WEBVTT

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 Good morning. It's great to worship with you this morning. For guests here, my name is Sean. I'm one of the pastors here. I have the privilege of bringing God's Word to our church on most weeks.

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 And we are starting a new series in the book of Ephesians, the epistle of Ephesians, chapter 1. So please turn with me there.

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 I'm going to pray and we'll start.

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 Heavenly Father, we pray that as your scripture is read and preached, that by your Spirit you would work powerfully in our midst to bring these truths home to us.

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 So they don't just remain abstract ideas that we keep in our heads, but that they become life-transforming, affecting truths, Lord, realities that we live by.

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 Speak to us, Lord. We are listening. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Ephesians 1, verses 1 to 14.

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 In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

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 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

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 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

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 In him, you also, when you heard the gospel of his glory.

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 The gospel of your salvation and believed in him were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 We have all met a Christian like this, who profess to believe everything that Christianity teaches, everything that the Bible teaches, but whose belief is not borne out by their life.

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 She has no savor of the love of Christ, of the Father's love, of Christ's humility, of the Spirit's power in her life.

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 We've all also met a Christian like this, who knows all the theological terms, who knows all the Bible references, who seems to know everything there is to know about God, but he doesn't know God.

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 He has no personal relationship with him.

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 This person is like a tree, right?

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 It has a semblance of health and fruitfulness about it.

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 But when you get closer and you take a look at it, you see that the branches are withered and the fruit has no juice or pulp in them.

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 There's no spiritual life.

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 And sometimes we think of doing theology in the same way.

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 We think to ourselves of theology as something abstract and impractical.

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 But that's not what theology, the study of God, is meant to be.

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 R.C. Sproul writes in his book entitled, Everyone's a Theologian.

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 He writes this,

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 The purpose of theology is not to tickle our intellects, but to instruct us in the ways of God, so we can grow up into maturity and fullness of obedience to him.

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 That is why we engage in theology.

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 Now, we begin a new series in the Epistle of Ephesians this morning written by the Apostle Paul around the time 60 to 62 A.D.

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 He wrote this to a large network of local churches in Ephesus and the surrounding cities.

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 And then, this is considered by theologians and pastors across the generations, widely considered to be the best primer on Christian theology in the entire Bible.

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 Because of its remarkable clarity and simplicity in the way it's taught.

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 But Apostle Paul didn't intend to write this so that it can be used for training in seminaries.

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 He wrote it to local churches, fully expecting it to inform every single believer and to transform their daily lives.

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 That's the effect it's supposed to have on us.

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 And so, to that end, Paul writes in chapter 1, it's his exaltation in the spiritual blessings that we have as the church, the people of God.

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 He rejoices in the spiritual blessings that we have in chapter 1.

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 And in chapters 2 and 3, he gives us these specific applications of the spiritual blessings that we have as the church.

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 How the spiritual blessings of the triune God were applied to the church to reconcile Jews and Gentiles and then to bring them into unity in the church under Christ.

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 And then, in chapters 4 to 6, Paul gives us the specific implications of the spiritual blessings of the church.

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 How these spiritual blessings are supposed to shape our lives.

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 How we live, our relationships, and our jobs, our vocations.

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 So, that's the outline of the whole book.

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 And if you feel like, and if you've ever felt like that your spiritual life lacks vitality, lacks vigor,

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 my prayer for you this morning is that this sermon series would breathe new life into your soul.

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 That your life would be transformed by it.

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 That your relationship, that your Christianity, your faith would not just be a formality,

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 something that you just go through the emotion, but it would become a vital reality in your life.

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 That's my prayer for you.

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 And that's the hope for this sermon series.

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 And in this passage in particular, the first 14 verses, it teaches us that it is the very heartbeat of the Christian

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 to bless the triune God who has blessed us out of his grace and for his glory.

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 So, that's the main point.

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 It's the heartbeat of the Christian to bless the triune God who has graciously blessed us.

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 Now, Paul begins by introducing himself as the author in verse 1 and by establishing his authority.

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 He says, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.

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 The word apostle means sent out.

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 And the apostle is a witness of the resurrected Christ, according to 1 Corinthians 9.1.

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 And this is a person that's directly commissioned by Christ, sent out by Christ to be his witness and a pioneering missionary.

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 So, that's what an apostle is.

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 And Ephesians 2.20 later speaks of how apostles are the foundation of the church.

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 And then in Revelation 21.14, it envisions the 12 apostles of the church being the foundations of the new kingdom of God.

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 In the same way, the 12 patriarchs were the foundations of the nation of Israel.

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 So, when he says, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, in a very simple way, Paul's establishing his authority.

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 I'm not writing as just another church leader.

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 I am the apostle of Christ Jesus.

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 And he's the apostle of Christ Jesus.

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 He's not an apostle of anyone else.

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 He doesn't belong to anyone else.

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 He's not like a politician, right, who is accountable to his constituency and whose job security depends on pleasing the electorate.

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 He's the apostle of Christ Jesus.

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 He's accountable to no one else.

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 He doesn't have to please anyone else.

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 He belongs to Christ Jesus.

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 And he does Christ Jesus bidding.

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 And so, he writes this with that authority.

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 And he's here and he's appointed as apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.

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 It has a divine origin.

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 He wasn't appointed apostle by popular vote or appointed by some human governing authority, but by the will of God.

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 And having established himself as the author, he addresses the recipients of the letter, continuing in verse 1,

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 to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus.

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 This is a remarkable statement because there are both Jews and Gentiles in Ephesus, right,

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 and only Jews were historically referred to as saints, holy ones, those who were set apart for God.

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 But Paul addresses both Jews and Gentiles together as saints who are in Ephesus,

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 already hinting at the fact that in Christ, God has reconciled Jews and Gentiles

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 and expressed salvation to all the nations of the world.

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 And then he says that those who are faithful in Christ Jesus,

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 this doesn't mean that Paul is addressing just the faithful Christians as opposed to the non-faithful Christians

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 because there's no such distinction made throughout the book of Ephesians.

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 It's referring to those who have faith in Christ Jesus.

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 It's referring to believers in Christ Jesus.

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 So if you have faith in Jesus, then Paul is addressing you directly here,

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 and Paul is addressing all of the Ephesian Christians.

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 And that means if you are not a Christian, of course,

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 then if you do not yet believe in Jesus Christ for salvation,

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 then all the spiritual blessings that Paul will go on to describe, they do not belong to you.

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 And my plea with you is that you consider the offer that Christ is giving,

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 the promises that he is making,

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 and that you give yourself to him this morning if that is you.

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 Now after addressing his recipients, Paul greets them in verse 2,

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 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 The standard Greek greeting was, it's just greetings, right?

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 That's how they said hello or how are you.

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 It's greetings is what they used to say.

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 James 1.1 uses that greeting.

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 But Paul employs a clever wordplay here.

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 By switching out a consonant and adding a couple vowels,

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 he changes the Greek word that means greetings to grace.

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 So now that our life as Christians has been so transformed

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 that it's his grace that is fundamental to how we relate to each other as Christians.

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 And grace, as one Bible dictionary puts it,

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 it's the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God

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 to men in the bounty and benevolence of the giver.

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 It's unmerited favor, something we didn't earn.

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 It's out of his absolute freedom, out of his sheer abundance and bounty and generosity.

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 That's the grace we receive.

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 It's his loving kindness.

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 It's in the Old Testament concept.

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 His loving kindness, it's translated as grace in the New Testament.

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 He refers to his unchanging, ongoing affection set on us, love toward us.

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 That's grace.

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 He also greets them with peace.

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 The word peace doesn't refer to an absence of conflict merely,

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 but it refers to the Old Testament concept of shalom,

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 which is to say a wellness, a wholeness of being in right relationship with God

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 and with the rest of creation,

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 of being in harmony with God's design and desire for the world.

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 It's described by the statement,

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 all is well, physically and spiritually.

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 That's shalom.

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 That's peace, and he greets all the believers with this grace and peace from God our Father

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 and God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And then that's how he specifies it, right?

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 He describes the source.

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 It's from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And this is also significant because if you're a faithful Jew,

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 everyone knows that, you know, God is our Father.

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 They refer to God as our Father.

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 And everyone knows that he is a source of blessing, grace, loving kindness, and peace.

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 But he says it's not just from God our Father,

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 but he says it's also from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 So if you're just a faithful Jew at this time reading this,

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 this is a shocking statement that he's saying.

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 It's the blessing, grace, and peace.

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 It's not just from God our Father, but it's also from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 This teaches us about the reality of the doctrine of the Trinity, right?

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 Our church is named after that.

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 There's Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, right?

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 There's three persons in one God.

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 God is one essence, one nature, but there are three persons in God.

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 Now you're thinking to yourself, okay, well, that's, you see, Trinity, that's an abstract doctrine.

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 That doctrine can't translate to my life.

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 But Paul is about to shatter your expectations

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 and tell you exactly why this doctrine is so foundational to how we relate to God

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 in the rest of the verses that follow.

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 And this is a mystery, so I'm not going to try to explain it to you.

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 It's kind of like there's God in three and one.

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 So imagine a child, right, who just learned his additions.

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 He knows one plus one plus one is three.

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 But no matter how much you try to explain it to him,

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 he's not going to get multiplication.

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 One times one times one is one.

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 It's just not going to make sense to him.

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 In the same way a child, let's say he just learned geometry, two-dimensional geometry,

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 he knows how to calculate the surface area of a square.

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 But no matter how you try to explain it to him,

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 if you try to explain the volume and the cube in three-dimensional space,

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 that's not going to make any sense to him.

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 So in the same way for us as finite human beings,

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 as we try to make sense of the fact that God is three in one,

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 three in persons, but one in essence and nature,

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 it's going to go right over our heads.

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 We can't make quite sense of it because God's infinite.

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 He's eternal.

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 And rightly so.

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 I think if we can make sense of everything about God

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 and understand everything there is to know about him,

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 he's probably not infinite because we're not infinite.

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 And then in these following verses, verses 3 to 14,

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 this is perhaps the most beautiful demonstration of the triune love of God,

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 of the triune God working in concert to redeem humanity,

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 a people for himself in all of Scripture.

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 And they can't be separated.

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 Their works are indivisible, but yet they can be distinguished

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 by according to what each person of this Trinity does.

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 And to that end, the outline I'm going to follow as I preach the rest of this passage

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 is first from the Father.

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 Salvation is from the Father.

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 And then second, salvation is through the Son.

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 And then third, salvation is by the Spirit.

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 That's the outline I'm going to follow.

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 From the Father, through the Son, and by the Spirit.

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 First, salvation is from the Father.

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 Paul begins in verse 3.

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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Blessed be.

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 Right.

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 In the original Greek, this is the beginning of one long, beautiful, poetic,

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 impassioned sentence, praising the triune God for his saving work.

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 It's all one sentence, verse 3 to 14.

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 202 words, 32 prepositional phrases, 21 genitive expressions,

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 six relative clauses, five adverbial participle clauses.

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 You don't have to know all the grammar.

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 It's a crazy long sentence that has just, he's just going on and on.

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 God's amazing.

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 This is what he did for us.

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 Blessed be the Father.

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 That's what he does.

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 All throughout this, but he's blessing God.

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 It's not a dry, dispassionate theological writing.

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 It's pulsating with life, just overflowing with gratitude and joy for what God the Father has done.

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 And that's why I said earlier in the summary of this passage,

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 it's the heartbeat of the Christian to bless the triune God who has blessed us.

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 It's what we do as a Christian.

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 That's our very heartbeat.

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 It's not just a duty for us to bless God.

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 It's our very heartbeat.

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 That's what we love to do.

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 It's what gets us fired up.

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 Because as a Christian, above all things, we desire to bless him.

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 And if you don't feel that way this morning,

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 my prayer is that by the end of this passage,

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 you will feel that way after seeing all that God has done for us.

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 Why does the Christian feel this way?

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 Why does the Christian want to bless God?

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 Paul tells us in the rest of verse 3.

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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

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 Why do we bless God?

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 Because God has first blessed us.

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 Strictly speaking, right, as Hebrews 7, 7 says,

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 the inferior is blessed by the superior, right?

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 So we can't, strictly speaking, bless God

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 because there's nothing we can give God that he doesn't have.

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 We can't give him a blessing that he doesn't already own,

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 that doesn't belong to him.

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 So we can't, in a strict sense, bless him.

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 But we could bless him in a sense that we speak well of him.

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 We praise him.

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 We recognize that he is the blessed one.

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 That's what we do when we bless him.

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 But then when God blesses us, he actually bestows on us blessings

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.380
 because he's the source of all blessings.

00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.680
 He's the only one that can properly bless us.

00:17:30.080 --> 00:17:33.039
 So in verse 3, it says that God the Father has blessed us in Christ

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:36.420
 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:40.860
 And I hope you can see God's heart towards you in that sentence,

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:46.019
 that God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

00:17:46.300 --> 00:17:47.220
 Every one.

00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:49.440
 Every single blessing.

00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:51.440
 Did you guys catch that?

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:57.100
 It doesn't say, you know, God gave us a few spiritual blessings

00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:59.200
 or some of the spiritual blessings.

00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:04.900
 Every spiritual blessing God the Father bestowed on us.

