WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.280 Sweet. So guys, thank you so much for having me in. It is an absolute gift to be here. 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:13.839 I've never been to Boston, and now I have. And so, hold on, Boston in the fall, so I can't sing that. 00:00:13.900 --> 00:00:16.600 I don't know if you guys are aware of the VeggieTales song, The Pirates Don't Do Anything. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:21.400 I can no longer sing that song in good conscience because now I have been to Boston in the fall. 00:00:22.859 --> 00:00:27.500 But I'm so excited to dive in to the book of Ephesians with you guys this morning. 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:31.140 Actually, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to switch this stand. Is that okay? 00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:35.380 Sorry, musicians. I know that's the absolute worst. But there's things here that'll work the sliding. 00:00:35.659 --> 00:00:41.679 I'll just grab this one right here. Sorry, violinist. 00:00:43.980 --> 00:00:45.980 If I remember while I'm praying, I'll switch it back for you. 00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:51.900 But yeah, you guys can go ahead and turn to the book of Ephesians. We'll be in Ephesians chapter 1. 00:00:52.700 --> 00:00:57.299 And it was so sweet seeing you guys come into the retreat this evening. 00:00:57.500 --> 00:01:05.079 And, you know, me with seven kids, I do particularly love when the kids greet each other with joyful squeals. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:08.599 You guys are building something very beautiful here. 00:01:08.780 --> 00:01:10.719 And I think these kids are going to remember it for a long time. 00:01:10.739 --> 00:01:11.980 And I pray that you guys will as well. 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:17.780 The title of my sermon this evening is All We Have in Christ. 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:22.579 It'll be Ephesians chapter 1, verses 1 through 14. 00:01:22.579 --> 00:01:26.939 I'm going to read the text, pray, and then we'll get after it. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:32.319 This is God's holy and authoritative word. 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:41.639 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. 00:01:42.419 --> 00:01:46.479 To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:01:47.179 --> 00:01:52.119 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:52.120 --> 00:02:02.380 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. 00:02:02.379 --> 00:02:07.579 Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. 00:02:07.579 --> 00:02:11.900 That we should be holy and blameless before him. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:19.539 In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ. 00:02:19.539 --> 00:02:27.319 According to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace with which he has blessed us in the beloved. 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:31.159 In him, we have redemption through his blood. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:37.840 The forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us. 00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:42.479 In all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:48.340 According to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time. 00:02:49.159 --> 00:02:53.560 To unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:57.080 In him, we have obtained an inheritance. 00:02:57.379 --> 00:03:03.039 Having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. 00:03:03.259 --> 00:03:08.680 So that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 00:03:09.539 --> 00:03:16.379 In him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and believed in him, 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:18.740 were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:26.760 Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory. 00:03:27.820 --> 00:03:33.159 Oh Lord, so many truths in your word. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:43.040 I pray that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can serve your beloved people this evening. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:45.939 God, it doesn't matter what's written on this manuscript. 00:03:46.019 --> 00:03:50.280 It doesn't matter what's happening on the other side of this pulpit unless you breathe on it. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:51.539 Nothing happens. 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:53.879 So God, would you fill me with a fire? 00:03:54.099 --> 00:04:01.819 Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may preach your word with joy and liberty and passion and clarity and power. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:06.399 So that we walk away this evening with a greater view of Christ. 00:04:06.459 --> 00:04:08.019 With a greater view of your church. 00:04:08.019 --> 00:04:11.639 With a greater affection for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:14.799 And here's the thing that's beautiful, God. 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:17.139 I know that you love to build your church. 00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:20.620 And I know that you love to do that through the preaching of your word. 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:25.639 So I simply get to be here and see you do what you do. 00:04:26.459 --> 00:04:29.159 So Lord, build us this morning, this evening. 00:04:30.180 --> 00:04:31.120 Give us grace. 00:04:31.579 --> 00:04:32.680 Give us ears to hear. 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:37.180 Transform us for your glory and for our good. 00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:38.939 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:04:39.620 --> 00:04:40.060 Amen. 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:40.459 Amen. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:43.459 One thing I forgot to mention before I started. 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:51.019 As a chocolate preacher, there are a few things that happen during the sermon, right? 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:52.340 I'm probably going to get excited. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:54.360 I'm probably going to get very sweaty up here. 00:04:54.579 --> 00:04:59.000 And what I need from you guys, I need to know that you guys are with me. 00:04:59.579 --> 00:04:59.800 All right. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:01.000 Now, I heard y'all singing. 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:03.060 So I know you love theology. 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:05.199 I know you love Christ our King. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:10.319 And so what needs to happen is when I say something that makes you want to shout just a little bit, 00:05:10.579 --> 00:05:13.479 I am simply giving you guys permission to agree with me with an amen. 00:05:13.719 --> 00:05:15.939 So before we begin, we're actually going to practice. 00:05:16.099 --> 00:05:20.519 I'm going to say something and you guys are going to respond with a hearty amen. 00:05:21.039 --> 00:05:21.319 All right. 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:27.180 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:05:27.699 --> 00:05:28.259 Amen. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.980 The gospel can save all sinners. 00:05:32.540 --> 00:05:32.980 Amen. 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:38.019 Jesus Christ has transformed my life and I am dedicated to living for him. 00:05:38.219 --> 00:05:38.560 Amen. 00:05:38.779 --> 00:05:39.159 Okay. 00:05:39.219 --> 00:05:39.899 You guys are ready. 00:05:40.100 --> 00:05:40.459 Perfect. 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:41.579 Wonderful. 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:42.800 Here's the reality. 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:45.219 Our identity matters. 00:05:45.220 --> 00:05:52.060 And oftentimes the object of our affection transforms how we see ourselves. 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:57.900 So I have seven kids and a family at our church graciously allowed us to stay at their like little 00:05:57.900 --> 00:06:01.580 beach house in, what's it called? 00:06:02.200 --> 00:06:03.220 Cape May, in Cape May. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:05.380 And in Cape May, it's a wonderful beach town. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:09.600 But one of my favorite things there is that they have a peanut butter store. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:11.300 That's right. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:14.640 It is a store completely dedicated to the glory of peanut butter. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:17.539 You walk in and wall to wall, there's all different kinds of peanut butter. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:21.899 Butterscotch, peanut butter, chocolate, peanut butter, hazelnut, peanut butter, coffee, peanut 00:06:21.899 --> 00:06:22.139 butter. 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:24.680 And they give you samples as if it's an ice cream store. 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:26.740 So you're just lugging up this, all this peanut butter. 00:06:26.819 --> 00:06:27.199 It's glorious. 00:06:27.419 --> 00:06:31.079 Now, the problem is we have a wonderful friend who we call Auntie Miss Ruth. 00:06:31.159 --> 00:06:34.279 She's not actually family, but she's so much a part of our family. 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:35.300 We call her Auntie Miss Ruth. 00:06:35.779 --> 00:06:37.379 And my children love her dearly. 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:43.120 And Ruth is deadly, deathly aware, allergic to peanuts. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:46.660 It's like, if it's in the air, she's got to go. 00:06:47.160 --> 00:06:50.340 And so one of my daughters is like, well, dad, I can't go into this peanut butter store 00:06:50.340 --> 00:06:51.060 because I'm allergic. 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:52.660 And I'm like, what are you talking about? 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:53.680 You're not allergic. 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:56.899 But in her mind, she's saying, well, I love Auntie Miss Ruth. 00:06:56.939 --> 00:07:01.199 And therefore, I too am allergic to peanut butter because that's how she operates. 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:02.379 And we're like, no, no, no, no, no. 00:07:02.420 --> 00:07:03.340 You're completely fine. 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:03.959 Let's go into the store. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:04.480 She's like, no, no, no. 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:05.540 I can't go in the store. 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:06.840 Ruth can't do peanut butter. 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:07.780 I can't do peanut butter. 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:08.519 I love Ruth. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:09.340 She hates peanut butter. 00:07:09.420 --> 00:07:10.120 I hate peanut butter. 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.100 We're like, no, guys, this is not how this works. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:14.920 Eventually, we convinced her that she doesn't like peanut butter. 00:07:15.019 --> 00:07:15.439 She does. 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:17.959 And we went into the store and she ate all the peanut butter. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:18.840 It was fantastic. 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:20.980 But what's the point here? 00:07:21.019 --> 00:07:27.340 The point here is that the object of our affection completely transforms how we have to live our 00:07:27.340 --> 00:07:28.139 lives. 00:07:28.860 --> 00:07:33.199 For the people in the church of Ephesus, they could not live the same way that they used 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:36.079 to because they've been transformed by the power of the gospel. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:40.800 Their affections have been turned on for Jesus Christ, and therefore, they can no longer live 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:42.319 in the ways that they used to. 00:07:43.219 --> 00:07:47.259 St. Clair Ferguson asked the question, are your real roots in Christ? 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:53.599 When people look at us, they ought to think they belong somewhere else. 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:57.699 Ephesus was a huge metropolitan city. 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:02.060 It was a city that was full of pagans and witches and absolute evil. 00:08:02.539 --> 00:08:05.759 And the Christians here were those who were formerly pagans. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:08.300 They've been converted through the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:11.060 And now they're like, okay, I used to do witchcraft. 00:08:11.139 --> 00:08:12.060 I used to be a pagan. 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:13.839 And now you're telling me I'm a Christian. 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:14.839 How do I live? 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:15.879 It was that group. 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:20.759 And then another group of Jews who were saying, we've been traditionally part of God's people 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:21.579 from the beginning. 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:23.000 This is how we do things. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:27.759 And now you're telling me that I must live with these Gentiles, these former witches, 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:31.439 and we are supposed to be Christians together in this singular church. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:32.419 How does that work? 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:33.500 Because here's the thing. 00:08:33.819 --> 00:08:35.620 Ephesus did not like the Christians. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:40.240 They were in the middle of the city and they did not feel like the power of Christ was 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:41.200 pushing back evil. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:44.220 They felt like evil was taking over their church. 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:47.720 They did not feel like they were winning the battle against evil in Ephesus. 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:50.259 And so they're wondering, Paul, what do we do? 00:08:50.340 --> 00:08:51.279 How do we live? 00:08:51.460 --> 00:08:52.679 This is not working. 00:08:52.679 --> 00:08:59.919 And so Paul, in his wonderful pastoral wisdom, decides to encourage them by these things, 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:08.579 by telling them who they are in Jesus Christ, reminding them of their identity, and then telling 00:09:08.579 --> 00:09:10.459 them how to live together. 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:16.000 Paul solidifies their identity as saints, as Christians, as the beloved. 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:20.759 He decides to strengthen their souls with courage by reminding them of the blessings that they've 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:22.320 received from our triune God. 00:09:23.040 --> 00:09:28.420 You see, the infinite blessings from our union with Christ give us a new identity that is rooted 00:09:28.419 --> 00:09:33.759 in hope, that is lavish with joy, and is devoted to praise. 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:38.179 And we hear that and we say, and we can say yes and amen to these things. 00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:39.879 I totally agree with those. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:45.220 But our problem is that in our own lives, we often do not relate to God this way. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.279 We don't see ourselves as saints. 00:09:51.059 --> 00:09:54.439 We don't see ourselves as the beloved of Christ. 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:58.980 We can oftentimes think, especially when we weigh our sin against his holiness, we can think 00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:02.840 that God is simply just waiting to put the other foot down on us. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:09.100 But my hope for us this evening is that we would, with Paul, understand our true identity. 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:14.620 That when we would look at ourselves, we would recognize all the blessings that are for us 00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:15.899 in Christ. 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:19.779 That there would be a holy confidence in the finished work of Christ. 00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:25.120 That we would live on this side of heaven with the unshakable security of the promises of Christ 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:26.200 that are for us. 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:30.700 And that we would know, without a shadow of a doubt, that our God delights in us. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:34.740 Here's the main point for us this evening, and it is this. 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:36.840 Am I blocking the whole thing? 