WEBVTT

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 I'm going to throw out the topic that we're talking about tonight.

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 A lot of you will have a lot of questions that come up,

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 and these are just two particularly really good resources, if you want.

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 This one's called What's So Great About the Doctrines of Grace.

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 It kind of covers a lot of the stuff we'll be talking about this semester, really.

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 This one is called Five Points of Calvinism.

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 It's about three different guys, but there's a lot of Scripture and other references,

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 and this one as well.

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 But in the future, these would just be good resources to pick up.

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 We can talk more about them later.

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 But let me see.

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 Okay.

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 I just want to pray again just really fast for the Lord just to help me tonight.

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 Father, I just want to confess that this wonderful truth is taught in Your Word

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 as both mind-boggling, heart-boggling.

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 And God, I pray that You would just help us to understand Your Word.

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 The Holy Spirit, You are the teacher.

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 And I pray that You would just teach us tonight.

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 You would stir affections in our hearts for the glory of Christ.

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 So we love You.

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 I just give You praise in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So a little intro here.

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 Last week, Kyle talked about how sin was the shattered image of God

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 and how we all were created to originally reflect the glory of God and who we were,

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 and we were supposed to walk with Him, have a relationship with Him,

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 and we were to be His image bearers.

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 But sin has caused us to forfeit our special standing with God,

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 and we no longer have that anymore.

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 So what was lost in Eden by Adam and Eve,

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 we see that God, even in the garden, began to make special effort, actions,

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 to show that He cared about them.

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 He put the coverings on them,

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 and He announced that one day that the seed of the woman would crush Satan's head,

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 which is like one of the first pictures of Christ who was to come.

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 So since then, since the fall, right,

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 since Eden, man has been a fugitive running from the glorious presence of God.

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 All of us are.

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 Why do we seek to hide all the nasty stuff that we do?

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 Why?

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 Why do we hate to talk about the holiness of God and about sin?

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 Because it says in John that God is light, but men love darkness, right?

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 Because their deeds are evil, and they won't come into the light.

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 So ever since Eden, man has been a fugitive running from the holy presence of God.

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 So the original intent was for man to live in the garden

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 and to be the image bearer of God,

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 to multiply and fill the earth.

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 To take care of his wife, Eve.

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 But we see that all that was destroyed by their disobedience

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 and their rebellion against God.

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 A tragic act.

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 A tragic act.

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 A heartbreaking act.

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 This affected every one of us in a million different ways.

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 So, this leads to a question we're going to start with tonight.

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 It leads to this question.

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 Did God not see the disaster that was coming in Eden?

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 Was he totally caught off guard by our sin?

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 And then God began to devise a plan of salvation in the garden?

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 Like, was it like, oops, oh my gosh, you didn't see this coming?

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 Now I have to fix this.

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 Was it like that?

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 Because a lot of people in the church do believe that that's how it was.

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 That God created man and man rebelled and disobeyed against God.

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 And therefore God began, like at that point, planning, putting forth a strategy to redeem man after the fall.

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 So, apparently it caught God off guard, right?

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 This way a lot of people would phrase this.

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 And there's a certain theological idea that floats around out there.

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 And a lot of people believe it, whether they know it's called this or not.

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 It's called open theism, which basically means that God doesn't sovereignly ordain all things,

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 but rather he leaves, like a lot of things, open to the decisions of creatures, of humans, etc., of Satan.

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 And he more or less reacts.

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 And one of the top prominent open theists out there named Greg Boyd, he said in his book,

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 the God of the possible always has a plan B and a plan C.

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 This isn't a testimony due to his exhaustive, definite foreknowledge.

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 In other words, he doesn't know everything.

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 It's a testimony to his unfathomable wisdom.

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 So, like God doesn't know what's going to happen, so when a disaster strikes,

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 the only way that good things are able to come out of it is because God is so wise, is what he's trying to say.

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 And he says that God has a definite, or he has a plan B and a plan C if things don't go right.

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 So, in other words, like Eden was plan A, we messed that up, and now he had to come up with a plan B.

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 And he's been doing that ever since.

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 But I just got to tell you, like, because I love you guys, such teaching is absolutely heretical.

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 It's not true at all.

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 It's not what the Bible teaches about God at all.

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 And I'm telling you this because bad teaching hurts people, and bad teaching dishonors God.

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 So, like, keep that in mind as we're talking about this.

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 God is against everything.

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 That goes against everything we know to be true about God himself.

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 If you've listened to some of the previous messages about the living God and about the person of Christ,

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 all this would sound like nonsense anyway.

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 But it's essential to Christian thinking to know that God is like a planning God.

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 Like, he is part of his nature.

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 It's in his very nature to be a planning God.

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 And we've talked about different things, about who God is, like his attributes.

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 Like, he's omnipotent.

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 He literally possesses all power.

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 He's omniscient that he has perfect knowledge, that he knows all things, past, present, and future.

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 We just know this about God because of what the rest of the Scripture says about God.

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 So, he's immutable.

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 He's unchanging.

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 He doesn't change at all.

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 That includes his plans.

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 Not just his character, but his plans.

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 And that he's sovereign.

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 He utterly rules over all things, everything.

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 And so, it's within the very nature for God to be a planning God.

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 Nothing sneaks up on him.

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 There's no such thing as oops in his language.

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 It doesn't happen.

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 And I'm going to just, I have just, I have six places for you to turn tonight.

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 But keep your hand in that because we're going to go back there.

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 But look at Isaiah 46 real quick.

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 Isaiah 46.

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 Go to verse 9.

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 And I want you to ask yourself this question.

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 Does this sound like a guy who doesn't know what's going on?

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 He's like lost control as we read this.

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 So, he's speaking here to Israel and trying to comfort them.

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 And he says in verse 9 of chapter 46,

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 Remember the former things of old.

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 For I am God and there is no other.

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 I am God and there is no one like me.

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 Declaring the end from the beginning.

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 And from ancient times things not yet done.

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 Saying, my counsel shall stand and I will accomplish all my purpose.

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 Does that sound like a guy who's making stuff up?

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 He's like, I have declared stuff from ancient times.

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 Things not yet done.

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 And saying, I will accomplish all my purpose.

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 Another verse.

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 There's tons.

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 But one is just Proverbs 19, 21.

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 You can write that down.

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 But it says this.

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 Many plans are in a man's heart.

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 But the Lord's.

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 Capital L-O-R-D.

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 Yahweh.

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 His decree.

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 His purpose will prevail.

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 So many of the plans that we have.

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 We think that we're ruling things.

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 But at the end of the day, the counsel of the Lord.

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 The counsel of Yahweh.

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 His purpose will stand.

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 So think about this though.

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 Even in the shadow of the cross.

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 Like in the darkest moments of Jesus' life.

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 He comforted himself by knowing that he was a part of the divine timetable.

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 Knowing that his God was a planning God.

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 But his father was a planning God.

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 And it comforted him to know that he was playing right into the sovereign plan of what God wanted.

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 There's phrases throughout the Gospels in John.

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 One's like, my hour has not yet come.

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 He says things like that.

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 And he also says, let's see, at the high priestly prayer in John 17.

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 He says, Father, now the hour has come.

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 Glorify your Son.

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 The Son may glorify you.

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 So even while Jesus was here, he was acting according to like the time God has set.

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 There's things that he even told his disciples to shut up about because it wasn't the right time.

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 And so he comforted himself knowing that he was a part of this divine plan that God was bringing about.

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 So if Jesus found comfort in this, we definitely should.

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 So I have like three main points tonight.

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 And under one of these, there's a lot of sub points.

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 But the first one is God's sovereign plan to send Christ.

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 Okay?

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 God's sovereign plan to send Christ.

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 That's the first one.

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 And flip back over to Acts again.

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 Acts 4.

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 Acts 4.

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 So this is a testimony of Peter and John after they were tried in front of the Sanhedrin.

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 And the gathering of like the Jewish religious leaders.

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 And they were told basically like, quit talking about Jesus.

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 Shut your mouth about Jesus.

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 We're tired of you causing all this fuss.

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 And so, but they were eventually released and just told not to do it anymore.

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 But Peter and John were not discouraged.

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 But they were rather emboldened to keep preaching Christ because of the sovereignty of God.

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 That's what we're going to look at.

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 Okay, verse 24.

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 It says,

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 When they heard this, they lifted their voices together to God, saying,

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 Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea and everything in them,

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 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

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 why do the Gentiles rage in the people's plot in vain?

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 The kings of the earth set themselves up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed.

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 That would be Jesus.

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 It says,

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 For truly in this city, Jerusalem, they were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus,

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 whom you appointed, both Herod, Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

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 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

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 See that?

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 Not, so, according to this, Christ was ordained, pre-planned, to come before the foundation of the world.

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 See that?

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 And I'll kind of hit some more on that.

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 So, the fact that these guys, Peter and John, the other disciples, knew that God, or that he was the sovereign Lord over creation.

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 You see that?

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 He created the heavens and the earth.

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 He was sovereign over history.

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 He was over the redemptive stuff that was going on in the nation of Israel.

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 That comforted them and strengthened them to keep preaching Christ.

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 And they quoted David in Psalm 2.

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 That's where this comes from.

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 It's a Messianic psalm about Christ.

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 And they basically were saying that, like, all the powers of the world are going to try to thwart the coming of the Messiah,

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 but they're utterly going to fail.

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 Like, it actually says in that same psalm that God laughs at them.

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 He laughs at their plan to try to thwart the coming of his anointed, Jesus.

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 So, awesome.

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 Awesome picture.

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 Christ would succeed.

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 And so, the cross is not plan B.

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 It's plan A.

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 And while you're in Acts, just flip over, flip back two chapters, excuse me, to Acts 2, verse 22.

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 I'm just going to show you this again.

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 So, after the disaster in Eden, God did not begin devising a plan to save man.

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 This plan happened before the foundation of the world.

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 God was not like, darn, I messed up.

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 What can I do?

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 Oh, I know what I can do.

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 I can send Jesus to be the Savior.

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 Jesus, are you cool with that?

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 I'm cool with that.

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 No.

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 No.

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 Not according to the Scripture.

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 Sending Christ was plan A.

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 And so, we're going to read right here.

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 Verse 22, sorry.

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 My notes are a little jumbled tonight.

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 I'm having a harder time.

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 It says,

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 Men of Israel, hear these words.

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 Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.

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 This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.

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 You crucified him and killed him by the hands of lawless men.

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 And she did it.

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 Like that's saying the same thing.

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 Now, I don't really know why.

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 Maybe John or Kyle might be able to answer this better for you.

00:14:35.419 --> 00:14:43.939
 But I don't really know why, like, our English translations use the word foreknowledge or foreknowledge or fore...

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 Yeah, it's kind of just a...

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 Because really, the word is...

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 You can go and look at it if you want.

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 But the word really is like foreordained.

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 And it doesn't mean that God looked ahead and observed ahead.

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 And based on that, he decided to do something.

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 It doesn't mean foresight.

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 Right?

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 The word is like a keen awareness of what God is going to do.

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 Like he had a plan.

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 Foreknowledge in biblical terms means that God has planned before, not that he observed before.

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 And Christ was foreordained or predetermined to come before the foundation of the world to be the sacrifice for our sins.

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 This is what the word means.

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 It's not like God's making this up and he just knew what was going to happen and therefore he planned.

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 It was... Christ was ordained to come before the foundation of the world.

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 And if you look at this, it's really, really crazy.

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 It says, verse 23, the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.

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 Alright, so there's God's sovereign plan.

