WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.339 Our sermon passage for today, Ephesians chapter 2, verses 4 through 7. 00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:06.879 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:43.000 Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:45.659 The word of God for the people of God. 00:00:46.980 --> 00:00:48.879 Thanks be to God. Please be seated. 00:00:50.400 --> 00:00:55.079 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord stands forever. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:04.859 Let's pray. 00:01:04.859 --> 00:01:04.939 Amen. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:26.159 O loving God, God of rich mercy and kindness, please blow the Holy Spirit on your people, on all that you will give an ear to hear. 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:35.640 And your word as it goes forth does not return to you void, but it brings forth the fruit that you ordain. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:37.920 We trust that you will do this, Lord. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:49.920 We pray that your Holy Spirit will cause us to behold even now in our midst through the ministry of the word, Jesus Christ lifted up, exalted, glorified. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:56.460 Putting on display the kindness of God to us. 00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:59.579 We ask this for your glory alone, Lord. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:00.340 Amen. 00:02:00.340 --> 00:02:00.520 Amen. 00:02:00.520 --> 00:02:00.579 Amen. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:00.579 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:00.579 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:22.039 One of the joys of belonging to a family, and I'm thinking of you all, a spiritual family, a church, is being able to express the love that God has put in us one to another. 00:02:22.580 --> 00:02:28.120 It's the kindness of God put into his people that we get to express in a lot of different ways. 00:02:29.020 --> 00:02:32.240 Some of you express this kindness by serving one another. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:41.060 Many times I'll look around after a fellowship meal and there's this servants wiping down the tables, throwing away trash from one another. 00:02:42.099 --> 00:02:50.800 Others of you will spend maybe more than 24 hours preparing a piece of meat just right in order to bring it in and share it with everyone. 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:56.659 And that's an expression of your kindness or bread that you prepared from every step of the way. 00:02:56.659 --> 00:02:59.620 And just to watch one another enjoy that together. 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:01.939 Isn't that just such a blessing? 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:10.579 Well, our chief end as human beings is to glorify and enjoy God. 00:03:11.419 --> 00:03:14.919 To enjoy God is what we're created for. 00:03:16.659 --> 00:03:19.460 Let that simple truth sink in for just a moment. 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:30.300 And really, as we walk through this passage, my sermon is an invitation for the moments ahead to enjoy God together. 00:03:31.760 --> 00:03:35.360 And specifically, enjoy the kindness of God. 00:03:36.700 --> 00:03:38.159 Would you look at our sermon passage? 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:43.180 This is how verse 7 tells us. 00:03:43.299 --> 00:03:44.520 It's all headed to this. 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:45.280 Look at verse 7. 00:03:46.079 --> 00:03:54.879 That in the ages to come, God might show the exceeding riches of his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:03:57.300 For the ages to come. 00:03:57.960 --> 00:03:59.379 This is God's delight. 00:04:00.019 --> 00:04:03.439 It's that you as people would enjoy his kindness. 00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:05.259 So let's start that now. 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:06.180 Let's practice it. 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:11.180 The sermon title is that invitation, that encouragement, that exhortation. 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:13.760 Enjoy God's kindness. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:22.980 As we walk through this passage, there are three areas of focus for us to appreciate the kindness of God and enjoy him together. 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:25.680 The first one is this. 00:04:25.819 --> 00:04:26.319 Number one. 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:33.639 Marvel at God's kindness above the darkness of your sins. 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:39.139 Marvel at God's kindness above the darkness of your sins. 00:04:39.139 --> 00:04:48.479 The other day, one of my children pointed out to me as we were about to just go in and, you know, keep kind of get through the evening and do everything we need to do. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:54.199 Just how that night for for a few different reasons, the stars seem to really sparkle. 00:04:54.199 --> 00:05:01.060 And if you think about those nights where you've been able to look up in the sky, when is it that the stars shine the brightest? 00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:03.959 It's when the contrast is most great. 00:05:04.539 --> 00:05:13.019 It's when when there aren't clouds that are capturing some light that's reflected off the moon into the clouds to blur it and decrease the contrast. 00:05:13.019 --> 00:05:16.560 And it's when the moon is is dark and it's hidden away. 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:22.879 And then in the darkness of the night, you can just see that star piercing through. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:27.740 And this is what our glorious passage here does for us, isn't it? 00:05:27.740 --> 00:05:30.720 It's the darkness of death. 00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:38.319 Against which as a backdrop, now the light of the gospel shines in Jesus Christ. 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:43.019 Marvel at God's kindness above the darkness of your sins. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:46.220 Chapter two, verse one. 00:05:46.340 --> 00:05:47.160 Put your finger there. 