Multitudes are perishing, being deceived by the strong delusion of Arminianism, free-willism, easy believism, and decisionism. God has sent "them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation" (2 Thess. 2:11-13). Yes, my friend, we also would be damned in false religion, had it not been for God's eternal election of us to salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. Had God left us to the choice of our sinful free-will, we would be eternally lost. This fact humbles us before God and inspires our hearts to sing his praise with David, saying, "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple" (Ps.65:4). Here are three reasons for which every believer should continually offer praise and thanksgiving to God.
Before the world was made the eternal God set his heart upon us. In his great love, God chose us and determined to save us by the substitutionary sacrifice of his own dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. We have been called by divine, irresistible grace.
At the time appointed God sent his Spirit to us, revealing Christ in the gospel, and gently, tenderly, effectually, irresistibly caused us to come to him in faith.
3. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of God's house.
We are satisfied now, and we shall be satisfied with all the goodness of God in eternal glory (Ps. 17:15).
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