I think the biggest lesson we all need to continue to learn is it is not about us. I pray that we humble and resolve ourselves to His will. It is our flesh that rebels against Gods electing grace and our self-righteousness that trys to interject our will. Let us praise Him for mercy in saving any for election never keeps any away but is the hope that any would ever come. I pray that we speak boldly of His mercy and rest in His grace. May God bless this message and convict the humbled sinner.
Extra Credit: Dealing with election I wrote this awhile back on What is election. It is by far not the end all and I pray God truly blinds you to any ignorance that it may contain and press in your heart His truth of His sovereign will.
Jhn 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Jhn 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Jhn 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Jhn 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
- Did Christ wash Judas every whit?
Election is not an ambiguous word nor will I make any excuses for its use and meaning in the word of God. There are some telling thoughts that we may take away from these verses. If He does not wash thee, you are not clean and will have no part of Him. It is He that washes and cleanses. And that sadly, Ye are not all clean. Before the foundation of the Earth God choose, by His sovereign will, those who will be saved. He has provided the perfect sacrifice to wash the sins of those elect. It was those that are washed every whit and complete spotless before the Father and those alone. And in time the Spirit draws them near unto salvation. But not all of you, ye are not all clean. He did not elect all or all would be saved, he did not die for all or none would be condemned. He has His children for His purpose and it is those that come to know the grace and mercy of our Lord(Rom 9:11, I Tim 1:9). His blood is sufficient for the full salvation of all for whom He died and was not offered in vain for those who perish (Isa 53:11-12, Mat 1:21, John 10:11). It is not enough to say He knew the hearts of Judas but He knew his condition. Election is not Gods foreknowledge of mans will. It is not omniscient in knowing who will choose Him but the sovereign will of an omnipotent immutable and sovereign God. The largest problem with the thought that God foreknows faith is that the Bible does not teach this. Looking at the scripture God foreknows people not actions (Rom 8:29, Eph 1:3-14). And so we see this strongly in todays message as well. He knew more than the actions of Judas, He knew that His hour that was now here was not for Judas. He knew Judas did not and would not believe. He knew he was not and would not be redeemed. He knew His blood would not be shed for him and that he was not and would not be clean. (I John 4:19)