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.920 I'll remind you that you and I. 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:56.040 We're dead in our trespasses in sins. 00:05:56.380 --> 00:05:59.180 And now look at verse four, our sermon passage for today. 00:06:00.300 --> 00:06:02.500 It starts with these exact words. 00:06:03.900 --> 00:06:07.860 But God, God didn't leave you and me dead in our sins. 00:06:07.940 --> 00:06:15.080 We should have stayed dead toward God forever, lost in utter darkness without any knowledge of God's kindness. 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:22.419 But God sent Christ who joyfully took God's justice. 00:06:23.159 --> 00:06:26.079 The punishment we deserve in our place. 00:06:27.539 --> 00:06:31.719 God made us alive together with Christ. 00:06:32.799 --> 00:06:36.680 And Jesus Christ put on his people his righteousness. 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:41.560 Look at verse two, chapter two, verse two. 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:45.300 You and I once walked according to the course of this world. 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:53.379 Well, now our passage tells us, but God didn't leave you and me to float to hell on that lazy river. 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:57.939 We would have drifted like like that dead fish to our own perdition. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:01.920 But God saved us by his amazing grace. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:13.759 Chapter two, verse two says you and I were slaves to disobedience by the evil power of Satan, the prince of the air that was working in us. 00:07:16.460 --> 00:07:22.900 We deserve to stay abandoned there as sons of disobedience under the dominion of the devil on earth. 00:07:22.899 --> 00:07:30.679 But God, our passage tells us, God raised us up above all of this together with Christ. 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:40.719 Chapter two, verse three told us that you and I were addicted to the lusts of our bodies, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:47.620 But God didn't leave us wallowing in that filth, eating that pig slop. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:49.840 That's what we deserve. 00:07:50.020 --> 00:07:59.940 But God made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, cleaned by his very own precious blood. 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:07.120 Chapter two, verse three tells us that you and I were by nature children of wrath. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:09.860 A tiger can't change its stripes. 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:11.360 You and I can't change our nature. 00:08:12.060 --> 00:08:19.019 And we were by nature children of God's wrath because we are in our sin and trespasses. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:24.800 We deserve misery in this life and God's eternal judgment in the life to come. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:37.340 But God instead shows us the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:47.539 Some of our favorite, most cherished hymns and songs and spiritual songs capture these truths and sing them back, don't they? 00:08:47.539 --> 00:08:52.240 What riches of kindness God lavished on us? 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:54.039 His blood was the payment. 00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:55.899 His life was the cost. 00:08:56.599 --> 00:08:59.939 We stood neath a debt we could never afford. 00:09:00.299 --> 00:09:02.039 Our sins, they are many. 00:09:02.939 --> 00:09:04.500 His mercy is more. 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:06.480 Praise the Lord. 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:08.379 His mercy is more. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:10.240 Stronger than darkness. 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:11.980 New every morn. 00:09:12.319 --> 00:09:13.719 Our sins, they are many. 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:17.899 But God's mercy is more. 00:09:18.160 --> 00:09:18.379 Amen. 00:09:21.580 --> 00:09:24.200 Now look back at chapter 1, verse 18. 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:28.000 This is what Paul is praying for the church. 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:34.279 He prays that you may know what is the hope of Christ's calling. 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:37.540 What is the hope of Christ's calling? 00:09:38.700 --> 00:09:41.580 Dear Christian, he's praying for you. 00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:48.879 And as we pray through the scripture, we're praying for one another, for those who already belong to God, who are alive in him. 00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:51.780 Jesus calls the dead to rise. 00:09:52.780 --> 00:10:00.100 And for you who have heard the shepherd's voice, he prays that you may know the hope of this calling. 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:02.820 This calling of the shepherd doesn't stop. 00:10:03.560 --> 00:10:04.700 He keeps calling you. 00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:13.780 And that same powerful call that quickened us to receive Christ, to follow him, continues to call us forward in Christ. 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:18.720 Here's what our confession of faith says about this calling. 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:22.040 This effectual call. 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:24.080 And we define that term real quickly. 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:27.120 So the call is the shepherd calling you by name. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.120 Follow me. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:33.860 And effectual means what he commands, it happens. 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:36.360 He calls you and you come. 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:47.500 This effectual call flows from God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in those called. 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:51.980 Neither does the call arise from any power or action on their part. 00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:54.159 They are totally passive in it. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:11:01.039 They are dead in sins and trespasses until they are made alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit. 