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 You see that?

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 Then the next part, you crucified him and killed him by the hands of lawless men.

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:54.679
 So there's the evil actions of men.

00:15:54.679 --> 00:16:07.179
 And what's cool about the sovereignty of God or the providence of God is what we see is that even the evil actions of men and of Satan play right into what God wants.

00:16:07.319 --> 00:16:07.879
 Every time.

00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:09.899
 It's not... and it's plan A.

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:12.500
 It's like what God had predetermined would happen.

00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:18.459
 So even these evil actions of men and of Satan played right into what God wanted.

00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:20.599
 That's how it works.

00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:26.680
 So that's the first one is that God's sovereign plan to send Christ.

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:27.639
 Okay?

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:31.220
 Some of you may be on board at this point.

00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:35.820
 We're going to go a step further and I hope you're able to follow.

00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:49.420
 But secondly, the second point for the night is that God's sovereign plan to graciously choose a people for salvation.

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:53.020
 To graciously choose a people for salvation.

00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:54.540
 Okay?

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:56.180
 So, alright.

00:16:56.280 --> 00:16:57.640
 Now the question marks are popping up.

00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.400
 I can see them in your mind.

00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:59.540
 It's like, what is going on?

00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:06.240
 So this is what we call the doctrine of election.

00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:16.759
 And not only do we see that Christ was ordained to come, but we also see that our very salvation was ordained, was planned by God himself.

00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:18.319
 And that he chose us for that.

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:28.740
 So, it's, the word that's used a lot in the New Testament, the word elect, it basically means electos.

00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:31.659
 It means like to select out of or to choose out of a group.

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:39.639
 And the elect are chosen simply by God's good pleasure.

00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:44.340
 And just a definition that I wrote down, it was really good, it says,

00:17:45.020 --> 00:17:52.560
 Election is an act of God, the Father, before creation, in which he chooses some people to be saved,

00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:59.920
 not on account of any foreseen merit or faith, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.

00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:01.300
 Okay?

00:18:02.120 --> 00:18:03.720
 That's a clear definition.

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:11.539
 So, it's a doctrine that's meant to kind of give us incredible assurance and joy.

00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:14.079
 And so just follow me on this.

00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:14.559
 Okay?

00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:19.680
 Today, like election, I believe, next to maybe one or two other things,

00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:26.000
 is probably one of the biggest misunderstood and mistaught doctrines in the whole church.

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:33.400
 So much so that, like a lot of seminaries and a lot of certain Bible colleges,

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:35.420
 like make it their job to, like, try to attack it.

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.319
 And they don't even talk about anything else but just that.

00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:42.660
 But it must be explained very carefully.

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.839
 That's why I'm praying for the Holy Spirit just to work.

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:48.539
 Or it can have a bad effect if it's not taught clearly.

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.700
 I've heard guys totally misrepresent what this was.

00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.720
 I'm like, no, that's not.

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.759
 That's not what it is.

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:58.640
 But just maybe to, like, put your mind to ease a little bit,

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:04.619
 not to, like, give credit to anything, but, like, this isn't a new idea.

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:06.779
 It's not an unbiblical idea.

00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:09.980
 It's not like something that was created in the past 20, 30 years.

00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:13.619
 It's been something that's been taught throughout the centuries of the church

00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:15.180
 from the very beginning.

00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:16.299
 Okay?

00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:21.180
 And by the Orthodox, conservative, evangelical church has been taught.

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:24.720
 And I'm just going to use some alibis, okay?

00:19:25.340 --> 00:19:29.019
 So I'm going to tell you just, like, certain men throughout church history

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:32.140
 who have believed and taught these things so that you're not,

00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:34.660
 oh, my gosh, you know, we're just making this up.

00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:39.860
 But St. Augustine in the 4th century, he taught this.

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:47.000
 Martin Luther, John Calvin, William Tyndale, who was the first guy to translate,

00:19:47.639 --> 00:19:51.019
 well, kind of like, one of the first guys to translate the Bible into English

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:52.740
 and was killed for it.

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:57.459
 John Bunyan, who wrote Pilgrim's Progress.

00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:59.119
 You've heard of that.

00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:00.739
 Jonathan Edwards.

00:20:01.939 --> 00:20:04.359
 John Newton, who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace.

00:20:06.379 --> 00:20:09.219
 Charles Spurgeon, who's known as the Prince of Preachers.

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:12.719
 He's a big Baptist guy back in the 1800s.

00:20:13.179 --> 00:20:15.059
 And then just some more modern-day guys.

00:20:15.959 --> 00:20:16.819
 John Piper.

00:20:17.719 --> 00:20:18.500
 John MacArthur.

00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:20.339
 C.J. Mahaney.

00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.119
 Matt Chandler.

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.199
 David Platt.

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:27.340
 And just a few bands that you might listen to their music.

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.259
 Jars of Clay.

00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.700
 Cayman's Call.

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.660
 Keith and Christy Getty.

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.160
 Derek Webb.

00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.340
 Just a few.

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:37.700
 But they all believe and treasure this doctrine.

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:39.819
 And I could go on about a lot more.

00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:46.080
 But it was held historically by Presbyterians, Baptists, Anglicans alike.

00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:46.799
 Lutherans.

00:20:47.360 --> 00:20:50.420
 Like, historically, if you go back, they all believed this and taught this.

00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:54.480
 Because two of the major, in our own denomination, Christ Family is a Baptist church.

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.980
 Two of the major seminaries.

00:20:57.720 --> 00:21:02.600
 Southern, up in Louisville, and also Southwestern, I believe.

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:06.140
 Both of those were founded on Southeastern.

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.380
 Yeah, that's right.

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:07.900
 South, south.

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:09.539
 Got the south mixed up.

00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:12.640
 But, like, both of them, in their historical documents, teach this as well.

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:16.519
 So, it really shouldn't be, like, a new scary thing.

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:21.119
 So, just know that, like, this isn't our new idea.

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:24.639
 But, at the end of the day, like, we have to believe it by biblical conviction.

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:27.299
 Not by, because these guys believed it.

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:32.619
 So, I'm going to challenge you, like, just to wrestle and pray with these things.

00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:35.480
 Some doctrines in the scripture don't come easy.

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:39.059
 You have to, like, really dig into them.

00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:46.319
 And, most of us in an entertainment-driven society, we don't like to, like, do any heavy thinking about anything.

00:21:46.919 --> 00:21:48.659
 Any heavy praying about anything, really.

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:51.019
 And, it doesn't come that way.

00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:53.879
 It has to be cultivated in the heart and in the mind.

00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:56.440
 And, a lot of time in the scripture.

00:21:57.399 --> 00:22:01.500
 So, we don't have time tonight to, like, exhaustively unpack this.

00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:03.140
 I'm going to do my best.

00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:08.460
 But, just by looking at it, you're not going to, like, fully get it tonight.

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:10.059
 And, none of us fully get it, by the way.

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:12.019
 It's just something that's supposed to, like, leave you in awe.

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.799
 It's not like, ah, check.

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:14.980
 Got that.

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:18.200
 So, don't run away tonight.

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:22.960
 Like, if you're confused or even upset, like, come talk to us, okay?

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:27.420
 Like, let's be the family of God here and talk about this.

00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:32.320
 And, we'll recommend some good resources later to kind of read more about this.

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:35.920
 But, I just have a quote by Charles Spurgeon.

00:22:36.800 --> 00:22:38.300
 He's known as a prince of preachers.

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:41.120
 He was in England in the late 1800s.

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.660
 But, he said,

00:22:42.580 --> 00:22:46.200
 Whatever may be said about the doctrine of election,

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:51.440
 it is written in the word of God as with an iron pen,

00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:53.120
 and there's no getting rid of it.

00:22:53.820 --> 00:22:55.300
 To me, listen to this,

00:22:55.299 --> 00:23:01.119
 To me, it is one of the sweetest and most blessed truths in the whole of the revelation of God.

00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:06.359
 And, those who are afraid of it are so only because they do not understand it.

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:09.579
 If they could but know that the Lord has chosen them,

00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:12.019
 it would make their hearts dance for joy.

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:16.899
 So, it's all about, like, the perspective in which we're looking at it.

00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:20.200
 But, it's meant to give you incredible joy and incredible peace.

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:24.420
 So, under this second thing that God,

00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:30.420
 God's sovereign plan to graciously choose a people for salvation.

00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:35.100
 So, under that, I have just a couple of points, sub-points.

00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:39.319
 And, we're going to do our best to move through these.

00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:40.720
 Okay.

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:43.440
 So, it has to start with this premise.

00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:43.740
 Okay.

00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:45.900
 The first one is,

00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:49.200
 None are worthy because all are guilty.

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.559
 Okay.

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.480
 None are worthy because all are guilty.

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:53.819
 Alright.

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.779
 Because mankind, you and I,

00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:58.220
 we have all, all of us,

00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:01.019
 have trampled, mocked, and spat upon

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:04.400
 like the infinite worth of God Himself.

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.140
 We all have.

00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:09.120
 And, we only deserve divine wrath.

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.620
 That's all we deserve.

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:13.100
 We don't deserve any good thing at all,

00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:15.580
 much less salvation.

00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:20.100
 So, when we see our sin for how terrible and appalling it really is,

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:22.040
 the question should be,

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.200
 Why did God save?

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:26.220
 Not, well, God, why did you just save some?

00:24:26.300 --> 00:24:27.759
 But, God, why did you save any?

00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:28.500
 Is the point.

00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:30.620
 Like, why did you save any?

00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:33.200
 We only deserve death.

00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.660
 We don't have a case to plead.

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.620
 We don't have any cause.

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:38.140
 This is a clear testimony of Scripture.

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.779
 I'm just going to read,

00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.360
 you don't have to turn here,

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:44.500
 but Romans 1, verse 28 says this.

00:24:45.100 --> 00:24:46.860
 It's talking about the sinfulness of man.

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.340
 It says,

00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:50.860
 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God,

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:53.440
 God gave them up to a debased mind

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:55.580
 to do what they ought not to be done.

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:58.799
 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness,

00:24:58.900 --> 00:25:00.460
 evil, covetous, malice.

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:03.840
 They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit.

00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:07.840
 It says they are gossips, slanderers, and haters of God.

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.500
 Alright?

00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:13.200
 Insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil.

00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:14.240
 I mean, don't we do that?

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.420
 Like, I even, I do that.

00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:17.779
 I'll sit in sometimes, and I'll plot, like,

00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:19.559
 how I'm going to commit sin.

00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:20.200
 Do y'all do that?

00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:24.259
 I mean, this is us.

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:28.100
 It says foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless.

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:29.339
 Alright?

00:25:29.459 --> 00:25:30.819
 So, that lists us,

00:25:31.399 --> 00:25:32.919
 apart from the saving grace of God,

00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.859
 like that is us.

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.980
 And then it says this.

00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:38.719
 Though we know God's decree,

00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:42.599
 that those who practice such things deserve to die.

00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.500
 See that?

00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:44.819
 Like, they deserve to die.

00:25:44.919 --> 00:25:47.539
 That's verse 32 of Romans 1.

00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:50.399
 Those who practice such things deserve to die.

00:25:50.899 --> 00:25:51.980
 They not only do them,

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:53.899
 but give approval to those who practice them.

00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:55.480
 That's just one verse.

00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:56.860
 In Ezekiel, God says,

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.140
 All souls are mine.

00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.839
 The soul of the Son,

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:01.240
 as well as the soul of the Father.