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:08.620
 So don't believe the devil's lie when he says to you,

00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:10.920
 as he said to Eve in the Garden of Eden,

00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:15.720
 did God actually say you shall not eat of any tree in the garden?

00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:21.360
 That's wicked slander because God didn't say you can't eat from any tree in the garden.

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:24.519
 He said you may surely eat of every tree in the garden,

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:27.420
 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:29.480
 for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die.

00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:33.320
 God has always been bountiful and generous toward us.

00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:37.000
 But Satan impugns God's character to us,

00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:39.320
 lies to us, and whispers to us,

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:41.279
 he's withholding something from you.

00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:42.980
 He didn't give that to you.

00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:46.879
 He forbade you from doing that.

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:50.379
 If God really loved you, he would have given that to you.

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:55.480
 If God really loved you, he wouldn't keep you from that.

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.759
 Don't believe it for a moment.

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:06.939
 God has blessed us in Christ Jesus

00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:11.600
 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:15.100
 You might be impoverished here on earth.

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.700
 You might suffer here on earth.

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.500
 But you know what?

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:20.900
 If you belong to our God, the Father,

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.279
 then you have spiritual riches

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:24.140
 that all the Warren Buffett's in the world

00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:26.480
 can't even fathom or dream of.

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:29.580
 Every spiritual blessing is ours in Christ Jesus

00:19:29.580 --> 00:19:31.980
 because God the Father has given it to us.

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:38.180
 And Paul continues to describe these spiritual blessings

00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.839
 more specifically in verse 4.

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.759
 Even as he chose us in him

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:44.579
 before the foundation of the world

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:47.860
 that we should be holy and blameless before him.

00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:49.660
 God chose us.

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.940
 The Father chose us

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:53.319
 before the foundation of the world,

00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:54.599
 before we were born,

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.360
 before the world began.

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:58.160
 God chose us as his own

00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.200
 to save us.

00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:01.100
 The initiative of our salvation

00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:02.740
 does not lie with us,

00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:03.880
 but with God.

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:06.440
 His choice precedes even our faith.

00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:08.799
 Lest we miss this truth,

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:11.240
 he tells us even more abundantly clearly.

00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:13.100
 It's verses 5 to 6.

00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:15.880
 In love he predestined us

00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:17.440
 for adoption to himself

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:19.580
 as sons through Jesus Christ,

00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:21.620
 according to the purpose of his will,

00:20:21.840 --> 00:20:23.640
 to the praise of his glorious grace

00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:25.160
 with which he has blessed us

00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:26.500
 in the beloved.

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:29.380
 If there was some standard

00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.940
 outside of God's sovereign will

00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:32.420
 that God used to decide

00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.599
 whom he will choose as people,

00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.680
 this would have been

00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:36.299
 the perfect place to say it, right?

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.519
 He predestined us

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.380
 for adoption as sons

00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:39.099
 through Jesus Christ

00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:41.440
 according to our pedigree.

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.900
 He predestined us

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.599
 for adoption as sons

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.359
 through Jesus Christ

00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:48.359
 according to our virtue.

00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.400
 God predestined us

00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.220
 for adoption as sons

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:51.980
 through Jesus Christ

00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:53.819
 according to our effort

00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:55.599
 or our level of faith.

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.700
 He doesn't say any of that.

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.299
 He says, no,

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.480
 he predestined us

00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.480
 for adoption to himself

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.139
 as sons through Jesus Christ

00:21:02.139 --> 00:21:04.179
 according to the purpose

00:21:04.179 --> 00:21:05.899
 of his will,

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:11.039
 to the praise of his glorious grace.

00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.939
 God didn't choose us

00:21:12.939 --> 00:21:15.179
 because he knew beforehand

00:21:15.179 --> 00:21:17.220
 that we would have more faith

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.879
 than people around us

00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:20.700
 or that we'd be more sincere

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:22.019
 than the people around us

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.400
 or that we'd be more righteous

00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:24.740
 than the people around us.

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.160
 God chose us

00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.579
 according to the purpose

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.799
 of his will.

00:21:28.879 --> 00:21:29.579
 The criterion

00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:31.160
 for our adoption

00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:32.440
 as sons to God

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.980
 is not within ourselves

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.819
 but it's within

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:36.059
 the sovereign purposes

00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:37.019
 of God.

00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:39.700
 And you know what that means?

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.220
 That means,

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.279
 as Christians,

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:43.099
 we can't gratify ourselves

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:44.940
 with the thought that,

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.160
 you know,

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.099
 somehow we earned

00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.879
 our way to heaven.

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:49.599
 We can't tell others

00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:51.180
 who are not believers

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.779
 that, you know,

00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:54.340
 if you were as intelligent

00:21:54.340 --> 00:21:56.120
 as I am,

00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:56.840
 if you were,

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.940
 you know,

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:59.220
 only, you know,

00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:01.560
 as good as I am,

00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.700
 if you only had

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.380
 as much faith as I did,

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:04.680
 you know,

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.640
 then you could be saved

00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.440
 but you can't be.

00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:08.799
 We can't say that to anyone

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.740
 because we have nothing

00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.799
 to boast of.

00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.240
 It was according

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.220
 to the purpose

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.779
 of his will,

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.620
 to the praise

00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:17.700
 of his glorious grace.

00:22:17.840 --> 00:22:18.700
 That's why it's

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.200
 to the praise

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.200
 of his glorious grace

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:20.819
 because if God

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.360
 saved us

00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:22.059
 according to our

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.980
 deservingness,

00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:25.000
 then it would be

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.620
 our merit

00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:27.100
 that gets the credit.

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.220
 It would be our merit

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.019
 that is praised.

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.299
 But because God

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.120
 didn't save us

00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:31.640
 according to our

00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.220
 deservingness,

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.940
 but according to

00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.380
 the purpose

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.059
 of his will,

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.180
 that's why it's

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:35.660
 to the praise

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:37.240
 of his glorious grace.

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.740
 It's his unmerited

00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:40.019
 favor toward us

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.700
 that's highlighted,

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.860
 not our merit,

00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:43.759
 not our deservingness.

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.920
 I hope you're grateful

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.580
 for this truth

00:22:46.580 --> 00:22:48.000
 as much as I am

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.920
 because I ask

00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.480
 in wonder

00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.319
 and amazement

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.099
 sometimes

00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:51.960
 as I look back

00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.500
 at my life,

00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.059
 as I look back

00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:53.880
 at my life

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.640
 even just this week.

00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:56.180
 Why me, God?

00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:59.039
 Why would you

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.720
 choose me?

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.420
 Why would you

00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:03.759
 choose me

00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.420
 as your own God?

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.319
 Because apart

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:07.940
 from the work

00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:08.680
 of the Holy Spirit

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.240
 in my life,

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.980
 I'm a sinner

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:11.059
 through and through.

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.700
 I'm selfish.

00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:14.000
 I'm prideful.

00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.480
 I'm angry.

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.220
 I'm judgmental.

00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:21.339
 Why should he

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.339
 love someone like me?

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.880
 Why should he

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.440
 save me

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:24.839
 when there's

00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:25.599
 millions of others?

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.599
 I cannot give

00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.119
 an answer.

00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.299
 I cannot give

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:32.660
 an answer.

00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.279
 That's what we say.

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.160
 That's what

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.019
 Charles Spurgeon,

00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.880
 the 19th century

00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.599
 British preacher,

00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:42.039
 said in his

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.440
 typical,

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:44.099
 you know,

00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:44.579
 witty way.

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:44.960
 He said,

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.039
 I believe

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.539
 the doctrine

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.079
 of election

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.340
 because I'm

00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:48.920
 quite certain

00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.980
 that if God

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.740
 had not chosen me,

00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.640
 I should never

00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.400
 have chosen him.

00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.700
 And I'm sure

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.240
 he chose me

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.420
 before I was born

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.660
 or else he

00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.840
 never would have

00:23:58.840 --> 00:23:59.660
 chosen me afterwards.

00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.299
 And he must

00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.360
 have elected me

00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.000
 for reasons

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:05.079
 unknown to me

00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.860
 for I never

00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:06.660
 could find in

00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:07.660
 myself why

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.299
 he should have

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.360
 looked upon me

00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:10.299
 with special

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:10.980
 love.

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:12.660
 So I'm

00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.400
 forced to

00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:14.079
 accept that

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.500
 great

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.200
 biblical

00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:16.259
 doctrine.

00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.839
 For this

00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:21.319
 reason,

00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:22.059
 all we can

00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:23.140
 say as

00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:23.640
 Christians

00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.779
 is blessed

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.240
 be,

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.460
 blessed

00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.319
 be the

00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:27.819
 God and

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.440
 Father of

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:28.740
 our Lord

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.360
 Jesus Christ

00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:29.759
 who has

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.640
 blessed us

00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:31.640
 in Christ

00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.579
 with every

00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.000
 spiritual

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.460
 blessing

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.180
 in the

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:34.440
 heavenly

00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.120
 places.

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.079
 Even as

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.519
 he chose

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:36.839
 us in

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:37.299
 him from

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:37.720
 before the

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.099
 foundation

00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.279
 of the

00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:38.519
 world that

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:38.700
 we should

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.120
 be holy

00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.039
 and blameless

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:41.000
 before him.

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:42.799
 And then

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.059
 it says,

00:24:43.199 --> 00:24:43.959
 in love

00:24:43.959 --> 00:24:45.139
 he predestined

00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:45.559
 us for

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.119
 adoption to

00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.759
 himself as

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.219
 sons through

00:24:47.219 --> 00:24:47.919
 Jesus Christ

00:24:47.919 --> 00:24:48.579
 according to

00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:48.959
 the purpose

00:24:48.959 --> 00:24:49.500
 of his will

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.119
 to the praise

00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.599
 of his

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.619
 glorious grace.

00:24:51.959 --> 00:24:52.199
 Now,

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:52.719
 this doesn't

00:24:52.719 --> 00:24:53.419
 mean that we

00:24:53.419 --> 00:24:54.139
 don't have any

00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:55.139
 responsibility in

00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:55.739
 our salvation.

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:56.719
 So please

00:24:56.719 --> 00:24:57.359
 don't hear me

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:57.839
 saying that.

00:24:58.599 --> 00:24:59.439
 We have to

00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.039
 believe in

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:00.779
 Jesus Christ

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.399
 for our

00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:01.839
 salvation.

00:25:02.419 --> 00:25:03.039
 In a sense,

00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:03.759
 we do have

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.419
 to choose

00:25:04.419 --> 00:25:04.719
 him.

00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:06.439
 Verse 13

00:25:06.439 --> 00:25:07.099
 teaches this

00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:07.439
 clearly.

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:07.719
 The Bible

00:25:07.719 --> 00:25:08.419
 always holds

00:25:08.419 --> 00:25:08.799
 these two

00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.099
 truths in

00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:09.500
 tension.

00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:10.439
 Verse 13,

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:10.819
 read it with

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:10.959
 me.

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.439
 In him

00:25:11.439 --> 00:25:12.099
 you also,

00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.240
 when you

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.079
 heard the

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.439
 word of

00:25:14.439 --> 00:25:14.759
 truth,

00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:15.599
 the gospel

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:15.899
 of your

00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:16.439
 salvation,

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.779
 and believed

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.519
 in him,

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.500
 were sealed

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.319
 with the

00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:20.779
 promised

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.779
 Holy Spirit.

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.000
 In order

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.439
 to be

00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:23.980
 saved,

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.519
 we must

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:24.980
 believe.

00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.240
 And in

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.799
 order to

00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.199
 believe,

00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:27.619
 we need

00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:28.079
 to hear

00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:28.399
 the word

00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:28.899
 of truth,

00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:30.179
 the gospel

00:25:30.179 --> 00:25:30.480
 of our

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:30.919
 salvation.

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:31.599
 So faith

00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.099
 comes from

00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:32.599
 hearing and

00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.659
 hearing through

00:25:33.659 --> 00:25:34.119
 the word

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.599
 of Christ.

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.219
 Therefore,

00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:36.599
 Christians have

00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.859
 the responsibility

00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:39.019
 to preach

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.500
 the gospel

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:39.819
 so that

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.240
 people would

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.599
 hear.

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.039
 And unbelievers

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.939
 who hear have

00:25:42.939 --> 00:25:43.719
 the responsibility

00:25:43.719 --> 00:25:45.059
 to believe so that

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:46.059
 they might be

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.659
 saved.

00:25:47.959 --> 00:25:48.779
 Nowhere in

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.359
 scripture does

00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:51.240
 scripture ever

00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:52.119
 abrogate our

00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:52.740
 responsibility.

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.500
 But that doesn't

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.279
 make verse 4

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:55.959
 any less true.

00:25:56.659 --> 00:25:57.240
 God the Father

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.399
 chose us in

00:25:58.399 --> 00:25:59.919
 him before the

00:25:59.919 --> 00:26:01.079
 foundation of the

00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:01.419
 world.

00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:04.519
 during community

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.039
 group one

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.259
 week,

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:06.380
 actually Rosa

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.740
 shared what

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.720
 she heard this

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.660
 radio preacher

00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.400
 say one time.

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.519
 It's shockingly

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:11.920
 simple,

00:26:12.060 --> 00:26:12.680
 but it's actually

00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.039
 helpful.

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:13.580
 So I'm going

00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:13.980
 to share it

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.279
 with you guys.

