1. Predestination, Jim knew, is no longer a frightening doctrine of mystery when you understand that God makes his choice about you in the simple word of God, given from one sinner to another.
  2. Baptism is always valid because no unrighteousness or faithlessness on our part could ify God’s faithfulness.
  3. Predestination is a promising teaching as Paul teaches it in Romans 8. It’s promising when Christ and his work for us are held firmly in hand.
  4. Divine election is nothing other than God’s freedom and power to choose, and He has made His word the instrument by which He makes His choice about you.
  5. For Luther, Jesus does something much better for those who grieve than simply identify with them: He brings suffering and evil to an end in His own death.