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:03.279
 And the soul who sins shall die.

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.779
 I mean, that's...

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:06.299
 So, none are worthy,

00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:08.160
 because all are guilty.

00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:09.360
 Alright?

00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:12.720
 So, this flows into the next point, okay?

00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:13.920
 Which is this.

00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.640
 It's a little lengthy,

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.519
 so I'll read it twice.

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.519
 It's...

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:20.819
 Though God is under no obligation

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:23.279
 to save any sinner,

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:27.220
 yet He still chose to save some

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.940
 as a demonstration

00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:32.099
 of His mercy, grace, and love.

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:33.859
 Alright?

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:36.660
 Though God is under no obligation

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.839
 to save any sinner,

00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:40.859
 yet He still chose to save some

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:42.259
 as a demonstration

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:44.259
 of His mercy, grace, and love.

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.440
 Alright?

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:47.920
 So, flip to Romans 9,

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:49.079
 where Nathan had you earlier.

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.819
 I'm going to just show you

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:54.400
 this as well.

00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.140
 Romans 9.

00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.319
 So,

00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:03.940
 according to what we're talking about here,

00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.799
 because all are guilty,

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:08.879
 God has the sovereign right,

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.839
 if He wants to,

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:12.059
 to show mercy to certain people.

00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:13.919
 He has the right.

00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:16.419
 He can do whatever He desires.

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:18.259
 He's under no obligation whatsoever.

00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:21.519
 And due to the severity of our sin,

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:24.079
 He will be perfectly justified,

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:24.559
 okay?

00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.139
 Perfectly justified

00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:27.720
 in annihilating all of us.

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:30.319
 And He still would remain

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.299
 loving and gracious,

00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:32.440
 even if He had done that.

00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:33.759
 But He didn't.

00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.139
 Okay?

00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:35.620
 So,

00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.040
 therefore,

00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:37.500
 like,

00:27:37.560 --> 00:27:39.259
 there's no injustice with God,

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.540
 because,

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:42.520
 if He grants mercy to some,

00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:43.460
 injustice to others.

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.220
 And I'm going to try to help you

00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:46.600
 wrap your head around this a little bit,

00:27:47.120 --> 00:27:49.440
 because we have grown up,

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:49.680
 like,

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.040
 in a,

00:27:50.040 --> 00:27:52.920
 a democratic society.

00:27:53.600 --> 00:27:54.480
 In a democracy,

00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:55.600
 everybody has,

00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:57.180
 rights,

00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:58.080
 everybody has,

00:27:58.100 --> 00:27:58.280
 like,

00:27:58.320 --> 00:27:59.060
 equal say,

00:27:59.460 --> 00:27:59.980
 supposedly,

00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:00.360
 right?

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:00.879
 And,

00:28:02.199 --> 00:28:03.299
 but,

00:28:03.979 --> 00:28:05.279
 not how it is,

00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:05.759
 like,

00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:07.500
 in this context.

00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.599
 The kingdom of God

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:10.119
 is not a democracy,

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.939
 it's a monarchy,

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:12.500
 and it's like an absolute monarchy.

00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:14.079
 And so,

00:28:14.199 --> 00:28:15.179
 a picture of this,

00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:17.119
 the guys I disciple,

00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.379
 like,

00:28:17.439 --> 00:28:17.679
 oh man,

00:28:17.719 --> 00:28:18.799
 here he goes with the,

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.759
 the,

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.839
 the illustrations.

00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:21.240
 But,

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:24.039
 back in ancient and medieval times,

00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:24.579
 particularly,

00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:26.779
 this would not have been a surprise at all.

00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:27.799
 Like,

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.579
 in,

00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:29.939
 in kingdoms,

00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:31.160
 and empires,

00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.840
 kings or emperors,

00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.400
 also served as judges.

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.080
 Did you know that?

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.279
 Like,

00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:36.039
 even the Caesars,

00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:37.400
 served as judges.

00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.480
 And that's why Paul said,

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:40.240
 I hope to go and make my case,

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.640
 before Caesar.

00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:42.759
 So,

00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:44.519
 they served as judges over their land.

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:46.100
 And a lot of the time,

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.740
 many times,

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:50.420
 if they were confronted with a whole band of,

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:50.580
 like,

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:50.980
 rebels,

00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.259
 guys who were,

00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:52.400
 like,

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.259
 murderers,

00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:53.519
 and,

00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:54.460
 you know,

00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:55.019
 pillage,

00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:55.380
 plunder,

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.460
 and rape kind of guys,

00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.259
 whatever.

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.539
 If they were surrounded by,

00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:58.920
 like,

00:28:59.080 --> 00:28:59.400
 criminals,

00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:00.340
 and they come to the court,

00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.140
 and they're under arrest,

00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:03.560
 sometimes,

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.440
 the king,

00:29:04.540 --> 00:29:05.280
 or the emperor,

00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:05.880
 would do this.

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.380
 He would say,

00:29:07.300 --> 00:29:07.640
 okay,

00:29:07.800 --> 00:29:08.820
 the evidence is clear.

00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:11.040
 All of you deserve to die.

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:13.000
 All of you are guilty.

00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:14.080
 Every one of you.

00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:15.640
 You deserve the sword.

00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:17.920
 But then he would say something like this,

00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:26.060
 but because I desire to show my people that I also can be merciful and gracious.

00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:28.480
 I pardon you and you.

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.980
 But the rest of you,

00:29:30.080 --> 00:29:30.840
 you get the sword.

00:29:31.560 --> 00:29:32.740
 Because at the same time,

00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:35.700
 my people need to know that I'm not a pushover.

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:39.000
 That I take this stuff very seriously.

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:41.019
 And that happened a lot.

00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:42.599
 And it happens a lot in the scripture even.

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.079
 Like,

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.460
 in Mount Sinai,

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.779
 where they built the golden calf.

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:48.700
 It said the whole nation was worshipping this calf.

00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:49.799
 God,

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:51.799
 that's after he brought them out of Egypt,

00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.879
 took them to the Red Sea,

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.799
 destroyed Pharaoh's army,

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.879
 and they're worshipping a calf.

00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:58.279
 You know,

00:29:58.379 --> 00:29:58.579
 like,

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:58.839
 really?

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.660
 But we do the same thing.

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.680
 But in that context,

00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:03.460
 what happened was,

00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:05.279
 3,000 of them were killed instantly.

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:08.080
 And the question is asked,

00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:10.759
 would God be just if he had destroyed the whole nation?

00:30:10.860 --> 00:30:11.060
 Yes,

00:30:11.080 --> 00:30:11.620
 he would have.

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:12.940
 And,

00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:17.000
 there's an occasion in the Revolutionary War,

00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.580
 with George Washington,

00:30:19.540 --> 00:30:22.560
 that a huge group of the ringleaders,

00:30:22.560 --> 00:30:25.240
 who led like a mutiny against the army,

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.680
 against Washington,

00:30:27.300 --> 00:30:28.240
 they were rounded up,

00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:29.500
 they were all put on the galleys,

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:29.980
 like they were,

00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:30.819
 the galleys,

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:31.200
 excuse me,

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.720
 like there were seven of them.

00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:35.279
 And they all had like the nooses around their neck,

00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:37.059
 the graves were dug in front of them,

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:39.859
 and the drums were rolling,

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:41.619
 like they were about to be hung.

00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.200
 And finally,

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:44.900
 like one of the officers stands forward,

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:45.839
 and he like stops it,

00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.259
 and he says,

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:49.859
 reprieve from the commander-in-chief.

00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:52.940
 And all of them were let go,

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:54.019
 except for two guys,

00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:54.539
 I believe,

00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.700
 and they were hung.

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.299
 And the historians,

00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:58.920
 they talk about this event,

00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.320
 they say,

00:30:59.380 --> 00:31:00.320
 in that same moment,

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:05.600
 Washington inspired both fear and awe,

00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:07.759
 as well as like the love and respect of his men,

00:31:08.360 --> 00:31:09.200
 in that one act,

00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:10.180
 like that's what happened.

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:11.860
 And so,

00:31:12.580 --> 00:31:14.860
 this is kind of a picture of what God does,

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.860
 a little different,

00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:18.759
 because God can't just let sin go,

00:31:18.860 --> 00:31:19.779
 he had to punish sin,

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.460
 and he did that through Christ.

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:21.900
 But,

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.539
 but this is what we see,

00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:26.079
 that God has the right to do what he wants to do.

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.000
 Like,

00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:29.299
 imagine if you were a judge,

00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:30.840
 I went to court a couple months ago,

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:33.400
 imagine if you were a judge,

00:31:34.100 --> 00:31:34.960
 and like,

00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:37.000
 this criminal,

00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:39.460
 child-raping dude

00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:40.819
 came up to you,

00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:41.400
 and he said,

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:43.600
 this trial is an outrage.

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.519
 I've seen all the evidence,

00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:46.500
 and yeah,

00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:46.980
 I did it,

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:48.279
 but this trial is an outrage,

00:31:48.439 --> 00:31:50.099
 and I deserve to be let go.

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:51.819
 You should let me go.

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.000
 What would you say?

00:31:53.179 --> 00:31:53.419
 Like,

00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:54.879
 excuse me?

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.299
 Like,

00:31:55.939 --> 00:31:56.299
 no,

00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:56.719
 like,

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.879
 I might kill you myself,

00:31:57.939 --> 00:31:58.359
 right here,

00:31:58.579 --> 00:32:01.459
 because I will execute justice for all the people,

00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:02.539
 right here on the spot.

00:32:02.939 --> 00:32:04.139
 But that's what we do,

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.319
 when we say to God,

00:32:05.679 --> 00:32:06.639
 how dare you?

00:32:07.560 --> 00:32:09.780
 Why did you choose to do things this way?

00:32:10.380 --> 00:32:10.640
 Like,

00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:11.360
 that's not right.

00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.160
 That's not fair.

00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:13.440
 Because fair is,

00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.180
 we all die,

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:14.500
 okay?

00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:17.040
 Do you know that it says in,

00:32:18.320 --> 00:32:18.680
 think,

00:32:18.840 --> 00:32:19.500
 think Clay,

00:32:20.540 --> 00:32:21.740
 this thing is Revelation,

00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:23.780
 oh man,

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.780
 maybe I wrote it here,

00:32:25.800 --> 00:32:26.240
 I'm not sure.

00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:30.900
 My notes again,

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.280
 sorry.

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.480
 Yeah,

00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:33.060
 like,

00:32:35.080 --> 00:32:35.520
 yeah,

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.240
 there it is,

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:36.700
 found it.

00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.120
 Revelation 12,

00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:42.140
 4 says that a third of the angels rebelled against God,

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.420
 with Satan.

00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:44.960
 Okay?

00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:45.740
 Revelation 12,

00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:46.440
 4 says that.

00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:53.220
 2 Peter 2 says that God did not spare any of them.

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.240
 He didn't send a single,

00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:58.299
 he did not send a savior for the angels at all.

00:32:58.900 --> 00:32:59.380
 Like,

00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.880
 they all rebelled against him,

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.779
 just like we have,

00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:04.099
 and he didn't send a savior to save them.

00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:09.639
 So he remained just and holy and loving all at the same time after he did that.

00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:11.339
 So that should blow our minds,

00:33:11.419 --> 00:33:11.579
 like,

00:33:11.659 --> 00:33:13.000
 why did he send us a savior?

00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:15.459
 He did not send the angels one.

00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:17.420
 So in Romans 9,

00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:19.440
 verse 14,

00:33:20.140 --> 00:33:20.980
 we'll start there.