00:10:36.920 --> 00:10:37.060 No. 00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:37.320 Okay. 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:46.180 The blessings we receive in Christ transform our identity and ignite grateful praise to God. 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:52.840 The blessings we receive in Christ transform our identity and ignite grateful praise to God. 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:57.100 So what do these responses, what do these, what responses do these blessings ignite from us? 00:10:57.300 --> 00:11:00.800 We're going to look through the text and we're going to see three responses that are ignited in us 00:11:00.800 --> 00:11:03.280 in light of all that we have in Christ. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:05.759 So let's jump in to response number one. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:08.399 We praise him for our election. 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:09.519 Verses one through six. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:12.080 We praise him for our election. 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:13.860 Let me read verse one here. 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:25.320 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:32.019 Fair warning, every sentence in this chapter could be an entire sermon on its own. 00:11:32.060 --> 00:11:34.600 But let's look at this pretext for a second. 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:38.680 Paul's intro here is not simply a, hey guys, what's up? 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:39.399 This is who I am. 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:40.159 Let's get to talking. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:45.659 He is doing a lot of theology to help them understand who they are simply in his greeting. 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:49.060 Look at the specificity with which Paul describes himself. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:51.580 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:52.060 How? 00:11:52.300 --> 00:11:53.580 By the will of God. 00:11:53.580 --> 00:12:01.900 Now, if you remember Paul, Saul of Tarsus, his previous identity was a persecutor of the church. 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:09.200 Likely overlooking Stephen's martyrdom with joy and pleasure as those Christians were getting taken care of. 00:12:09.680 --> 00:12:10.740 And who was Paul now? 00:12:10.800 --> 00:12:14.180 He doesn't say Paul, formerly an accuser and persecutor of the church. 00:12:14.400 --> 00:12:17.960 He says Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. 00:12:18.040 --> 00:12:19.980 That's who he is by the will of God. 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:21.360 And then he says to who? 00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:29.159 To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:35.899 Friends, you are saints because of what Christ has done. 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:38.820 Not because of your performance. 00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:41.360 Not because of your diligence. 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:44.080 Not because of your right theology. 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:48.399 You are saints because Christ himself has been faithful. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:52.879 One prominent theme in the book of Ephesians is this theme of cosmic reconciliation. 00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:55.720 Things between us and God were not good. 00:12:56.459 --> 00:12:57.959 We were estranged from him. 00:12:58.059 --> 00:12:58.879 We hated him. 00:12:58.939 --> 00:13:00.639 We wanted nothing to do with him. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:06.480 And yet he saw our hatred towards him and he came towards us in love and said, you are mine. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:18.159 When I know the thoughts I've had against God and I think about the way he has rescued me, it's hard not to get affected because I know my sin. 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:21.480 I know my heart and God knows it even better. 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:25.220 And yet he still pursued us in love. 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:37.399 Verse 3, he says, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:39.000 Well, what is every spiritual blessing? 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:43.100 Every spiritual blessing is every spiritual blessing. 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:48.000 It is all the promises of God that are confirmed in Jesus Christ. 00:13:49.540 --> 00:13:53.940 That all the promises of God find their yes and amen in Jesus. 00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:56.300 The hope that we would hope to have. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:58.080 The redemption that we seek. 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:05.860 The forgiveness from our sins are all found from Jesus Christ. 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:08.399 I'll try not to do that too much for effect. 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:09.899 I did like it though. 00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:18.419 Friends, what we can experience is the lavishness of the grace of God. 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:22.539 Election. 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:27.559 He chose us before the foundation of the world. 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:29.340 Adoption. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:33.459 He doesn't save us and just leave us to the side and allows us to tag along. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:36.100 He brings us into his very own family. 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:36.860 Sanctification. 00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:39.419 He doesn't leave us where we are. 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:41.360 He sees us where we are. 00:14:41.439 --> 00:14:50.279 He loves us and sanctifies us and transforms us and then transforms us from one degree of glory to another. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.579 Holier and holier and holier. 00:14:52.699 --> 00:14:54.000 More and more into the image of the sun. 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:56.159 And grace. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:59.639 All of this is received as a free gift. 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:02.659 Every spiritual blessing is ours. 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:08.439 And so to my friend here who feels battered and beaten in their battle against sin. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:18.459 Who finds yourself unable to attain whatever level of purity or holiness against your flesh as you've tried to set a standard of that you can't attain to. 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:22.340 Before the foundation of the world. 00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:25.900 You were set apart to be blameless. 00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:48.100 And Ephesians 5 says that Christ is going to present you before the Father without any spot or blemish or wrinkle or any such thing. 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:56.680 Do we recognize what these spiritual blessings are in Christ? 00:15:58.680 --> 00:16:00.899 Can we comprehend the reality of that? 00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:06.340 All the sin that I have done will do and am doing right now. 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:09.439 Even in my desire to impress you guys. 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:12.019 It's wicked and it's sinful and I hate it. 00:16:12.659 --> 00:16:15.419 I want you guys to walk away and say, man, that JT can preach. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.899 And it's so... 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:23.480 Why would I want anything to blot out the beauty and the glory of Christ and his gospel? 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:53.480 It's evil. 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:55.340 Christ, not you. 00:16:57.220 --> 00:17:02.240 And yes, we strive and we fight for holiness because that's the type of life that the gospel calls us to. 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:05.480 And it is one of the ways that we express gratitude and praise to him. 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:07.640 But our security is not in our performance. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:11.480 It is in the spiritual blessings, which are ours in Christ Jesus. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.860 H.B. Charles Jr. says it like this. 00:17:13.860 --> 00:17:20.019 He says, I submit to you that every person who is united to Christ by faith is already richly blessed. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:24.279 Notice that this verse does not promise that God will bless us. 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:27.599 And it does not announce that God is in the process of blessing us right now. 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:31.139 It declares that God has already blessed us. 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:36.039 It is a done deal, a settled reality and an unimpeachable position. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:40.619 If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:45.500 you are sovereignly, abundantly, and eternally blessed. 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:53.180 And you were chosen to be blessed in this way before the foundation of the world. 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:55.440 Peter O'Brien helps us and he says this. 00:17:55.720 --> 00:18:03.299 To say that election took place before creation indicates that God's choice was due to his own free decision and love, 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:07.339 which were not dependent on circumstances or human merit. 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:13.619 The reasons for his election were rooted in the depths of his gracious, sovereign nature. 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:19.799 To affirm this is to give Christians the assurance that God's purposes for them are of the highest good. 00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:28.479 And the appropriate response from those who are chosen in Christ from all eternity is to praise him who has so richly blessed us. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:32.959 And these blessings have come to us all according to God's plan. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:43.700 It's not like there was some wild conspiracy where the son tricked the father or the father tricked the son into dying on the cross for our sins. 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.079 No, no, no. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:50.440 The only conspiracy that happened is the father, son, and Holy Spirit are deciding that out of an overflow of their love, 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:58.120 they would decide to concoct this beautiful and glorious plan that would take sinners and rebels like us and rescue us and bring us into the family. 00:18:58.119 --> 00:19:28.099 The father says, 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:32.879 We would fail in every single same way that Adam did. 00:19:32.939 --> 00:19:33.779 And he knew that. 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:36.119 So he sent the second Adam for us. 00:19:36.679 --> 00:19:45.339 And we received the benefits of this glorious grace that has been given to us simply out of an overflow of his love. 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:50.740 And that is what verse 5 tells us. 00:19:51.179 --> 00:20:00.519 In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glory. 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:03.200 We sing about this all the time. 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:05.480 This love is a love that we do not deserve. 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:07.759 Why should I gain from his reward? 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:09.099 I cannot give an answer. 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:20.139 And if we don't know this or understand this or recognize this, we will live with the sneaking suspicion that we'll be found out, right? 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:25.759 You'll think that your favor with God is dependent on how faithful you are. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:33.140 You will operate in a way in which love from God hinges on whether or not you do fill in the blank. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:38.299 Is there not something innate within us that just desires a little bit? 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.339 Not all of it. 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:42.460 We want Christ to do most of the work. 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:51.299 But part of us wants to say, I get up at 5 every day and I study my Bible and I pray. 00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:53.980 And that's what keeps me in the fold of God. 00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:56.579 We want just a little credit. 00:20:58.840 --> 00:21:02.380 Friends, if it was up to you, you would not make it. 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.660 You wouldn't make it. 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:10.180 It is not up to you to keep yourself in the fold of God. 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.519 And that's a gift. 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.380 It's a gift. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:18.579 He will keep you forever. 00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:24.440 So what do we do? 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.779 We do what Paul commands to him. 00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:29.279 We bless God. 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.559 We praise him. 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:34.539 We cultivate a gratitude for what God has done. 00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:38.059 You see, one thing that I love about our theology is that it helps us. 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:42.579 But we have to crash a little bit before we can exalt in joy. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:43.279 Right? 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:47.740 We cannot be rescued from something if we do not realize that we have a problem. 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.240 We have a problem. 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:53.899 We are perpetual sinners who do not care about God. 00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:56.040 We are selfish and self-centered. 00:21:56.040 --> 00:21:59.840 We give in to our lustful thoughts all the time. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:02.740 We desire things that ought not to be desired. 00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:09.460 We are harsh with our words and impatience and desire to be in control. 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:14.779 We think God should adjust a few things because I've got a pretty good idea of how this should work out. 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.559 None of that works, friends. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:23.659 What we need is a joyful surrender to the sovereignty of God. 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.700 And so we praise him. 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.879 We say, thank you, God. 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:31.419 We bless you, God, for the spiritual blessings. 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:33.039 Do you want deeper fellowship with him? 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:35.179 Do you want to build your relationship with God? 00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:40.879 Then acknowledge what he's done and worship and praise him for all the gifts that he has lavished upon you. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:47.760 We have to take hold of the promises of God. 00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:50.340 There's so many that are in this book. 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.820 We have to know this book. 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:53.400 We have to delight in this book. 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:57.280 Not so that we can say we did it, but so that we can hear from God himself. 00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:00.600 God speaks to you. 00:23:01.520 --> 00:23:02.480 Are you kidding me? 00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:09.760 The God who right now is holding the atoms that are holding this music stand together so they don't burst apart by the word of his power. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:12.599 That God speaks to us through his word. 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:15.680 And he listens to us. 00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:17.339 He hears our prayers. 00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:19.819 God is for me. 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:21.059 God listens to me. 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:24.059 He knows the number of hairs on my head. 