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:03.740 That's exactly what this passage teaches. 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:14.519 The confession goes on to say, by this they are enabled to answer this call and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:25.079 This response is enabled by a power also from this passage that is no less than that which raised Christ from the dead. 00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:36.399 This is the power of the effectual call that brought you from death to life, from being abandoned and far away to belonging to him, 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:47.079 from being a lamb that has wandered away and drifted into the thorns and is about to be devoured to now being at the feet of the shepherd following him. 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:51.459 Dear friends that are here today. 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:57.680 If you have not repented and trusted in Jesus Christ. 00:11:58.519 --> 00:12:02.420 Then this glorious promise is not yours yet. 00:12:03.420 --> 00:12:06.620 This is not your present reality. 00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:14.120 You are still currently by nature a child deserving God's justice. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:19.220 God's wrath against your sin and mine outside of Christ. 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:23.940 But the same God offers you abundant mercy today. 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:26.519 If you go to him. 00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:31.220 You will only go to him if he calls you and if he calls you, you will go to him. 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:33.740 Why is that? 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:41.779 Why is it that God calls children of wrath, slaves to disobedience, to himself and love? 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:42.820 Why does he do this? 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:45.080 Look at the rest of verse four. 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:50.040 Because God is rich in mercy. 00:12:52.040 --> 00:12:57.180 Because of his great love with which he loved us. 00:12:57.879 --> 00:13:00.259 See, this is all from God. 00:13:01.040 --> 00:13:03.280 This is God's nature. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:11.480 I'm reminded of how this glorious truth is reinforced throughout all of the scriptures. 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:15.639 But it's not put on its fullest display until we have Jesus Christ. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:18.019 But rich in mercy. 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:19.039 This is God. 00:13:19.819 --> 00:13:22.659 Full of loving kindness toward his people. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:26.059 To pour out grace to undeserving sinners. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:28.100 It's who God is. 00:13:28.959 --> 00:13:29.980 This is our God. 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:33.060 He is loving kindness. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:36.720 God is steadfast love. 00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:40.100 God is covenant faithfulness. 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:42.680 He is rich in mercy. 00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:44.879 This is our God. 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:49.120 Just he says, look to Christ for proof. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:51.399 This is what all the scriptures prove. 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:55.179 In Jesus, you will see this richness of God. 00:13:55.899 --> 00:14:02.059 That word rich means abundant, overflowing, full of, plentiful. 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:05.220 He's rich in mercy. 00:14:06.439 --> 00:14:12.220 That word mercy is compassion, loving kindness or faithful care. 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:13.659 That's God. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:15.500 Rich in this. 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:20.580 God is an infinite storehouse of mercy. 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:29.980 This word mercy is likely Paul's Greek version of that more ancient Hebrew word, hesed. 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:35.419 Which is God's unfailing covenant keeping kindness or loyal love. 00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:41.179 Think of the Old Testament reinforcing this attribute of God. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.860 God is full of this type of compassion. 00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:49.480 It's what we read in Exodus 34, 6. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:57.360 The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abounding in goodness and truth. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:00.639 God's mercy is overflowing. 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:05.960 Psalm 103, 8 and 11 tell us that the Lord is merciful and gracious. 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:10.179 The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in mercy. 00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:16.899 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him. 00:15:17.599 --> 00:15:19.939 God's faithful care abounds. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.759 Lamentations 3, 22 and 23. 00:15:22.859 --> 00:15:24.599 I love when we sing this scripture. 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:28.940 The steadfast love of the Lord never fails. 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:31.879 His mercies never come to an end. 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:34.580 They are new every morning. 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:37.420 Great is his faithfulness. 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:41.220 God never runs out of loving kindness. 00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:44.220 This is our God. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:51.440 What patience would wait as we constantly roam. 