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:22.200
 I'm just going to read you a couple of verses.

00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:25.920
 This is like one of the Mac Daddy chapters about this kind of stuff,

00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:29.279
 but Romans 9,

00:33:29.360 --> 00:33:30.460
 verse 14 says,

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:32.180
 what shall we say then?

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:34.059
 Is there any injustice on God's part?

00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:34.279
 Like,

00:33:34.340 --> 00:33:36.140
 is this God's doing?

00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.600
 Nathan just kind of talked about this.

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.759
 Then he quotes from the Old Testament.

00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:40.259
 He says,

00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:40.420


00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.920
 he says to Moses,

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:43.000
 God says to Moses,

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:47.940
 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:51.160
 and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:52.600
 Then it says,

00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.200
 so then,

00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:57.559
 it does not depend on human will or exertion.

00:33:58.379 --> 00:33:58.619
 Okay,

00:33:58.700 --> 00:33:59.399
 so it doesn't depend,

00:33:59.500 --> 00:33:59.619
 like,

00:33:59.659 --> 00:34:01.940
 your salvation ultimately doesn't rest on your free will.

00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.179
 All right,

00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:04.000
 it rests,

00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.559
 or on exertion,

00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.960
 or any strength you have,

00:34:07.179 --> 00:34:08.559
 but on God,

00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.340
 who has mercy.

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.159
 That's where it rests.

00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.059
 Okay,

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.259
 like,

00:34:11.299 --> 00:34:12.980
 we have nothing to initiate with God.

00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:16.400
 We're totally at his mercy to do with us what he will.

00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:17.759
 Okay,

00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:18.460
 so that's,

00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:20.340
 that's the second point there,

00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:21.579
 is that,

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:25.759
 though God is under no obligation to save any sinner,

00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:30.580
 he still chose to save some as a demonstration of his grace,

00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:30.960
 love,

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.420
 and mercy.

00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:32.780
 So,

00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:36.520
 here's the third point underneath this second big one.

00:34:37.100 --> 00:34:37.360
 All right,

00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:40.720
 before the foundation of the world,

00:34:41.600 --> 00:34:46.040
 God freely chose a people for salvation in Christ.

00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:48.560
 Before the foundation of the world,

00:34:48.720 --> 00:34:52.160
 God freely chose a people for salvation in Christ.

00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:54.799
 Let's see,

00:34:54.899 --> 00:34:55.179
 one,

00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:58.099
 I have just a few more places for you to turn.

00:34:58.279 --> 00:34:59.940
 I'm not trying to exhaust you with the whole,

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:00.839
 but like,

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:02.019
 it's just important.

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:03.859
 Ephesians 1,

00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:04.480
 turn there.

00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:10.000
 No clearer can we get than this text here.

00:35:12.379 --> 00:35:12.759
 So,

00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.779
 Ephesians 1.

00:35:16.299 --> 00:35:17.420
 General statements,

00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:17.839
 okay,

00:35:18.299 --> 00:35:19.239
 as well as specific ones.

00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:19.759
 In Scripture,

00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:22.699
 reveal that God has an elect people,

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.859
 from both Jews and Gentiles,

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:28.119
 and that he predestined them for salvation,

00:35:28.959 --> 00:35:30.079
 before the creation,

00:35:30.919 --> 00:35:33.599
 and their names are written in the Lamb's book of life,

00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.500
 before creation.

00:35:35.759 --> 00:35:36.279
 This is,

00:35:36.739 --> 00:35:37.319
 what we're going to see,

00:35:37.379 --> 00:35:39.099
 it's blatantly clear that God did the choosing,

00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.799
 and not man,

00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:42.219
 and it was all according to his purpose,

00:35:42.439 --> 00:35:43.139
 by his will,

00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:43.559
 but for,

00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:45.179
 for the praise of his grace.

00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:45.919
 So,

00:35:45.979 --> 00:35:47.359
 let's just look at a couple verses here.

00:35:47.359 --> 00:35:48.199
 Ephesians 1,

00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:48.919
 verse 4.

00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:50.919
 We all love Ephesians 1,

00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:52.659
 but some people just don't know what to do with these verses.

00:35:52.779 --> 00:35:54.279
 They kind of skip over them,

00:35:54.299 --> 00:35:54.639
 or whatever.

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.339
 Verse 4.

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.339
 Even as

00:35:58.339 --> 00:36:01.079
 he chose us in him,

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:01.739
 so the first,

00:36:01.819 --> 00:36:02.419
 he is God,

00:36:02.939 --> 00:36:03.279
 the second,

00:36:03.399 --> 00:36:04.119
 he is Christ,

00:36:04.299 --> 00:36:05.000
 him is Christ.

00:36:06.399 --> 00:36:08.039
 Even as he chose us in him,

00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:09.819
 before the foundation of the world,

00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.460
 there it is,

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:13.199
 before the foundation of the world,

00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:16.579
 that we should be holy and blameless before him.

00:36:17.919 --> 00:36:18.279
 All right?

00:36:18.379 --> 00:36:19.419
 Is this a loving thing?

00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:20.599
 Yes.

00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:21.039
 It says,

00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:21.819
 In love,

00:36:22.839 --> 00:36:23.119
 he,

00:36:23.299 --> 00:36:23.599
 God,

00:36:23.719 --> 00:36:26.059
 predestined us for adoption as sons,

00:36:26.739 --> 00:36:27.879
 through Jesus Christ,

00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:29.960
 according to the purpose of his will,

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:33.399
 to the praise of his glorious grace,

00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:36.179
 with which he has blessed us in the beloved.

00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:37.699
 See that?

00:36:37.699 --> 00:36:38.259
 Why?

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.319
 What was the purpose?

00:36:40.799 --> 00:36:42.619
 To the praise of his glorious grace.

00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:44.779
 To the glory of God.

00:36:44.939 --> 00:36:45.899
 That's what it's for.

00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:46.939
 And then,

00:36:47.059 --> 00:36:47.619
 in adoption,

00:36:48.779 --> 00:36:49.379
 I don't know if,

00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:50.259
 some of you may,

00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:53.439
 I know a few people in here may have adopted siblings.

00:36:53.739 --> 00:36:55.779
 We do a lot of adoption here at Christ's Family.

00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.139
 Then adoption,

00:36:57.299 --> 00:36:58.059
 who does the choosing?

00:36:59.179 --> 00:36:59.759
 Who does the,

00:36:59.859 --> 00:37:01.079
 who makes the initiative,

00:37:01.279 --> 00:37:01.500
 really?

00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.279
 The parent,

00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:03.779
 right?

00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.319
 Not the child.

00:37:05.759 --> 00:37:06.279
 And it's the same,

00:37:06.279 --> 00:37:07.379
 it's the same way here.

00:37:07.699 --> 00:37:12.119
 We were predestined for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.

00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:15.739
 Jump down to verse 11 of chapter 1.

00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:17.439
 It says,

00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:18.639
 verse 11,

00:37:18.779 --> 00:37:21.879
 In him we have obtained an inheritance,

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:28.659
 having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things,

00:37:28.759 --> 00:37:30.519
 according to the counsel of his will,

00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:35.799
 so that we who are first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

00:37:36.399 --> 00:37:36.879
 Okay?

00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:41.059
 It was after the counsel of his will that he worked this.

00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.699
 It's mysterious.

00:37:41.899 --> 00:37:43.639
 We don't fully understand it,

00:37:43.699 --> 00:37:45.819
 but for some reason he chose to do it this way,

00:37:46.339 --> 00:37:48.739
 so that we would be in his family,

00:37:48.879 --> 00:37:49.399
 be saved.

00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:51.500
 And so that's,

00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:53.400
 and then Revelation 13,

00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:53.800
 8,

00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:54.619
 you don't got to turn there,

00:37:54.660 --> 00:37:55.139
 just write it down.

00:37:55.260 --> 00:37:56.059
 Revelation 13,

00:37:56.180 --> 00:38:02.720
 8 says that our names were written in the Lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world.

00:38:03.380 --> 00:38:03.740
 So,

00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:06.420
 it's not like there's an angel up there with the book,

00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:06.760
 and like,

00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:07.340
 when you got saved,

00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:07.660
 he was like,

00:38:07.740 --> 00:38:08.059
 yeah,

00:38:08.200 --> 00:38:09.740
 it was like,

00:38:10.260 --> 00:38:11.740
 before the foundation of the world,

00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:12.440
 the book's there.

00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:13.500
 All right?

00:38:13.579 --> 00:38:13.740
 I mean,

00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:14.079
 that's,

00:38:14.119 --> 00:38:15.960
 that's one place.

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:17.000
 It says that twice in Revelation.

00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:18.199
 That's Revelation 13,

00:38:18.300 --> 00:38:18.539
 8.

00:38:19.099 --> 00:38:19.300
 So,

00:38:19.380 --> 00:38:21.240
 this happened before the foundation of the world,

00:38:21.740 --> 00:38:25.320
 which means that our redemption was not plan B.

00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:26.639
 It happened,

00:38:26.820 --> 00:38:28.420
 this happened before the fall of Eden.

00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:29.059
 You see this?

00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:29.360
 It's like,

00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:29.840
 it's supposed to,

00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:32.740
 it's supposed to just blow your mind,

00:38:32.739 --> 00:38:35.559
 and just leave you in awe and wonder.

00:38:35.739 --> 00:38:35.919
 So,

00:38:36.619 --> 00:38:37.500
 fourthly,

00:38:37.979 --> 00:38:39.279
 underneath this,

00:38:40.039 --> 00:38:40.359
 all right,

00:38:41.459 --> 00:38:47.159
 God's election of sinners to save was completely unconditional.

00:38:48.379 --> 00:38:52.599
 God's election of sinners to save was completely unconditional.

00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.000
 Okay?

00:38:54.779 --> 00:38:55.339
 So,

00:38:55.459 --> 00:38:56.119
 in other words,

00:38:57.000 --> 00:38:59.539
 that there was no foreseen act,

00:38:59.899 --> 00:39:01.519
 or foreseen faith,

00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:03.960
 that God decided who he was going to save.

00:39:04.019 --> 00:39:06.380
 He didn't look down throughout the centuries and be like,

00:39:06.420 --> 00:39:06.840
 you know what?

00:39:07.380 --> 00:39:08.500
 Chris is a good guy.

00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:09.460
 Wow,

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:11.480
 I see that he's going to choose Jesus.

00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.119
 That's awesome.

00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:12.820
 So,

00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:14.019
 I'm going to choose him.

00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:15.280
 That would say,

00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:15.900
 that would ultimately,

00:39:16.219 --> 00:39:16.440
 like,

00:39:16.500 --> 00:39:20.179
 Chris is the ultimate determining factor there,

00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:20.699
 and not God.

00:39:20.759 --> 00:39:22.099
 That goes against what we just read,

00:39:22.679 --> 00:39:23.820
 that God did the choosing.

00:39:24.840 --> 00:39:25.199
 And,

00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:29.559
 and even further doctrine that we will talk about this semester,

00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:34.239
 saving faith doesn't come from you.

00:39:34.860 --> 00:39:35.900
 It doesn't come from man.

00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:37.199
 It's not something you conjure up.

00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:39.460
 It also is a free gift of God.

00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.440
 Saving faith is.

00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:41.219
 So,

00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:44.019
 God's choice was not based on any foreseen faith,

00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.639
 or merit,

00:39:44.699 --> 00:39:45.539
 or any good thing.

00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:47.579
 Unconditional election.

