eternal life, and are secure in the Father's hand.

2 Timothy 4:18

Context: Paul is confident the Lord will preserve him unto His heavenly kingdom.

John 17:17-19

Context: Jesus prays for sanctification through truth and sends believers into the world.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Context: The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom, but believers are washed, sanctified, and justified.

Galatians 5:19-21

Context: Those who practice works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 10:10

Context: Believers are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

John 17:24-26

Context: Jesus prays that believers may behold His glory and that the Father's love may be in them.

Romans 8:14-17

Context: Those led by the Spirit are sons of God; the Spirit witnesses to their adoption as heirs with Christ.

Historical References

Dwight L. Moody

Context: Weaver quotes Moody's inscription: 'Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.'

John Calvin

Context: Weaver quotes Calvin on the Spirit's testimony: 'Paul means the Spirit of God gives us such a testimony that when he is our guide and teacher, our spirit is made assured of the adoption of God.'

Important Quotes

Because my mind is made up and I do not want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures.

Significance: Illustrates the dishonest resistance some have toward the biblical doctrine of election.

Eternal life is not just simply living forever. Eternal life is a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Significance: Defines eternal life as relational knowledge, not mere duration.

Election may be the foundation, the basis of salvation, but it is not salvation in and of itself.

Significance: Clarifies the distinction between election and salvation.

If you're not persevering in the faith, you have no evidence that God has preserved you.

Significance: Links perseverance as the visible proof of divine preservation.

Sanctification follows justification just like night follows day.

Significance: Emphasizes the inseparable connection between justification and sanctification.

Has it ever dawned upon you that God loves you just as much and exactly as he loves his Son?

Significance: Highlights the profound truth of the believer's union with Christ and the Father's love.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think some people react so strongly against the doctrine of election, even refusing to read certain verses?

Context: Weaver shares stories of people avoiding 1 Thessalonians 1:4 and refusing to study election.

How does understanding election as 'unto salvation' rather than salvation itself affect your view of assurance?

Context: Weaver explains from 2 Timothy 2:10 that election is the foundation, not salvation itself.

In what ways does 'keeping His word' serve as evidence of receiving God's revelation?

Context: John 17:6 shows that those given to Christ keep His word.

What is the relationship between God's preservation and our perseverance? How can we distinguish true perseverance from self-effort?

Context: Weaver argues that preservation enables perseverance; lack of perseverance indicates lack of preservation.

How does the truth that believers are loved with the same love the Father has for the Son impact your daily walk and sense of security?

Context: John 17:26 reveals that the Father's love for the Son is in believers.

What role does the Holy Spirit play in giving us assurance of our adoption as God's children?

Context: Romans 8:15-16 describes the Spirit's witness that we are children of God.

Applications

Examine your reception of God's revelation

Summary: Evaluate whether you have truly received the revelation of God in Christ and are keeping His word as evidence of election.

Evidence: John 17:6: 'they have kept thy word.'

Persevere in faith and repentance

Summary: Continue in the faith without giving up, as perseverance is the evidence of God's preservation.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'We don't quit. We don't give in. We don't give up.'

Pursue sanctification through the Word and Spirit

Summary: Actively engage with Scripture and rely on the Holy Spirit to live a holy life, set apart for God's purposes.

Evidence: John 17:17: 'Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.'

Rest in the Father's love

Summary: Embrace the truth that God loves you as He loves Christ, which provides deep assurance and security.

Evidence: John 17:26: 'that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them.'

Be honest with Scripture

Summary: Do not avoid difficult doctrines like election; instead, study all of God's Word with integrity.

Evidence: Weaver rebukes those who skip verses: 'you can still be honest with Scripture.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:21:25Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:51:23Z

