the election of grace – Saint Augustine

“This is ‘the election of grace’ (Romans 11:5), that is, the election by which men are chosen through the grace of God. This is, I say, the election of grace by which one advances beyond all good, human merits. If it is given for any outstanding merits, it is no longer a gratuitous, but is rendered as due (Rom. 4:3-5). For this reason, one cannot use the term ‘grace’ in its true sense when ‘the reward,’ as the same Apostle says ‘is not credited as favor but as something due’ (Romans 4:4).
For this reason, one cannot use the term ‘grace’ in its true sense when ‘the reward,’ as the same Apostle says, ‘is not credited as favor but as something due’ (Romans 4:4). But, if, in order to be true grace, that is, gratuitous, it finds nothing in man which would rightly claim it as his due – and this is clearly understood in that saying, “For nothing shalt thou save them’ (Isaiah 52:3) – surely it itself bestows merit & is not given according to merit…

For God calls his many predestined children to make them members of His predestined only Son, & not with that call by which those who did not wish to come to the wedding were called (Matthew 22:1-14), for with that call the Jews also were called, to whom Christ crucified is a scandal, & the Gentiles were called, for whom Christ crucified is foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:23). Rather, He calls the predestined by that call which the Apostle distinguished when he declared that he preached Christ, the Wisdom & the Power of God, to those who were called, Jews as well as Greeks (1 Corinthians 1:24). For he speaks thus: “But unto those who are called,” to show that those others were not called, for he knows that there is a special & certain call reserved for those who are called according to God’s purpose, “whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).
This is the calling which he means when he says, "Not of works, but of him who calls, was it said to her, 'The elder shall serve the younger’” (Romans 9:10-13). Did the Apostle say, ‘Not of works but of him who believes’? No, for he took this entirely away from man, so that he might give it all to God. Hence he said, "But of him who calls," not by any kind of call but by that call whereby one becomes a believer.”

– Saint Augustine

Ruin, redemption, & regeneration – C. H. Spurgeon

“I remember an old friend of mine once saying, "Ah! you preach the three R's, and God will always bless you." I said, "What are the three R's?" and he answered, "Ruin, redemption, and regeneration." They contain the sum and substance of divinity. R for ruin. We were all ruined in the fall; we were lost when Adam sinned, and we were all ruined by our own transgressions; we are all ruined by our own evil hearts, and our own wicked wills; and we all shall be ruined, unless grace saves us. Then there is a second R for redemption. We are ransomed by the blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish and without spot; we are rescued by his power; we are ransomed by his merits; we are redeemed by his strength. then there is R for regeneration. If we would be pardoned, we must also be regenerated; for no man can partake of redemption unless he is regenerate. Let him be as good as he pleases; let him serve God, as he imagines, as much as he likes; unless he is regenerate, and has a new heart, a new birth, he will still be in the first R, that is ruin. These things contain an epitome of the gospel.

I believe there is a better epitome in the five points of Calvinism;—Election according to the foreknowledge of God; the natural depravity and sinfulness of man; particular redemption by the blood of Christ; effectual calling by the power of the Spirit; and ultimate perseverance by the efforts of God's might. I think all those need to be believed, in order to salvation; but I should not like to write a creed like the Athanasian, beginning with "Whosoever shall be saved, before all things it is necessary that he should hold the Catholic faith, which faith is this,"—when I got so far, I should stop, because I should not know what to write. I hold the Catholic faith of the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible. It is not for me to draw up creeds; but I ask you to search the Scriptures, for this is the word of life.”

– C. H. Spurgeon

http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0015.htm

The Indwelling of Christ in our hearts - Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love…” - Ephesians 3:14-17

“Our hearts also need to be strengthened, because while we love ourselves, Christ will not come into our hearts…The ultimate battle in the Christian life is to get rid of self & self-love; & of ourselves we cannot do this. You drive it out as it were by one door of your house, but it soon returns by another, or through some window, or by the chimney. To get rid of self-love seems impossible. But Christ will not come into our hearts until there is room for Him. We cannot create love, we cannot ‘work it up’. Nothing is so foolish as to try to do so. Love is a gift of God through the Spirit; so we must pray that He will strengthen our hearts to receive this pure love, which is so strange to us as natural men & women...

Whenever you invite a guest to come to stay in your home you always begin to tidy up the house; you want the place to look nice, & at its best. It would be insulting to your guest not to do so. In so doing you are paying the guest a very subtle & delicate compliment. If you have some great personage coming to stay with you, you redouble your efforts; there is nothing you will not do. What we have been considering is the possibility of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, coming to dwell within us; not only to pay a visit, but to make His home within us. This needs preparation, but preparation beyond our natural capacity & capability. So we need to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, & as we thus become strengthened, we act, we get rid of the rubbish, we cleanse & purify ourselves, mortify the flesh, deliberately keep out things that we know are not compatible with Him, or which would grieve Him & offend Him. We do all we can, & we go on doing so. We plead with Him to come; we yearn for Him.

This is where faith comes in – ‘That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith’. We believe in the possibility, knowing that it can become an actuality…”

- Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Unsearchable Riches of Christ: Exposition of Ephesians 3