00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:49.920
 It was because he just decided to do it that way.

00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:51.139
 Not,

00:39:51.199 --> 00:39:52.619
 not behind any other reason.

00:39:52.619 --> 00:39:55.119
 I'm just going to read to you Acts 13,

00:39:55.719 --> 00:39:56.719
 verse 48,

00:39:57.739 --> 00:39:58.359
 and,

00:39:58.480 --> 00:40:00.460
 see how this goes.

00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:00.900
 It says,

00:40:01.619 --> 00:40:02.599
 they're preaching the gospel,

00:40:02.859 --> 00:40:03.079
 okay,

00:40:03.099 --> 00:40:03.880
 to the Gentiles.

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:04.819
 It says,

00:40:04.920 --> 00:40:06.279
 when the Gentiles heard this,

00:40:06.900 --> 00:40:09.900
 they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord.

00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:10.859
 Alright,

00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:12.119
 so they're believing the gospel.

00:40:13.079 --> 00:40:13.559
 And it says,

00:40:13.659 --> 00:40:17.759
 and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:18.420
 See that?

00:40:18.920 --> 00:40:21.079
 To those who were appointed to eternal life,

00:40:21.079 --> 00:40:22.779
 the result was,

00:40:22.840 --> 00:40:23.420
 they had faith,

00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:24.420
 and believed the gospel.

00:40:25.119 --> 00:40:26.179
 That's just one example.

00:40:26.299 --> 00:40:27.139
 But Ephesians 2,

00:40:27.759 --> 00:40:29.019
 by grace you've been saved,

00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:29.739
 through faith,

00:40:30.819 --> 00:40:32.099
 this is not of yourselves,

00:40:32.259 --> 00:40:33.279
 it is the gift of God,

00:40:33.360 --> 00:40:34.099
 not of works,

00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:35.559
 that no man should boast.

00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:36.059
 And he's saying,

00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:36.739
 like grace,

00:40:37.239 --> 00:40:38.000
 and the faith.

00:40:38.679 --> 00:40:38.940
 Right?

00:40:39.099 --> 00:40:40.779
 The faith was a gift from God,

00:40:41.319 --> 00:40:42.400
 so that you couldn't boast.

00:40:43.159 --> 00:40:44.079
 You could boast,

00:40:44.099 --> 00:40:45.000
 if you figured it out.

00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:46.039
 Man,

00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:46.259
 like,

00:40:46.319 --> 00:40:47.259
 how come your really,

00:40:47.380 --> 00:40:48.759
 really smart buddy just doesn't get it,

00:40:48.799 --> 00:40:49.420
 and you get it?

00:40:50.119 --> 00:40:51.019
 Did you figure it out?

00:40:51.380 --> 00:40:51.599
 No.

00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:52.659
 Like,

00:40:52.699 --> 00:40:53.360
 God showed you.

00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:54.819
 God opened your eyes to see it.

00:40:54.840 --> 00:40:56.679
 If it was based on intellect,

00:40:56.880 --> 00:40:57.039
 like,

00:40:57.119 --> 00:40:57.259
 man,

00:40:57.279 --> 00:40:57.940
 I would be like,

00:40:58.360 --> 00:40:59.259
 no way.

00:40:59.340 --> 00:40:59.500
 Like,

00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:00.659
 I never would figure this out.

00:41:01.279 --> 00:41:01.559
 Right?

00:41:02.279 --> 00:41:02.799
 You'd be like,

00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:02.960
 man,

00:41:02.980 --> 00:41:03.599
 I figured it out.

00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:04.139
 Good for me.

00:41:04.219 --> 00:41:05.319
 That is boasting.

00:41:06.019 --> 00:41:06.539
 And like,

00:41:06.579 --> 00:41:07.799
 God is not going to allow it.

00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:08.539
 Not of works,

00:41:08.599 --> 00:41:09.779
 that no man should boast.

00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:11.340
 So,

00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:13.599
 Robert Murray McShane,

00:41:13.599 --> 00:41:16.759
 a Scottish pastor back in the 1800s,

00:41:16.779 --> 00:41:17.319
 a young guy,

00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:19.019
 I got a lot in common with him.

00:41:19.019 --> 00:41:20.280
 He was about my age.

00:41:20.300 --> 00:41:21.639
 He actually died when he was around my age,

00:41:21.659 --> 00:41:22.480
 and he had lung problems,

00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:23.059
 like I do.

00:41:23.960 --> 00:41:24.659
 He wrote,

00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:26.340
 he wrote this,

00:41:26.340 --> 00:41:28.960
 chosen not for good in me,

00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:32.120
 wakened up from wrath to flee,

00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:34.519
 hidden in the Savior's side,

00:41:35.140 --> 00:41:36.620
 by the Spirit sanctified.

00:41:37.480 --> 00:41:38.019
 Teach me,

00:41:38.140 --> 00:41:38.380
 Lord,

00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:39.559
 on earth to show

00:41:39.559 --> 00:41:41.920
 I love how much I owe.

00:41:42.920 --> 00:41:44.320
 Chosen not for good in me.

00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:44.660
 Like,

00:41:44.800 --> 00:41:45.260
 nothing,

00:41:46.100 --> 00:41:46.620
 nothing,

00:41:46.740 --> 00:41:46.980
 God,

00:41:47.059 --> 00:41:48.280
 led you to make this decision,

00:41:48.720 --> 00:41:50.720
 other than the secret counsel of your will.

00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:51.700
 You're on good pleasure.

00:41:51.699 --> 00:41:53.139
 So,

00:41:54.139 --> 00:41:55.859
 election is unconditional.

00:41:56.879 --> 00:41:57.139
 And then,

00:41:57.179 --> 00:41:57.599
 fifthly,

00:41:57.639 --> 00:41:59.179
 and this will be the last part underneath

00:41:59.179 --> 00:42:00.679
 this big point,

00:42:00.779 --> 00:42:00.919
 but,

00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:02.439
 alright,

00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:02.899
 so,

00:42:04.059 --> 00:42:04.919
 just as

00:42:04.919 --> 00:42:05.980
 God freely,

00:42:07.119 --> 00:42:07.699
 graciously,

00:42:07.799 --> 00:42:08.699
 don't miss those words,

00:42:08.839 --> 00:42:09.199
 freely,

00:42:09.460 --> 00:42:10.019
 graciously,

00:42:10.939 --> 00:42:12.419
 decided to save some,

00:42:13.539 --> 00:42:14.259
 he also

00:42:14.259 --> 00:42:15.599
 passed over others.

00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:16.799
 Okay?

00:42:19.199 --> 00:42:20.059
 This is what's

00:42:20.059 --> 00:42:20.839
 kind of called,

00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:21.920
 in a big fancy word,

00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:22.699
 reprobation.

00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:24.019
 But,

00:42:24.819 --> 00:42:25.839
 it basically means

00:42:25.839 --> 00:42:26.679
 that God has chosen

00:42:26.679 --> 00:42:27.900
 to pass over

00:42:27.900 --> 00:42:28.639
 other people

00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:30.239
 and to not save them.

00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:31.799
 And,

00:42:31.960 --> 00:42:32.759
 to punish them

00:42:32.759 --> 00:42:33.519
 for their sin

00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:34.819
 and manifest

00:42:34.819 --> 00:42:35.339
 his justice

00:42:35.339 --> 00:42:35.940
 and his glory.

00:42:36.039 --> 00:42:37.059
 And we have this idea

00:42:37.059 --> 00:42:38.259
 in the church,

00:42:38.319 --> 00:42:38.599
 and again,

00:42:38.659 --> 00:42:39.920
 I think it comes from just a lot of

00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:41.319
 bad teaching,

00:42:41.539 --> 00:42:41.699
 but,

00:42:42.219 --> 00:42:43.839
 that God only receives glory

00:42:43.839 --> 00:42:44.900
 when he saves somebody.

00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:46.159
 No,

00:42:46.299 --> 00:42:47.119
 he receives glory

00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:47.880
 no matter what.

00:42:48.639 --> 00:42:48.920
 And,

00:42:49.019 --> 00:42:50.099
 he also receives glory

00:42:50.099 --> 00:42:50.839
 in demonstrating

00:42:50.839 --> 00:42:51.659
 his justice

00:42:51.659 --> 00:42:53.079
 and his holiness.

00:42:53.460 --> 00:42:53.679
 I mean,

00:42:53.739 --> 00:42:54.480
 imagine like,

00:42:54.920 --> 00:42:55.440
 a kingdom

00:42:55.440 --> 00:42:56.679
 that was just overrun

00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:58.319
 by these cruel,

00:42:58.579 --> 00:42:58.940
 crazy,

00:42:59.079 --> 00:42:59.659
 pagan people

00:42:59.659 --> 00:43:00.779
 who were just ruthlessly

00:43:00.779 --> 00:43:02.519
 pillaging and murdering.

00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:03.739
 And the true king

00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:04.179
 is away,

00:43:04.239 --> 00:43:05.119
 and he sends word like,

00:43:05.219 --> 00:43:05.360
 hey,

00:43:06.119 --> 00:43:06.940
 this must stop

00:43:06.940 --> 00:43:07.619
 right now.

00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:09.319
 I will be coming back

00:43:09.319 --> 00:43:10.159
 and I'm going to clean house

00:43:10.159 --> 00:43:10.619
 when I do.

00:43:11.239 --> 00:43:11.940
 And they say,

00:43:12.579 --> 00:43:12.819
 yeah,

00:43:12.860 --> 00:43:13.099
 right,

00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:14.059
 you're not going to do that.

00:43:14.679 --> 00:43:15.339
 We're the man,

00:43:15.340 --> 00:43:15.880
 and you're not.

00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:16.360
 And he's like,

00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:16.620
 okay.

00:43:17.440 --> 00:43:18.380
 And so he comes back

00:43:18.380 --> 00:43:19.340
 and he completely

00:43:19.340 --> 00:43:20.500
 annihilates all of them.

00:43:20.940 --> 00:43:22.180
 And he frees his people.

00:43:23.019 --> 00:43:23.700
 Does not the king

00:43:23.700 --> 00:43:24.320
 like get glory

00:43:24.320 --> 00:43:25.440
 for destroying that evil?

00:43:25.559 --> 00:43:25.720
 Yes,

00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:26.160
 he does.

00:43:26.980 --> 00:43:27.920
 And in Christ,

00:43:28.059 --> 00:43:29.440
 read the last chapters

00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:30.039
 of Revelation,

00:43:30.200 --> 00:43:31.860
 he's going to return

00:43:31.860 --> 00:43:32.660
 in glory,

00:43:32.760 --> 00:43:33.240
 it says,

00:43:33.300 --> 00:43:33.900
 and he's going to

00:43:33.900 --> 00:43:35.079
 bring out judgment

00:43:35.079 --> 00:43:36.820
 on those who have

00:43:36.820 --> 00:43:39.079
 rebelled against him.

00:43:39.079 --> 00:43:40.380
 So,

00:43:40.539 --> 00:43:41.739
 he will receive glory

00:43:41.739 --> 00:43:42.500
 one way or another.

00:43:43.380 --> 00:43:43.599
 But,

00:43:44.659 --> 00:43:45.659
 I'm going to show you

00:43:45.659 --> 00:43:46.599
 just one text out of this,

00:43:46.679 --> 00:43:46.840
 okay?

00:43:46.920 --> 00:43:47.619
 Just one.

00:43:48.420 --> 00:43:49.420
 But look at John,

00:43:50.179 --> 00:43:51.079
 Gospel of John,

00:43:51.199 --> 00:43:52.400
 chapter 12.

