Jacob and Esau: A Look into God’s Election and Human Folly

16 Mar Jacob and Esau: A Look into God’s Election and Human Folly

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Preacher Huijun - 8 January 2015

Restoring A Gospelised Culture

All English Service

Christian living is not merely positional, i.e. God doesn’t give us the full gospel and Holy Spirit indwelling just to secure ourselves a place heaven. The grace and love of God is not a direct entrance ticket to heaven when we leave this world. Deeper than this, God’s grace and love are always with us even today, so that we can always meet God in all our situations, propelling us to increasingly abandon our old ways, thinking and nature and start living in the power of gospel at where we are and in all that we’re doing. Christian living is an ongoing self-gospelization process centering on the promise of God and unstoppable help of the Holy Spirit. As we resolve into living out Christ in all of our areas, the full gospel we root ourselves on will also create in us a heart of indebtedness to others, so much so that our hearts are also expanded by this full gospel, and evangelising to our family, closed friends, right to the people who’re different than us. Remnants have to start living in the gospel we’ve listened repeatedly. Before we seek to confirm Lord’s word, they’ll remain theoretical and vague. But as we confirm the Word until it becomes our values and heartbeat, we’ll start to think, decide and act in Christ, bringing a gospel culture around us. The Lord will surely fulfil His Great Commission through the gospel culture we have and through the mutual edification of His children.

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Which comes first in salvation? Did we first believe in Jesus thus we are saved? Or were we first elected by God thus we could be saved in the end? From the example of Jacob and Esau, it is clear that salvation first came from God rather than any human factor. But while God offers grace, let us not be foolish to miss out on His grace. Often, when we exaggerate our needs and feelings and pursue instant gratification, we fall into folly. But the word of God can make us wise for salvation. Thus, may we treasure the word of God and take it seriously, so that we can stay on the course of wisdom.

Verses to Read: <Genesis 25:21-34>

1. God’s election not dependent on human works.

1) Esau and Jacob both undeserving sinners.

  • Esau’s folly and sin did not make Jacob less sinful.
  • Though God does not approve of Jacob’s method, God can still use it to fulfill His plan.

2) Salvation is by God’s sovereign grace alone.

  • Divine grace not based on any human factor.
  • Receive assurance of salvation from “God-factor”.
  • Salvation starts from God, not us <Ep 1:4; Ro 10:14-15>.
  • God’s saving plan cannot be frustrated by human sin.

3) Yet, we cannot judge who is “Esau” or “Jacob”.

2. The folly of despising spiritual blessings.

* Birthright: Special status of firstborn >>> symbolizes the father’s strength >>> double share of inheritance

1) It was not merely a moment of folly for Esau, but he had always been foolish.

  • <Heb 12:16>: Esau was godless to sell his birthright.
  • <Gen 26:34-35> Esau married pagan women, bringing grief to his parents.

2) How can we avoid falling into folly?

(a) Beware of “exaggerated needs or feelings”.

(b) Beware of “instant gratification”.

  • Impatience = Folly

(c) Restore wisdom from the word of God.

  • Always choose to recall, believe and act by God’s truth first.
  • The word of God makes us wise for salvation <2 Ti 3:15>.

3. The struggle between people of God and those who are not.

  • <v23> “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided.” [ESV]
  • Spiritual VS Carnal; Holy Spirit VS Flesh
  • We need to live differently from the world.
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Preacher Hui Jun
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Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.

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