Clean Transcript

How Do I Know I Am One of God's Elect - Part 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Let's open our Bibles to John 17, verses 1 through 3. We're going to pick up with the second part of the message, "How Do I Know That I Am One of God's Elect?" John chapter 17—we'll be dealing with other verses in this chapter, but these are the primary verses that we used last week. Notice verse 1: "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come."
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"Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." So the title of the message again is "How Do I Know That I'm One of God's Elect?" The very question, "How do I know that I'm one of God's elect?" postulates the doctrine of election. I find it absolutely amusing that some who reject this doctrine, or say they do not believe this doctrine, are constantly and continually fighting against it. My thought would be, if you don't believe it, why in the world are you going to fight against it anyhow? But they do.
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Years ago I was preaching in Alabama, and I had an older man come up to me after Sunday morning service. And that Sunday I had preached on 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. Now there's only 10 verses in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. My text was verse 3, and then verses 7 through 10 as they explained verse 3. And so since it was a small chapter, I just read the entire chapter. Well, verse 4 just simply says this: "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God." I didn't preach on that verse. I just read it because it's in the Bible. And so after service, this older gentleman came up to me and told me that I should not have read that verse. And I laughed. I said, "Why should I not read it? It's in the Bible." But he said, "Some people don't understand the doctrine of election, and it upsets them." I said, "What you're telling me is that you don't understand the doctrine of election, and you're upset." Well, he said, "Yes." I said, "Well, sir, listen."
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I said, "There are 73 verses in the New Testament that speak of the doctrine of election. I said, if you'll meet me in my motel room at 2 o'clock this afternoon, I said, I will sit down with you and go over all 73 verses and try to give you some understanding so that you will not get upset the next time you read the word 'election' in the Bible." He said, "Fine." Well, I hurried through my dinner meal and I ran to the motel room and I was sitting there making sure I had all 73 verses down so that I could show him when he got there.
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My phone rang about 15 minutes to 2. And it was the fellow who was supposed to meet me at two. And he said this, he said, "Pastor," he said, "I'm not going to meet with you at two o'clock." And I said, "Really? Why?" And so help me, these are his exact words. I've never forgotten them. He said, "Because my mind is made up and I do not want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures."
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There is something very dishonest about someone who is so dishonest with Scripture and who cannot look upon Scripture honestly. I mean, you might not agree, you might not understand, but at least you can be honest with Scripture. I've trained a number of young men for the ministry. Years ago, I had a Bible institute where I taught on Monday night, Tuesday night, and Thursday night. And we'd go anywhere from two to four hours a night.
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Well, there was a church not too far away that did not have a pastor, and they needed a pulpit supply. So they contacted me, and I sent one of my young men to preach there on Sunday. Well, when he got there, there was a visiting pastor who showed up who was looking for a church. Well, they had already asked this young man to preach, so they asked the visiting pastor to teach Sunday school. Fine. This church did not use quarterlies or anything like that.
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They just used the Bible. And it just so happened that Sunday, the chapter they were to study for Sunday school was 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. And so the young man that I sent over there to preach sat in that Sunday school. He came back on Monday morning and told me, he said, "Pastor, you will never, ever believe this." He said, "That pastor read verse 1 and commented on it, read verse 2 and commented on it, read verse 3 and commented on it, read verse 5 and commented on it, all the way down through verse 10. He said he not only did not comment on verse 4, he would not even read verse 4."
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Now there's something wrong with someone like that. You may not understand, and you may not like, but you can still be honest with Scripture.
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Now, last week I dealt with the doctrine of election in general. Let me just point out the fact there is no way in the world that you can really and truly discuss this doctrine in just an hour's time. Years ago I preached a whole series, I think it was eight to ten hours on this doctrine. And so you cannot do justice in an hour for something that takes eight to ten hours.
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I did try to show you from John chapter 17 verse 2 when the Bible says that "thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as." And I showed you how that is a limiting phrase, and we looked at several passages in the Bible and showed that it was always a limiting phrase. That's always the way it is.
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Now, let me point out that I showed you last week also that there is in the Bible a national election, a vocational election, a messianic election, and also a soteriological or a personal election, which we will look at just for a moment today as well. But let me go ahead and remind you what I said about verse 3 last week, where our Lord says, "And this is life eternal, that they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Eternal life is not just simply living forever. Eternal life is a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. You do not get eternal life when you die. If you do not possess eternal life before you die, you're not going to have it when you die. Eternal life, again, is a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ. When he says in John 17, verse 3, "that they might know thee," the word "know" is the Greek word *ginosko*, and it literally means to perceive, to know, to understand, to acquire a personal knowledge.
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In fact, this word is used in the Bible as a word of intimacy because it is used in reference to sexual intercourse between a husband and wife. For instance, "Adam knew his wife, and she conceived and bare a child."
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Now, the Bible says in Amos chapter 3 and verse 2, God is speaking to Israel and he said this: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth. Therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities." Now notice what he said: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth." What did he mean by that? Well, obviously he knew of all the other families, for he created them. And he certainly knew of their wickedness, for he judged them. But when he said, "You only have I known," he is saying, "You only have I revealed myself unto." It was to Israel that he gave the covenants and the law. They had the adoption. They had the promises.
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They had all of this. They were the only nation on the face of the earth in which God was personally intimate with, and they were to have a relationship with him. Thankfully, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the one who came through and showed us and taught us the reality and the fullness of salvation as well.