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:24.740 Are you kidding me? 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.480 I can't even guess what that would be. 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.119 I got a lot of hair. 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:31.900 But he knows you and he loves you. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:35.200 Listen to Charles Spurgeon, the homie, Charles Spurgeon. 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:42.299 He says, whenever you read your Bible and see a great promise, do not hesitate to claim it. 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:46.299 He hath given us all spiritual blessings in Christ. 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:52.500 I'm afraid, says one, that I should be presuming if I took some of the promises. 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:57.299 He hath given us all spiritual blessings in Christ. 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:59.580 You are in your father's house. 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:01.299 You cannot steal. 00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:05.319 For your father says, help yourself to what you like. 00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:11.399 He has made over his whole estate of spiritual wealth to every believing child of his. 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:16.599 Therefore, take freely and you will by doing so glorify God. 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:21.139 He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.500 Response number two. 00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:26.379 Man, this is crazy. 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:29.120 We praise him for our redemption. 00:24:29.300 --> 00:24:30.360 Verses seven through ten. 00:24:32.020 --> 00:24:34.400 In him we have redemption through his blood. 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:39.000 The forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace, 00:24:39.260 --> 00:24:42.260 which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, 00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:45.640 making known to us the mystery of his will according to his purpose, 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:49.720 which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:54.900 to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:59.340 What is our redemption? 00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:03.460 Our redemption was costly. 00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:07.260 So the God that I was just screaming about earlier, 00:25:07.580 --> 00:25:11.440 who created all things and is sustaining all things and is over all things, 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:16.240 the one who was omniscient and all powerful, all knowing, omnipresent, 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:22.359 that God died for us. 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:26.240 The son, the eternal son, 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:33.460 clothed himself in weakness. 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:37.359 Our redemption was costly. 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:42.960 He clothed himself in weakness, driven by love. 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:45.480 Hebrews said that it was for the joy that was set before him, 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:47.019 that he adored the cross. 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:53.400 He wasn't some psycho who was thinking that it was going to be joyful to receive 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.700 all the wrath of the father. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:26:00.720 He wasn't excited to be crucified and mocked and murdered and hung naked on a tree. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:06.839 See, the joy that was before him was you and I on the other side of his resurrection, 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:09.680 being brought into the family of God. 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:14.960 And this is the only way that we could be saved. 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:21.700 And he did it and he did it with joy because he was driven by love and obedience to the father. 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:27.580 If we make light of or downplay the cost and significance of our redemption, 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:29.140 we will not be grateful. 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:32.600 I love being in a gospel centered church, 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:39.880 but one thing we have to make sure we do not do is get so used to the gospel that it stops affecting us. 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:45.420 Jesus died for us. 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:54.039 Jesus rose from the grave and he conquered death and he is reigning and ruling with the father right now. 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:56.960 And what that means is that we have an inheritance, right? 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.380 We've been adopted, right? 00:26:58.420 --> 00:27:02.340 So we're into this family and then there's an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us. 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.620 It is imperishable. 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:05.320 It is unfading and it is glorious. 00:27:05.320 --> 00:27:09.360 And it is going to be ours at the end because of what Christ has done. 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:13.440 Because as he hung on the cross, he declared it is finished. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:15.460 Not I hope this works. 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:19.080 Guys, he did it. 00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:20.920 You are saved. 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.440 You cannot be condemned. 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:25.500 You will wake up tomorrow no matter what happens tonight. 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:29.460 If you are in Christ, tomorrow you will wake up with this banner over your head. 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:32.400 No condemnation cannot be condemned. 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:35.279 Your sin cannot put Christ back in the grave. 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:39.140 It is a settled reality. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.519 Christ has done it. 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.600 This is our gospel. 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:45.879 We who hated him now love him in return. 00:27:46.219 --> 00:27:49.599 We who were identified as sinners are now identified as saints. 00:27:49.939 --> 00:27:59.859 We who were under the judgment of God waiting for righteous wrath to consume us are now lavished with his grace and a continual forgiveness that covers all of our sins. 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:02.819 So remember grace. 00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:07.939 Let it bolster your soul and speak to your life. 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:10.879 We have to preach this gospel to ourselves. 00:28:11.659 --> 00:28:13.119 Because here's the reality, right? 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:16.720 Like if we stop right now, we'd be like rah, rah, rah, go Jesus. 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:23.819 And then you go back to the real world and you get smacked in the face with suffering again. 00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:27.720 With fatigue and exhaustion and those co-workers. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:36.579 So we must preach the gospel to ourselves, meaning that we must recognize the reality of who we are and where we will end up because of what Jesus has done. 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:53.779 It means taking that cancer diagnosis or those physical ailments or that miscarriage or that broken friendship, failed relationship, a fall to pornography, a day filled with anxiety instead of trust. 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:59.859 Another moment of weakness and fatigue where you are harsh with your children or your wife or your roommate. 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:09.079 And you take those situations and you scream the glories of our redemptive gospel at it, declaring that it is finished. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:14.259 Our sins are many, but his mercy is more. 