00:43:57.759 --> 00:43:59.099
 This stuff is littered

00:43:59.099 --> 00:43:59.639
 all throughout

00:43:59.639 --> 00:44:00.539
 the Gospel of John.

00:44:00.539 --> 00:44:07.420
 John 12,

00:44:07.539 --> 00:44:08.579
 verse 37,

00:44:09.940 --> 00:44:12.619
 says this,

00:44:13.719 --> 00:44:14.599
 Though he had done

00:44:14.599 --> 00:44:17.179
 so many signs

00:44:17.179 --> 00:44:17.779
 before them,

00:44:18.360 --> 00:44:19.239
 they still would not

00:44:19.239 --> 00:44:19.679
 believe.

00:44:20.679 --> 00:44:20.940
 Alright?

00:44:21.079 --> 00:44:21.480
 See that?

00:44:22.079 --> 00:44:22.320
 Like,

00:44:22.360 --> 00:44:22.559
 man,

00:44:22.679 --> 00:44:24.440
 he's done miracles,

00:44:24.719 --> 00:44:25.759
 he's done all this stuff,

00:44:26.159 --> 00:44:27.119
 and people still

00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:27.940
 won't believe.

00:44:28.779 --> 00:44:29.099
 Okay?

00:44:29.099 --> 00:44:30.480
 They must be fooled.

00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:31.199
 They must not be able

00:44:31.199 --> 00:44:31.820
 to figure it out,

00:44:31.840 --> 00:44:32.039
 right?

00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:35.699
 They're just constantly

00:44:35.699 --> 00:44:36.639
 rejecting Jesus.

00:44:36.779 --> 00:44:37.599
 But here's what it says.

00:44:38.340 --> 00:44:39.039
 This is why.

00:44:39.820 --> 00:44:40.940
 So that the words

00:44:40.940 --> 00:44:42.719
 spoken by the prophet Isaiah

00:44:42.719 --> 00:44:44.279
 might be fulfilled.

00:44:44.500 --> 00:44:44.800
 Lord,

00:44:45.440 --> 00:44:46.579
 who has believed

00:44:46.579 --> 00:44:48.159
 what he heard from us?

00:44:48.179 --> 00:44:49.239
 And to whom has the arm

00:44:49.239 --> 00:44:49.639
 of the Lord

00:44:49.639 --> 00:44:50.300
 been revealed?

00:44:51.139 --> 00:44:51.679
 And it says,

00:44:51.759 --> 00:44:52.079
 Therefore,

00:44:53.019 --> 00:44:54.119
 they could not believe.

00:44:54.239 --> 00:44:54.739
 For again,

00:44:54.860 --> 00:44:55.679
 Isaiah said,

00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:57.559
 He has blinded their eyes

00:44:57.559 --> 00:44:58.579
 and hardened their heart,

00:44:58.880 --> 00:45:00.340
 lest they see with their eyes

00:45:00.340 --> 00:45:01.640
 and understand with their heart

00:45:01.640 --> 00:45:03.019
 in turn

00:45:03.019 --> 00:45:03.980
 that I would heal them.

00:45:05.300 --> 00:45:06.500
 I should just make a shake.

00:45:06.680 --> 00:45:07.420
 That could be you.

00:45:08.140 --> 00:45:09.120
 That could be me.

00:45:12.280 --> 00:45:13.700
 It says the word right there,

00:45:13.800 --> 00:45:14.220
 it says,

00:45:14.380 --> 00:45:14.500
 like,

00:45:14.539 --> 00:45:15.640
 God hardened their heart.

00:45:17.120 --> 00:45:17.980
 There can be some

00:45:17.980 --> 00:45:19.019
 very incorrect views

00:45:19.019 --> 00:45:19.800
 on what that means,

00:45:19.800 --> 00:45:21.280
 but it doesn't mean

00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:21.680
 that God,

00:45:21.720 --> 00:45:21.900
 like,

00:45:21.980 --> 00:45:22.600
 zaps them

00:45:22.600 --> 00:45:23.620
 and makes them evil.

00:45:24.519 --> 00:45:24.840
 Okay?

00:45:24.900 --> 00:45:25.640
 Because that would imply,

00:45:25.720 --> 00:45:26.240
 like God,

00:45:26.360 --> 00:45:27.539
 evil itself is coming

00:45:27.539 --> 00:45:28.300
 from God.

00:45:28.800 --> 00:45:29.860
 But what it does mean

00:45:29.860 --> 00:45:30.860
 is He just lets them be.

00:45:31.720 --> 00:45:33.000
 We're evil and sinful

00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:33.860
 on our own

00:45:33.860 --> 00:45:34.720
 apart from God,

00:45:34.760 --> 00:45:34.960
 right?

00:45:35.400 --> 00:45:36.080
 We don't need

00:45:36.080 --> 00:45:37.360
 any help whatsoever

00:45:37.360 --> 00:45:38.480
 being sinful and evil.

00:45:38.880 --> 00:45:39.680
 It just means

00:45:39.680 --> 00:45:40.660
 that He leaves them

00:45:40.660 --> 00:45:41.380
 to their sin

00:45:41.380 --> 00:45:42.820
 and decides not

00:45:42.820 --> 00:45:43.560
 to change them,

00:45:43.800 --> 00:45:45.160
 decides not to do anything.

00:45:45.740 --> 00:45:46.600
 It doesn't mean

00:45:46.600 --> 00:45:47.700
 He plants evil in them.

00:45:47.699 --> 00:45:49.379
 and just chooses not

00:45:49.379 --> 00:45:51.039
 to save them.

00:45:51.379 --> 00:45:52.439
 He just passes it over to them.

00:45:53.279 --> 00:45:53.559
 And,

00:45:54.159 --> 00:45:54.739
 man,

00:45:54.799 --> 00:45:55.559
 that could be us.

00:45:55.679 --> 00:45:56.639
 And y'all not understand that?

00:45:56.779 --> 00:45:56.879
 Like,

00:45:56.960 --> 00:45:57.139
 man,

00:45:57.219 --> 00:45:57.379
 like,

00:45:57.419 --> 00:45:58.339
 God did not have

00:45:58.339 --> 00:45:59.460
 to save you.

00:45:59.759 --> 00:46:00.719
 He didn't have to save me.

00:46:01.399 --> 00:46:02.599
 This could be us.

00:46:03.539 --> 00:46:03.779
 So,

00:46:05.159 --> 00:46:06.279
 man.

00:46:07.419 --> 00:46:07.859
 Okay,

00:46:08.059 --> 00:46:08.339
 so,

00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:10.639
 the third and final point here,

00:46:10.739 --> 00:46:11.759
 the last big one,

00:46:11.839 --> 00:46:13.399
 and we're going to get more

00:46:13.399 --> 00:46:14.239
 into the heart of

00:46:14.239 --> 00:46:15.839
 election here,

00:46:15.919 --> 00:46:16.279
 and then we'll

00:46:16.280 --> 00:46:18.000
 break out,

00:46:18.420 --> 00:46:19.480
 have some music and stuff,

00:46:19.560 --> 00:46:19.700
 but,

00:46:20.480 --> 00:46:21.260
 the third point is

00:46:21.260 --> 00:46:22.420
 God's sovereign plan

00:46:22.420 --> 00:46:25.620
 to graciously secure

00:46:25.620 --> 00:46:27.660
 and comfort His people.

00:46:29.200 --> 00:46:30.220
 God's sovereign plan

00:46:30.220 --> 00:46:31.460
 to graciously secure

00:46:31.460 --> 00:46:32.720
 and comfort His people.

00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:34.180
 Alright,

00:46:34.320 --> 00:46:35.160
 so what effect

00:46:35.160 --> 00:46:36.240
 should this have on us?

00:46:36.940 --> 00:46:38.180
 What effect should this

00:46:38.180 --> 00:46:39.380
 awesome teaching

00:46:39.380 --> 00:46:40.040
 have on us?

00:46:40.900 --> 00:46:41.840
 It shouldn't make us,

00:46:42.140 --> 00:46:43.100
 like we were talking about earlier,

00:46:43.700 --> 00:46:44.380
 oh my gosh,

00:46:44.440 --> 00:46:44.620
 God,

00:46:44.620 --> 00:46:45.200
 how dare you?

00:46:45.199 --> 00:46:46.279
 How could you just do that?

00:46:47.659 --> 00:46:48.439
 Because then we're saying

00:46:48.439 --> 00:46:49.319
 we deserve something

00:46:49.319 --> 00:46:49.859
 from God.

00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:51.259
 But,

00:46:51.379 --> 00:46:53.419
 two major effects

00:46:53.419 --> 00:46:54.779
 that this doctrine

00:46:54.779 --> 00:46:55.659
 should have on you,

00:46:56.239 --> 00:46:56.759
 two of them,

00:46:56.859 --> 00:46:57.859
 is a deeper humility,

00:46:58.059 --> 00:46:58.739
 or one of them,

00:46:58.819 --> 00:46:59.279
 the first one,

00:46:59.299 --> 00:47:00.179
 a deeper humility.

00:47:00.939 --> 00:47:02.359
 When we truly realize

00:47:02.359 --> 00:47:02.980
 how desperate

00:47:02.980 --> 00:47:04.519
 our condition was,

00:47:04.599 --> 00:47:04.980
 sinfully,

00:47:05.759 --> 00:47:06.739
 and how we had

00:47:06.739 --> 00:47:07.699
 seriously rebelled

00:47:07.699 --> 00:47:08.339
 against God,

00:47:08.340 --> 00:47:12.360
 and that for some reason

00:47:12.360 --> 00:47:14.440
 He freely and graciously

00:47:14.440 --> 00:47:15.840
 chose to bring salvation

00:47:15.840 --> 00:47:16.400
 to us,

00:47:16.840 --> 00:47:18.240
 adopt us for goodness sake.

00:47:18.320 --> 00:47:18.760
 So it wasn't like

00:47:18.760 --> 00:47:19.320
 He was just like,

00:47:20.019 --> 00:47:20.340
 okay,

00:47:20.539 --> 00:47:21.700
 I'm not going to punish you,

00:47:21.840 --> 00:47:22.539
 get out of my sight.

00:47:23.420 --> 00:47:24.640
 He adopted us

00:47:24.640 --> 00:47:25.480
 into His family.

00:47:26.640 --> 00:47:26.960
 Like that's,

00:47:27.039 --> 00:47:28.140
 so He went even further

00:47:28.140 --> 00:47:29.400
 than just sparing us.

00:47:29.980 --> 00:47:31.039
 He made us His own.

00:47:31.960 --> 00:47:32.360
 Like,

00:47:32.420 --> 00:47:33.340
 when you really understand

00:47:33.340 --> 00:47:33.720
 election,

00:47:33.920 --> 00:47:35.019
 pride is impossible.

00:47:35.960 --> 00:47:36.239
 Like,

00:47:36.300 --> 00:47:36.739
 you can't,

00:47:36.800 --> 00:47:38.039
 you'll be the most humble person

00:47:38.039 --> 00:47:38.940
 that walks the earth.

00:47:39.639 --> 00:47:40.239
 Like when you understand

00:47:40.239 --> 00:47:40.980
 that you had nothing

00:47:40.980 --> 00:47:42.739
 to contribute at all

00:47:42.739 --> 00:47:43.719
 to your salvation.

