CAMPAIGN AMERICA

Intro: This is an election year (2008). People will be deciding on who is in control of the government for the next four years. It is a privilege to vote and if you care about the country you will exercise the privilege. Meanwhile those who want to control the government are exercising their right to campaign. If you really care about the country you will get out there and campaign!

Campaign: An operation, energetically pursued, to accomplish a specific purpose.

God launched a campaign “…to bring all things in Heaven and on Earth under one Head, even Christ” (Eph 1:10)

We are involved in that campaign today and the campaign targets, not just America, but every continent, every country, every island, every place where there are living souls.

A. ELECTION is not a dirty word

For a long time religious people have been shy about the word “election” for two reasons.

1. It is all about politics and politics can bring out the worst in human nature.

2. In the past people like John Calvin have distorted the Biblical doctrine of election.

It is time to reclaim the genuine, beautiful concept of election, which comes from the Bible, and which existed long before there were Democrats or Republicans.

God ELECTED (decided) that there would be salvation for sinful mankind. Election is all about God’s sovereign will. Calvin and many others still today maintain that we should be comfortable with God deciding who is saved and who is not, because He is God and anyone who wants to honor Him must accept that He can do whatever He wants. Romans 9:10-15 points out that God had already decided between Jacob and Esau before they were born. Verse 11 calls that “Election” and Verse 15 has these words of God.

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

I cannot argue with God’s decision. There will be no recount in Heaven. God’s choice is about sheep and goats not donkeys and elephants. There is an election campaign going on in Heaven and on Earth and we will see the results on Judgment Day. There are some who seem to think that when Jesus is judging souls, as to whether they are a sheep or a goat, he will ask, “If there is anyone here who knows of any reason why this should not be so, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.” But there will be no discussion, or negotiation about God’s election.

Did you ever wonder what it would be like if God had elected to save everyone who does not obey the gospel, instead of everyone who does obey the gospel? What would Satan do to oppose God in such a world? Would he be desperately trying to get people to be good? It sounds funny and definitely does not sound right, but I have to accept that God could choose to do it any way He wanted to. I also have to accept that, because He is God, He does not have to tell me what He decides at all. Why does He go to so much trouble to get us to understand about His election? This is why I cannot accept that God chooses my fate for me. There is more to faith than simply accepting that He can do what He wants, although that fact has to be the basis of faith. However, God has told us what He wants and demands obedience so there must be some cooperation between His sovereign will and my obedience. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by God’s Word” (Rom 10:17). How astounding it is that God goes to so much trouble to tell us what He wants!

In Acts 13:48 when Paul is preaching in Pisidian Antioch, and the Gentiles receive message but the Jews reject it, we read this “…all who were appointed to eternal life believed.” This statement has caused many to accept the thinking of Calvin because it sounds like the decision is God’s and not ours. But look in Acts 13:46, two verses earlier, where Paul says of those who rejected the message “You…judge yourselves as unworthy of eternal life.” This sounds like we make the decision and not God. So, If you put the pieces of the puzzle together we have a complete picture that shows God has a part in our election and so do we. What we have to remember is that we only have a choice because God chose to give us a choice. That choice is whether we will follow His Son or not.

B If the election is decided why is there a campaign?

1. This sounds like cart-before-the-horse stuff. Like the fact that we are saved but we need to make sure we are saved.

2. God wants everyone to be saved. We are campaigning for others.

3. “Make disciples” that means campaigners, not just voters. We need to be doing some “electioneering”

C. The issues are primarily

1. Freedom John 8:31,32

2. Peace Eph 2:14

3. Hope Rom 5:1-5

Only Jesus can provide, only Jesus can comfort, only Jesus can keep His promise.

He is God’s Elect and if you are faithfully baptized into Him then you are among God’s Elect. Get busy with the campaign. Here is how God’s elect campaigns:

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Colossians 3:12-4:6

.