00:26:14.340 --> 00:26:14.560
 He says,

00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:15.500
 you take the

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.019
 first step,

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.440
 God takes the

00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.080
 second step,

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.100
 and by the time

00:26:19.100 --> 00:26:19.620
 you take the

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.180
 third step,

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.940
 you realize that

00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.519
 God took the

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.039
 first step.

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.759
 Kind of how it

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.420
 works, right?

00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:27.060
 Because election,

00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:27.779
 the doctrine of

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.100
 election,

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:28.580
 doctrine of

00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:29.140
 predestination,

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:30.360
 really only makes

00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:30.800
 sense in

00:26:30.800 --> 00:26:31.180
 hindsight.

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:34.700
 is when you have already put your faith in Jesus,

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:37.080
 when you've already experienced that salvation,

00:26:37.300 --> 00:26:39.039
 that's when you realize, looking back,

00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:41.279
 oh, wait, God chose me before I chose him.

00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.680
 That's when you realize that.

00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:46.060
 So then if you're not a believer,

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:47.880
 your responsibility is not to try to figure out

00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:49.000
 whether you're chosen or not.

00:26:49.080 --> 00:26:50.580
 No, your responsibility is to believe

00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:54.019
 because that's the only way you can find out.

00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.759
 Only those who choose Christ

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:58.820
 discover that God has already chosen them.

00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:04.500
 And divine election isn't some arbitrary dispassionate act.

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:06.859
 It's the word translated purpose here

00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:09.519
 is actually better rendered good pleasure.

00:27:09.639 --> 00:27:10.859
 That's what it literally means.

00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:13.559
 It was his good pleasure to choose us.

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.679
 That's how the NIV translates it

00:27:16.679 --> 00:27:17.720
 if some of you guys have the NIV.

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:20.579
 God chose his people according to his good pleasure.

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:22.039
 Verse five further elaborates.

00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:24.659
 In love he predestined us

00:27:24.659 --> 00:27:27.720
 for adoption to himself as sons.

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:29.039
 God chose us.

00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:31.160
 He predestined us in love.

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.940
 The father's love.

00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.620
 The father's good pleasure.

00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:37.420
 That's the basis of his election.

00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:41.559
 God's choice was not some arbitrary fiat.

00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:45.019
 It wasn't just some dispassionate decision

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:47.700
 or a cold calculation of what's going to happen in the future.

00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:51.400
 No, it was in love he chose us.

00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:53.240
 Out of his good pleasure,

00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:56.059
 he delighted to choose us.

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.700
 Before we were born,

00:27:58.819 --> 00:28:01.359
 before we had done anything good or bad,

00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:04.059
 before we could even deserve his affection,

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:07.200
 the father chose us and delighted over us.

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.620
 It was his good purpose,

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:11.099
 good will to save us.

00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:14.460
 Christians often think of God the father

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:17.339
 as the strict and austere figure,

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:19.319
 the severe in his judgments,

00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:21.939
 full of wrath and judgment towards sinners.

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:24.000
 Sometimes we mistakenly think that,

00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.220
 you know,

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.839
 the father only loves us

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:27.299
 because Jesus died for us.

00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.639
 The father didn't love us.

00:28:29.679 --> 00:28:30.939
 That's why Jesus had to die for us.

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.899
 Now that Jesus died for us,

00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:32.700
 the father loves us.

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:35.099
 That cannot be further from the truth.

00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:37.500
 Think of all the passages

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:39.399
 that talk about why Jesus came.

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:42.339
 For God so loved the world

00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:44.339
 that he gave his only son.

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:47.359
 You know why Jesus came?

00:28:48.939 --> 00:28:50.720
 He didn't come to purchase

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:52.299
 the father's affections for us.

00:28:52.459 --> 00:28:54.859
 He came because the father loved us.

00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:57.319
 He came because the father sent him.

00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:58.799
 He came because father,

00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:00.039
 in eternity past,

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:02.459
 had his good pleasure on us.

00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.799
 His love set on us.

00:29:03.919 --> 00:29:04.879
 That's why he came.

00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:10.579
 1 John 4, 8-10

00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:12.000
 says this about God the father.

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:13.819
 Anyone who does not love,

00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.879
 does not know God

00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:17.059
 because God is love.

00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:18.079
 In this,

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:18.939
 the love of God

00:29:18.939 --> 00:29:20.359
 was made manifest among us

00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:22.419
 that God sent his only son

00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:23.099
 into the world

00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:25.000
 so that we might live through him.

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.700
 In this is love.

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:28.579
 Not that we have loved God,

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:30.319
 but that he loved us

00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:31.639
 and sent his son

00:29:31.639 --> 00:29:33.000
 to be the propitiation

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:34.299
 for our sins.

00:29:35.159 --> 00:29:37.240
 Our heavenly father loves us.

00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:41.720
 I think Christians,

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:44.259
 this is just my speculation,

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.680
 but that has,

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.460
 I think Christians

00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:47.620
 have a particularly hard time

00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:48.940
 with understanding this truth

00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.460
 because many of us

00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.880
 didn't grow up with,

00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.400
 you know,

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.200
 respectable,

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.900
 loving father figures.

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.740
 We have a lot of daddy issues.

00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:01.860
 And so we kind of transpose

00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:03.360
 what we believe

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:04.339
 about our earthly fathers

00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:05.240
 to our heavenly father.

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.700
 We think of him as angry,

00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:08.339
 unhappy,

00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.100
 distant,

00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:11.339
 or altogether absent,

00:30:11.699 --> 00:30:12.500
 maybe even abusive.

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:16.240
 But we must not impute

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.119
 such characteristics

00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:18.839
 to our heavenly father.

00:30:20.919 --> 00:30:21.679
 John Owen

00:30:21.679 --> 00:30:24.019
 is one of my favorite theologians.

00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.059
 He's a 17th century

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.899
 Oxford theologian.

00:30:26.219 --> 00:30:27.159
 He writes about this

00:30:27.159 --> 00:30:27.639
 in his book,

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.619
 Communion with God,

00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.099
 that I'm reading

00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:30.000
 with some of the members

00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:30.819
 of our church together.

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.299
 He writes that

00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.980
 nothing grieves God,

00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:34.539
 the father,

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:36.319
 more than our hard thoughts

00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:36.859
 about him.

00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:38.259
 And by hard thoughts,

00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:39.099
 he means thoughts

00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:40.979
 that doubt his love for us,

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.719
 his compassion toward us,

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.819
 hard thoughts,

00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:45.019
 thinking of God

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.019
 as this austere,

00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:46.839
 strict,

00:30:47.219 --> 00:30:48.000
 severe figure.

00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:49.439
 He writes that

00:30:49.439 --> 00:30:50.719
 nothing grieves God

00:30:50.719 --> 00:30:51.719
 more than these hard thoughts

00:30:51.719 --> 00:30:53.099
 because God knows,

00:30:53.379 --> 00:30:53.639
 quote,

00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:55.379
 how it leads us

00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:57.119
 to avoid walking with him,

00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:59.500
 how unwilling is a child

00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:01.179
 to come into the presence

00:31:01.179 --> 00:31:02.679
 of an angry father.

00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:05.860
 And then Owen exhorts us,

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:06.740
 quote,

00:31:06.820 --> 00:31:08.019
 we must remember

00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:09.140
 his kind thoughts

00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.860
 towards us

00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.600
 which have been

00:31:10.600 --> 00:31:11.420
 from eternity.

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.799
 Let us remember

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:14.080
 how eager and willing

00:31:14.080 --> 00:31:15.580
 he is to accept us.

00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:17.039
 If we did this,

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.560
 then we would not be able

00:31:18.560 --> 00:31:20.400
 to bear one hour's absence

00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:21.060
 from him.

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:21.980
 Instead,

00:31:22.340 --> 00:31:23.220
 we find it difficult

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:24.660
 to spend even one hour

00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.259
 with him.

00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:27.360
 Let then this

00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:28.440
 be the first thought

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.000
 that we have

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.720
 of the father,

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:30.960
 that he is full

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.620
 of eternal love

00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:34.120
 to us.

00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.840
 Is that your first thought

00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:37.740
 about God the father?

00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:39.140
 That he loves you?

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:41.120
 He loved you in eternity?

00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:47.360
 In love,

00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.539
 he predestined us

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.340
 for adoption

00:31:49.340 --> 00:31:50.100
 to himself

00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:50.920
 as son.

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:52.720
 And the metaphor

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.420
 of adoption

00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:54.140
 also beautifully

00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:55.259
 conveys this truth,

00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:55.860
 doesn't it?

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.299
 God's not selecting

00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:58.180
 or hiring

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.319
 his employees here.

00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:01.039
 he's choosing

00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:01.839
 his family.

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.379
 People to adopt

00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:05.279
 to himself

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:07.019
 as his own.

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.500
 Now,

00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.319
 some of you

00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:10.240
 might have wondered

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.439
 to yourself

00:32:11.439 --> 00:32:12.679
 why Paul had to be

00:32:12.679 --> 00:32:14.139
 so gender insensitive.

00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.879
 Why doesn't he say,

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.399
 in love,

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.079
 he predestined us

00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.480
 for adoption

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.339
 as sons and daughters?

00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:21.000
 I mean,

00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:22.099
 that's really simple to say.

00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:22.839
 Why didn't he just say

00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:23.439
 sons and daughters?

00:32:23.919 --> 00:32:24.700
 Does he only want

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.579
 to adopt men?

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:28.539
 But this question

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.299
 is actually missing

00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.339
 an important point

00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.399
 that the verse is making.

00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:32.980
 And Tim Keller,

00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:34.000
 who was a pastor

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.019
 of a church in New York,

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:36.339
 shared one time

00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:37.079
 about a woman

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.819
 in his church

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.259
 who helped him

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:39.500
 to understand this concept.

00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:40.939
 This woman came

00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:43.039
 from a non-Western,

00:32:43.139 --> 00:32:44.240
 very traditional background.

00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:46.559
 And she had one brother.

00:32:46.699 --> 00:32:47.559
 So there was one son

00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:48.119
 in the family.

00:32:48.659 --> 00:32:50.379
 And as she was growing up,

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.299
 she always knew

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.859
 that her brother

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:54.799
 would get the lion's share

00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.619
 of the wealth

00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.180
 and the honor

00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:56.960
 of the family.

00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:58.819
 And basically,

00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:00.019
 what the family told her

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.359
 was,

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:01.940
 he's the son,

00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:03.339
 you're just the girl.

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:07.680
 And she was reading

00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:09.519
 Paul's,

00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:10.519
 Apostle Paul's description

00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.299
 of our adoption

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:13.079
 to God as sons.

00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.680
 She realized

00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:16.359
 the subversive power

00:33:16.359 --> 00:33:17.519
 and the magnitude

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:18.619
 of the promise

00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:19.559
 that God is making

00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:21.139
 because God's not saying

00:33:21.140 --> 00:33:21.980
 you will be treated

00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:23.880
 as second-class citizens.

00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.040
 He's not saying

00:33:25.040 --> 00:33:25.800
 you're going to be adopted

00:33:25.800 --> 00:33:26.520
 into my family

00:33:26.520 --> 00:33:27.259
 and relegated

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.580
 to this less important role.

00:33:28.800 --> 00:33:29.380
 He's saying that

00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:30.960
 every single one of us,

00:33:31.280 --> 00:33:32.200
 sons and daughters,

00:33:32.320 --> 00:33:33.020
 you'll be adopted

00:33:33.020 --> 00:33:34.720
 to them as sons

00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:37.620
 with the full rights

00:33:37.620 --> 00:33:38.860
 and privileges

00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:40.380
 of sonship.

00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:51.440
 in love,

00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:53.040
 he predestined us

00:33:53.040 --> 00:33:54.020
 for adoption

00:33:54.020 --> 00:33:54.720
 to himself

00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:55.820
 as sons

00:33:55.820 --> 00:33:57.380
 through Jesus Christ

00:33:57.380 --> 00:33:58.980
 according to the purpose

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.560
 of his will,

00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.800
 the praise

00:34:01.800 --> 00:34:02.980
 of his glorious grace

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:05.200
 with which he has blessed us

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:06.780
 in the beloved.

00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:07.660
 Isn't that,

00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.519
 I love that.

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:10.119
 God the Father

00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:11.159
 refers to his son,

00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:11.780
 Jesus Christ,

00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.759
 as the beloved.

00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:15.599
 And that status

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.940
 of beloved son

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:19.079
 is imputed to us

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:20.019
 through Jesus,

00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:20.739
 through those

00:34:20.739 --> 00:34:21.699
 who are in him.

00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:24.199
 He does not,

00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.420
 God the Father

00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:26.320
 doesn't look at us

00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:27.579
 and he's just like

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.619
 wagging his finger

00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:29.099
 at us like

00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:29.900
 in disgust

00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:30.480
 and disappointment.

00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.440
 That's not what he's doing.

00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.440
 The God the Father

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.480
 doesn't look at us

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.699
 and shakes his head

00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:37.880
 in disappointment.

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:42.119
 God the Father

00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:43.400
 looks on us

00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:44.400
 and says,

00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:45.559
 Beloved,

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:48.920
 my special possession,

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.820
 my sons.

00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:57.579
 When you really realize

00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:58.059
 this truth,

00:34:58.199 --> 00:34:59.059
 what God the Father

00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.659
 has done for us,

00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.780
 you can't help

00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:01.500
 but say,

00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:02.599
 Blessed be,

00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.800
 the God and Father

00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:04.180
 of our Lord.

