5/24/2026 HILL CITY CHURCH
Ephesians Salvation - Sovereignty/Responsibility
Pastor David Proffitt
God’s Sovereign Choice
Verse 4: “ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”
Verse 5: “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."
Pro Horizo, Limit in Advance, Mark by Boundaries
Verse 11: “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”
Looks like it is all Sovereignty: Psalms 115:3, 16
- Verse 3: “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases”
- Verse 16: “The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.”
Paul teaches that salvation comes from God, not human effort.
Protestant Reformation:
- John Wycliffe — translated the Bible into English
- Jan Hus — criticized corruption; executed
- Girolamo Savonarola — preacher executed in Florence, criticized corruption
- William Tyndale — translated the New Testament into English
- Martin Luther — associated with the 95 Theses
- Huldrych Zwingli — Swiss Reformation leader - handcopied NT, taught it
- John Knox — Scottish Reformation leader
- John Calvin — author of Institutes of the Christian Religion
Theme: Justification Through Faith
Habbakuk 2:4, Romans 3:28, Galatians 3:11
God is sovereign in salvation and man needs to believe in the gospel. BOTH truths exist
Question: Did God choose some people to be loved and receive salvation and others to be unloved and doomed?
TULIP
T - Total Depravity
- Bankrupt - every part of man (mind, will, emotions) is corrupted by sin
- Eph 2:5 - Calvin says this equals inaccessibility
U - Unconditional Election
- God chooses the elect - those who will be saved
- John 1:12, Acts 13:48
L - Limited Atonement
- Christ’s atonement limited to the elect
- 1 Tim 2:4-6, 1 Tim 4:10, Tit 2:11, Heb 2:9, 2 Pet 3:9
I - Irresistible Grace
- Can Grace be resisted? Acts 7:51
P - Perseverance of the Saints
- 1st Track: Security and Assurance by God John 10:27-29, Eph 1:13-14
- 2nd Track: 2 Corin 13:5
Concentrate on: Preservation of the Saints
Conclusion:
God chose, redeemed, sealed, and blessed believers in Christ for His glory
True believers are preserved by God’s power and demonstrate genuine faith through perseverance.
Not merely “perseverance,” but the preservation of the saints — God keeps His people secure.
Assurance rests in Christ, yet believers are called to examine themselves and continue faithfully.
Live from your heavenly position in Christ and walk worthy of your calling