And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny  Himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 
Luke 9:23 

Recurrent Thought

What we think of ourselves determines our behavior. How we behave is our public display (profile). Therefore, ensure that your good thoughts become your good behavior

A Christ-devoted follower, also known as a disciple, is one who places their faith in Yahweh by appropriating the vicarious Finished Work of Jesus Christ and they expresses their allegiance to him by conducting themselves as God demands. They are defined by their persistent following of Jesus Christ through his teaching and practices. This life of following Christ teaching and practices is usually called the Christian Faith. Apostle Paul and his apostolic teams crisscrossed Asia Minor, Macedonia and Achaia and later wanted to go further out to Spain seeking to introduce thousands of people to this Faith. 

Background (Acts 17: 1-9; 18:5)

On his secondary apostolic Journey, having received the Macedonian Call, they entered Philippi preached there and hosted by Lydia. They were arrested after the Power Encounter experience with the fortune telling slave girl (Acts 16). Having been released from the Philippian Jail, Paul passed through two towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia but never settled there until they came to Thessalonica where they planted a church (Acts 17: 1-9). Just after they stayed for a few weeks they were accused of bringing confusion and termed as "Men who have turned the world upside down." Jason who had hosted them was threatened by rioters, and thus, Paul and Silas were sent out by night to Berea (Acts 17:10). The Apostolic Team had a good reception in Berea, but the Jews from Thessalonica came and agitated crowds against them, and the brothers sent Paul off to Athens leaving Silas and Timothy in Berea. After the ministry to the People of Athens, Paul went to Corinth, where he waited for his other team members Silas and Timothy. It seems Timothy went back to see the new Church plant, and as he joined Paul in Corinth, he gives him the report and status of the believers (1 Thess. 3).

Teaching on Election (Ch. 1:4)

It is a biblical teaching that God choses his Children in the whole world. It is very clear throughout the scriptures that God has authority on who belongs to him. However, at the same time there is a clear teaching that Human beings are given the free will to choose their destiny. These two thoughts have polarized the Theological discussion of previous centuries. What is very clear also is that the determinate will of God is, by His choice, tempered by this freedom of choice. See 1:6, they had to receive the Word to get connected to God; 1:9 they had to turn away from Idols to turn to God. God’s Foreknowledge is not causative or foreordination. Just because he knows you will fail, does not mean he cause you to fail (Follow the whole discussion at the end of the Bulletin.  

As Paul appreciates them and gives them some instructions on a few things, he gives some profile of a believer (I use only Ch. 1&2)

1. Devoted Christ-Followers are Imitators of Christ (1:6-7; 2:14)

   1. Deny Yourself: It is no longer about you and therefore follow him
   2. They imitate the faithful followers of Jesus: They imitate good models of faith 
   3. By imitating the Faithful followers of Jesus they imitate Jesus 
   4. What would Jesus Do (WWJD) was an attempt to make people consciously choose Christ in every decision we make.
2. Devoted  Christ-Followers are always Excited about the Word of God
   1. They received the God despite the threats and persecution 
   2. They received the word with the Joy of the joy of the Holy Spirit
   3. They receive the Word with Honor to God  (2:13)
   4. They increase in their competency of Scriptures
   5. They are senders of the Word and Faith to others (1:8)
3. Devoted Christ-Followers know they May suffer for Christ (1:6; 2:14)
   1. The Kingdom of Darkness fights the Kingdom of Light
   2. This hatred is expressed through many ways. 
   3. The hatred can come as culture wars; the hatred may come as intellectual fights
   4. The hatred can come as religious persecution ( 2:14)
   5. The hatred can from anyone including From Your own Country Men
   6. Christ Devoted Followers are willing to Carry their own cross
4. Devoted Christ-Followers Shift Life Allegiances (Ch.1:9)
   1. Turning to God from Idols: What are the Idols of Your Life?
   2. They turned and serve the true and Living God
   3. They shift allegiances from things that trapped them to serving the living God  
5. Devoted Christ-Followers Believe on the Uniqueness of Jesus (Ch.1:10)
   1. They believe He is the Son of God
   2. They believe He died was raised from the Dead
   3. They believe Jesus who died and went to heaven will come again
   4. They believer Jesus Delivers from the Wrath to come upon the whole world.
   5. They eagerly wait for Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

Conclusion

For us to be fully Devoted Followers of Christ: 
Deny Ourselves: It is about Jesus first
Take up Cross: Let him have authority over us as we yield to him
Follow Him: Let us imitate him and learn from him

The Election of the Saints

John Calvin attempted to explain the Sovereignty of God and how chooses people by using an acrostic of a TULIP flower. T-total depravity; U-unconditional election; L-limited atonement; and Pperseverance of the saints.  In Calvin’s thought, human salvation is totally the work of God. The choice is God’s, His alone. 

Another Theologian known as Jacobus Arminius crafted an alternative view. In the Arminian thought, salvation is still the work of God, but an individual’s ability to choose is honored. Such being the case, depravity still honors choice, election is not arbitrary, atonement is not limited, and the perseverance of the saints not absolute. While the difference appears minor, the implications are profound.  Despite that the following does not have scriptures, you can however see the TUlLIP rendition with the alternative different views insert after each statement:

1. Total depravity (Original sin makes everyone corrupt and unable to know or obey God).  However a person has no ability to respond to God’s offer of salvation. 
   Alternative View: Indeed Scripture records humanity’s depravity but it invites individuals to respond to God’s offer of salvation.
2. Unconditional election: God alone chooses who will be saved. Sovereign God before the Creation chose (elected) some individuals to be saved without regard to a future decision to accept or reject salvation. 
   Alternative View: Scripture teaches the elect are those who accept God’s salvation.
3. Limited atonement (Christ died only for those destined to be saved, only for those who were unconditionally elected to salvation. 
   Alternative View: Scripture teaches that Christ died for the entire human race.
4. Irresistible Grace: If God chooses a person to be saved, he or she cannot resist it. The people elected cannot resist or reject salvation. 
   Alternative View: There is No basis in Scripture for we don’t know whether the ones in scripture who rejected God were indeed not chosen, for we are not sure what God has not revealed
5. Perseverance of the Saints: Those whom God chooses will always remain saved. Once saved, the elect will persevere to the end and enjoy eternal life. 
   Alternative View: Scripture teaches that believers can fall from grace. Heb. 6:4-6)

Conclusion 

1. Every true believer (one who is abiding in Christ) is eternally secure. 
2. Every nonbeliever (one who is not abiding in Christ) is eternally lost.

Can one believe and then not believe? Yes. Can one abide in Christ and then not abide in Christ? Yes. Can one be saved and then lost? Yes. Or, put more positively, all who abide in Christ are eternally secure. This is the message that is borne out in today’s text. The determinate will of God is, therefore, by His choice, tempered by this freedom of choice. God’s Foreknowledge is not causative or foreordination. Just because he knows you will fail, does not mean he causes you to fail. We know that Theology (belies) determine and influence our conduct, we should all avoid extremes that makes to live in Sin.