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Now, let me point something out before I really take up the day where I left off last week. It is very clear from Scripture that there is a biblical doctrine of election. It is also clear from Scripture that God gave us to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world. So the question that I asked last week was this: How do I know that I'm one of God's elect? How do I know that I've been given to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world? Now, I said last week that election is not salvation. Election is unto salvation. Okay? Election may be the foundation, the basis of salvation, but it is not salvation in and of itself. Let me show you.
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Look in your Bibles, first of all, to 2 Timothy 2. 2 Timothy 2. And then we'll look in 2 Timothy 1. But look in 2 Timothy 2, if you would, please. And let's begin reading there with verse 9 and 10. Look at what the Scripture says. Second Timothy chapter 2, verse 9. Paul says, "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound."
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"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." So he said, "I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may obtain salvation." So election may be unto salvation, but it is not salvation. Notice, if you would please, back in chapter 1 in verses 9 and 10. Chapter 1, verses 9 and 10.
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The Bible says, "Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling." That's 2 Timothy 1, verse 9. "Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace." Watch carefully: "which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began." When did God give us grace? Before the foundation of the world. How did he give us grace? He gave it to us in Christ Jesus, in that eternal covenant. But look at verse 10: "But is now"—that is Jesus Christ, in that great salvation and that grace—"but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." So election is unto salvation.
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Now, when you look back in John 17, I want to answer this question: How do I know that I'm one of God's elect? Remember, if you would please, that John 17 is the high priestly prayer of our Lord, and he is praying to his Father, and he is praying for his people. So let me show you, first of all, look in verse 6. Here's the first evidence. Here is the first way that you know whether or not you're one of God's elect. Look in verse 6. Our Lord said, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." Now note, if you would carefully, here's the first evidence. I'm going to say it is revelation and reception. Revelation and reception. Because he says in verse 6, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me." And then the latter part of verse 6, he says, "and they have kept my word." So he has not only revealed the Father, then we have also received the words.
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Now the word "manifested" is the Greek word *phanerao*, and it literally means that which is revealed, that which is manifested, that which is declared, and that which is made thoroughly known and recognized. So let me show you. I want you to look at two passages. The first one is Matthew 11, Matthew 11, and verse 27. And then we're going back to John chapter 1. We'll look at Matthew 11 and verse 27. I said the very first evidence is revelation and reception. So in Matthew 11, in verse 27, our Lord said this.
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"All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." So the only one who really knows the Father is the Son. The one who really knows the Son is the Father. And it takes the revelation of God the Father to reveal the Son, and the revelation of God the Son to reveal the Father. So, he says, no man can know without this divine revelation. "No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."
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Now, if you look in John chapter 1, and verse 18. Our Lord says the same thing, just a little differently. John 1 in verse 18. The Bible says, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." So let me say it again. Salvation is revelation. It is only God the Son that is able to reveal and declare God the Father, and only God the Father that is able to reveal and declare God the Son. You remember that passage I know in Matthew chapter 16, where Jesus Christ asked his disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" And they answered and said, "Some say that thou art Elias, or Jeremiah, or John the Baptist, or one of the prophets." Wow. But Jesus looked at them and said, "But whom say ye that I am?"
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And that is when Simon Peter made this great confession. And he said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Our Lord answered Peter—help me out now, because you'll find this in verse 17. And our Lord said to Peter, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for thou art smarter than anyone else, and thou hast figured this thing out all by thyself." Is that what he said? No. He said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." How did Peter know that Jesus Christ was the Messiah? How did he know that he was the Son of God? Because the Father revealed it unto him. Now, when you look back in John 17 in verse 6. John 17 in verse 6. Note if you would, our Lord says, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world." The manifestation of the name is the manifestation of the person and all that he is. So when he says, "I have manifested thy name," he is not only saying that, yes, here is a proper name for God.
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He is saying here are the attributes of God. Here is the character of God. Here is His law. Here is His will. Here is His grace. Here is His mercy. In other words, God is known by His name. His name reveals who He is in all of His attributes and all of His perfections.
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Now, it is true that there is some light that we have by virtue of creation. Psalm 19 will tell you that. Romans 1 will tell you that. There's enough light in creation to condemn you, but not enough light to convert you. You also had some light through the law of Moses in the sense of the sacrificial system. But those sacrifices did not save. In fact, all you have to do is read Hebrews 8, 9, and 10, and you'll find that out.
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It's not by the blood of bulls and goats that we're purged, but by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. So when you get to John 1 in verse 17, the Bible says this: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Well, clearly, there was grace in the Old Testament, for Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Clearly, there's truth in the Old Testament, because everything that God says is true. But the apex of truth and the apex of grace, the very height, the highest of heights, came to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. So the fullness of that revelation was not only revealed by Jesus Christ, it was received by those who heard the word and kept the word. One of the greatest evidences that we are God's elect, that we have been given to Jesus Christ from before the foundation of the world, is that we keep his word. We are obedient. Now the word "kept" is a very interesting word, *tereo*, and it literally means to keep, to observe, to hold fast, to attend to carefully, and to guard, and to obey.
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It's just like the truth that our Lord revealed in John 8, verses 30 and 32, when the Bible says this: "As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said he to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed"—or "then are ye my true disciples," or "then are ye truly my disciples"—"if ye continue in my word." So there is a revelation, and there is a reception of that revelation.
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I want to show it to you a little more clearly. If you look in your Bibles, holding John 17, but turn to 2 Thessalonians 2. 2 Thessalonians 2. I mentioned this verse last week, but I did not point out what I'm going to point out today. Look in 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 13. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 13. Paul says, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord." Why? "because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation."