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:54.960 What father so tender is calling us home. 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:59.620 He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor. 00:16:00.660 --> 00:16:01.800 Our sins, they are many. 00:16:02.280 --> 00:16:03.800 His mercy is more. 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:07.000 Hear his call. 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:08.800 Walk to him. 00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:09.580 Follow him. 00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:11.680 Praise the Lord. 00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:12.840 His mercy is more. 00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:14.560 Stronger than darkness. 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:16.560 New every morn. 00:16:17.180 --> 00:16:18.360 Our sins, they are many. 00:16:18.900 --> 00:16:20.680 His mercy is more. 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:28.939 Marvel at God's kindness above the darkness of your sin and enjoy God's kindness. 00:16:30.099 --> 00:16:34.199 Here's the second focus for us to enjoy God's kindness together. 00:16:35.319 --> 00:16:40.719 Number two, rest in God's kindness secured entirely by Christ. 00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:45.719 You can rest in God's kindness because it doesn't depend on you. 00:16:45.719 --> 00:16:49.679 It's secured completely already in Christ Jesus. 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:52.479 Look at verse five. 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:54.000 The passage continues. 00:16:54.719 --> 00:16:55.859 Ephesians 2, 5. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:59.919 Even when we were dead in trespasses. 00:17:01.599 --> 00:17:05.619 See, the verses up to this point have emphasized how dead we were. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.960 Nothing has changed. 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:13.099 When we were that dead, God acted. 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:17.179 We were acted upon. 00:17:18.179 --> 00:17:21.699 The three verbs that follow are God's action. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:25.980 Upon dead, perished, condemned sinners. 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:37.019 Now, to describe what God does, to describe his great kindness in these three verbs, Paul uses words that are not found anywhere else. 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:46.259 Most likely, he had to put some Greek roots and prefixes or suffixes together to convey a meaning. 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:50.400 It's like the existing words weren't enough. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:55.539 This glorious truth is too much for any normal words to carry them forward. 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:58.539 And the three verbs are these. 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:01.299 Enlivened together with. 00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:04.079 Raised together with. 00:18:04.399 --> 00:18:06.700 And enthroned together with. 00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:08.859 That's all one word. 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.460 Each of those verbs is one word. 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:15.500 To describe God's kindness. 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:21.559 Number one, God made us alive together with Christ. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:23.660 That's what God did. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:28.579 He quickened the dead along with Christ. 00:18:30.360 --> 00:18:32.279 He brought to life. 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:36.620 Those who were necros along with Christ. 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:38.799 He gave life. 00:18:39.439 --> 00:18:41.819 To those who had no life in themselves. 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:43.519 Along with Christ. 00:18:43.739 --> 00:18:45.399 He imparted this to us. 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:51.739 And then he has a small note that he'll come back to in a moment. 00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:55.659 He says, by grace, you have been saved. 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:58.299 The way that God. 00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:03.479 Regenerated the way that God breathed life into safe centers to lost. 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:08.680 Sinners to make them saved in Christ was purely of his kindness. 00:19:08.860 --> 00:19:09.519 His grace. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:13.720 It was his favor to those who are ill deserving. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.400 And the tense of the verbs is interesting. 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:21.559 He says, by grace, you have been saved. 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:26.640 God has already done this. 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.880 He's already made you whole. 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.799 You're already rescued. 00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:30.819 You have already been delivered. 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:30.939 Secured. 00:19:32.379 --> 00:19:35.799 And these three verbs to make us alive together with Christ. 00:19:35.939 --> 00:19:38.779 And next he says, to raise us up together with Christ. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:44.639 All of these, they convey the meaning that this is something that has happened in the past tense. 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:48.200 But it has ongoing and permanent results. 00:19:49.439 --> 00:19:51.379 That's why you can rest in God's kindness. 00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:53.279 Because this is already true. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:56.079 It's already secured for you. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:20:01.839 Not because of anything in you, but entirely by your union to Jesus Christ. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:05.319 He made you alive together with Christ. 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.379 Verse 6 goes on. 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:09.740 He raised us up together with Christ. 