Reformed doctrine of predestination - Boettner - XV - Chapters 23 & 24

Required reading
Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example).  Read Chapter 23 (Salvation by grace) and 24 (Personal assurance that one is among the elect).

My summary
In Chapter 23 we are given a summary of salvation by grace.  Grace means 'the free and undeserved love or favor of God exercised toward the undeserving, toward sinners.'  Therefore grace is given at God's pleasure and is not earned by man.

In Chapter 24 we are given a summary of personal assurance.  Quoting from Warfield, Boettner shows us that assurance is based on holy living: 'It is idle to seek assurance of election outside of holiness of life.'  Yet we are unable to pronounce any living person, no matter how sinful, to be non-elect because they may still be brought to faith.  Also, Boettner notes that not every true Christian has personal assurance.

What grabbed me
Good point today about the attitude of the elect toward Jesus: 'Each person knows what his attitude toward Jesus is; and knowing this, he is able to judge whether or not he is saved. Let each one ask himself this question, What is my attitude toward Christ? Would I be glad for Him to appear and talk personally to me this moment? Would I welcome Him as my Friend, or would I shrink from meeting Him? Those who look forward with joy to the coming of Christ may know that they are saved.'

Do you want to know that you are saved?  What you think of Jesus will tell you whether you are saved.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 25 (Predestination in the physical world) and 26 (A comparison with the Mohammedan doctrine of predestination).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.