Newbigin: chosen to be sent

Friday, December 16, 2016
Meditation:
    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
    —1 Peter 2:9-10 (KJV)
Quotation:
    Wherever the missionary character of the doctrine of election is forgotten; wherever it is forgotten that we are chosen in order to be sent; wherever the minds of believers are concerned more to probe backwards from their election into the reasons for it in the secret counsel of God, than to press forward from their election to the purpose of it, ... that they should be Christ’s ambassadors and witnesses to the ends of the earth, wherever men think that the purpose of election is their own salvation rather than the salvation of the world: then God’s people have betrayed their trust.
    ... Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998), The Household of God, London, SCM Press, 1953, New York: Friendship Press, 1954, p. 111 (see the book)
    See also 1 Pet. 2:9; Ps. 22:30; 33:12; 73:11-17; Matt. 5:16; Eph. 1:14; 2:10; 6:19-20; 2 Tim. 1:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rev. 5:9-10
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, keep us faithful to Your purpose. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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