Zion Primitive Baptist Church

by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 26, 2025)

As we move into the tenth chapter of Romans, Paul sets forth his zeal for his Jewish brethren to be “saved.” But the question we must always ask when we see the term “saved” is, “Saved from what?” Paul makes it clear in this passage, that the Jews he is concerned about already have a zeal “of God” – that is, a zeal that belongs to God but has been imputed to them in the new birth. These Jews under consideration are already born again! Thus, their eternal salvation is not in question here. Rather, the salvation Paul is concerned with is gospel salvation, a conditional time salvation that they had missed by refusing to embrace the gospel message. Join us today as we learn the answer to this question, “Saved from what?”

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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 19, 2025)

In yesterday’s sermon, we began to examine the second objection to the doctrine of election set forth by Paul in Romans 9. This objection – which I call the “absoluter objection” – argues that, since “God made me this way” (i.e., God has basically predestinated everyone to be what they are and do what they are doing), He would not be just or right to find fault with us. Of course, this argument fails because, first, God is God and can do whatsoever He pleases. But second, the argument fails because we do NOT believe in the absolute predestination of all things! God is not the cause of sin or our sinning, and we are NOT puppets being manipulated into the wicked acts that we commit. Join us today as Paul continues shooting down this objection, and then goes on to describe some timely applications of the doctrine of individual and personal election in our daily lives.

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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 19, 2025)

As we continue dealing with the objections to the doctrine of election set forth in Romans 9, we come to the second objection that is commonly raised. I call this objection the “Absoluter Objection,” because it goes something like this: “God, you made me a reprobate, so how can you still find fault with me and send me to hell?” The answer, of course, is that God is God and can do what He wants, and furthermore God is not the one who caused men to be sinners! Rather, the fault lies both with Adam and with ourselves. We are sinners by nature inherited from Adam, but we are also sinners by our own choice and practice. Join us today as we begin to deal with this “Absoluter Objection” to the doctrine of election.

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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 12, 2025)

In our study of the first objection to the doctrine of election, we come to a couple of verses that some propose to be a problem for those of us who believe in God’s sovereign grace. In Romans 9:17-18, Paul writes this about Pharaoh: “Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” Does this mean that God stirred up Pharaoh to act so wickedly? Did He cause Pharaoh to commit all those evil acts? The answer is a resounding “No,” as we will see in the sermon today. Join us as we finish up with our examination of the first objection to the doctrine of election, and deal with the so-called “problem” of Pharaoh.

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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 12, 2025)

Whenever the doctrine of election is discussed, some objections inevitably arise. Here in Romans 9, Paul anticipates a couple of these objections. We will deal with the first objection today, which is usually phrased somewhat like this: God just wouldn’t be right, or fair, if the doctrine of election is true. Paul phrases it this way: Is there unrighteousness with God? And he answers the objection, “God forbid!” Join us today as we learn how Paul dealt with this objection, and how we can still deal with it today.

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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 28, 2025)

In today’s sermon, we are actually combining a portion of a sermon preached on September 28, 2025, with a portion of a sermon preached on May 19, 2019. The reason for this is so that we can get a more complete exposition of what Primitive Baptists do NOT believe about the doctrine of election. Although we have partially dealt with some of these issues in our current exposition of Romans, we felt compelled to include this portion of a prior sermon in order to gain a more complete picture of these matters. Join us today for the conclusion of what we do NOT believe about God’s sovereign electing grace.

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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 28, 2025)

As we saw last time, the basis of God’s electing grace does not lie in the work or will of man. So what is the basis of election? In today’s sermon, we learn that God’s electing grace is rooted in His sovereign purpose, and is based upon His intimate foreknowledge of His people. Ultimately, He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world because of His eternal love for us. Join us today for the second half of this encouraging sermon.

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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 28, 2025)

As we continue examining the doctrine of election as set forth in Romans 9, we come to the basis for God’s electing grace. Why did He choose His people? What was the basis for His choice? Before we look at these questions, we must understand what election is NOT based upon. We will see that it is NOT based upon man’s will nor upon man’s works. Join us today as we begin looking at these foundational principles about the basis of election.

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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 14, 2025)

As we continue in our exposition of the Book of Romans, we have reached the point where we deal with what the doctrine of election actually teaches. We learn that God chose His people in Christ before the foundation of the world, and that His electing grace is not contingent upon any choice or actions on their part. And we learn that this doctrine is taught on almost every page of Scripture! Perhaps the best summation of the doctrine is found in Romans 9:15-16: “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.” Join us today as we look at the sweet and glorious doctrine of election.

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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 14, 2025)

In today’s sermon from our exposition of the Book of Romans, we begin discussing in earnest the doctrine of election. First of all, we deal with some “false explanations” of the doctrine. There are many such misunderstandings taught in the religious world. But we begin to see today what the TRUE explanation of election is. Join us as we start to explore this wondrous doctrine that teaches us about God’s sovereign grace.

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