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That is a soteriological election. That is a personal election. Paul said to these Thessalonian Christians, "We're bound to thank God for you." Why? "Because God hath chosen you to salvation." But note how God chose them. Election may be the foundation, but he said he chose you "through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." When there is a revelation, there is a reception of that revelation.
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Then if you look at verse 14, it makes it even plainer: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." So what did God do? God chose them. Jesus Christ purchased their salvation and God the Holy Spirit applied that salvation. He regenerated them. He convicted them. He converted them. He called them through the gospel. So, clearly then, you have a revelation and you have a reception.
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Now, go back in your Bibles to John 17. Look, if you would, at verses 6 through 8 and watch this. John 17, verse 6. Our Lord says, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word."
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"Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." God says, through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, if we have received the revelation of God, then we know that we are one of God's elect, for God has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. He reveals himself to us and we receive his word.
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Let me put it to you very plainly. God's elect are not faithless. They believe. They believe in His Word, and they believe in Jesus Christ, and they believe that God the Father sent Jesus Christ to be our surety, our substitute, and our sacrifice. We believe that He came from the Father, was sent by the Father, and that He ascended and went back to the Father. And so this is what He's saying.
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There is a revelation, and there is a reception. So first of all, we may know that we're God's elect if we have received the revelation of God in the Lord Jesus Christ and in his word. Second, we may know that we're God's elect because those who are God's elect are preserved and persevere. Look in verse 11. Our Lord prays and says, "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee."
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"Holy Father, keep through thine own name"—note that—"keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." Note, if you would, we are then preserved in Jesus Christ.
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Now, skip down to verse 14. Look what he says: "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them"—or preserve them—"from the evil."
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Now, let me just make a statement, and I'll show it to you from Scripture. God's elect are preserved. And I like to point out it is not the word "pickles," because you pickle with brine and vinegar, but you preserve with onion, sugar... All right, now look in your Bibles to Jude 1 and verse 1, the little book right before the book of Revelation, only one chapter. Jude 1 and verse 1. And look, if you would please, at what is said. Jude 1 verse 1: "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called." We are preserved.
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You remember I quoted this passage last week in John 10 verses 27 and 30. Our Lord said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one."
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That means we are preserved. Then if you will turn back to 2 Timothy chapter 4, 2 Timothy chapter 4, and look, if you would please, at verse 18. 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 18. I'm just pointing out the fact that God's elect are preserved. Hang on, I'll show you this verse. 2 Timothy 4, verse 18. The apostle Paul said, "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom."
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"To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Paul said, "I'm assured that I'm going to be preserved unto his heavenly kingdom."
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Now, here's the question that I have to ask. Since we already know that God's elect are preserved, how do we know whether or not we are God's elect and how do we know that we are preserved? And the answer is very simple. Those whom God preserves, He enables and empowers to persevere. That is, we continue in the faith. We continue in repentance. We continue to believe the scripture. We do not leave the faith.
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We do not deny the scriptures. We do not turn from the truth. We do not cease believing. We do not cease repenting. We continue to hold fast all that God has given us in his word. It's like Job said in Job 17 verse 9: "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." So that simply means this: We don't quit. We don't give in. We don't give up. We don't give out. We don't fall. We don't fail. We continue to persevere in the faith, and our preservation in Jesus Christ is made evident by his enabling us to persevere.
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So how do I know I'm one of God's elect? First of all, by receiving the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Number two, because God preserves us and in that preservation, he enables us to persevere. That doesn't mean that we're never going to fall. Certainly we're going to fall, but we're not going to stand or lie down in that fall. We'll get up. The righteous man, the Bible says, falls down seven times and rises every time. In other words, we're not going to stay down. We will persevere.
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Now, the truth of the matter is this: If you're not persevering in the faith, you have no evidence that God has preserved you. Do not separate that which God has joined together. And he's joined together preservation and perseverance. He's joined together revelation and reception. The third evidence that we're God's elect is found in John 17, verses 17 through 19. Watch it. John 17, verse 17. Our Lord says, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
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"As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." So God's elect are those who have received a revelation, who are preserved and persevere. But now he tells us thirdly, his elect are sanctified and sent. I want you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say.
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Sanctification follows justification just like night follows day. All of those whom God justifies by faith, He sanctifies by His Spirit and His Word. It is impossible for someone to be justified and unsanctified. There are many people who claim to be Christians who live unholy, ungodly, and unsanctified lives. And the truth is, they're not really Christians. Let me show you why. Look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6, beginning there with verse 9. Then we'll go to Galatians chapter 5. But look in 1 Corinthians 6, if you would, please, beginning there with verse 9.
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Note what the Bible says. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 9: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" And then he says, "Be not deceived."
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Now if you believe what I'm about to read here, you're deceived. Let me show you. He says, "Be not deceived." Don't think this. "Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Now I said if you think these people are saved, you're deceived. I don't want you to be deceived. These people are not going to inherit the kingdom of God.
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But look at verse 11. "And such were"—that's past tense—"such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." So those whom God justifies, he sanctifies. If you continue to live like verses 9 and 10 say, and you claim to be a Christian, you're deceiving yourself. Look in Galatians chapter 5. Galatians chapter 5. And let's begin reading there with verse 19. Galatians 5 verse 19. You're familiar with this passage. But look what the apostle says again.
