Continuing a series in Ephesians 1, the sermon turns to verses 3-6, focusing on the doctrine of unconditional election within Reformed theology. The preacher notes that the congregation, over recent weeks, has already surveyed verses 3-14 and the theme that every spiritual blessing believers receive comes to them "in Christ." Today's message narrows in on one clause in particular: God "chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him."

The sermon opens by naming the difficulty of this doctrine. Most Christians instinctively describe their faith as a straightforward response to hearing the gospel: Christ came, died, and rose, and "whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." That account is true as far as it goes, but the sermon argues there is a deeper layer behind it, illustrated by the image of two sides of one door. On the near side, facing the world, is the gospel call to repent and believe. Once a person walks through that door and turns around, the far side reads: "you could believe because I chose you before the foundation of the world." Election precedes and grounds response; it does not replace it. Ephesians 2 is invoked to explain why this order is necessary — those dead in sin cannot respond spiritually until God acts first, regenerating the heart through the Holy Spirit so that the sinner becomes "a new creation" able to believe.

The sermon then works through five reasons this doctrine, though difficult, is beautiful and important, and in doing so answers common objections (is God unfair? are we robots? why pray or evangelize if God has already chosen?).

First, election ascribes all praise and glory to God alone. Ephesians 1:6, 12, and 14 each return to the refrain that salvation exists "to the praise of his glorious grace." Because election is unconditional — unlike a political election, which weighs a candidate's merits — no one can boast. Ephesians 2:1-9 is read to stress that all were dead in sin and deserving wrath; grace, not human worthiness, is the sole ground of salvation.

Second, election secures the certainty of salvation. Romans 8:28-30 traces the "unbroken chain": foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified. Since God is the active agent at every link, no one truly chosen is ever lost. The preacher applies this pastorally, urging listeners to examine themselves not for sinless perfection but for genuine longing after God, repeated repentance, and growth — evidence of being among the elect, resting in the assurance that "there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Third, election comforts and strengthens sinners rather than crushing them. Through an extended illustration of missionary William Carey confronting a mafia boss steeped in gambling, drugs, and domestic violence, the sermon insists that no sin is too great for grace, since "the grace of God is greater than all our sin." Paul's own testimony as a former persecutor makes the same point: God saves the worst sinners to display the immensity of his mercy.

Fourth, far from making prayer pointless, election makes prayer essential, because God ordains the means as well as the ends. Since only God can perform spiritual "heart surgery" on those dead in sin, believers are driven to intercede — as Paul did for Israel in Romans 10 — trusting that God alone can soften a heart no human effort could change. The preacher shares his own decades of prayer for his unconverted father as a personal example.

Fifth, election undergirds evangelism and mission rather than undermining it, since God ordains the preaching of the gospel as the appointed means by which the elect are called. Christ's commissioning of Paul "to open their eyes" and the Great Commission of Matthew 28 show that human impossibility — like a camel through a needle's eye — becomes possible only through God's sovereign work, illustrated by missionary John Paton's account of encountering God's presence while hiding from those who sought his life in the New Hebrides. The sermon closes with a call to pray boldly for unconverted family and friends this Christmas season, trusting God's sovereign, gracious purpose to call his elect from every place.

Bible Verses Used

• Ephesians 1:3-6: The primary text; establishes that God chose believers in Christ before creation so that his glorious grace would be praised.

• Ephesians 1:12, 14: Reiterates that election exists "to the praise of his glory," reinforcing the sermon's first point.

• Ephesians 2:1-9: Shows humanity as spiritually dead and saved by grace alone, grounding unconditional election and excluding human boasting.

• Romans 8:28-30: Provides the "unbroken chain" (foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified) used to argue for the certainty of salvation.

• Romans 8:1: Cited to assure believers in Christ that no condemnation remains for the elect.

• Isaiah 48:9-11: Used to show God acts "for his own name's sake" and will not give his glory to another.

• Romans 11:36: Summarizes that all things are from, through, and to God, for his glory forever.

• Romans 10: Paul's prayer for Israel's salvation, used to argue election makes prayer crucial rather than pointless.

• John 11 (Lazarus): Illustrates that only God's command and power can bring spiritual life to the dead.

• Matthew 19 (the rich young ruler): The "camel through the eye of a needle" saying shows salvation is impossible with man but possible with God.

• Acts 26 (Paul's commissioning): Christ sends Paul to open blind eyes and turn people from darkness to light, tying election to the mission of evangelism.

• Matthew 28:18-20: The Great Commission, paired with the promise "I am with you," grounds the sermon's call to mission.