1. God chooses certain individuals and predestinates them to eternal life. The ground of this choice is his own sovereign pleasure ; the end to which the elect are predestinated is conformity to Jesus Christ in his moral character, and in his sufferings and glory, v. 29.
2. Those who are thus chosen shall certainly be saved, v. 30.
3. The only evidence of election is effectual calling, that is, the pro- duction of holiness. And the only evidence of the genuineness of this call and the certainty of our perseverance, is a patient continuance in well doing, vs. 29, 30.
4. The love of God, and not human merit or power, is the proper ground of confidence. This love is infinitely great, as is manifested by the gift of God's own Son ; and it is unchangeable, as the apostle strongly asserts, vs. 31 — 39.
5. The gift of Christ is not the result of the mere general love of God to the human family, hut also of sjpecial love to his own people, v. 32.
6. Hope of pardon and eternal life should rest on the death, the resur- rection, universal dominion, and intercession of the Son of God, v. 34.
7. Trials and afflictions of every kind have been the portion of the people of God in all ages ; as they cannot destroy the love of Christ towards us, they ought not to shake our love towards him, v. 35.
8. The whole universe, with all that it contains, as far as it is good, is the friend and ally of the Christian; as far as it is evil, it is a more than conquered foe, vs. 35 — 39.
9. The love of God, infinite and unchangeable as it is, is manifested to sinners only through Jesus Christ our Lord, v. 39.