The sermon presents election as a foundational Gospel doctrine: God chooses and loves His people according to sovereign covenant grace, even when they are in the furnace of affliction. Affliction is not itself proof of sonship, so assurance must rest on union with Christ and faith in Him. For believers, suffering purifies, conforms them to Christ, provides spiritual light, and cannot separate them from God’s love. The sermon ends with a strong warning about hell and an exclusive call to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Theological center: God’s sovereign electing and covenant love secures His people through suffering, using the furnace to sanctify them while salvation from wrath comes only through Christ.
Applications: Trust Christ, not suffering · Believe in Jesus for salvation · Test genuine sonship · Consider God’s covenant purposes
Primary texts: Isaiah 48:10 · Daniel 3:24-25 · 1 Corinthians 13:3
“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10 WHEN traveling through the country, you have often noticed that in different spots the old rocks peep out from under the soil, as if they would let us know what earth’s bones are made of and what are the solid foundations of this globe. So in searching through the Scriptures you will find here instruction, here admonition, here rebuke, and here comfort, but very frequently you will discover the old doctrines, like old rocks rising amid other matters. And when you least expect it, you will find election, redemption, justification, effectual calling, final perseverance, or covenant security introduced, just to let us see what the solid foundations of the Gospel are, and what are those deep and mysterious truths on which the ent…