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"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like." Now watch: "of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." So God's elect are sanctified people. That does not mean that they are holier than thou, but it does mean that they live holy, godly, and clean lives.
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We have been set apart for the Father. We've been sent by the Son. If we're going to be sent by the Son, that means we must be sanctified. I want you to turn, holding John 17, but turn in your Bibles to Hebrews 10, and then we'll go to Hebrews 13. Look in Hebrews 10 and verse 10. Look at what the scripture says. We're talking about sanctification. One of the ways that we know that we're God's elect is we live sanctified lives. Hebrews 10 and verse 10: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." We've been sanctified by the body of Jesus Christ. Look at Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 12. Hebrews 13 and verse 12.
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"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." May I remind you of that passage in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 26 when he's talking about the church. And he says this: "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." An interesting verse is 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 23. The apostle Paul was praying for the Thessalonians, and he said this. Listen carefully. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly."
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That's W-H-O-L-L-Y. That means totally, completely. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." Listen to what he said: "And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." So he said, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." So here's the question. Since God's elect are sanctified, how then are we sanctified?
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And the answer comes back: by the Holy Spirit and by the Word of God. It is the Holy Spirit that enlightens our minds and shows us our sins and our wickednesses and shows us how contrary we are to the Word of God. As he convicts us, as he enlightens our mind, he also shows us the truth of God and then gives us grace to repent and turn from those things and to bring our lives into conformity to the Word of God. But it's also not only through the work of the Holy Spirit, it's through the Word of God. Because he said in John 17 and verse 17, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
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Now, let me show you, this truth was understood in the Old Testament as well. David understood it. Because David said in Psalm 119 verses 9 through 11, he said this: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
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I think it was Dwight L. Moody who had written in the front of his Bible, "Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book." And that's the truth.
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Now, let me show you something. We're to be sanctified by the Spirit of God and by the Word of God. If we're to be sent into the world as a witness, then we have to be a sanctified witness. We cannot give forth a fragrant witness to Jesus Christ if we stink like the world and like the flesh. It's impossible. So he says, you're sanctified and you're sent.
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One of my favorite passages, and I've preached from this passage numerous times, is 1 Peter chapter 1, verses 13 through 16. You can turn there. You're close to it. Turn right over, right after the book of Hebrews, James, and 1 Peter. Hebrews, James, 1 Peter. Look at chapter 1, beginning there in verse 13. Look at what he says. 1 Peter 1, verse 13: "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Now watch verse 14.
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"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance." In other words, you're not living like you used to live. "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation"—or conduct—"because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." Have you ever stopped to think that as you read the scripture, Jesus Christ was sanctified and sent by the Father. And he died and gave himself that we might not only be justified, but sanctified.
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And he said in John 17 that he sanctifies us. And just as the Father sent him into the world, so we are sent into the world. So how do I know I'm God's elect? Well, let's see. I've received the revelation of God. I'm preserved by Him and that preservation is coming to light by Him enabling me to persevere, to continue in faith and continue in repentance. Moreover, He is sanctifying me and sending me, by that I mean this, He's enabling me to live more holily and more godly. That doesn't mean that I'm perfect. No man is perfect on this earth. But it does mean that the general tenor of our lives, that the general attitude and the general actions of our lives are lives and attitudes and actions of holiness and godliness and obedience. That's what it means. So, we have received the revelation, we persevere, and we are living a sanctified life and living in obedience as he sends us to be his witnesses. I want you to look back in John chapter 17, because here's the fourth evidence.
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You will find it in verses 24 through verse 26. The fourth evidence that we are God's elect is that we are indwelled and loved. Look at verse 24: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." I said that we're indwelled and loved. I want to take the phrase "indwelled" first. If you look in the latter part of verse 26, he said, "and I in them." Well, how in the world does Jesus Christ dwell in each of us?
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And the answer is by his Spirit. If you would turn back in your Bibles to John chapter 14. Look if you would please beginning there with verse 16. John 14 verse 16. Our Lord said, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter." By the way, let me just stop there. The word "Comforter" in the Greek is the word *parakletos*. One of the names for the Holy Spirit is the Paraclete. The word Paraclete comes from the Greek word *parakletos*. *Para* is a preposition, which means alongside of, and *kaleo*, I call, or *kletos*, would be one who's called. So the Comforter is the Paraclete, which means he's one called alongside of to help. So look what he said: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter"—one called alongside of to help—"that he may abide with you for ever."
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"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
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Now look what he says: "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." How does he come to us? How does he indwell us? And the answer is, by His Spirit. Remember, there is one God. The Holy Spirit is God. God the Son is God. God the Father is God. Three persons, but one God. And when the Holy Spirit indwells us, so is the Father, so is the Son. Now, look in your Bibles, John 15 and verse 26. John 15, verse 26. Our Lord says, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."
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Now, I want you to turn to the book of Romans, chapter 8. And I want you to mark this chapter because we're going to come back here just momentarily. Romans, chapter 8. And I want you to look, please, at verses 14 through 17, Romans 8, just reading verses 14 through 17. Watch this if you would, please. First of all, I want you to know that the Holy Spirit is a witness, the Bible tells us, with us. He is a witness in us. Look at it. The Bible says in Romans 8, verse 14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Well, we know we're a son of God if we're led by the Spirit of God. He says in verse 15, "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."
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"If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Go back, if you would, to verse 15. He says, "We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Now, the word "Abba" is actually a Hebrew word. You know what the word actually means? Here's what it means: Papa. Whereby we cry, "Papa, Father." Alice can tell you, I used to, and I still do, but especially more so when they were small, I would delight in my grandchildren calling me Papa. I would all the time get phone calls, especially from my oldest grandson, and he would say, "Papa, I need this." And I'd say, "Well, have you talked to your mother and father?" "Yes, sir."