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:16.220 Word for word, it's he resurrected us or raised us up with Christ. 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.359 He brought us up. 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:21.579 It's a word that's used when you're going to wake someone up from their sleep. 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:25.480 Or to lift up a thing and put it where you want it to be. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:31.519 It means being pulled completely out of the graveyard of your old life. 00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:33.220 Raised up out of that. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.539 With Christ. 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.980 To be made alive. 00:20:41.179 --> 00:20:42.339 To be raised up. 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:47.839 It takes us back to the promise we read in the Gospel of John. 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:51.599 How Lazarus didn't just stay sick. 00:20:51.679 --> 00:20:52.679 He truly died. 00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.059 Was buried. 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:55.740 And he stinketh. 00:20:57.679 --> 00:20:59.879 And our Lord Jesus Christ wept. 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:05.759 He's full of kindness, compassion, favor to the ill-deserving. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:11.819 And our Lord Jesus Christ calls in to that tomb. 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:14.720 Where there's a corpse decaying. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:20.200 To the point that the flesh is literally rotting off the bones and smelling bad. 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:23.099 The gases are bloating inside. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.819 The ears, the brain. 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:30.259 Nothing works for this corpse to hear the voice. 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:36.119 And Jesus Christ says, Lazarus, you dead man. 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:39.059 Come forth. 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:42.259 It's the effectual call of the Savior. 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:44.460 Over a dead corpse. 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:47.059 And Jesus already told them why this was happening. 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:51.460 It's so that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, may be glorified. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:58.160 It's so that churches like ours, over 2,000 years later, can read this passage in John. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:02.279 And think about your own experience of this. 00:22:03.040 --> 00:22:04.060 I was Lazarus. 00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:06.840 And Jesus called me. 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:09.000 And said, come to me. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:13.860 Lazarus wanted to come to God. 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:20.040 He wanted to come to Christ to that most beautiful, most sweet, most compassionate voice. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:21.920 That a moment ago was weeping. 00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:23.860 Out of love. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:27.040 And Lazarus came forth. 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:33.720 It's the same voice of the Creator that spoke over darkness and said, let there be light. 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:35.880 And there was light. 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:40.000 Rise from the dead. 00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:42.620 And the dead rise. 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.220 Live. 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.160 And we live. 00:22:48.580 --> 00:22:49.779 Follow me. 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:51.700 Jesus calls to you. 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:54.180 And we follow. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:01.039 In God's appointed and accepted time, our confession celebrates. 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:10.119 God is pleased to call effectually by his word and spirit those he has predestined to life. 00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:18.099 He calls them out of their natural state of sin and death to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:24.299 He enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God. 00:23:25.179 --> 00:23:29.379 He takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:38.880 He renews their wills and by his almighty power turns them to good and effectually draws them to Jesus Christ. 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:49.780 Yet he does all this in such a way that they come completely freely since they are made willing by his grace. 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:58.559 Lazarus actually stood up and Lazarus actually walked to Jesus with his own legs because God did it all. 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:01.980 When you and I are saved, it's for the same reason. 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.259 God did it all. 00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:06.240 Yet I actually walked to him. 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:10.139 Yet not I, but Christ in me together with Christ. 00:24:12.379 --> 00:24:13.440 And verse six goes on. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.460 Here's the third verb. 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:20.420 He made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.900 It's all one word in the original. 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:25.000 Enthroned us together with. 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:25.779 That's a verb. 00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.720 Paul just made it up. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:33.000 He enthroned us together with Christ in the heavenly places. 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.579 Seated us. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.400 Granted us seats of honor. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:41.900 Caused us to be there spiritually. 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:48.240 In union with Jesus Christ in the realm of the holy God himself. 00:24:49.840 --> 00:24:51.920 Look back at chapter one, verse 20. 00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:54.980 These three verbs. 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.120 Made alive. 00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.280 Raised. 00:24:59.660 --> 00:24:59.960 Seated. 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.420 Christ is the forerunner. 00:25:02.780 --> 00:25:04.080 Look at chapter one, verse 20. 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:06.220 It's what Christ has already done. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:14.759 Says which God worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:18.200 The same language echoed now back as a promise to the church. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:23.460 We have to pause and remind ourselves again. 00:25:23.860 --> 00:25:27.539 How could I be joined with Christ in that way? 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:31.099 Have you looked at my life in the last 24 hours? 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:38.759 How can a holy God seat a former child of wrath next to him in glory? 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:44.619 It's because Jesus Christ took your place in mine on the cross. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:50.559 He bore the punishment we deserve so that you might be united to him. 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:57.640 In his resurrection and ascension and session at the right hand of God. 00:25:57.640 --> 00:26:02.500 Our spiritual life is bound up in his life. 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:10.320 You and I are not in God's presence by our own standing whatsoever and never apart from Christ. 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:15.840 We are only there because Jesus Christ is our our head, our covenant. 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:20.700 Remember, he gave Christ to be head over all things to the church. 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.700 We belong to him. 00:26:22.780 --> 00:26:23.480 We're his body. 00:26:24.320 --> 00:26:25.780 So how could we not be with him? 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:40.220 Our spiritual life and all of our spiritual privileges in Christ are legal realities now already because of our union to Jesus Christ, our federal representative head. 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:45.879 Romans 6 5 takes takes the first truth. 00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:51.720 Who someone in Bible study pointed out, it's like dominoes all lined up. 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:56.339 When Adam fell, every other domino can't get itself out of the way. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.299 We all fell. 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:03.180 Now, the glorious truth in Romans 6 is that in Adam, we all die. 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:05.740 And if you're in Christ, you live. 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:09.720 The same principle cuts both both ways. 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:15.259 Remember, he gave Christ as head. 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:19.619 And what's true of Christ, the head will be true for his body. 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:21.079 We belong to him. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:24.519 So we are truly seated with Christ. 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:30.359 We have a standing that's a union with him that's more than just legal or positional. 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:36.019 It's an organic spiritual bond that we share by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:43.160 And this word for being seated with Christ as Christians, this has to change the way we think about ourselves. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:47.539 It has to increase our enjoyment of God's kindness. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:50.920 The word here is cathizo. 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.720 Cathizo. 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:57.980 It's the root for the word cathedral, which in the Roman system was the seat of authority. 00:27:57.980 --> 00:28:06.380 So it means we are co-seated or jointly enthroned, ruling with authority with Christ spiritually already. 00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:20.000 In this Ephesian city, a Roman ruled city, it would be the emperor or the civil magistrate that would sit in this chair like their imperial throne on behalf of the Roman Empire. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:29.539 And from there, they would sign laws, exercise their exercise, the sovereignty of the Roman Empire over every area that they conquered and declare their judgments. 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:40.119 So these Roman elites would be sitting on these thrones ruling and the wealthy people of each city they conquered would try to buy a seat closer to that ruler. 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:46.779 And Paul is taking that imagery and that practice and he's saying, look, church. 00:28:48.239 --> 00:28:49.699 You are penniless. 00:28:50.879 --> 00:28:52.539 You are ill deserving. 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:57.959 But you can bypass that whole system of this world. 00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:01.359 Christ has done it all for you. 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:06.500 And you are already seated, enthroned in the place of honor. 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:09.180 He is ruling over all. 00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:11.619 All things are under his feet and you are with him. 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:15.799 He's saying, Christian, look where you sit with Christ already. 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:20.000 Why would you chase after any of these other seats in this world? 