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.820
 That's what Paul says.

00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:08.240
 That's the first point.

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:08.740
 The salvation

00:35:08.740 --> 00:35:10.180
 is from the Father.

00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:12.080
 And if salvation

00:35:12.080 --> 00:35:13.260
 is from the Father,

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.640
 it is through the Son.

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.500
 Verse 7 tells us,

00:35:16.580 --> 00:35:17.260
 In him,

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:18.340
 we have redemption

00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:19.880
 through his blood,

00:35:20.180 --> 00:35:20.760
 the forgiveness

00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:21.800
 of our trespasses.

00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.240
 Now,

00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:25.120
 up to this point,

00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:25.820
 the verbs

00:35:25.820 --> 00:35:27.380
 were all in the past tense

00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:28.700
 to describe God's

00:35:28.700 --> 00:35:29.180
 choosing,

00:35:29.300 --> 00:35:29.700
 God's election

00:35:29.700 --> 00:35:31.019
 from eternity past.

00:35:31.019 --> 00:35:32.579
 But abruptly now,

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:33.739
 the verbs switch

00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:34.759
 to the present tense

00:35:34.759 --> 00:35:36.320
 to signal that these

00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:37.099
 are the blessings

00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:38.519
 we currently enjoy.

00:35:38.820 --> 00:35:39.480
 It's ours.

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:41.000
 It's ours now.

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:42.699
 We get to enjoy it now.

00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:43.380
 And he says,

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:45.039
 We have redemption

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:46.920
 through his blood.

00:35:47.179 --> 00:35:48.179
 And the word redemption,

00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:48.739
 of course,

00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:49.259
 recurs,

00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:51.320
 probably the greatest picture

00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:52.059
 of redemption

00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:53.039
 in the Old Testament

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:54.360
 was at the Exodus.

00:35:54.860 --> 00:35:54.960
 Right?

00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:56.079
 When God,

00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:58.340
 in redeeming his people,

00:35:58.519 --> 00:35:59.059
 in basically

00:35:59.059 --> 00:36:00.639
 trying to rescue his people

00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.740
 from slavery to Egypt,

00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:02.780
 he judged,

00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:04.119
 is judged Egypt,

00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:04.920
 and he killed

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:06.559
 all the firstborn sons

00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.679
 of the Egyptians.

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.940
 But he spared

00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:10.260
 the Israelite

00:36:10.260 --> 00:36:11.500
 firstborn sons

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.780
 because they had

00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:13.519
 a substitute.

00:36:14.019 --> 00:36:14.619
 They had killed

00:36:14.619 --> 00:36:15.699
 a lamb in its place

00:36:15.699 --> 00:36:16.659
 and daubed its blood

00:36:16.659 --> 00:36:17.599
 on the door.

00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:18.780
 So that was how

00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:19.480
 they redeemed

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.599
 their firstborns.

00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:21.539
 They were redeemed

00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.619
 by a substitute,

00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:23.420
 by a lamb.

00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:24.519
 And then Jesus

00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:26.579
 was the ransom price

00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:28.400
 paid for our redemption.

00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:29.599
 We were enslaved

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:31.079
 to sin and death.

00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:32.920
 And our slave master

00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:34.360
 was no interest,

00:36:34.760 --> 00:36:36.220
 not interested at all

00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:37.159
 in letting us go,

00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:38.240
 abusing us

00:36:38.240 --> 00:36:39.380
 and using us

00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:40.139
 for his purposes.

00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:41.440
 And God the Father

00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.559
 sends his son

00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:44.260
 as the most costly

00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:45.099
 ransom price

00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:45.980
 he could pay

00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:47.019
 so that we can be

00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:47.680
 redeemed,

00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:49.559
 freed from our bondage

00:36:49.559 --> 00:36:50.880
 to slavery and sin.

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:52.039
 That's what Christ did.

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:53.159
 So we have redemption

00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:55.000
 through his blood.

00:36:57.399 --> 00:36:58.739
 And it's because

00:36:58.739 --> 00:37:00.279
 of his redemption

00:37:00.279 --> 00:37:01.539
 we now have the forgiveness

00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:03.420
 of our trespasses.

00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:06.839
 Jesus Christ alone

00:37:06.839 --> 00:37:08.199
 could have accomplished this.

00:37:08.539 --> 00:37:09.519
 He could uniquely

00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.639
 accomplish this

00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.599
 because he was

00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:12.779
 the son of God

00:37:12.779 --> 00:37:13.920
 and at the same time

00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.739
 the son of man.

00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:15.739
 God the Father

00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:16.739
 is the only one

00:37:16.739 --> 00:37:18.399
 that can forgive.

00:37:18.399 --> 00:37:19.399
 God the Father

00:37:19.399 --> 00:37:23.399
 can't come along

00:37:23.399 --> 00:37:23.719
 and say,

00:37:23.839 --> 00:37:24.119
 oh no,

00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:24.639
 you're forgiven,

00:37:24.759 --> 00:37:25.559
 don't worry about it

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:27.419
 because you're the one

00:37:27.419 --> 00:37:27.979
 that was offended.

00:37:28.799 --> 00:37:29.839
 You're the only one

00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:30.500
 that can forgive.

00:37:34.779 --> 00:37:36.439
 Father was the one

00:37:36.439 --> 00:37:37.019
 that was offended.

00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:38.259
 He's the offended party

00:37:38.259 --> 00:37:39.299
 in every sin.

00:37:39.899 --> 00:37:41.039
 Only God can forgive.

00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:43.039
 God the Father

00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:46.159
 at the same time

00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:50.960
 if you,

00:37:51.460 --> 00:37:53.139
 let's say,

00:37:53.859 --> 00:37:55.679
 steal someone's car,

00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:59.099
 you can't then return a bike.

00:37:59.099 --> 00:38:02.279
 doesn't make sense,

00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:02.559
 right?

00:38:04.739 --> 00:38:05.819
 It has to fit.

00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:06.960
 The restitution

00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:07.980
 has to fit the crime.

00:38:09.259 --> 00:38:09.980
 And it is because

00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:11.360
 humanity sinned,

00:38:11.779 --> 00:38:12.759
 because humanity

00:38:12.759 --> 00:38:13.759
 sinned against God,

00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:14.980
 only a human

00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:17.019
 can rightly represent

00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:17.739
 humanity

00:38:17.739 --> 00:38:19.000
 and bear the punishment

00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.819
 that they deserve.

00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.599
 So God

00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:24.519
 is simultaneously

00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:25.360
 the adequate

00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:26.400
 redemption price,

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:26.860
 the ransom,

00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.559
 because he is

00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:28.259
 the son of man.

00:38:28.260 --> 00:38:30.360
 And at the same time,

00:38:30.380 --> 00:38:31.380
 he's able to secure

00:38:31.380 --> 00:38:32.020
 the forgiveness

00:38:32.020 --> 00:38:32.900
 of our trespasses

00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:33.700
 because he is

00:38:33.700 --> 00:38:34.560
 the son of God.

00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:35.820
 He can forgive us

00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:37.160
 and extend forgiveness.

00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:37.700
 That's why

00:38:37.700 --> 00:38:38.440
 throughout the Gospels

00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:38.960
 when he says

00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:39.940
 your sins are forgiven,

00:38:40.180 --> 00:38:40.980
 all the Pharisees

00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:41.900
 go berserk.

00:38:42.280 --> 00:38:42.860
 What do you mean

00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:44.100
 you forgive his sins?

00:38:44.140 --> 00:38:44.720
 His sins are forgiven.

00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:45.620
 You can't say that.

00:38:45.800 --> 00:38:46.960
 Only God can say that.

00:38:47.220 --> 00:38:47.800
 He could say that

00:38:47.800 --> 00:38:48.920
 because he is God.

00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:50.240
 He is God.

00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:51.140
 He's the son of God.

00:38:52.660 --> 00:38:53.060
 Jesus

00:38:53.060 --> 00:38:54.280
 is the one

00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:54.840
 that accomplished

00:38:54.840 --> 00:38:55.520
 this for us.

00:38:55.600 --> 00:38:56.580
 It's 1 Timothy 2, 5,

00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:57.659
 says for there is one God

00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.579
 and there is one mediator

00:38:58.579 --> 00:38:59.500
 between God and man,

00:38:59.759 --> 00:39:01.460
 the man Christ Jesus.

00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:02.500
 And a Christian,

00:39:02.699 --> 00:39:03.779
 by definition,

00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:04.679
 is someone

00:39:04.679 --> 00:39:06.000
 who participates

00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.139
 in the life

00:39:07.139 --> 00:39:07.679
 and death

00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:08.199
 and resurrection

00:39:08.199 --> 00:39:09.279
 of Jesus Christ.

00:39:09.539 --> 00:39:10.480
 That's what it means

00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:11.159
 to be a Christian.

00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:12.279
 That's why Christian,

00:39:12.440 --> 00:39:14.099
 the entry sacrament

00:39:14.099 --> 00:39:15.239
 is the sacrament

00:39:15.239 --> 00:39:15.900
 of baptism.

00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:17.380
 You're buried

00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:18.980
 and you die

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.639
 to your sin

00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:20.299
 and then you are

00:39:20.299 --> 00:39:21.259
 brought back up

00:39:21.259 --> 00:39:22.380
 in new life

00:39:22.380 --> 00:39:22.920
 in Christ.

00:39:23.139 --> 00:39:23.659
 That's what

00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:24.739
 baptism signifies.

00:39:24.739 --> 00:39:25.819
 So Christian

00:39:25.819 --> 00:39:26.579
 is by definition

00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:27.659
 someone who participates

00:39:27.659 --> 00:39:28.099
 in the life,

00:39:28.219 --> 00:39:28.379
 death,

00:39:28.459 --> 00:39:28.859
 and resurrection

00:39:28.859 --> 00:39:29.399
 of Christ.

00:39:29.619 --> 00:39:30.419
 And that's why

00:39:30.419 --> 00:39:30.959
 in the span

00:39:30.959 --> 00:39:32.079
 of these 14 verses

00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:32.779
 of Ephesians,

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:34.199
 some combination

00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:34.799
 of the phrase

00:39:34.799 --> 00:39:35.759
 in Christ

00:39:35.759 --> 00:39:36.979
 or in him,

00:39:37.219 --> 00:39:38.099
 in the beloved,

00:39:38.239 --> 00:39:39.559
 occurs 12 times.

00:39:41.299 --> 00:39:41.839
 It's almost,

00:39:42.379 --> 00:39:43.279
 it almost gets

00:39:43.279 --> 00:39:44.319
 obnoxious at times

00:39:44.319 --> 00:39:45.139
 if you're trying to,

00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:45.399
 you know,

00:39:45.479 --> 00:39:46.159
 read this over

00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:46.639
 and over again

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:48.159
 and it's almost like,

00:39:48.179 --> 00:39:49.179
 it's like a crescendo

00:39:49.179 --> 00:39:50.519
 and every instance

00:39:50.519 --> 00:39:50.899
 of it

00:39:50.899 --> 00:39:52.559
 is like an exclamation point

00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:54.239
 in this whole doxology

00:39:54.239 --> 00:39:54.840
 of praise

00:39:54.840 --> 00:39:55.840
 and blessing of God

00:39:55.840 --> 00:39:57.179
 in Christ.

00:39:57.559 --> 00:39:58.820
 Blessed us in Christ

00:39:58.820 --> 00:39:59.880
 with every spiritual blessing

00:39:59.880 --> 00:40:00.619
 in heavenly places.

00:40:00.980 --> 00:40:02.199
 He chose us in him

00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:03.059
 before the foundation

00:40:03.059 --> 00:40:03.719
 of the world.

00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:05.460
 He adopted us

00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:05.940
 as sons

00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:08.279
 through Jesus Christ.

00:40:10.259 --> 00:40:10.739
 Now these,

00:40:10.860 --> 00:40:11.519
 all these expressions

00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:12.320
 teach us two things.

00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:12.679
 First,

00:40:12.799 --> 00:40:13.420
 God the Father

00:40:13.420 --> 00:40:14.539
 does nothing apart

00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:15.480
 from his son.

00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:16.420
 He does everything

00:40:16.420 --> 00:40:16.840
 he does

00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:17.440
 in concert

00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:18.059
 with his son.

00:40:18.980 --> 00:40:19.380
 Second,

00:40:19.799 --> 00:40:20.960
 every spiritual blessing

00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:22.059
 we receive

00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:22.679
 from the Father

00:40:22.679 --> 00:40:24.500
 is through Christ.

00:40:25.800 --> 00:40:26.760
 As Jesus says,

00:40:26.860 --> 00:40:26.960
 right,

00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:27.559
 I am the way,

00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:27.920
 the truth,

00:40:27.960 --> 00:40:28.320
 and the life.

00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:29.240
 No one comes to the Father

00:40:29.240 --> 00:40:30.199
 except through me.

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.920
 That means every blessing

00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:33.320
 that we have ever enjoyed,

00:40:33.380 --> 00:40:34.139
 every spiritual blessing

00:40:34.139 --> 00:40:35.019
 that we've ever enjoyed,

00:40:35.079 --> 00:40:36.019
 it comes through Christ.

