Beloved of God

You are here as saints, as the elect of God, as Christians, as believers. Now one of the central things that believers must do when they assemble to worship God is—believe.

This means that we are not to conduct exercises in abstract theological problems. We are not doing math; we are meeting with God. So we must exclude a particular kind of reasoning; we must banish the logic of unbelief. We reason that since some members of the covenant fall away, then why could we not be in that number? This abstract calculus of election is not how the doctrine is applied in the Bible. This is not how it works.

You are baptized, and therefore I am authorized to address you as the beloved of God. You are beloved of God. Now, do you believe that? If you do, it is great comfort, and you received this comfort through the instrument of faith. Now what if you refuse to believe that you are beloved of God? If this is what you do, you must take note of what is happening. The problem is your unbelief, and not the truth of the declaration.

We want to move from the theological problem to assurance (or lack of it). But we are called to move from faith to the erasure of any practical theological problem. There is a problem, to be sure, for all who do not believe. Unbelief always causes problems.

“You are the beloved of God.” This is not a sentence that invites you to investigate it, find out if it is true on independent grounds, and then trust in it on those other grounds. That is essential unbelief. That is the heart of unbelief.

Jesus Christ died for you; His mark is upon you; you are therefore the beloved of God. Only one thing is required of you. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. Today, if you hear his voice, believe what He says.

You are the beloved of God.