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:23.559 We must understand in these situations that we are saints and we are faithful and we are holy and we are blameless and are petty. 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:26.720 Little sins cannot overpower the grace of the gospel. 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:32.259 Now, Titus 2 tells us that grace that we receive from the gospel empowers us to fight for holiness. 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:34.259 So let's not get it twisted, right? 00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:37.480 It doesn't mean we just say, well, if there's grace, let me do what I want. 00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:38.359 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:41.859 That grace gives us strength to live holy lives. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:45.279 And when we fail at living those holy lives, that grace covers those sins. 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:49.039 The purpose of our redemption. 00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:52.359 He's made known to us the mystery of his will, which is set forth in Christ, 00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:57.019 which is to redeem and ransom and rescue and save those who reject him. 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:59.319 Reconciling all things to himself, right? 00:29:59.439 --> 00:30:01.519 Right now we are groaning with all creation. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:02.719 That's what Roman tells us. 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:04.639 Trees are like, man, why are we dying? 00:30:04.699 --> 00:30:05.419 This isn't right. 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:07.139 Get us back to the garden. 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:13.159 And one day all these things are going to be reconciled in the new heaven and the new earth. 00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.519 And it's going to be glorious. 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.240 It's going to be beautiful. 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:17.779 And that's what this redemption is leading us towards. 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:21.640 Peter O'Brien says that God's grace reflects his glory. 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:25.019 He decides to be glorified by being gracious. 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:30.859 You see, our union with Christ does not make us invulnerable to temptation. 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:34.700 And by the way, union with Christ, I'm just meaning that withness with Christ, right? 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:39.099 Anytime Paul says in Christ, in Christ, in Christ, which he says all the time in this letter, 00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:43.759 he's referencing that beautiful union that we have, that Christ's works are credited to us. 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:48.459 Can we just pause and just be amazed at that promise for a minute? 00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:51.099 We are united to Christ. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:56.119 When the Father looks at us, he's going to see the works of the Son. 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:07.339 As I have seven kids, parenting is so hard and it's so joyful at the same time. 00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:09.259 It is a confusing paradox. 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:14.639 And I am not a perfect father by any means. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:28.500 But I know that when God looks at my works in parenting, 00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:32.179 it will be covered by the profession of Jesus. 00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:42.019 When I'm finished, he's going to say, well done, good, faithful servant. 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.380 How is that possible? 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:46.000 It is possible because of our union with Christ. 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:48.980 He's done it. 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.799 And he did it perfectly. 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:59.339 So take whatever your current sin is that you're just like, I am botching this. 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.359 I am messing this up. 00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.740 I cannot get out of this. 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:03.059 Why does this keep happening? 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:10.099 Take the person and work of Jesus Christ and cover that. 00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:12.299 Because that's what the gospel does. 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:14.519 And here's the other thing, real quick. 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:21.319 We preach this gospel over and over again about the perfection that Christ brings to us, 00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:22.279 the forgiveness we have. 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:29.220 And then we like to act when we're in community groups or small groups as if things are going just fine. 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.059 We say, how are you doing, brother? 00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:33.980 It's like, man, I am blessed and highly favored is what a lot of people say. 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.039 How are things going? 00:32:36.139 --> 00:32:37.519 Father, going better than I deserve. 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:43.460 It's like, bro, you just screamed at your whole family and then ran out the door and you felt conviction. 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.740 You don't know what to do with that. 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:48.039 Bring your sin into the light. 00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:56.000 It doesn't make sense to preach this gospel of forgiveness where all your sins are covered and then cover your sin because you're ashamed of it. 00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.980 That's where sin grows. 00:32:58.220 --> 00:33:01.799 That's where sin delights to be is hidden and in the dark. 00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:06.039 But you get that in the light, then we get to put the gospel to work. 00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:08.759 It covers all of our sins. 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:14.160 And there's no like, listen, I'm talking about sexual sin. 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:16.879 I'm talking about lust of the eyes. 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:17.920 Right? 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:21.940 Sometimes some people are, I just hear this confession of people all the time and I'm glad they're confessing, 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.059 but they're like, what happened again? 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:26.859 I was up late on Instagram and I started scrolling and then all of a sudden I was looking at things I shouldn't be. 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:28.960 It's like, okay, tell that to people. 00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.420 Don't keep that hidden. 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.539 Don't dismiss that. 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:33.460 Get that into the light. 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:39.640 If you are struggling with doubts and you're saying, I don't know if I believe what is in here. 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:43.519 Get that in the light because you know what you're going to hear? 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:46.079 You're not going to hear people say, I have never had doubts. 00:33:48.840 --> 00:33:50.140 Read through the Psalms. 00:33:50.620 --> 00:33:52.819 David is like, God, I don't even know if you're there. 00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:54.440 Do you even hear me? 00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.900 Will you forget me forever? 00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.900 Bring it to the light. 00:33:58.900 --> 00:34:02.120 Because that's where sin goes to die. 00:34:03.280 --> 00:34:06.000 And that's where people will come around you and say, actually, me too. 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:09.099 Let me show you how God has walked me through this. 00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:12.400 Listen, our gospel is really good at what it does. 