00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:37.000
 God the Father

00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:38.099
 pours out his blessings

00:40:38.099 --> 00:40:38.720
 on us

00:40:38.720 --> 00:40:40.260
 but not a drop of it

00:40:40.260 --> 00:40:41.240
 reaches us

00:40:41.240 --> 00:40:42.840
 except through Christ.

00:40:43.220 --> 00:40:44.059
 He is our mediator.

00:40:44.139 --> 00:40:45.179
 He is the conveyor.

00:40:46.599 --> 00:40:48.420
 He is our intercessor.

00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:48.539
 Father.

00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:53.800
 We just concluded

00:40:53.800 --> 00:40:54.599
 a sermon series

00:40:54.599 --> 00:40:55.460
 in the book of Genesis

00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:57.340
 and we know from there

00:40:57.340 --> 00:40:59.059
 that how important it is

00:40:59.059 --> 00:41:00.119
 for God's people

00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:01.720
 to be in the promised land,

00:41:01.780 --> 00:41:02.740
 to be in Canaan,

00:41:02.920 --> 00:41:03.119
 right?

00:41:03.900 --> 00:41:04.220
 That's,

00:41:04.400 --> 00:41:05.380
 to be in Canaan

00:41:05.380 --> 00:41:06.780
 is to be in God's presence

00:41:06.780 --> 00:41:08.159
 and to enjoy his blessings.

00:41:08.440 --> 00:41:09.940
 To be exiled from Canaan,

00:41:10.019 --> 00:41:11.159
 to be outside of Canaan

00:41:11.159 --> 00:41:12.300
 is to be cut off

00:41:12.300 --> 00:41:13.159
 from God's presence

00:41:13.159 --> 00:41:14.720
 and to not enjoy his blessings.

00:41:15.099 --> 00:41:16.440
 The New Testament equivalent

00:41:16.440 --> 00:41:17.720
 of being in Canaan

00:41:17.719 --> 00:41:19.480
 is being in Christ.

00:41:25.419 --> 00:41:26.319
 That's not a phrase

00:41:26.319 --> 00:41:27.339
 that we just append

00:41:27.339 --> 00:41:28.759
 to the end of our emails.

00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:32.259
 It's a precious phrase

00:41:32.259 --> 00:41:34.719
 that we are in Christ

00:41:34.719 --> 00:41:36.079
 because everything

00:41:36.079 --> 00:41:37.019
 that is good,

00:41:37.239 --> 00:41:38.699
 all that we know about God,

00:41:38.779 --> 00:41:39.399
 all the ways

00:41:39.399 --> 00:41:40.259
 in which we can relate to him,

00:41:40.359 --> 00:41:41.459
 it comes to us

00:41:41.459 --> 00:41:43.279
 through Christ.

00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:46.920
 And God's ultimate goal

00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:47.800
 in his redemption plan

00:41:47.800 --> 00:41:49.960
 is not just to unite us

00:41:49.960 --> 00:41:50.940
 to him,

00:41:51.540 --> 00:41:52.640
 but as it says

00:41:52.640 --> 00:41:53.660
 in verses 8 to 10,

00:41:53.740 --> 00:41:53.880
 he says,

00:41:53.880 --> 00:41:55.220
 in all wisdom and insight,

00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:57.079
 the Father made known to us

00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:58.059
 the mystery of his will

00:41:58.059 --> 00:41:59.440
 according to his purpose

00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:00.760
 which he set forth in Christ

00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:02.360
 as a plan for the fullness of time

00:42:02.360 --> 00:42:04.500
 to unite all things in him,

00:42:04.619 --> 00:42:05.320
 things in heaven

00:42:05.320 --> 00:42:06.780
 and things on earth,

00:42:07.140 --> 00:42:07.320
 right?

00:42:07.480 --> 00:42:08.720
 And the word unite

00:42:08.720 --> 00:42:10.380
 translated as unite here,

00:42:10.700 --> 00:42:12.079
 actually more literally translated

00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:14.300
 to brought under the objection of,

00:42:14.360 --> 00:42:15.700
 to brought under the headship of,

00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:15.920
 actually,

00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:17.260
 the word head is used.

00:42:17.900 --> 00:42:19.680
 And that's what God intends to do,

00:42:19.720 --> 00:42:20.740
 to bring all things,

00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:21.720
 things in heaven and on earth

00:42:21.720 --> 00:42:23.280
 under the headship of Christ

00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:24.360
 and that's God,

00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:26.440
 that is God's ultimate redemption plan.

00:42:27.180 --> 00:42:28.960
 And that's why the word head

00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:30.619
 occurs several times

00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:31.440
 in the book of Ephesians.

00:42:31.940 --> 00:42:33.039
 Verse 22 later,

00:42:33.079 --> 00:42:33.280
 he says,

00:42:33.360 --> 00:42:35.300
 he put all things under Christ's feet

00:42:35.300 --> 00:42:36.920
 and gave him as head

00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:38.579
 over all things to the church.

00:42:39.159 --> 00:42:40.619
 That's God's ultimate plan,

00:42:40.680 --> 00:42:41.639
 to bring all things

00:42:41.639 --> 00:42:43.519
 under Christ's headship.

00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:45.480
 And this mystery

00:42:45.480 --> 00:42:47.440
 was revealed to us

00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:48.159
 through Christ.

00:42:48.280 --> 00:42:48.759
 This mystery

00:42:48.759 --> 00:42:50.860
 doesn't refer in the New Testament

00:42:50.860 --> 00:42:52.320
 to something that remains hidden,

00:42:52.639 --> 00:42:53.659
 but something that was hidden,

00:42:53.739 --> 00:42:55.119
 but that God has revealed now

00:42:55.119 --> 00:42:57.239
 in Christ Jesus.

00:42:58.739 --> 00:43:00.019
 Now, if that's the case,

00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:00.699
 then we might ask,

00:43:00.759 --> 00:43:01.699
 then why then

00:43:01.699 --> 00:43:02.619
 are there still people

00:43:02.619 --> 00:43:03.980
 who don't believe in Jesus?

00:43:05.840 --> 00:43:06.860
 Why are there

00:43:06.860 --> 00:43:08.440
 angelic beings,

00:43:09.239 --> 00:43:09.519
 demons,

00:43:10.219 --> 00:43:11.039
 people who still

00:43:11.039 --> 00:43:12.139
 rebel against God

00:43:12.139 --> 00:43:13.779
 if God has brought all things

00:43:13.779 --> 00:43:15.299
 under the headship of Jesus?

00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:17.500
 And this reality

00:43:17.500 --> 00:43:18.719
 is frequently illustrated

00:43:18.719 --> 00:43:20.279
 by comparison

00:43:20.279 --> 00:43:22.440
 to World War II analogy.

00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:24.059
 You guys may have heard this,

00:43:24.379 --> 00:43:25.279
 the comparison between

00:43:25.279 --> 00:43:27.000
 the D-Day and V-Day, right?

00:43:27.539 --> 00:43:29.019
 So they were having,

00:43:29.139 --> 00:43:31.019
 it was a hard-fought battle

00:43:31.019 --> 00:43:32.739
 on the front lines

00:43:32.739 --> 00:43:33.500
 in the World War II,

00:43:33.779 --> 00:43:34.980
 and the Allied forces

00:43:34.980 --> 00:43:38.359
 invaded Normandy,

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:41.200
 and there they established

00:43:41.200 --> 00:43:42.019
 a beachhead,

00:43:42.559 --> 00:43:43.079
 basically,

00:43:43.280 --> 00:43:44.519
 from which point

00:43:44.519 --> 00:43:46.039
 they could advance their war.

00:43:46.500 --> 00:43:47.440
 And the D-Day,

00:43:47.599 --> 00:43:48.519
 which was when they began

00:43:48.519 --> 00:43:49.880
 that excursion

00:43:49.880 --> 00:43:51.000
 to take Normandy,

00:43:51.380 --> 00:43:52.599
 was so significant,

00:43:52.840 --> 00:43:54.559
 it was such a strategic point

00:43:54.559 --> 00:43:55.140
 for the battle,

00:43:55.500 --> 00:43:56.720
 when the D-Day was,

00:43:56.880 --> 00:43:58.000
 when D-Day happened,

00:43:58.360 --> 00:43:58.820
 basically,

00:43:59.220 --> 00:43:59.720
 the V-Day,

00:43:59.840 --> 00:44:00.400
 the Victory Day,

00:44:00.500 --> 00:44:01.780
 was unavoidable.

00:44:02.140 --> 00:44:02.880
 It was as if

00:44:02.880 --> 00:44:04.120
 that victory was completed

00:44:04.120 --> 00:44:05.800
 when the D-Day happened.

00:44:05.800 --> 00:44:07.080
 So for us,

00:44:07.140 --> 00:44:07.960
 in the Christian perspective,

00:44:08.120 --> 00:44:09.640
 the D-Day is when

00:44:09.640 --> 00:44:11.519
 Christ came the first time.

00:44:12.360 --> 00:44:14.019
 He died for our sins

00:44:14.019 --> 00:44:14.740
 and rose again.

00:44:14.840 --> 00:44:17.320
 He decisively defeated sin

00:44:17.320 --> 00:44:18.039
 and death

00:44:18.039 --> 00:44:19.519
 and the spiritual forces of evil.

00:44:20.220 --> 00:44:21.680
 And then the V-Day comes

00:44:21.680 --> 00:44:22.480
 when He returns

00:44:22.480 --> 00:44:23.420
 for a second time,

00:44:23.780 --> 00:44:24.760
 when that victory,

00:44:25.240 --> 00:44:26.200
 that kingdom of God

00:44:26.200 --> 00:44:27.200
 is consummated,

00:44:27.519 --> 00:44:28.560
 brought in its fullness.

00:44:29.180 --> 00:44:30.400
 It's already here,

00:44:30.600 --> 00:44:32.360
 but it's not yet consummated.

00:44:32.440 --> 00:44:33.260
 That's the reality

00:44:33.260 --> 00:44:34.500
 that we live in.

00:44:34.500 --> 00:44:35.820
 That's why that's the case.

00:44:37.199 --> 00:44:38.019
 So, and then,

00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:39.039
 verses 11-2,

00:44:39.219 --> 00:44:40.480
 He reminds us again

00:44:40.480 --> 00:44:41.699
 that about God's redemption

00:44:41.699 --> 00:44:42.539
 through Christ

00:44:42.539 --> 00:44:43.440
 was according to

00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:44.599
 the Father's sovereign plan.

00:44:45.059 --> 00:44:45.679
 This is very,

00:44:45.820 --> 00:44:46.460
 it's parallels,

00:44:46.679 --> 00:44:47.699
 verses 4-6,

00:44:47.780 --> 00:44:48.679
 is very similar.

00:44:49.219 --> 00:44:50.300
 And it reminds us,

00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:50.739
 once again,

00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:52.239
 that God's not just reacting,

00:44:52.400 --> 00:44:52.619
 you know,

00:44:52.659 --> 00:44:53.639
 to human history,

00:44:53.840 --> 00:44:54.860
 but He had planned this

00:44:54.860 --> 00:44:55.539
 all along,

00:44:55.619 --> 00:44:56.320
 His sovereign plan

00:44:56.320 --> 00:44:57.500
 to save us through Christ.

00:44:58.579 --> 00:44:59.860
 So Christ is the conduit

00:44:59.860 --> 00:45:01.079
 of every spiritual blessing

00:45:01.079 --> 00:45:02.079
 that we receive

00:45:02.079 --> 00:45:02.739
 from the Father.

00:45:02.739 --> 00:45:04.079
 And when we recognize

00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:05.419
 that truth in earnest,

00:45:05.559 --> 00:45:06.459
 then we can't help

00:45:06.459 --> 00:45:08.579
 but bless the triune God

00:45:08.579 --> 00:45:09.879
 who has graciously blessed us.

00:45:09.939 --> 00:45:11.119
 We come to love Jesus

00:45:11.119 --> 00:45:12.579
 because He's the source.

00:45:12.679 --> 00:45:13.159
 He's the one

00:45:13.159 --> 00:45:14.719
 through whom we receive

00:45:14.719 --> 00:45:16.039
 all the blessings of God.

00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:20.019
 So salvation is from the Father,

00:45:20.379 --> 00:45:21.479
 and it is through the Son.

00:45:22.319 --> 00:45:22.599
 And now,

00:45:22.679 --> 00:45:24.079
 at the end of verse 12,

00:45:24.639 --> 00:45:26.379
 Paul specifically addresses

00:45:26.379 --> 00:45:27.019
 the Jews.

00:45:27.159 --> 00:45:27.479
 He says,

00:45:27.480 --> 00:45:29.079
 those who are the first

00:45:29.079 --> 00:45:29.960
 to hope in Christ,

00:45:30.059 --> 00:45:30.880
 but then immediately,

00:45:31.199 --> 00:45:32.159
 he addresses

00:45:32.159 --> 00:45:33.460
 the rest of the Gentiles

00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:34.219
 in verse 13

00:45:34.219 --> 00:45:34.679
 by saying,

00:45:34.760 --> 00:45:35.139
 in Him,

00:45:35.500 --> 00:45:36.260
 you also,

00:45:36.659 --> 00:45:37.240
 when you heard

00:45:37.240 --> 00:45:37.800
 the word of truth,

00:45:37.860 --> 00:45:38.719
 the gospel of salvation,

00:45:38.820 --> 00:45:39.519
 and believed in Him,

00:45:39.760 --> 00:45:40.760
 were sealed with the promised

00:45:40.760 --> 00:45:41.240
 Holy Spirit.

