“Choices”

Pastor Cory Herthel

Midland SDA Church

October 26, 2013

Key Texts: Joshua 24:15; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (quote from Isaiah 49:8); John 15:13-16

SOP Reference: Desire of Ages, pg. 410.2

I. Our Choice (Joshua 24:15; 2 Cor. 6:1-2)

  A. Clearly no force is used (Joshua)

    1. People are given the opportunity to make their own decision

    2. God does not wish to force us into submission

    3. God recognizes the human condition and environment in these statements (where they’re from)

    4. Joshua stands as Israel’s (God’s People) example.

      a. We will serve the Lord

      b. An example for truth calls others to action

  B. Make no choice for vanity (Paul)

    1. Don’t receive God’s grace in vain

      a. Choose to receive it genuinely

      b. Don’t squander it (either live in it or apart from it)

    2. God is planning the ultimate day of salvation (quote from Isaiah)

      a. He saves us now from the power of sin when we choose to abide in Him

      b. He will ultimately save us from sin’s consequences when He returns

    3. Now is the acceptable time to make the choice that Joshua is calling for

    4. Choose the choice that Christ has laid up for us

II. His Choice (John 15:13-16)

  A. He gave His life (v. 13)

    1. His choice was to die that we might live

    2. This was His ultimate expression of love (this proves what we mean to Him)

  B. His Friends (v. 14)

    1. We don’t earn His friendship

    2. He freely gives it to us

      a. Our actions reflect this relationship

      b. Because of it, we are moved to “keep His commands”

  C. Choosing Us (v. 15-16)

    1. Jesus brings us up to His level

    2. He glorifies His Father through His work in us

    3. He chose us ultimately and that is the fulfillment of the gospel truth

      a. He had a plan to redeem us before the foundation of the world

      b. He came that through Him the world might be saved (John 3:16-17)

      c. He knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb

      d. Now we have the choice to either respond or reject

      e. Knowing that even some would respond made His choice worth it all to Him

SOP: Ever before Him He saw the result of His mission. His earthly life, so full of toil and self-sacrifice, was cheered by the prospect that He would not have all this travail for naught. By giving His life for the life of men, He would win back the world to its loyalty to God. Although the baptism of blood must first be received; although the sins of the world were to weigh upon His innocent soul; although the shadow of an unspeakable woe was upon Him; yet for the joy that was set before Him, He chose to endure the cross, and despised the shame.