The Salutary Tendency of the Doctrine of Election

Sometimes the thought of election leads Paul to issue an invitation to praise: ‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who … chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy … in love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons … to the praise of his glorious grace …’ (Eph. 1:3ff., NIV). Sometimes, again, Paul invokes election to bring Christians assurance and encouragement (‘comfort’ in the strong Bible sense of the word): ‘Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?’ (Romans 8:33ff.). Sometimes, too, Paul makes election a basis for ethical appeal: ‘Put on therefore, as God’s elect … a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering …’ (Col. 3:12, RV). … [W]e can hardly be right in treating the doctrine of election as an unedifying encumbrance when in Paul’s hands it becomes a motive and mainspring of worship and assurance and holy living. A doctrine which has this salutary tendency cannot really be either unedifying or unimportant. 

From the chapter on election in  18 Words: The Most Important Words You Will Ever Know by J. I. Packer.

A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Part II: Questions about The Ten Commandments

62. Q. What does the ninth commandment teach us?    
         A. To tell the truth and not to speak evil of others. 

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Sunday Hymn: Abide With Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

—Henry F. Lyte

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Update: Psalm 90 at Still Reforming
• Update: My Jesus, I Love Thee at Field Stone Cottage
• O What Matchless Condescension at Whatever Things
• My Hope Is Built at The Happy Wonderer
• May the Mind of Christ, My Savior at Rosemary at Home
• Lord’s Day 6 at Tried With Fire 
• Lord’s Day 6, 2012 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Praying the Psalms - Psalm 119:25-32 at Daily On My Way to Heaven
• A Sunday Psalm: The Treasury of David - Psalm 2:2-3 at Theology for Girls
• Update: A Quest for Godliness - February 5, 2012 at Alabamenagerie
• Update: Faith Alone - February 5, 2012 at The Upward Call
• Update: Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: If You Marry the Spirit of the Age, You’ll Soon Be a Widower

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.