00:45:41.300 --> 00:45:41.820
 So he's saying

00:45:41.820 --> 00:45:42.340
 that the Jews

00:45:42.340 --> 00:45:43.280
 were the first to believe

00:45:43.280 --> 00:45:44.000
 and to experience

00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:44.579
 these blessings,

00:45:45.079 --> 00:45:46.119
 but the Gentiles

00:45:46.119 --> 00:45:47.199
 are also now incorporated

00:45:47.199 --> 00:45:48.920
 into this ultimate plan.

00:45:49.340 --> 00:45:50.059
 And this leads us

00:45:50.059 --> 00:45:50.719
 to our final point,

00:45:50.780 --> 00:45:51.260
 which is salvation

00:45:51.260 --> 00:45:53.340
 is by the Spirit.

00:45:54.400 --> 00:45:55.380
 In order to highlight

00:45:55.380 --> 00:45:56.199
 this reality,

00:45:56.199 --> 00:45:57.460
 Paul begins and ends

00:45:57.460 --> 00:45:59.000
 his blessing of God

00:45:59.000 --> 00:46:00.039
 in verses 3 to 14

00:46:00.039 --> 00:46:00.839
 with the mention

00:46:00.839 --> 00:46:01.799
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:46:02.519 --> 00:46:03.379
 Recall what I said

00:46:03.379 --> 00:46:03.899
 in verse 3.

00:46:03.980 --> 00:46:04.619
 You can turn back there

00:46:04.619 --> 00:46:05.379
 with me in verse 3.

00:46:05.819 --> 00:46:07.059
 Blessed be the God

00:46:07.059 --> 00:46:07.859
 and Father of our Lord

00:46:07.859 --> 00:46:08.559
 Jesus Christ,

00:46:08.659 --> 00:46:09.399
 who has blessed us

00:46:09.399 --> 00:46:10.059
 in Christ

00:46:10.059 --> 00:46:13.000
 with every spiritual blessing

00:46:13.000 --> 00:46:15.239
 in the heavenly places.

00:46:15.699 --> 00:46:16.619
 All the blessings

00:46:16.619 --> 00:46:18.359
 we enjoy are spiritual,

00:46:18.599 --> 00:46:19.619
 meaning that it's connected

00:46:19.619 --> 00:46:21.500
 to the new covenant blessings

00:46:21.500 --> 00:46:23.399
 of the Holy Spirit,

00:46:23.500 --> 00:46:24.339
 which was prophesied

00:46:24.339 --> 00:46:25.519
 of in Ezekiel 36.

00:46:25.519 --> 00:46:27.079
 Our blessing is

00:46:27.079 --> 00:46:28.800
 of the Spirit of God.

00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:31.099
 And that's why Jesus says,

00:46:31.420 --> 00:46:33.599
 this is a really intriguing parallel

00:46:33.599 --> 00:46:34.759
 in Matthew 7, 11,

00:46:35.119 --> 00:46:35.659
 where Jesus says,

00:46:35.780 --> 00:46:36.539
 If you then,

00:46:36.800 --> 00:46:37.559
 though you are evil,

00:46:37.659 --> 00:46:38.639
 know how to give good gifts

00:46:38.639 --> 00:46:39.360
 to your children,

00:46:39.679 --> 00:46:40.460
 how much more

00:46:40.460 --> 00:46:41.219
 will your Father

00:46:41.219 --> 00:46:41.719
 who is in heaven

00:46:41.719 --> 00:46:42.719
 give good gifts

00:46:42.719 --> 00:46:43.699
 to those who ask Him?

00:46:44.019 --> 00:46:44.920
 And now compare that

00:46:44.920 --> 00:46:45.500
 to the parallel

00:46:45.500 --> 00:46:47.659
 in Luke 11, 13,

00:46:47.759 --> 00:46:48.300
 where Jesus says,

00:46:48.579 --> 00:46:49.500
 If you then,

00:46:49.639 --> 00:46:50.199
 who are evil,

00:46:50.280 --> 00:46:51.579
 know how to give good gifts

00:46:51.579 --> 00:46:52.219
 to your children,

00:46:52.420 --> 00:46:53.239
 how much more

00:46:53.239 --> 00:46:54.239
 will the heavenly Father

00:46:54.239 --> 00:46:56.079
 give the Holy Spirit

00:46:56.079 --> 00:46:57.719
 to those who ask Him?

00:46:57.919 --> 00:46:59.879
 He substitutes the Holy Spirit

00:46:59.879 --> 00:47:01.399
 to good things,

00:47:01.500 --> 00:47:02.259
 to good gifts,

00:47:02.479 --> 00:47:04.359
 because the Holy Spirit

00:47:04.359 --> 00:47:05.679
 is the substance

00:47:05.679 --> 00:47:08.239
 and sum of every spiritual gift

00:47:08.239 --> 00:47:09.039
 we enjoy.

00:47:09.579 --> 00:47:11.139
 Every good spiritual gift

00:47:11.139 --> 00:47:11.659
 we enjoy

00:47:11.659 --> 00:47:13.039
 is of the Holy Spirit.

00:47:13.639 --> 00:47:14.519
 It's the experience

00:47:14.519 --> 00:47:15.279
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:47:15.519 --> 00:47:16.199
 It's a communion

00:47:16.199 --> 00:47:17.099
 in the Holy Spirit.

00:47:17.099 --> 00:47:17.980
 It's the fellowship

00:47:17.980 --> 00:47:18.920
 with the Holy Spirit.

00:47:23.860 --> 00:47:24.579
 And then,

00:47:25.539 --> 00:47:26.239
 near the end,

00:47:26.319 --> 00:47:26.920
 he says again,

00:47:27.279 --> 00:47:28.039
 When you heard

00:47:28.039 --> 00:47:28.819
 and believed

00:47:28.819 --> 00:47:29.799
 the word of truth,

00:47:29.880 --> 00:47:31.119
 the gospel of your salvation,

00:47:32.079 --> 00:47:33.000
 we were sealed

00:47:33.000 --> 00:47:35.119
 with the promised Holy Spirit.

00:47:35.839 --> 00:47:36.799
 It's a very cool image.

00:47:36.940 --> 00:47:37.559
 The word seal

00:47:37.559 --> 00:47:38.519
 can refer to

00:47:38.519 --> 00:47:39.719
 a couple different things

00:47:39.719 --> 00:47:40.519
 in Greek

00:47:40.519 --> 00:47:41.739
 as well as in English, right?

00:47:41.960 --> 00:47:42.679
 One sense,

00:47:42.739 --> 00:47:43.559
 it could mean to,

00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:43.839
 you know,

00:47:43.900 --> 00:47:44.679
 clinch something,

00:47:45.059 --> 00:47:46.279
 to secure something,

00:47:46.280 --> 00:47:47.500
 to protect it

00:47:47.500 --> 00:47:48.360
 and to preserve it

00:47:48.360 --> 00:47:49.360
 so that it's there,

00:47:50.180 --> 00:47:51.200
 basically,

00:47:51.420 --> 00:47:51.880
 you know,

00:47:51.980 --> 00:47:52.980
 impermeable to corruption.

00:47:53.620 --> 00:47:54.000
 And then,

00:47:54.200 --> 00:47:54.500
 now,

00:47:54.760 --> 00:47:55.460
 the second way

00:47:55.460 --> 00:47:56.260
 is that it could be

00:47:56.260 --> 00:47:57.300
 a seal in the sense

00:47:57.300 --> 00:47:58.640
 of an emblem of ownership.

00:47:59.080 --> 00:48:00.000
 It's like a signature.

00:48:00.300 --> 00:48:01.260
 It's like a sign, right?

00:48:01.580 --> 00:48:03.100
 People back in the day,

00:48:03.240 --> 00:48:04.100
 in these times

00:48:04.100 --> 00:48:04.780
 when Paul's writing,

00:48:05.120 --> 00:48:05.780
 had often like

00:48:05.780 --> 00:48:06.500
 precious jewels

00:48:06.500 --> 00:48:07.380
 or a heart stone

00:48:07.380 --> 00:48:09.600
 that had an engraved image on it

00:48:09.600 --> 00:48:10.660
 and they used it

00:48:10.660 --> 00:48:11.940
 to mark things

00:48:11.940 --> 00:48:13.220
 that were precious to them,

00:48:13.400 --> 00:48:14.420
 precious possession,

00:48:14.880 --> 00:48:15.780
 to stamp it

00:48:15.780 --> 00:48:16.000
 and say,

00:48:16.000 --> 00:48:16.760
 this is mine.

00:48:17.199 --> 00:48:17.500
 This is,

00:48:17.639 --> 00:48:19.820
 I put my seal on it.

00:48:20.860 --> 00:48:22.820
 And that's what God does.

00:48:22.900 --> 00:48:24.159
 The King of Glory

00:48:24.159 --> 00:48:26.860
 has put a seal on us.

00:48:27.280 --> 00:48:28.619
 He's protecting us,

00:48:28.739 --> 00:48:30.280
 preserving us.

00:48:30.420 --> 00:48:31.599
 I think both of those senses

00:48:31.599 --> 00:48:32.079
 are here.

00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:34.119
 And that's why,

00:48:34.260 --> 00:48:35.260
 it's confirmed

00:48:35.260 --> 00:48:36.659
 by the following statement.

00:48:36.820 --> 00:48:37.280
 Paul continues,

00:48:37.380 --> 00:48:38.780
 the Spirit is the guarantee

00:48:38.780 --> 00:48:39.900
 of our inheritance.

00:48:40.599 --> 00:48:42.139
 It's because we have the Spirit,

00:48:42.219 --> 00:48:43.079
 we can be assured

00:48:43.079 --> 00:48:44.880
 of our future inheritance

00:48:44.880 --> 00:48:45.460
 in God.

00:48:46.400 --> 00:48:47.500
 He's the deposit.

00:48:47.880 --> 00:48:48.779
 Another translation says

00:48:48.779 --> 00:48:49.900
 he's the down payment.

00:48:50.599 --> 00:48:51.599
 Because we have the Spirit,

00:48:51.659 --> 00:48:52.860
 we can know for sure

00:48:52.860 --> 00:48:53.940
 that we will have the full,

00:48:54.159 --> 00:48:54.699
 the fullness

00:48:54.699 --> 00:48:56.400
 of the spiritual blessings,

00:48:56.719 --> 00:48:57.819
 the consummation of it

00:48:57.819 --> 00:48:59.079
 to enjoy in the future,

00:48:59.159 --> 00:48:59.619
 in eternity.

00:48:59.619 --> 00:49:05.079
 And then it also refers to it

00:49:05.079 --> 00:49:05.779
 as the seal

00:49:05.779 --> 00:49:08.019
 of God's possession of us.

00:49:08.019 --> 00:49:10.119
 So the ESV that we read from

00:49:10.119 --> 00:49:11.099
 translates it as

00:49:11.099 --> 00:49:13.059
 until we acquire possession of it.

00:49:13.239 --> 00:49:13.900
 But it's probably

00:49:13.900 --> 00:49:14.780
 better rendered,

00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:16.800
 translated as NIV does it,

00:49:16.860 --> 00:49:17.559
 as the until

00:49:17.559 --> 00:49:18.579
 the redemption

00:49:18.579 --> 00:49:20.000
 of God's possession.

00:49:20.320 --> 00:49:21.239
 That's what that means.

00:49:22.119 --> 00:49:22.699
 The possession

00:49:22.699 --> 00:49:23.659
 throughout this passage

00:49:23.659 --> 00:49:25.380
 that Paul's referring to

00:49:25.380 --> 00:49:26.639
 is the inheritance.

00:49:27.119 --> 00:49:27.960
 It's not that,

00:49:28.360 --> 00:49:29.719
 he's referring not primarily

00:49:29.719 --> 00:49:30.579
 to our inheritance

00:49:30.579 --> 00:49:32.039
 in God,

00:49:32.300 --> 00:49:33.360
 what we receive,

00:49:33.619 --> 00:49:34.599
 but he's referring to the fact

00:49:34.599 --> 00:49:35.699
 that we as the church

00:49:35.699 --> 00:49:37.340
 is God's inheritance.

00:49:37.340 --> 00:49:37.880
 You know,

00:49:37.880 --> 00:49:39.079
 clearly in verse 18.

00:49:39.200 --> 00:49:39.760
 And that's what

00:49:39.760 --> 00:49:41.160
 Paul's referring to.

00:49:41.500 --> 00:49:42.079
 So he's saying,

00:49:42.180 --> 00:49:42.519
 in essence,

00:49:42.640 --> 00:49:42.820
 this,

00:49:42.920 --> 00:49:44.940
 that we are his special

00:49:44.940 --> 00:49:47.260
 prized possession.

00:49:47.820 --> 00:49:49.260
 We are his treasured possession.

00:49:49.340 --> 00:49:50.760
 He's put his seal on us.

00:49:51.660 --> 00:49:53.760
 This reminded me of

00:49:53.760 --> 00:49:54.900
 a scene from

00:49:54.900 --> 00:49:56.300
 Toy Story 3,

00:49:56.640 --> 00:49:57.280
 I think it was.