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"And they told me to call you." Translation: they won't buy it for me, but Papa will. But the point I'm trying to make is this: It's a term of endearment. It's a term of intimacy. Papa. Whereby we cry, "Abba, Father." We cry, "Papa, Father." In other words, it is the Holy Spirit who is a witness with us and in us that enables us to acknowledge God as my Father. Listen to this. It is just as natural for a child of God to acknowledge God as his Father as it is for an earthly child to acknowledge an earthly man as his Father. The Holy Spirit enables us to cry, "I have a Father." But that's not all. Look in verse 26. Look what else the Holy Spirit does. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." So oftentimes he prays for us when we don't even know how to pray and what to pray for.
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And a lot of times we fall down before God and we just groan, and the Holy Spirit prays in us and prays for us. It was Calvin who said this: "Paul means the Spirit of God gives us such a testimony that when he is our guide and teacher, our spirit is made assured of the adoption of God, for our mind of its own self, without the preceding testimony of the Spirit, could not convey to us this assurance."
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What he is saying is this: If the Holy Spirit did not give you the liberty and the power to acknowledge and call God your Father, you would not be able to do it. Not at all.
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Now, here's the second thing. The Holy Spirit is not only a witness with us or in us, He is also a witness to us. So if you look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10, Hebrews chapter 10, and look if you would please, beginning there with verse 15. Hebrews 10, verse 15. We'll read through verse 18. Watch. Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 15. The Bible says, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us." He's not only a witness in us and with us, he's also a witness to us. "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord."
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"I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."
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"Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." In the context, the witness of the Holy Spirit to us is external and objective, because it is a witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is a witness to the Bible, to the revelation of God. The very fact that we've experienced regeneration, the very fact that we've experienced conviction and conversion, the very fact that we've experienced repentance and faith and reconciliation, evidences the fact that the Holy Spirit is a witness to us.
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Because without Him, none of that would have happened. That reminds you that God the Father ordained salvation, God the Son purchased salvation, and God the Holy Spirit applies salvation.
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Now, I want you to go back to John chapter 17. I want to show you something. I hope, I pray, that this will excite you and stir you. Look in John 17 verse 26. Our Lord said, "I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." Here is an amazing truth. Look at that verse again. "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me"—wow—"the love that God the Father has for God the Son may be in them." Indwelled and loved. Has it ever dawned upon you that God loves you just as much and exactly as he loves his Son? He cannot look upon us without looking upon his Son. And he can't look upon his Son without looking upon us. Why?
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Because he is the head and we are the body. And he said, "I pray, I pray that the love that thou hast loved me may be in them." I want to show you just how much God loves his people. I know that he loved us enough to send the Lord Jesus Christ. But go back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. I told you that we would come back there. And I want you to look at this again. Romans chapter 8. And look, if you would please, at verses 16 and 17. Romans 8, verse 16: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God."
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That is, we inherit Him. True, He inherited us, but we inherit Him as well. Now watch. "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
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Now, let me try to explain this. Let's suppose that Steve and Lorraine happen to be my children. They're brother and sister. And let's suppose—of course they're not brother and sister, and they're not my children, but let's suppose that they are my children and they're brother and sister, and let's suppose that I'm a multi-millionaire. And I own thousands of acres of land, which I'm not. We're supposing. And so I write in my will that when I die, Steve and Lorraine are joint heirs of everything that I have. What does that mean? It means that each one has access to everything that I am. Fully, totally, completely. Has it ever hit you that God the Father loves us so much that He's made us joint heirs with Jesus Christ that whatever Jesus Christ inherits, we get. We get. He's the head. We're the body. We're one with Him, which means we're not only indwelled, but we're loved. Now let me try to put this together for you.
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When you think about what our Lord prayed for in John 17, He's teaching us that salvation is basically revelation. It's a revelation of God the Father, it's a revelation of God the Son, and we receive it. So if we have received the revelation, if you and I have been preserved and are persevering in the faith—we're not denying the faith, we're not walking away, we're persevering—if we're living a sanctified life and being sent and used by the Father according to His will, that means that we are indwelled and loved by Him.
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So we can have absolute confidence and absolute assurance that yes, we are God's elect. Yes, God the Father gave us to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world. That's why he said in John 6 in verse 37, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." So we who've been given to God the Son by God the Father will always come to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. He will receive us, and we will never, ever be cast out.
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Now, some are going to say, "Well, I still don't like the doctrine of election." Well, you have to remember this. If God did not choose some to be saved, none would be saved. Because each one of us was desperately wicked, rebellious, ungodly, and enmity to God. And God in His grace and mercy just spared us. And it's like the Apostle Paul said, like Isaiah said, "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a remnant, we should have been made as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah."
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But here's what we can rejoice in. We can rejoice in the fact that, yes, there is an election of grace, and we can rejoice in the fact that we could know that we are God's elect by our Lord's prayer of John 17, where he prayed that we would receive the revelation, that we would persevere in our preservation, that we would live a sanctified life and be sent by Him.
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and we would be indwelled and loved by Him. We are His people. And when you stop and think that He loves us as much as He loved the Lord Jesus Christ, it should make you fall on your face and worship and thank Him for His infinite grace. Father, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We ask, Lord, that You would teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, and help us to love Thee, to adore Thee, to worship Thee, rejoice in Thee.
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May we enjoy full assurance of heart that we are Your children. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:21:25Z