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:14.099 It's really good at saving sinners. 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:19.440 I promise you, if you put the gospel to the test against your sin, your sin will not win. 00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:22.880 Your community will not abandon you and say, none of that. 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.320 That makes no sense. 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:28.260 We preach that this gospel unites us and saves us. 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:30.079 So put it to work. 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:36.460 Real quick, H.P. Charles talks about real worship. 00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:40.260 He says, real worship is not about who you are, what you have, or how you feel. 00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:45.360 It's about who God is and what God has done for you through Jesus Christ. 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:51.860 So, when our worship begins to lapse, we really cannot blame the preacher, the music, or the atmosphere. 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:59.280 When you find it difficult to worship God, it only means that we have forgotten what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. 00:34:59.280 --> 00:35:06.580 If you consider the spiritual blessings that are yours in Christ, you can praise God no matter what. 00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:22.000 No matter what you are walking through in life, whether it is financial distress or a job loss or a marriage that seems to barely be holding on by a thread or when your sins are flagrant and public and humiliating, 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:29.900 or you simply feel like you're alone and this community does not have a place for you, does not want you or understand you, 00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:35.940 each of these problems are answered by a spiritual blessing that we have in Christ. 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:42.559 There is a comfort for you, an adjustment for your soul, something to cling to in the midst of it all. 00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:47.260 And the greatest one is that redemption that we have. 00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:50.900 In him, you have redemption. 00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:54.300 Response number three. 00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:59.200 This, by the way, this chapter is insane. 00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:05.280 It's just like, Paul could have stopped so long ago and we would have been able to praise God for eternity. 00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:07.340 And yet, he keeps on going. 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.840 There is actually more. 00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:10.940 Verses 11 through 14. 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:11.880 This is insane. 00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:22.059 In him, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 00:36:22.340 --> 00:36:27.260 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ, Jews, might be to the praise of his glory. 00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:31.340 In him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel, the Gentiles here, 00:36:31.340 --> 00:36:42.039 and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit who was the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory. 00:36:42.100 --> 00:36:46.400 Now, I got too excited in point number two when I talked a little bit about this, but let's keep on going. 00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:47.620 Here's the reality. 00:36:48.180 --> 00:36:54.240 Our future grace that is guaranteed from what Christ has done gives us hope for right now. 00:36:54.239 --> 00:37:03.359 That inheritance that I talked about gives us hope for today because that day is surely coming, and this day is surely coming to an end. 00:37:04.399 --> 00:37:04.859 All right? 00:37:04.919 --> 00:37:13.519 All of our suffering has an expiration date, and our joy and realizing our new life in the new heavens and new earth is coming. 00:37:13.759 --> 00:37:16.559 We are one day, one moment closer to heaven. 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.359 It's glorious. 00:37:18.939 --> 00:37:19.379 It's beautiful. 00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:24.559 I heard someone say once that this life right here is the closest the Christian will ever get to hell. 00:37:26.200 --> 00:37:26.800 That's it. 00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:28.160 This is the closest we'll ever get. 00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:34.579 And every moment we're getting closer and closer to that new glorious heavenly reality. 00:37:34.680 --> 00:37:43.720 John Piper says, when we look back to the death and resurrection of Christ, God shows us in the present the enormity of his love for us, 00:37:43.720 --> 00:37:48.260 and thus warrants all our confidence in future grace. 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:53.500 That hope that we hold on to allows us to praise him right now. 00:37:54.119 --> 00:37:54.180 Right? 00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:54.360 Right? 00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:56.680 Sometimes a lot of us just need to pause. 00:37:57.000 --> 00:38:02.059 Nothing in our society is helping us slow down and meditate on the truth of scripture and remember the promises of God. 00:38:02.140 --> 00:38:03.940 So we have to fight for these things. 00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:08.420 Slowing down never feels convenient, but it is an absolute necessity. 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:13.260 We have to recalibrate our hearts to remember what God has done. 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:15.019 It might be my favorite hymn. 00:38:15.340 --> 00:38:17.180 Come thou fount of every blessing. 00:38:17.619 --> 00:38:19.720 Tune my heart to sing thy grace. 00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:21.139 Why do you have to tune your heart? 00:38:21.220 --> 00:38:25.700 Because in the same way as you're beating up a guitar with a pick and you're strumming and strumming, 00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:30.639 it gets worn and tattered and torn and it starts to sing the song out of tune. 00:38:31.139 --> 00:38:32.919 It doesn't sound the way it's supposed to. 00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:40.480 And in that same way, our hearts must be adjusted through life to remind ourselves what we ought to be singing. 00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:44.139 We must sing his grace, but we must be reminded of these things. 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:48.759 So we pray, God, tune my heart to sing your grace. 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:56.500 You can always find a reason to rejoice, but it is warfare and you have to fight. 00:38:57.240 --> 00:39:03.040 John Piper has said that every morning, he says he wakes up and he feels like the devil is sitting on his face. 00:39:04.740 --> 00:39:06.480 He's like, well, it's time to go to war. 00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:13.160 The devil is after me and I need to reorient my mind and my heart to the promises of God that are found in Christ Jesus. 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:17.100 We have assurance. 00:39:17.099 --> 00:39:19.980 We have security of his love. 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:26.059 But it doesn't stop the reality of life smacking us in the face. 00:39:27.299 --> 00:39:28.639 John Piper again says this, he says, 00:39:28.719 --> 00:39:33.360 when something drops into your life that seems to threaten your future, remember this. 00:39:34.420 --> 00:39:37.039 The first shockwaves of the bomb are not sin. 00:39:37.739 --> 00:39:40.500 The real danger is yielding to them. 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:44.239 Giving in, putting up no spiritual fight. 00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:47.299 And the root of that surrender is unbelief. 00:39:47.419 --> 00:39:50.479 A failure to fight for faith in future grace. 00:39:50.799 --> 00:39:54.239 A failure to cherish all that God promises to be for us in Jesus. 00:39:54.959 --> 00:39:55.979 Now, hear it again. 00:39:56.979 --> 00:40:02.199 The first reaction to those, that text message you receive that drops your heart into your gut. 00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:08.339 That news that you never thought would come your way when it finally hits. 00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:13.719 Grief and sorrow are perfectly fine and good and godly to have. 00:40:13.719 --> 00:40:21.259 And then, at some point, we have to grab hold of the promises of God to steady us. 00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:24.119 Look at the pattern of so many of the laments in scripture. 