The image of God in man…means that God made human beings, both male and female, to be created and finite representations (images of God) of God’s own nature, that in relationship with Him and each other, they might be His representatives (imaging God) in carrying out the responsibilities He has given to them. In this sense, we are images of God in order to image God and His purposes in the ordering of our lives and carrying out of our God-given responsibilities.
Bruce Ware

Election

Election

ELECTION …..

. Well, what of ELECTION where God, in His sovereign will, has chosen certain people and certain groups of people to receive His Grace and Mercy. God chose Abraham as an individual and Israel as an entire nation. Look at the major aspect of ELECTION – it is not by any virtue or quality of the chosen, but exclusively through the Will of God.

. Coupled with ELECTION is PREDESTINATION. Predestination indicates that God’s purpose for the believer – that we become CHRISTLIKE is CERTAIN to be fulfilled. READ Romans 8:29,30 Foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification & glorification are all parts of the one “package” of SALVATION. If we have one – we have them ALL!

READ John 6:44 – Predestination is exclusive of any merits we might have and is totally through God’s sovereign will. READ Romans 9:23 – “He selects” does NOT show discrimination! Keep in mind that we are ALL sinners and GOD has EVERY RIGHT to treat His rebellious creations in the manner that HE pleases.

. WE SHOULD NOT BE SO AMAZED THAT GOD WITHHOLDS MERCY FROM SOME – WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL AND AMAZED THAT HE SHOULD SHOW GRACE AND MERCY TO ANY!!!!

. The purpose that the Bible teaches us about ELECTION and PREDESTINATION is to show that SALVATION is ALL from God and cannot be won, or earned or received by any action or doing on our part. SALVATION is GIVEN! By showing an ELECTION before the world began, God shows and tells us, graphically, that our SALVATION is ETERNAL and CERTAIN (Secure).

. A skeptic says, “If I am elected then I’ll get into Heaven, anyway – if I’m not elected then there’s no use trying!”. God ELECTED, and ONLY GOD knows WHO is elected. Until we come into His Kingdom, we do NOT KNOW if we are among the chosen – But I do know that NO ONE in HELL will ever be able to say, “I wanted to be saved, but my name was on the wrong list!”. FOREKNOWLEDGE IS NOT FOREORDINATION OR FORE-ELECTION….