How Do I Know I Am One of God's Elect - Part 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver continues his message on assurance of election, expounding John 17 to show four biblical evidences that one is among God's elect: receiving the revelation of God in Christ, being preserved and persevering in faith, living a sanctified life and being sent as a witness, and being indwelled by the Spirit and loved by the Father with the same love He has for the Son. He emphasizes that election is unto salvation, not salvation itself, and that these evidences provide confident assurance.

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the doctrine of election, noting its biblical basis and the common resistance to it. He recounts personal anecdotes illustrating how some refuse to engage with Scripture on this topic.

Scripture Reading — John 17:1-3

"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come." "Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 1:4

"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God."

Election Is Unto Salvation

Using 2 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1:9-10, Weaver argues that election is the foundation for salvation but not salvation itself; grace was given in Christ before the world began.

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:9-10

"Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling."

That's 2 Timothy 1, verse 9.

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:9-10

"Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace."

Watch carefully:

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:9-10

"which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

First Evidence: Revelation and Reception

From John 17:6-8, Weaver explains that the elect receive the revelation of the Father through the Son and keep His word, demonstrating belief and obedience.

Scripture Reading — John 17:6

Now the word "manifested" is the Greek word *phanerao*, and it literally means that which is revealed, that which is manifested, that which is declared, and that which is made thoroughly known and recognized. So let me show you. I want you to look at two passages. The first one is Matthew 11, Matthew 11, and verse 27. And then we're going back to John chapter 1. We'll look at Matthew 11 and verse 27. I said the very first evidence is revelation and reception. So in Matthew 11, in verse 27, our Lord said this.

Now, if you look in John chapter 1, and verse 18. Our Lord says the same thing, just a little differently. John 1 in verse 18. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — John 1:18

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."

It's just like the truth that our Lord revealed in John 8, verses 30 and 32, when the Bible says this:

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said he to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed"

—or

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"then are ye my true disciples,"

or "then are ye truly my disciples"—

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"if ye continue in my word."

Second Evidence: Preservation and Perseverance

Based on John 17:11-14, Weaver teaches that God preserves His elect, and this preservation is evidenced by their perseverance in faith and repentance.

You remember I quoted this passage last week in John 10 verses 27 and 30. Our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — John 10:27-30

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one."

Third Evidence: Sanctification and Being Sent

From John 17:17-19, Weaver shows that the elect are sanctified by the Spirit and the Word, leading to holy living and being sent as witnesses.

Note what the Bible says. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 9:

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?"

And then he says, "Be not deceived." Now if you believe what I'm about to read here, you're deceived. Let me show you. He says, "Be not deceived." Don't think this.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

Now I said if you think these people are saved, you're deceived. I don't want you to be deceived. These people are not going to inherit the kingdom of God.

Fourth Evidence: Indwelling and Love

In John 17:24-26, Weaver highlights that the elect are indwelled by Christ through the Spirit and loved by the Father with the same love He has for the Son, making them joint-heirs.

Conclusion and Assurance

Weaver summarizes the four evidences, affirming that they give confident assurance of being God's elect, and closes with a prayer of thanksgiving.

May we enjoy full assurance of heart that we are Your children. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

How Do I Know I Am One of God's Elect - Part 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	n0mul_jl9ao
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Election, Israel, and Covenant Mercy
Genre	Sermon
Date	2020-07-11
Dictation Name
Book	Book 143: How Do I Know I'm One of God's Elect? — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	84

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the doctrine of election, noting its biblical basis and the common resistance to it. He recounts personal anecdotes illustrating how some refuse to engage with Scripture on this topic.
Election Is Unto Salvation: Using 2 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1:9-10, Weaver argues that election is the foundation for salvation but not salvation itself; grace was given in Christ before the world began.
First Evidence: Revelation and Reception: From John 17:6-8, Weaver explains that the elect receive the revelation of the Father through the Son and keep His word, demonstrating belief and obedience.
Second Evidence: Preservation and Perseverance: Based on John 17:11-14, Weaver teaches that God preserves His elect, and this preservation is evidenced by their perseverance in faith and repentance.
Third Evidence: Sanctification and Being Sent: From John 17:17-19, Weaver shows that the elect are sanctified by the Spirit and the Word, leading to holy living and being sent as witnesses.
Fourth Evidence: Indwelling and Love: In John 17:24-26, Weaver highlights that the elect are indwelled by Christ through the Spirit and loved by the Father with the same love He has for the Son, making them joint-heirs.
Conclusion and Assurance: Weaver summarizes the four evidences, affirming that they give confident assurance of being God's elect, and closes with a prayer of thanksgiving.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Election is not salvation but unto salvation

Election is the foundation, but salvation is obtained through faith; 2 Timothy 2:10 shows Paul enduring for the elect's sake that they may obtain salvation.