00:49:57.680 --> 00:49:58.200
 I don't know if you guys

00:49:58.200 --> 00:49:58.640
 have seen it.

00:49:59.340 --> 00:50:00.760
 The 17-year-old Andy

00:50:00.760 --> 00:50:02.340
 finally goes off to college,

00:50:02.740 --> 00:50:02.960
 right,

00:50:03.039 --> 00:50:05.460
 and he sets aside his toys

00:50:05.460 --> 00:50:06.500
 and he puts them in a bag.

00:50:06.500 --> 00:50:09.340
 And he meant to put the toys,

00:50:09.579 --> 00:50:10.659
 store them in the attic,

00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:12.139
 but because he stored them

00:50:12.139 --> 00:50:13.039
 in a garbage bag,

00:50:13.260 --> 00:50:14.139
 his mom accidentally

00:50:14.139 --> 00:50:14.860
 throws them out

00:50:14.860 --> 00:50:15.659
 into the street

00:50:15.659 --> 00:50:16.500
 and waiting for it

00:50:16.500 --> 00:50:16.940
 to be picked up

00:50:16.940 --> 00:50:17.679
 by the garbage can.

00:50:18.340 --> 00:50:19.159
 I know, right,

00:50:19.219 --> 00:50:19.440
 it's,

00:50:19.780 --> 00:50:20.420
 I can't believe it,

00:50:20.420 --> 00:50:21.579
 the mom's cleaning their houses.

00:50:22.039 --> 00:50:22.280
 And now,

00:50:22.420 --> 00:50:23.360
 so because of that,

00:50:23.460 --> 00:50:24.260
 the toys are,

00:50:24.320 --> 00:50:25.840
 toys are just distraught,

00:50:25.940 --> 00:50:26.159
 right,

00:50:26.199 --> 00:50:26.820
 they think that they

00:50:26.820 --> 00:50:27.519
 have been abandoned

00:50:27.519 --> 00:50:28.320
 by their owner.

00:50:28.840 --> 00:50:29.500
 But Woody,

00:50:29.920 --> 00:50:30.320
 right,

00:50:30.800 --> 00:50:31.320
 arguably,

00:50:31.800 --> 00:50:32.820
 Andy's favorite toy,

00:50:33.260 --> 00:50:33.599
 right,

00:50:33.599 --> 00:50:34.659
 he knows that

00:50:34.659 --> 00:50:35.219
 that's not what

00:50:35.219 --> 00:50:35.900
 really happened.

00:50:36.319 --> 00:50:37.000
 He knows that they,

00:50:37.119 --> 00:50:37.440
 he meant,

00:50:37.500 --> 00:50:38.299
 the owner meant to store

00:50:38.299 --> 00:50:38.819
 them in the attic,

00:50:38.960 --> 00:50:39.880
 not to throw them away.

00:50:40.239 --> 00:50:41.019
 And so he goes,

00:50:41.099 --> 00:50:42.099
 he follows the other toys

00:50:42.099 --> 00:50:43.339
 and he tries to convince them,

00:50:43.460 --> 00:50:44.139
 but the other toys

00:50:44.139 --> 00:50:45.119
 are just despondent.

00:50:45.199 --> 00:50:45.420
 They're like,

00:50:45.519 --> 00:50:45.679
 no,

00:50:45.779 --> 00:50:46.420
 what if he doesn't

00:50:46.420 --> 00:50:47.159
 want us anymore?

00:50:47.539 --> 00:50:47.920
 And then,

00:50:48.259 --> 00:50:49.460
 what he does

00:50:49.460 --> 00:50:50.119
 is so cool.

00:50:50.279 --> 00:50:51.819
 He points to his foot,

00:50:52.059 --> 00:50:52.519
 his boot,

00:50:52.960 --> 00:50:53.779
 which has the name

00:50:53.779 --> 00:50:55.460
 Andy written on it.

00:50:56.659 --> 00:50:57.799
 But look at this.

00:50:59.000 --> 00:51:00.239
 He marked us

00:51:00.239 --> 00:51:01.519
 as his own.

00:51:01.519 --> 00:51:03.460
 We belong to him.

00:51:04.259 --> 00:51:05.039
 That's what God

00:51:05.039 --> 00:51:05.820
 does with us.

00:51:07.019 --> 00:51:08.519
 Seal of the Holy Spirit.

00:51:09.500 --> 00:51:09.900
 Mine,

00:51:10.440 --> 00:51:11.119
 mine,

00:51:11.599 --> 00:51:12.219
 mine,

00:51:12.599 --> 00:51:13.559
 not belonging

00:51:13.559 --> 00:51:14.380
 to anyone else,

00:51:14.539 --> 00:51:14.980
 mine,

00:51:15.360 --> 00:51:16.300
 my precious seal

00:51:16.300 --> 00:51:17.400
 on us.

00:51:17.940 --> 00:51:19.420
 That's the Holy Spirit.

00:51:19.539 --> 00:51:20.099
 How precious

00:51:20.099 --> 00:51:20.900
 is the Holy Spirit

00:51:20.900 --> 00:51:21.420
 to us?

00:51:26.420 --> 00:51:27.579
 The Holy Spirit

00:51:27.579 --> 00:51:28.820
 was so central

00:51:28.820 --> 00:51:30.340
 to the Christian experience

00:51:30.340 --> 00:51:31.600
 that in Acts,

00:51:31.780 --> 00:51:31.980
 when,

00:51:32.120 --> 00:51:33.220
 in Acts 19,

00:51:33.340 --> 00:51:34.039
 when Apostle Paul

00:51:34.039 --> 00:51:35.260
 encounters a set

00:51:35.260 --> 00:51:35.800
 of believers

00:51:35.800 --> 00:51:36.760
 who are discipled

00:51:36.760 --> 00:51:37.440
 by Apollos,

00:51:37.579 --> 00:51:38.740
 he asks just one

00:51:38.740 --> 00:51:39.740
 simple question.

00:51:40.539 --> 00:51:41.539
 Did you receive

00:51:41.539 --> 00:51:42.500
 the Holy Spirit

00:51:42.500 --> 00:51:43.360
 when you believed?

00:51:44.660 --> 00:51:45.720
 Because the Holy Spirit

00:51:45.720 --> 00:51:47.039
 is so central

00:51:47.039 --> 00:51:48.780
 to the Christian life

00:51:48.780 --> 00:51:49.620
 and experience.

00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:50.160
 If,

00:51:50.320 --> 00:51:50.480
 then,

00:51:50.559 --> 00:51:51.460
 if you as a believer,

00:51:51.579 --> 00:51:52.519
 if we as a believer

00:51:52.519 --> 00:51:54.300
 live as if the Holy Spirit

00:51:54.300 --> 00:51:55.180
 doesn't exist,

00:51:56.120 --> 00:51:56.920
 if you believe

00:51:56.920 --> 00:51:57.519
 in the Holy Spirit

00:51:57.519 --> 00:51:58.039
 theoretically,

00:51:58.159 --> 00:51:59.519
 but have no experience,

00:51:59.679 --> 00:52:00.559
 no relationship

00:52:00.559 --> 00:52:01.559
 with the Holy Spirit,

00:52:01.619 --> 00:52:03.139
 that's a very troubling sign.

00:52:07.940 --> 00:52:09.059
 The Holy Spirit

00:52:09.059 --> 00:52:09.519
 is the one

00:52:09.519 --> 00:52:10.280
 that assures us

00:52:10.280 --> 00:52:11.139
 when we are plagued

00:52:11.139 --> 00:52:12.099
 by guilt,

00:52:12.500 --> 00:52:12.880
 doubt,

00:52:13.079 --> 00:52:13.699
 and fear.

00:52:13.780 --> 00:52:14.719
 It's the Holy Spirit

00:52:14.719 --> 00:52:15.460
 that comes to us

00:52:15.460 --> 00:52:16.179
 and assures us,

00:52:16.519 --> 00:52:17.739
 you are God's

00:52:17.739 --> 00:52:18.440
 prized possession.

00:52:18.860 --> 00:52:19.800
 You have been adopted

00:52:19.800 --> 00:52:20.940
 as sons.

00:52:21.259 --> 00:52:22.480
 That's what the Spirit does.

00:52:22.780 --> 00:52:23.739
 When we gather together

00:52:23.739 --> 00:52:24.199
 to worship,

00:52:24.559 --> 00:52:25.400
 that He is the one

00:52:25.400 --> 00:52:26.539
 that enlivens our hearts,

00:52:26.700 --> 00:52:27.740
 fills us with joy

00:52:27.740 --> 00:52:28.680
 and gratitude.

00:52:28.780 --> 00:52:29.720
 When we pray to Him,

00:52:29.980 --> 00:52:30.740
 His Holy Spirit

00:52:30.740 --> 00:52:31.059
 is the one

00:52:31.059 --> 00:52:32.240
 that's alongside us,

00:52:32.619 --> 00:52:33.440
 groaning with words

00:52:33.440 --> 00:52:34.920
 that we can't even utter,

00:52:35.599 --> 00:52:37.559
 interceding for us.

00:52:37.599 --> 00:52:38.480
 That's the Holy Spirit.

00:52:38.559 --> 00:52:39.599
 He's the comforter.

00:52:40.160 --> 00:52:41.240
 He's our advocate.

00:52:43.119 --> 00:52:44.240
 He's the manifestation

00:52:44.240 --> 00:52:46.460
 of the presence of God.

00:52:47.900 --> 00:52:49.440
 He is the bond

00:52:49.440 --> 00:52:51.000
 of our union with Christ.

00:52:51.000 --> 00:52:53.139
 He's the means

00:52:53.139 --> 00:52:53.860
 by which we have

00:52:53.860 --> 00:52:56.079
 fellowship with God.

00:52:57.280 --> 00:52:58.420
 And when we rightly

00:52:58.420 --> 00:52:59.719
 perceive of that

00:52:59.719 --> 00:53:00.900
 and understand that

00:53:00.900 --> 00:53:01.719
 and believe that,

00:53:01.780 --> 00:53:03.139
 then we can't help

00:53:03.139 --> 00:53:04.380
 but to bless

00:53:04.380 --> 00:53:06.000
 the glorious,

00:53:06.320 --> 00:53:06.760
 gracious,

00:53:06.960 --> 00:53:07.599
 triune God

00:53:07.599 --> 00:53:08.340
 who has blessed us.

00:53:10.500 --> 00:53:11.900
 To summarize

00:53:11.900 --> 00:53:14.440
 this redemptive activity

00:53:14.440 --> 00:53:15.079
 of the triune God,

00:53:15.159 --> 00:53:16.000
 I know some of it

00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:17.320
 was a little bit heady,

00:53:17.639 --> 00:53:18.760
 but I hope you see

00:53:18.760 --> 00:53:20.039
 the practical applications

00:53:20.039 --> 00:53:20.460
 of it.

00:53:20.820 --> 00:53:22.400
 This is such an important

00:53:22.400 --> 00:53:23.239
 vital truth

00:53:23.239 --> 00:53:24.000
 for us to understand.

00:53:24.440 --> 00:53:25.179
 We could use

00:53:25.179 --> 00:53:26.480
 an imperfect analogy

00:53:26.480 --> 00:53:27.940
 to describe this.

00:53:28.139 --> 00:53:28.960
 Maybe think of it

00:53:28.960 --> 00:53:29.719
 as the gift

00:53:29.719 --> 00:53:31.320
 and the deliverer

00:53:31.320 --> 00:53:32.519
 and the gift.

00:53:32.759 --> 00:53:32.860
 I mean,

00:53:33.000 --> 00:53:34.259
 giver and deliverer

00:53:34.259 --> 00:53:34.759
 and the gift.

00:53:35.759 --> 00:53:37.639
 Imagine that your dad

00:53:37.639 --> 00:53:38.460
 sends you a gift.

00:53:39.039 --> 00:53:41.719
 So he's this precious gift.

00:53:41.880 --> 00:53:43.420
 He wraps it up nicely

00:53:43.420 --> 00:53:45.039
 and he goes to

00:53:45.039 --> 00:53:46.579
 the United States Postal Service

00:53:46.579 --> 00:53:48.579
 and he ships it to you.

00:53:48.579 --> 00:53:49.800
 And then he gets to you

00:53:49.800 --> 00:53:50.600
 and then you open it

00:53:50.600 --> 00:53:51.760
 and you get to receive it

00:53:51.760 --> 00:53:52.900
 and enjoy the gift

00:53:52.900 --> 00:53:53.460
 that he sent.

00:53:53.940 --> 00:53:54.760
 God the father

00:53:54.760 --> 00:53:55.820
 is like the dad

00:53:55.820 --> 00:53:56.840
 who sends.

00:53:57.400 --> 00:53:58.140
 God the son

00:53:58.140 --> 00:53:59.400
 is like the deliverer,

00:53:59.760 --> 00:54:01.060
 the USPS Postal Service.

00:54:01.560 --> 00:54:02.880
 They deliver it to you.

00:54:03.120 --> 00:54:04.220
 And the spirit

00:54:04.220 --> 00:54:05.680
 is the gift himself.

00:54:06.400 --> 00:54:07.220
 You receive him.

00:54:07.340 --> 00:54:08.120
 You enjoy him.