00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:27.099 David is saying, how long, O Lord, will you forget me forever? 00:40:27.500 --> 00:40:28.739 But then I went to the sanctuary. 00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:30.739 I returned to the house of the Lord. 00:40:30.799 --> 00:40:33.959 I will praise you for as long as I live because you have always been my help. 00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:39.720 In Psalm 119, he says, I would have perished in my affliction were it not for your law. 00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:42.720 We have to look to what's coming. 00:40:42.820 --> 00:40:47.139 We have to be reminded of the promises that are for us in this word of truth. 00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:49.099 The gospel sustains us. 00:40:50.139 --> 00:40:53.599 We are kept and we are sealed by the promised Holy Spirit. 00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:56.019 HB is wonderfully helpful. 00:40:56.099 --> 00:41:00.559 He says, if you belong to Jesus Christ, you are richly blessed beyond measure. 00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:03.759 Now, I did not say that you will always feel blessed. 00:41:04.779 --> 00:41:11.420 The fact is that there will be times when you will feel abandoned, frustrated, hurt, neglected, and overwhelmed. 00:41:11.699 --> 00:41:12.980 Anything but blessed. 00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:22.239 But your changing feelings have absolutely no effect on the reality, prosperity, and security of your blessed position in Christ. 00:41:23.099 --> 00:41:27.320 And when you know this, friends, your life looks like one of perpetual gratitude. 00:41:27.320 --> 00:41:32.559 I'm not talking about plastering on a fake smile and saying everything is fine because the gospel is true. 00:41:32.760 --> 00:41:39.580 I'm saying that in the midst of sorrow and in the midst of suffering, there is a peace that surpasses understanding. 00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:43.160 But when that happens, you don't even know how it's happening. 00:41:44.860 --> 00:41:45.780 I had a friend. 00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:47.559 Her name is Linda Redrup. 00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:51.539 Alan, her husband, planted the church with Bill 40-some years ago. 00:41:51.539 --> 00:41:56.340 And Alan was dying of a very slow and severe cancer that was painful. 00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:01.079 And this giant man of God was wasting away to nothing. 00:42:02.519 --> 00:42:07.360 Linda was saying, I feel so bad because I can't help but simply be grateful. 00:42:08.519 --> 00:42:10.759 She's like, that's how Alan has trained us to think. 00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:13.239 Grateful for all the times that we've had together. 00:42:13.259 --> 00:42:14.579 You know what she did during that time? 00:42:14.840 --> 00:42:16.739 She read through Providence twice. 00:42:18.739 --> 00:42:20.340 The book was like 800-some pages. 00:42:20.340 --> 00:42:29.640 And when I went and visited Alan at his home in a hospital bed as he's actively dying, 00:42:30.519 --> 00:42:32.620 first he made fun of Jim Donahue for his big forehead. 00:42:34.680 --> 00:42:39.300 And then he went on to talk about how he's enjoying this new commentary on Genesis 00:42:39.300 --> 00:42:45.620 and how all of the beauty of the garden is going to be present in the new heavens and the new earth. 00:42:45.619 --> 00:42:48.099 And he was so excited to get there. 00:42:48.839 --> 00:42:51.559 Wheezing in between breaths because he can't even breathe. 00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:57.279 And in between wheezes, he's exalting Christ, glorifying God. 00:42:57.420 --> 00:42:58.460 How does that happen? 00:42:59.299 --> 00:43:01.319 You hold on to the promises of God. 00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:03.559 They're real. 00:43:04.500 --> 00:43:05.420 And they're for you. 00:43:05.480 --> 00:43:08.299 It is a peace that surpasses understanding. 00:43:08.300 --> 00:43:11.600 We have to look to what's coming. 00:43:12.920 --> 00:43:14.740 The spirit will not break his promise. 00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:16.880 We are going to be kept as we hope in Christ. 00:43:17.039 --> 00:43:19.180 And this results in praise. 00:43:19.280 --> 00:43:19.720 So what do we do? 00:43:19.760 --> 00:43:21.380 We study the Bible together. 00:43:21.519 --> 00:43:23.220 We confess our sins to one another. 00:43:23.300 --> 00:43:24.780 We confess our doubts and our fears. 00:43:24.840 --> 00:43:26.740 And we bring others in to our weakness. 00:43:26.860 --> 00:43:32.360 Because the beauty of all of this is that Paul just doesn't leave us with this wonderful theology. 00:43:32.360 --> 00:43:32.920 Right? 00:43:33.000 --> 00:43:36.340 The first three chapters, he hits heavy on this is who you are in Christ. 00:43:36.620 --> 00:43:37.780 This is what Christ has done. 00:43:38.079 --> 00:43:39.539 And then therefore, there's that beautiful term. 00:43:39.640 --> 00:43:42.360 It's like, therefore, live this way. 00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:44.420 And it points to the beauty of the church. 00:43:44.720 --> 00:43:46.840 God knew that we needed people. 00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:48.720 And so he gave us the church. 00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:51.579 It's always been a people for his own possession. 00:43:52.140 --> 00:43:53.740 Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 00:43:53.800 --> 00:43:55.519 Not because marriage is awesome, though it is. 00:43:55.599 --> 00:43:57.360 But because you need a people. 00:43:58.680 --> 00:43:59.599 You need a people. 00:43:59.660 --> 00:44:00.840 And God knew that. 00:44:00.840 --> 00:44:02.800 So he's given you one another. 00:44:04.100 --> 00:44:07.880 To love each other and remind each other of the truths that are here. 00:44:08.079 --> 00:44:12.059 So that when suffering comes, you can grab your suffering by the scruff of the neck. 00:44:12.180 --> 00:44:15.079 And point it at the promises of God that are in Christ. 00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:17.559 And the joy of our union with him. 00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:19.980 I'm finishing up here. 00:44:20.059 --> 00:44:22.320 All of the grace that we've received in Christ. 00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:23.740 And all that we are in Christ. 00:44:24.579 --> 00:44:27.260 Encapsulate all of these spiritual blessings that are for us. 00:44:27.680 --> 00:44:29.140 And so we praise him. 00:44:29.220 --> 00:44:30.240 We bless God. 00:44:30.239 --> 00:44:33.899 It is good to actively glorify him for the things that are in his word. 00:44:34.239 --> 00:44:36.799 And we're going to end with, again, the homie Charles Spurgeon. 00:44:36.919 --> 00:44:37.799 And he says this. 00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:40.279 This is our response to all that we have received. 00:44:40.279 --> 00:44:46.119 He says, sit in your seats and keep on blessing God from the first word of the sermon to the last. 00:44:46.119 --> 00:44:51.420 And then go on blessing God to the last hour of life and enter into heaven. 00:44:56.420 --> 00:44:58.059 Into the eternal glory. 00:44:58.900 --> 00:45:00.239 Still blessing God. 00:45:00.239 --> 00:45:05.359 It should be our life to bless him who gave us our life. 00:45:05.359 --> 00:45:10.219 It should be our delight to bless him who gave us all our delights. 00:45:10.219 --> 00:45:11.919 So says the text. 00:45:12.079 --> 00:45:14.059 And so let us do. 00:45:14.699 --> 00:45:18.419 Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:45:18.799 --> 00:45:19.799 Let's pray. 00:45:19.800 --> 00:45:24.620 Oh God, you are worthy to be praised. 00:45:25.620 --> 00:45:28.420 You are glorious and you are mighty. 00:45:28.420 --> 00:45:32.340 And you love us. 00:45:33.619 --> 00:45:38.559 You love us and you lavish your blessings and your grace upon us. 00:45:38.800 --> 00:45:40.920 In ways that we can't often comprehend. 00:45:41.039 --> 00:45:48.680 So Lord, by the power of your spirit, help us to comprehend with a fresh joy the blessings that we have received in Christ. 00:45:48.860 --> 00:45:53.519 We want to give the glory and the honor and the praise that is due to your name. 00:45:53.619 --> 00:45:56.420 You are owed praise because of who you are. 00:45:56.420 --> 00:46:01.579 So Lord, by the power of your spirit, help us to do that. 00:46:02.500 --> 00:46:05.960 May the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be pleasing to you. 00:46:06.420 --> 00:46:08.280 Oh Lord, our rock and our redeemer. 00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:09.659 Amen.