00:47:44.599 --> 00:47:45.000
 Like,

00:47:45.380 --> 00:47:46.920
 it leaves you nothing

00:47:46.920 --> 00:47:47.759
 to boast about.

00:47:47.860 --> 00:47:47.960
 Like,

00:47:47.980 --> 00:47:49.139
 it leaves you in total humility

00:47:49.139 --> 00:47:50.300
 looking at the cross.

00:47:51.079 --> 00:47:51.420
 And,

00:47:51.759 --> 00:47:53.739
 I'm just going to read

00:47:53.739 --> 00:47:54.860
 this one quote.

00:47:54.960 --> 00:47:55.559
 This is by a guy

00:47:55.559 --> 00:47:57.239
 named C.D. Mallory.

00:47:57.460 --> 00:47:58.179
 He was a Baptist

00:47:58.179 --> 00:48:00.500
 minister in 1842.

00:48:01.300 --> 00:48:02.280
 Kind of a no-name guy,

00:48:02.500 --> 00:48:03.300
 but like his words

00:48:03.300 --> 00:48:03.860
 are powerful.

00:48:03.860 --> 00:48:04.900
 And,

00:48:04.960 --> 00:48:05.720
 he's talking about

00:48:05.720 --> 00:48:07.260
 the effect of humility

00:48:07.260 --> 00:48:09.039
 that the doctrine

00:48:09.039 --> 00:48:10.019
 election had on him.

00:48:10.079 --> 00:48:10.380
 He said,

00:48:11.920 --> 00:48:13.180
 Is it not a doctrine

00:48:13.180 --> 00:48:14.880
 that strikes at human pride

00:48:14.880 --> 00:48:17.059
 and brings the creature

00:48:17.059 --> 00:48:19.140
 low at the footstool

00:48:19.140 --> 00:48:20.099
 of great Jehovah?

00:48:20.980 --> 00:48:21.340
 Yeah,

00:48:21.420 --> 00:48:21.760
 it does.

00:48:22.660 --> 00:48:23.820
 It strips him

00:48:23.820 --> 00:48:24.780
 of all boasting,

00:48:25.539 --> 00:48:26.500
 nourishes a meek

00:48:26.500 --> 00:48:27.559
 and lowly sense

00:48:27.559 --> 00:48:28.320
 of dependence,

00:48:28.900 --> 00:48:31.200
 while it tills the soul

00:48:31.200 --> 00:48:32.480
 with adorning thoughts

00:48:32.480 --> 00:48:33.740
 of the matchless,

00:48:33.980 --> 00:48:34.280
 sovereign,

00:48:34.440 --> 00:48:35.480
 eternal love of God.

00:48:36.360 --> 00:48:37.800
 When the believer reflects

00:48:37.800 --> 00:48:39.420
 that he has been blessed

00:48:39.420 --> 00:48:40.880
 with all spiritual blessings,

00:48:41.519 --> 00:48:42.139
 we just read,

00:48:42.219 --> 00:48:43.039
 that's Ephesians 1,

00:48:43.960 --> 00:48:44.260
 right?

00:48:45.619 --> 00:48:46.980
 All spiritual blessings

00:48:46.980 --> 00:48:47.940
 according to God's

00:48:47.940 --> 00:48:48.820
 eternal purpose,

00:48:49.619 --> 00:48:51.039
 what holy joy

00:48:51.039 --> 00:48:52.099
 and profound wonder

00:48:52.099 --> 00:48:52.980
 does he exclaim,

00:48:53.880 --> 00:48:55.480
 melting into tenderness

00:48:55.480 --> 00:48:57.380
 and graceful affection,

00:48:57.880 --> 00:48:58.820
 he dwells upon

00:48:58.820 --> 00:49:00.019
 that particular mercy,

00:49:00.019 --> 00:49:01.920
 that's you and me particularly,

00:49:02.880 --> 00:49:04.559
 which rescued him

00:49:04.559 --> 00:49:05.840
 from death and the grave

00:49:05.840 --> 00:49:07.599
 and gave him a place

00:49:07.599 --> 00:49:08.820
 at the gospel feast

00:49:08.820 --> 00:49:11.119
 where he exclaims,

00:49:11.239 --> 00:49:11.699
 why me?

00:49:12.699 --> 00:49:13.019
 Right?

00:49:13.239 --> 00:49:13.639
 Why?

00:49:13.820 --> 00:49:14.300
 Why me?

00:49:15.579 --> 00:49:16.019
 So,

00:49:16.739 --> 00:49:18.119
 it destroys boasting.

00:49:18.239 --> 00:49:19.440
 I have met Christians before

00:49:19.440 --> 00:49:19.880
 who are like,

00:49:20.300 --> 00:49:20.519
 man,

00:49:20.559 --> 00:49:21.619
 you just need to choose Jesus

00:49:21.619 --> 00:49:22.519
 because I chose Jesus

00:49:22.519 --> 00:49:23.500
 and I'm doing good

00:49:23.500 --> 00:49:24.300
 in life right now

00:49:24.300 --> 00:49:25.840
 and your life sucks,

00:49:25.960 --> 00:49:26.079
 dude,

00:49:26.099 --> 00:49:27.000
 you get your act together,

00:49:27.059 --> 00:49:27.940
 you just need to choose Jesus.

00:49:27.940 --> 00:49:29.400
 Really?

00:49:29.659 --> 00:49:29.900
 Like,

00:49:30.039 --> 00:49:31.019
 that's the effect

00:49:31.019 --> 00:49:32.200
 that the gospel has on you?

00:49:32.720 --> 00:49:33.039
 Like,

00:49:33.119 --> 00:49:33.340
 no.

00:49:33.860 --> 00:49:34.079
 Like,

00:49:35.059 --> 00:49:36.800
 election leaves zero ground

00:49:36.800 --> 00:49:37.360
 for boasting.

00:49:37.659 --> 00:49:37.880
 Like,

00:49:38.700 --> 00:49:39.820
 it might not have been you.

00:49:40.679 --> 00:49:42.260
 The only great cause

00:49:42.260 --> 00:49:42.800
 I have

00:49:42.800 --> 00:49:43.679
 for why God chose me

00:49:43.679 --> 00:49:44.840
 is I'm a pretty good sinner.

00:49:44.900 --> 00:49:45.659
 I'm a great sinner.

00:49:46.320 --> 00:49:46.480
 Right?

00:49:46.539 --> 00:49:47.000
 That's the only,

00:49:47.119 --> 00:49:47.880
 so I think it would bring him

00:49:47.880 --> 00:49:49.079
 a lot of glory to save me.

00:49:50.780 --> 00:49:52.019
 That's the only argument

00:49:52.019 --> 00:49:52.559
 we have.

00:49:53.240 --> 00:49:53.559
 And then,

00:49:53.760 --> 00:49:54.059
 secondly,

00:49:54.179 --> 00:49:54.619
 under this,

00:49:54.619 --> 00:49:55.819
 we have a deeper humility

00:49:55.819 --> 00:49:58.299
 and a stronger assurance.

00:49:59.239 --> 00:50:00.239
 A stronger assurance

00:50:00.239 --> 00:50:02.480
 is the second result here.

00:50:04.179 --> 00:50:04.579
 Okay?

00:50:04.639 --> 00:50:05.619
 A stronger assurance.

00:50:06.279 --> 00:50:06.679
 So,

00:50:06.759 --> 00:50:08.019
 our assurance of salvation

00:50:08.019 --> 00:50:08.980
 does not lie

00:50:08.980 --> 00:50:11.159
 on our own ability

00:50:11.159 --> 00:50:12.420
 just to cowboy up

00:50:12.420 --> 00:50:13.420
 and get it all right.

00:50:14.159 --> 00:50:15.079
 It doesn't have anything

00:50:15.079 --> 00:50:15.659
 to do with that.

00:50:15.739 --> 00:50:15.880
 Like,

00:50:15.920 --> 00:50:16.559
 our salvation

00:50:16.559 --> 00:50:17.519
 has been completely

00:50:17.519 --> 00:50:19.239
 brought about by God,

00:50:19.279 --> 00:50:20.179
 by the sovereign act

00:50:20.179 --> 00:50:20.839
 of God Himself.

00:50:20.840 --> 00:50:22.440
 and,

00:50:22.559 --> 00:50:24.000
 if you believe

00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:25.420
 that you have

00:50:25.420 --> 00:50:26.000
 the ability

00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:27.539
 and the right

00:50:27.539 --> 00:50:29.180
 to choose God

00:50:29.180 --> 00:50:29.900
 for salvation,

00:50:31.039 --> 00:50:31.579
 guess what?

00:50:32.180 --> 00:50:33.160
 God is not going

00:50:33.160 --> 00:50:34.100
 to take that from you

00:50:34.100 --> 00:50:35.940
 and you can also

00:50:35.940 --> 00:50:36.620
 have the ability

00:50:36.620 --> 00:50:37.140
 and the right

00:50:37.140 --> 00:50:38.059
 to un-choose God.

00:50:39.140 --> 00:50:40.360
 And that's consistent theology.

00:50:41.460 --> 00:50:42.480
 Men throughout history

00:50:42.480 --> 00:50:43.200
 have taught that.

00:50:45.160 --> 00:50:45.760
 Let's see,

00:50:45.840 --> 00:50:46.360
 John Wesley

00:50:46.360 --> 00:50:46.940
 was one of them.

00:50:48.340 --> 00:50:48.579
 You know,

00:50:48.600 --> 00:50:50.019
 he was a great guy,

00:50:50.019 --> 00:50:50.619
 but I would disagree

00:50:50.619 --> 00:50:51.159
 with him there.

00:50:52.059 --> 00:50:52.679
 And he was like,

00:50:52.699 --> 00:50:53.019
 oh yeah,

00:50:53.119 --> 00:50:53.639
 like you totally

00:50:53.639 --> 00:50:54.059
 have the ability

00:50:54.059 --> 00:50:54.559
 to choose God

00:50:54.559 --> 00:50:55.360
 and to fall away

00:50:55.360 --> 00:50:56.280
 from grace as well.

00:50:56.960 --> 00:50:58.000
 But today we've created

00:50:58.000 --> 00:50:58.759
 a new theology

00:50:58.759 --> 00:51:00.320
 that says we choose God

00:51:00.320 --> 00:51:01.960
 but then we can't

00:51:01.960 --> 00:51:02.440
 un-choose Him.

00:51:02.679 --> 00:51:02.699
 Like,

00:51:03.259 --> 00:51:03.460
 no,

00:51:03.519 --> 00:51:04.219
 He's got us.

00:51:04.259 --> 00:51:04.579
 And it's like,

00:51:04.639 --> 00:51:04.900
 uh-uh.

00:51:05.219 --> 00:51:05.420
 Like,

00:51:06.179 --> 00:51:06.420
 no,

00:51:06.619 --> 00:51:07.139
 like God,

00:51:08.079 --> 00:51:08.920
 your salvation

00:51:08.920 --> 00:51:09.820
 is only secure

00:51:09.820 --> 00:51:11.000
 if it was started by God

00:51:11.000 --> 00:51:12.059
 or if it's finished by God.

00:51:12.880 --> 00:51:13.219
 Okay?

00:51:13.619 --> 00:51:15.360
 That's the truth.

00:51:16.519 --> 00:51:16.920
 So,

00:51:17.639 --> 00:51:18.619
 our eternal security

00:51:18.619 --> 00:51:19.179
 and assurance

00:51:19.179 --> 00:51:20.899
 is huge

00:51:20.899 --> 00:51:21.960
 like in connecting it

00:51:21.960 --> 00:51:22.679
 to election.

