Sermon Notes from 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6, "The Experience of Unconditional Election," by Tray Earnhart.

[The following notes were taken at the 10:45AM service this morning at Kosmosdale Baptist Church. The sermon is available to hear on-line HERE.]

I. Introduction: Truth

A. Objective Truth= “truth that exists outside of [the individual],” examples:

1. God exists;

2. The Bible is God’s Word;

3. Christ is the only Savior;

-> The gospel is true and Hell is a reality.

B. Subjective Truth= truth as experienced by the individual, examples:

1. Regeneration;

2. [Transition->] The Thessalonians’ experience of unconditional election in salvation.

-> Unconditional election should not only be presented as an objective truth, it should fill us with joy.

II. Two Powerful Experiences Re: Unconditional Election

A. The Powerful Preaching of the Word of God

1. “Our gospel” speaks to Paul’s personal experience with the objective gospel.

2. “Came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit” refers to the power of the Spirit demonstrated in the Thessalonians’ conversion.

3. “And with full conviction:” an entire change of heart, bringing peace of mind.

->Have you experienced this power?

B. Joy

1. “You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord,” And you became imitators of us and of the Lord,” We may imitate Paul, as he sought to imitate Jesus.

2. “[F]or you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,” Those outside of Christ have seasons of so-called joy (even intense joy), but their bedrock is affliction; those in Christ have seasons of affliction (even intense affliction), but their bedrock is joy.

-> Have you experienced this joy?