2 Timothy 2:10: 'Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.'

Revelation is necessary for knowing God

No one can know the Father except through the Son's revelation; Matthew 11:27 and John 1:18 affirm this.

Matthew 11:27: 'neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.'

Perseverance proves preservation

Those whom God preserves will persevere in faith; if one is not persevering, there is no evidence of preservation.

Weaver states: 'If you're not persevering in the faith, you have no evidence that God has preserved you.'

Sanctification follows justification

All whom God justifies He also sanctifies; those who live ungodly lives are not truly Christians.

1 Corinthians 6:11: 'but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.'

The Holy Spirit witnesses to our adoption

The Spirit enables believers to cry 'Abba, Father' and assures them they are children of God.

Romans 8:15-16: 'ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.'

Believers are loved as Christ is loved

God the Father loves believers with the same love He has for the Son, making them joint-heirs with Christ.

John 17:26: 'that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them.'

Scripture References

John 17:1-3: Primary text for the message; Jesus prays for glorification and defines eternal life as knowing God.
1 Thessalonians 1:4: Mentioned as a verse some avoid because it speaks of election.
2 Timothy 2:9-10: Paul endures for the elect's sake that they may obtain salvation, showing election is unto salvation.
2 Timothy 1:9-10: Grace given in Christ before the world began, now manifested through the gospel.
John 17:6: Jesus manifested the Father's name to those given Him, and they kept His word.
Matthew 11:27: No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son reveals Him.
John 1:18: The only begotten Son has declared the Father.
Matthew 16:17: Peter's confession of Christ was revealed by the Father, not flesh and blood.
John 8:30-32: True disciples continue in Jesus' word.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14: God chose believers to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
John 17:11-12: Jesus prays for the Father to keep those given Him; none is lost except the son of perdition.
Jude 1:1: Believers are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ.
John 10:27-30: Jesus' sheep hear His voice, receive eternal life, and are secure in the Father's hand.
2 Timothy 4:18: Paul is confident the Lord will preserve him unto His heavenly kingdom.
John 17:17-19: Jesus prays for sanctification through truth and sends believers into the world.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11: The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom, but believers are washed, sanctified, and justified.
Galatians 5:19-21: Those who practice works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Hebrews 10:10: Believers are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
John 17:24-26: Jesus prays that believers may behold His glory and that the Father's love may be in them.
Romans 8:14-17: Those led by the Spirit are sons of God; the Spirit witnesses to their adoption as heirs with Christ.

Historical References

Dwight L. Moody: Weaver quotes Moody's inscription: 'Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.'
John Calvin: Weaver quotes Calvin on the Spirit's testimony: 'Paul means the Spirit of God gives us such a testimony that when he is our guide and teacher, our spirit is made assured of the adoption of God.'

Important Quotes

Because my mind is made up and I do not want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures.

Illustrates the dishonest resistance some have toward the biblical doctrine of election.

Eternal life is not just simply living forever. Eternal life is a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Defines eternal life as relational knowledge, not mere duration.

Election may be the foundation, the basis of salvation, but it is not salvation in and of itself.

Clarifies the distinction between election and salvation.

If you're not persevering in the faith, you have no evidence that God has preserved you.

Links perseverance as the visible proof of divine preservation.

Sanctification follows justification just like night follows day.

Emphasizes the inseparable connection between justification and sanctification.

Has it ever dawned upon you that God loves you just as much and exactly as he loves his Son?

Highlights the profound truth of the believer's union with Christ and the Father's love.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

Why do you think some people react so strongly against the doctrine of election, even refusing to read certain verses?

[Context]

Weaver shares stories of people avoiding 1 Thessalonians 1:4 and refusing to study election.

[Question]

How does understanding election as 'unto salvation' rather than salvation itself affect your view of assurance?

[Context]

Weaver explains from 2 Timothy 2:10 that election is the foundation, not salvation itself.

[Question]

In what ways does 'keeping His word' serve as evidence of receiving God's revelation?

[Context]

John 17:6 shows that those given to Christ keep His word.

[Question]

What is the relationship between God's preservation and our perseverance? How can we distinguish true perseverance from self-effort?

[Context]

Weaver argues that preservation enables perseverance; lack of perseverance indicates lack of preservation.

[Question]

How does the truth that believers are loved with the same love the Father has for the Son impact your daily walk and sense of security?

[Context]

John 17:26 reveals that the Father's love for the Son is in believers.

[Question]

What role does the Holy Spirit play in giving us assurance of our adoption as God's children?

[Context]

Romans 8:15-16 describes the Spirit's witness that we are children of God.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:51:23Z