00:51:23.500 --> 00:51:24.419
 During the Reformation,

00:51:24.579 --> 00:51:25.299
 Rome was teaching that

00:51:25.299 --> 00:51:26.359
 you can fall away from grace,

00:51:26.659 --> 00:51:27.799
 you can lose your salvation,

00:51:28.019 --> 00:51:28.919
 you better get it all right,

00:51:29.000 --> 00:51:31.039
 you better do all the right works

00:51:31.039 --> 00:51:31.639
 and stuff.

00:51:32.299 --> 00:51:33.099
 And then along come

00:51:33.099 --> 00:51:35.059
 Luther and Calvin

00:51:35.059 --> 00:51:36.559
 and many other guys

00:51:36.559 --> 00:51:36.919
 saying like,

00:51:37.000 --> 00:51:37.199
 no,

00:51:37.819 --> 00:51:38.099
 no,

00:51:38.199 --> 00:51:38.659
 not so.

00:51:38.799 --> 00:51:38.960
 Like,

00:51:39.000 --> 00:51:39.919
 if God saves us,

00:51:40.719 --> 00:51:41.579
 what's at stake here

00:51:41.579 --> 00:51:42.139
 is not us

00:51:42.139 --> 00:51:42.879
 because we don't really matter

00:51:42.879 --> 00:51:43.219
 that much.

00:51:43.279 --> 00:51:43.779
 What's at stake

00:51:43.779 --> 00:51:44.619
 is God's glory.

00:51:45.159 --> 00:51:45.579
 You are not,

00:51:45.779 --> 00:51:47.000
 we cannot lose our salvation

00:51:47.000 --> 00:51:48.239
 because the blood of Christ

00:51:48.239 --> 00:51:49.539
 would have been wasted

00:51:49.539 --> 00:51:50.380
 and it all started

00:51:50.380 --> 00:51:51.639
 because God chose us

00:51:51.639 --> 00:51:52.880
 for salvation.

00:51:53.960 --> 00:51:54.159
 So,

00:51:54.380 --> 00:51:56.480
 I guess,

00:51:56.960 --> 00:51:58.199
 just for the heck,

00:51:58.280 --> 00:51:58.380
 I mean,

00:51:58.420 --> 00:51:58.659
 why not?

00:51:58.719 --> 00:51:59.199
 Just turn here.

00:51:59.239 --> 00:51:59.699
 Romans 8.

00:51:59.760 --> 00:52:00.900
 Everybody loves Romans 8.

00:52:03.300 --> 00:52:03.659
 Man.

00:52:04.659 --> 00:52:05.860
 Everybody loves Romans 8.

00:52:07.380 --> 00:52:08.179
 They don't really know

00:52:08.179 --> 00:52:08.519
 what to do

00:52:08.519 --> 00:52:09.340
 when they get to this part.

00:52:10.280 --> 00:52:10.599
 They're kind of like,

00:52:10.639 --> 00:52:10.800
 oh,

00:52:10.860 --> 00:52:11.139
 okay,

00:52:11.320 --> 00:52:11.500
 sure.

00:52:11.500 --> 00:52:12.840
 but,

00:52:12.840 --> 00:52:14.760
 think about this.

00:52:14.840 --> 00:52:15.820
 If God has chosen you

00:52:15.820 --> 00:52:16.539
 for salvation,

00:52:18.599 --> 00:52:19.340
 that you would believe

00:52:19.340 --> 00:52:19.860
 the gospel,

00:52:20.019 --> 00:52:20.780
 then this can be true

00:52:20.780 --> 00:52:21.079
 of us,

00:52:21.119 --> 00:52:21.360
 okay?

00:52:21.940 --> 00:52:23.019
 Look at verse 31,

00:52:24.179 --> 00:52:25.000
 Romans 8.

00:52:26.480 --> 00:52:27.860
 What then shall we say

00:52:27.860 --> 00:52:28.639
 to these things?

00:52:29.079 --> 00:52:30.420
 If God is for us,

00:52:30.440 --> 00:52:31.519
 who can be against us?

00:52:31.579 --> 00:52:31.800
 Right?

00:52:32.739 --> 00:52:33.179
 Why?

00:52:34.239 --> 00:52:35.400
 He who did not spare

00:52:35.400 --> 00:52:36.099
 his own son

00:52:36.099 --> 00:52:36.980
 but gave him up

00:52:36.980 --> 00:52:38.179
 for us all,

00:52:39.139 --> 00:52:40.019
 will he not also

00:52:40.019 --> 00:52:40.900
 with him graciously

00:52:40.900 --> 00:52:42.139
 give us all things?

00:52:43.139 --> 00:52:44.019
 Who shall bring

00:52:44.019 --> 00:52:44.900
 any charge

00:52:44.900 --> 00:52:45.980
 against God's elect?

00:52:46.260 --> 00:52:46.639
 See that?

00:52:47.300 --> 00:52:47.619
 Like,

00:52:48.079 --> 00:52:49.260
 God is the highest court,

00:52:49.460 --> 00:52:49.720
 right?

00:52:50.340 --> 00:52:51.420
 He's the king,

00:52:51.500 --> 00:52:52.160
 he's the sovereign,

00:52:53.200 --> 00:52:53.960
 and at the end of the day,

00:52:54.039 --> 00:52:54.139
 like,

00:52:54.160 --> 00:52:54.700
 it doesn't matter.

00:52:54.820 --> 00:52:55.119
 Satan,

00:52:55.880 --> 00:52:56.619
 other people

00:52:56.619 --> 00:52:57.940
 will come against you

00:52:57.940 --> 00:52:58.519
 and point like,

00:52:58.579 --> 00:52:59.440
 that girl did this,

00:52:59.519 --> 00:53:00.420
 this guy did that.

00:53:01.119 --> 00:53:01.480
 He's like,

00:53:01.500 --> 00:53:01.860
 you know what?

00:53:01.880 --> 00:53:02.800
 There's no charge to bring

00:53:02.800 --> 00:53:04.800
 because no one can bring

00:53:04.800 --> 00:53:05.880
 a charge against God's elect

00:53:05.880 --> 00:53:06.559
 because their sin

00:53:06.559 --> 00:53:07.400
 has been dealt with

00:53:07.400 --> 00:53:08.940
 by God's son,

00:53:09.300 --> 00:53:09.579
 right?

00:53:09.940 --> 00:53:10.960
 That's like what he's saying.

00:53:11.960 --> 00:53:12.179
 So,

00:53:12.279 --> 00:53:13.219
 I'm going to read you

00:53:13.219 --> 00:53:15.059
 just something from,

00:53:15.380 --> 00:53:16.819
 this is the last thing,

00:53:17.519 --> 00:53:19.960
 by John Newton,

00:53:20.119 --> 00:53:20.639
 the guy wrote

00:53:20.639 --> 00:53:21.400
 Amazing Grace.

00:53:21.519 --> 00:53:21.719
 So,

00:53:22.259 --> 00:53:22.799
 a lot of people

00:53:22.799 --> 00:53:23.840
 who sing Amazing Grace,

00:53:23.940 --> 00:53:24.159
 like,

00:53:24.219 --> 00:53:24.880
 who love that hymn,

00:53:25.360 --> 00:53:26.119
 they hate election

00:53:26.119 --> 00:53:26.819
 and they don't really know

00:53:26.819 --> 00:53:27.960
 that hymn is about election,

00:53:28.079 --> 00:53:28.420
 actually.

00:53:29.420 --> 00:53:29.759
 So,

00:53:29.980 --> 00:53:30.639
 but John Newton

00:53:30.639 --> 00:53:31.179
 wrote this,

00:53:31.199 --> 00:53:31.579
 he said,

00:53:31.579 --> 00:53:34.360
 The views I have received

00:53:34.360 --> 00:53:36.480
 from the doctrines of grace

00:53:36.480 --> 00:53:38.119
 are essential to my peace.

00:53:38.960 --> 00:53:40.400
 I could not live comfortably

00:53:40.400 --> 00:53:41.659
 a day or an hour

00:53:41.659 --> 00:53:42.319
 without them.

00:53:42.940 --> 00:53:44.480
 I likewise believe

00:53:44.480 --> 00:53:45.559
 them to be friendly

00:53:45.559 --> 00:53:46.659
 to holiness

00:53:46.659 --> 00:53:49.000
 and to have a direct influence

00:53:49.000 --> 00:53:49.639
 in producing

00:53:49.639 --> 00:53:50.440
 and maintaining

00:53:50.440 --> 00:53:51.860
 a gospel conversation.

00:53:52.599 --> 00:53:53.179
 And therefore,

00:53:53.659 --> 00:53:55.420
 I must not be ashamed of them.

00:53:56.319 --> 00:53:56.619
 Now,

00:53:56.619 --> 00:53:57.319
 this is something

00:53:57.319 --> 00:53:58.159
 that Newton wrote.

00:53:58.920 --> 00:54:00.079
 It's meant to give us joy,

00:54:00.259 --> 00:54:00.519
 peace,

00:54:00.599 --> 00:54:01.000
 assurance,

00:54:01.159 --> 00:54:01.519
 comfort,

00:54:02.539 --> 00:54:03.599
 and humility.

00:54:03.899 --> 00:54:04.899
 It's the effect of it.

00:54:05.420 --> 00:54:05.639
 So,

00:54:05.719 --> 00:54:06.179
 like I said,

00:54:06.259 --> 00:54:07.379
 I know that a lot of your minds

00:54:07.379 --> 00:54:08.039
 may be spinning

00:54:08.039 --> 00:54:09.299
 and that's okay.

00:54:09.440 --> 00:54:09.539
 Like,

00:54:09.559 --> 00:54:10.179
 let's just keep,

00:54:10.239 --> 00:54:12.019
 keep the conversation going.

00:54:12.139 --> 00:54:13.039
 Don't run away.

00:54:13.239 --> 00:54:13.379
 You know,

00:54:13.399 --> 00:54:13.819
 deal with this.

00:54:13.859 --> 00:54:14.599
 I'm trying to show you

00:54:14.599 --> 00:54:15.980
 that this is in the Word.

00:54:16.139 --> 00:54:16.339
 So,

00:54:17.099 --> 00:54:18.199
 I actually think the first,

00:54:18.480 --> 00:54:19.159
 next Monday

00:54:19.159 --> 00:54:20.000
 when I'm in the chow hall

00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:21.559
 from 11 to 1

00:54:21.559 --> 00:54:22.099
 and John's there

00:54:22.099 --> 00:54:22.679
 for about an hour,

00:54:22.799 --> 00:54:23.699
 we'll talk about

00:54:23.699 --> 00:54:24.460
 some more of this stuff

00:54:24.460 --> 00:54:24.960
 if you want.

00:54:25.440 --> 00:54:26.019
 We're going to be kind of

00:54:26.019 --> 00:54:26.920
 like in the green room,

00:54:27.059 --> 00:54:27.259
 right,

00:54:27.379 --> 00:54:28.039
 by the bathroom.

00:54:28.159 --> 00:54:28.859
 It's kind of in the back,

00:54:29.399 --> 00:54:29.980
 back in there,

00:54:30.639 --> 00:54:31.379
 just so you know.

00:54:31.799 --> 00:54:31.920
 But,

00:54:32.759 --> 00:54:33.940
 let's just close in prayer,

00:54:34.039 --> 00:54:34.219
 guys.

00:54:34.279 --> 00:54:34.960
 You can come on up

00:54:34.960 --> 00:54:35.619
 for music.