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:27.339 Your identity is not defined by anything other than your place before God with Christ. 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:31.519 It's not defined by our past failures. 00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:35.099 It's not defined by our present fears. 00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:39.799 You are seated with Christ, enthroned with him. 00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:50.699 And as we learn to enjoy his kindness and how secure we are in Christ, it will change our lives. 00:29:52.699 --> 00:29:54.500 We sing this as well. 00:29:55.399 --> 00:30:01.500 Oh, how great thy loving kindness, vaster, broader than the sea. 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:05.759 Oh, how marvelous thy goodness lavished all on me. 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:09.059 Yes, I rest in thee, beloved. 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:12.440 Know what wealth of grace is thine. 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:16.440 Know thy certainty of promise and have made it mine. 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:20.500 Jesus, I am resting, resting. 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:23.440 In the joy of what thou art, 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:28.700 I am finding out the greatness of thy loving heart. 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:34.799 So rest in God's kindness secured entirely by Christ. 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:40.740 Well, the third and final focus for our appreciation of God's kindness today is this. 00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.340 Number three. 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:46.899 Anticipate God's kindness displayed for all eternity. 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:49.179 Anticipate. 00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:59.379 Look forward to God's kindness that will be displayed, showcased, demonstrated for all eternity. 00:30:59.380 --> 00:31:00.960 Look at verse seven. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:10.040 God has done this to us as church that in the ages to come, he might show. 00:31:10.900 --> 00:31:13.100 That he might display. 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.900 That he might exhibit. 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:24.880 That he might make known the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:30.260 I love how he started talking about the riches of God's mercy. 00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:38.580 And now in verse seven, he talks about the exceeding riches of God's grace in his kindness toward us in Christ. 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:43.300 And that word exceeding, the exceeding riches of his grace. 00:31:45.280 --> 00:31:49.840 It means to throw something beyond the target. 00:31:50.840 --> 00:31:53.960 It means to surpass all measurement. 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:59.100 See, you can't measure the riches of God's grace. 00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:05.960 If you thought you were the target of God's grace, it's it hits you, but it washes way beyond you. 00:32:07.040 --> 00:32:08.960 God's grace, his loving kindness. 00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:10.780 It's like a tsunami. 00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:15.720 It's going to bury his people way exceedingly beyond. 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:19.620 What we could ever put to words. 00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:25.659 Surpassing, immeasurable, extraordinary, boundless kindness. 00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:32.040 And he talks about God's kindness toward us in Jesus Christ. 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:35.960 Oh, this word has been a joy to discover. 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:41.920 It means goodness, gentleness, benevolence, favor and charity. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:48.340 And this is what God wants to display and demonstrate for the ages to come. 00:32:49.060 --> 00:32:53.820 For the approaching time and all future epochs for all eternity. 00:32:54.360 --> 00:32:59.100 He wants to show the exceeding riches of his grace. 00:32:59.099 --> 00:33:03.159 There's going to be a commentator put it. 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:12.079 There will be an ongoing sequence of ages where God will continuously display the exceeding wealth of his grace. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:17.439 For ages and ages to come for all eternity. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:21.100 God's kindness will be the thing we focus on and celebrate. 00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:24.180 And this is why we focus now. 00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:27.160 We start by practicing for all eternity. 00:33:28.080 --> 00:33:34.600 The word kindness, it comes from a root that means useful, beneficial or wholesome. 00:33:35.820 --> 00:33:37.980 This type of kindness is active. 00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:46.259 It's tender and it's a gracious disposition that bends toward others to meet genuine needs. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:49.920 It signifies benevolence in motion. 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:54.500 A tangible goodness that seeks the ultimate well-being of the recipient. 00:33:55.720 --> 00:34:01.779 It's the kindness of God that woos, that keeps calling you to him, that preserves you in him. 00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:05.320 And that heals you as you stay close to him. 00:34:05.580 --> 00:34:12.139 This is the kindness of God that washes over his people now and will be on display for all eternity. 00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:14.240 Now listen to this. 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:22.719 That root of this word kindness in the original Greek by God's providence is krestos. 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:31.899 It sounds like the word Christ, the Messiah sent to all the nations through the Jewish people. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:33.479 The Messiah, the anointed one. 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:38.519 And I believe that's what Paul is emphasizing, almost like a play on words. 00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:46.179 It's to put on display the krestos of God in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:49.899 I think he says the same theme. 00:34:49.899 --> 00:34:54.940 Listen for the common words, making it very clear in Titus 3, 4. 00:34:54.940 --> 00:35:24.920 Titus 3, 4. 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:28.480 The love of God, our Savior, toward man appeared. 00:35:29.760 --> 00:35:32.139 God saved us in Christ. 00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:35.519 This is our God. 00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:41.240 He is loving kindness. 00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:43.599 He is steadfast love. 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:45.820 He is covenant faithfulness. 00:35:45.820 --> 00:35:49.780 And God never runs out of his kindness. 00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:55.420 In this world, we get empty quick, don't we? 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:57.000 We get parched. 00:35:57.120 --> 00:35:57.840 We get dry. 00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:03.539 Many of you in these months that we haven't had too much snow on the ground yet. 00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:07.720 We find ourselves outdoors, you know, maybe walking or some of you hiking. 00:36:08.220 --> 00:36:10.680 Some of you doing even dangerous things on the mountains. 00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:14.840 But you know that here in Colorado, you have to bring water along with you. 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.860 You have to have water. 00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:20.160 And then you have to ration yourself so you don't run out of water. 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:21.640 What if something goes wrong? 00:36:21.700 --> 00:36:25.680 What if you're two hours longer than you expected and everybody's very thirsty? 00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:27.200 Then your muscles start cramping. 00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:30.680 So you only can drink the water that you carry. 00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:32.860 And you only want to carry as much as you'll drink. 00:36:32.860 --> 00:36:36.039 So you're always going to have barely enough water. 00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:37.800 Your lips are chapped. 00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:39.140 We're always thirsty here in Colorado. 00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:47.800 Now imagine that same experience, but there's an endless supply of spring water. 00:36:49.180 --> 00:36:51.079 Maybe that's the hike you're taking. 00:36:51.240 --> 00:36:55.120 It's along this beautiful, pristine, perfectly pure. 00:36:55.200 --> 00:36:56.400 You don't even need a life straw. 00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:58.240 It's just pure spring water. 00:36:58.340 --> 00:36:58.980 You can drink. 00:36:59.700 --> 00:37:01.000 And it's just the right temperature. 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:03.440 You have as much of it as you could ever want. 00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:08.840 You can enjoy drinking from it again and again and again and again. 00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:10.679 You don't live in scarcity. 00:37:11.320 --> 00:37:14.139 You live in the overabundance of it. 00:37:16.780 --> 00:37:24.139 So often my thoughts to confess my sin to you, my thoughts of God are thoughts of God being scarce toward me. 00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:28.000 And thoughts of God's kindness toward me running out. 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:32.960 And this passage has had to correct me. 00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:44.780 I need to rest in the abundance, the overabundance of God's kindness toward me, toward his people in Jesus Christ. 00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:49.000 And trust his kindness will never run out. 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:51.440 We drink of it now. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:56.659 And we anticipate his kindness being on display, fully available. 00:37:56.840 --> 00:37:57.539 Come and drink. 00:37:57.920 --> 00:38:02.039 If you don't have any money to buy it, come and drink of Christ for all eternity. 00:38:02.840 --> 00:38:08.500 So, church, that's the simple encouragement for right now, for the rest of today and this week. 00:38:09.300 --> 00:38:10.019 Enjoy it. 00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:15.440 Enjoy God's kindness toward you in Christ. 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:17.800 Drink up his kindness. 00:38:18.059 --> 00:38:19.559 It will never run out for you. 00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:27.159 Enjoy his rich, loving, overflowing, steadfast love and covenant faithfulness. 00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:30.119 His abundance kindness for you in Jesus Christ. 00:38:31.119 --> 00:38:31.739 Drink it up. 00:38:31.880 --> 00:38:34.780 Enjoy it today in preparation for the ages to come. 00:38:34.780 --> 00:38:47.880 As we sing, even once we've been there 10,000 years, bright, shining as the stars or the sun. 00:38:48.700 --> 00:38:53.260 We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun. 00:38:54.480 --> 00:39:00.380 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:04.180 I once was lost, but now am found. 00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:06.960 Was blind, but now I see. 00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:08.579 Let's pray. 00:39:10.380 --> 00:39:13.900 Lord, we praise you for your great kindness. 00:39:15.059 --> 00:39:20.800 I pray that your people can know your kindness, Father, like never before and grow into it. 00:39:21.780 --> 00:39:22.579 Rest in it. 00:39:23.160 --> 00:39:27.579 And that you'll stir us up, Lord, to long for more and more of your kindness in Christ. 00:39:27.579 --> 00:39:29.360 Now and for ages to come. 00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:31.239 For your glory we ask. 00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:31.719 Amen.