00:54:08.200 --> 00:54:09.039
 The presence of God

00:54:09.039 --> 00:54:09.960
 that he represents.

00:54:10.580 --> 00:54:11.440
 That's what it does.

00:54:11.519 --> 00:54:12.200
 And you delight

00:54:12.200 --> 00:54:14.000
 in every phase of it.

00:54:14.000 --> 00:54:14.239
 Right?

00:54:14.320 --> 00:54:15.440
 It's like I

00:54:15.440 --> 00:54:17.960
 I didn't intend

00:54:17.960 --> 00:54:19.119
 to share this

00:54:19.119 --> 00:54:19.699
 but I remember

00:54:19.699 --> 00:54:21.360
 like a long time ago

00:54:21.360 --> 00:54:21.900
 I haven't seen this

00:54:21.900 --> 00:54:22.360
 in forever

00:54:22.360 --> 00:54:23.659
 but watching like a TV show

00:54:23.659 --> 00:54:24.900
 where like they announced

00:54:24.900 --> 00:54:25.659
 that you were like winner

00:54:25.659 --> 00:54:26.599
 of this great prize

00:54:26.599 --> 00:54:27.019
 or something

00:54:27.019 --> 00:54:28.099
 and then the person

00:54:28.099 --> 00:54:29.239
 who just won that right prize

00:54:29.239 --> 00:54:30.639
 just like starts embracing

00:54:30.639 --> 00:54:31.219
 the person

00:54:31.219 --> 00:54:32.119
 that just announced it to them

00:54:32.119 --> 00:54:32.739
 even though that person

00:54:32.739 --> 00:54:33.539
 had I mean

00:54:33.539 --> 00:54:34.980
 nothing to do with it really.

00:54:35.139 --> 00:54:35.239
 Right?

00:54:35.440 --> 00:54:36.619
 Just because he delivered

00:54:36.619 --> 00:54:37.719
 such amazing news.

00:54:37.820 --> 00:54:38.000
 Right?

00:54:38.360 --> 00:54:39.039
 But then for us

00:54:39.039 --> 00:54:40.320
 Christ is so much more than that

00:54:40.320 --> 00:54:41.480
 because he's not just

00:54:41.480 --> 00:54:42.460
 a dispassionate

00:54:42.460 --> 00:54:43.500
 detached deliverer.

00:54:43.760 --> 00:54:44.960
 He embodies the message.

00:54:45.220 --> 00:54:45.660
 He's the one

00:54:45.660 --> 00:54:47.080
 that makes the gift possible.

00:54:47.559 --> 00:54:47.720
 Right?

00:54:47.800 --> 00:54:48.340
 So we delight

00:54:48.340 --> 00:54:49.100
 in the father

00:54:49.100 --> 00:54:49.940
 who sends his gifts

00:54:49.940 --> 00:54:50.720
 and we delight

00:54:50.720 --> 00:54:51.400
 in the son

00:54:51.400 --> 00:54:52.380
 who brings us

00:54:52.380 --> 00:54:53.260
 the precious gifts

00:54:53.260 --> 00:54:54.700
 and we delight

00:54:54.700 --> 00:54:55.300
 in the spirit

00:54:55.300 --> 00:54:56.300
 who applies

00:54:56.300 --> 00:54:57.280
 those precious gifts

00:54:57.280 --> 00:54:58.240
 to us.

00:54:59.180 --> 00:55:00.559
 That's the relationship

00:55:00.559 --> 00:55:02.660
 that God desires for us.

00:55:03.800 --> 00:55:04.460
 And because

00:55:04.460 --> 00:55:06.000
 and what that means

00:55:06.000 --> 00:55:06.460
 is this

00:55:06.460 --> 00:55:07.080
 in the end

00:55:07.080 --> 00:55:08.059
 from the beginning

00:55:08.059 --> 00:55:09.200
 to the end

00:55:09.200 --> 00:55:10.140
 the salvation

00:55:10.139 --> 00:55:11.299
 belongs to the Lord

00:55:11.299 --> 00:55:13.559
 it's all of him.

00:55:13.940 --> 00:55:14.699
 And that's why

00:55:14.699 --> 00:55:15.420
 three times

00:55:15.420 --> 00:55:16.019
 throughout this

00:55:16.019 --> 00:55:16.940
 this passage

00:55:16.940 --> 00:55:18.279
 Apostle Paul says

00:55:18.279 --> 00:55:19.059
 to the praise

00:55:19.059 --> 00:55:20.159
 of his glory

00:55:20.159 --> 00:55:21.179
 to the praise

00:55:21.179 --> 00:55:22.400
 of his glorious grace

00:55:22.400 --> 00:55:24.219
 in verse 6

00:55:24.219 --> 00:55:24.819
 to the praise

00:55:24.819 --> 00:55:25.400
 of his glory

00:55:25.400 --> 00:55:26.199
 in verse 12

00:55:26.199 --> 00:55:27.379
 in verse 14

00:55:27.379 --> 00:55:28.719
 the only proper way

00:55:28.719 --> 00:55:29.900
 in which we could respond

00:55:29.900 --> 00:55:31.039
 as recipients

00:55:31.039 --> 00:55:33.379
 of such amazing grace

00:55:33.379 --> 00:55:35.500
 indeed the only natural way

00:55:35.500 --> 00:55:36.199
 we can respond

00:55:36.199 --> 00:55:37.319
 as recipients

00:55:37.319 --> 00:55:38.379
 of such amazing grace

00:55:38.379 --> 00:55:39.239
 is to bless

00:55:39.239 --> 00:55:40.119
 the triune God

00:55:40.119 --> 00:55:40.880
 who has graciously

00:55:40.880 --> 00:55:42.400
 blessed us

00:55:42.400 --> 00:55:43.920
 to glorify him

00:55:43.920 --> 00:55:44.900
 and

00:55:44.900 --> 00:55:45.500
 and

00:55:45.500 --> 00:55:46.519
 and there's

00:55:46.519 --> 00:55:47.539
 one more reason

00:55:47.539 --> 00:55:48.940
 we chose this passage

00:55:48.940 --> 00:55:50.059
 particularly at this time

00:55:50.059 --> 00:55:50.960
 of our church's life

00:55:50.960 --> 00:55:51.339
 and

00:55:51.339 --> 00:55:52.359
 and that's that

00:55:52.359 --> 00:55:53.500
 we get to celebrate

00:55:53.500 --> 00:55:55.139
 the 500th year anniversary

00:55:55.139 --> 00:55:56.380
 of the Protestant Reformation

00:55:56.380 --> 00:55:58.739
 in the coming month

00:55:58.739 --> 00:55:59.980
 next month

00:55:59.980 --> 00:56:00.219
 and

00:56:00.219 --> 00:56:01.440
 and this book

00:56:01.440 --> 00:56:02.039
 is probably as good

00:56:02.039 --> 00:56:02.500
 as any other

00:56:02.500 --> 00:56:03.799
 for celebrating that truth

00:56:03.799 --> 00:56:05.619
 and the Protestant Reformation

00:56:05.619 --> 00:56:06.339
 proclaimed

00:56:06.339 --> 00:56:07.039
 five

00:56:07.039 --> 00:56:08.719
 essential truths

00:56:08.719 --> 00:56:09.179
 they're called

00:56:09.179 --> 00:56:09.659
 they call them

00:56:09.659 --> 00:56:10.899
 the five solas

00:56:10.899 --> 00:56:12.459
 sola is the Latin word

00:56:12.459 --> 00:56:13.039
 for alone

00:56:13.039 --> 00:56:13.639
 right

00:56:13.639 --> 00:56:14.239
 he said that

00:56:14.239 --> 00:56:15.899
 that the scripture alone

00:56:15.899 --> 00:56:17.059
 is the final authority

00:56:17.059 --> 00:56:18.099
 in Christian belief

00:56:18.099 --> 00:56:18.419
 in life

00:56:18.419 --> 00:56:19.539
 he declared that salvation

00:56:19.539 --> 00:56:20.739
 is in Christ alone

00:56:20.739 --> 00:56:22.219
 by grace alone

00:56:22.219 --> 00:56:23.579
 through faith alone

00:56:23.579 --> 00:56:24.959
 and to the glory

00:56:24.959 --> 00:56:26.639
 of God alone

00:56:26.639 --> 00:56:27.420
 and it's

00:56:27.420 --> 00:56:28.159
 this passage

00:56:28.159 --> 00:56:28.920
 demonstrates

00:56:28.920 --> 00:56:30.079
 that last phrase

00:56:30.079 --> 00:56:30.339
 alone

00:56:30.339 --> 00:56:30.960
 to the glory

00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:31.539
 of God

00:56:31.539 --> 00:56:32.099
 alone

00:56:32.099 --> 00:56:32.900
 perhaps better

00:56:32.900 --> 00:56:33.379
 than any other

00:56:33.379 --> 00:56:34.139
 passage in scripture

00:56:34.139 --> 00:56:34.859
 because

00:56:34.859 --> 00:56:35.859
 from the beginning

00:56:35.859 --> 00:56:36.339
 to the end

00:56:36.339 --> 00:56:36.960
 from the giver

00:56:36.960 --> 00:56:37.619
 to the deliverer

00:56:37.619 --> 00:56:38.059
 to the gift

00:56:38.059 --> 00:56:38.879
 all of it

00:56:38.879 --> 00:56:39.739
 was of God

00:56:39.739 --> 00:56:40.299
 that's why

00:56:40.299 --> 00:56:41.000
 it is glory

00:56:41.000 --> 00:56:42.000
 to him alone

00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:42.839
 and not to any

00:56:42.839 --> 00:56:44.000
 other man

00:56:44.000 --> 00:56:47.079
 if God's grace

00:56:47.079 --> 00:56:48.000
 is the river

00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:48.659
 source

00:56:48.659 --> 00:56:49.199
 right

00:56:49.199 --> 00:56:50.639
 then God's glory

00:56:50.639 --> 00:56:51.980
 is the river mouth

00:56:51.980 --> 00:56:52.859
 the ocean

00:56:52.859 --> 00:56:53.359
 to which

00:56:53.359 --> 00:56:54.179
 all of God's

00:56:54.179 --> 00:56:54.819
 spiritual blessings

00:56:54.819 --> 00:56:55.500
 flows

00:56:55.500 --> 00:56:56.679
 it goes from grace

00:56:56.679 --> 00:56:57.880
 to glory

00:56:57.880 --> 00:56:58.960
 and if you

00:56:58.960 --> 00:56:59.400
 you know

00:56:59.400 --> 00:57:00.059
 all of you guys

00:57:00.059 --> 00:57:00.599
 get excited

00:57:00.599 --> 00:57:01.159
 about something

00:57:01.159 --> 00:57:02.260
 perhaps some of you guys

00:57:02.260 --> 00:57:04.179
 are by natural temperament

00:57:04.179 --> 00:57:04.960
 a little terse

00:57:04.960 --> 00:57:06.659
 or not very emotional

00:57:06.659 --> 00:57:07.559
 a little bit

00:57:07.559 --> 00:57:07.820
 you know

00:57:07.820 --> 00:57:08.679
 and you think

00:57:08.679 --> 00:57:09.320
 oh no

00:57:09.320 --> 00:57:09.619
 you know

00:57:09.619 --> 00:57:10.360
 praising God

00:57:10.360 --> 00:57:10.599
 you know

00:57:10.599 --> 00:57:11.019
 that's for

00:57:11.019 --> 00:57:12.440
 those emotional people

00:57:12.440 --> 00:57:12.820
 you know

00:57:12.820 --> 00:57:13.139
 that's

00:57:13.139 --> 00:57:13.900
 you know

00:57:13.900 --> 00:57:14.239
 being

00:57:14.239 --> 00:57:14.639
 you know

00:57:14.639 --> 00:57:15.340
 praising God

00:57:15.340 --> 00:57:15.880
 profusely

00:57:15.880 --> 00:57:16.300
 like Paul

00:57:16.300 --> 00:57:16.599
 is oh

00:57:16.599 --> 00:57:17.179
 that's for those

00:57:17.179 --> 00:57:18.059
 verbose people

00:57:18.059 --> 00:57:19.039
 no that's not for me

00:57:19.039 --> 00:57:19.260
 no

00:57:19.260 --> 00:57:20.280
 when you become

00:57:20.280 --> 00:57:20.820
 a Christian

00:57:20.820 --> 00:57:21.559
 you become

00:57:21.559 --> 00:57:22.320
 a singer

00:57:22.320 --> 00:57:23.599
 when you become

00:57:23.599 --> 00:57:24.059
 a Christian

00:57:24.059 --> 00:57:24.699
 you become

00:57:24.699 --> 00:57:25.579
 a praiser

00:57:25.579 --> 00:57:26.279
 when you become

00:57:26.279 --> 00:57:26.799
 a Christian

00:57:26.799 --> 00:57:27.699
 you become

00:57:27.699 --> 00:57:28.799
 a blesser

00:57:28.799 --> 00:57:30.819
 you can't help

00:57:30.819 --> 00:57:31.219
 that

00:57:31.219 --> 00:57:33.099
 if we can

00:57:33.099 --> 00:57:33.919
 wax eloquently

00:57:33.919 --> 00:57:34.699
 about our favorite

00:57:34.699 --> 00:57:35.319
 TV show

00:57:35.319 --> 00:57:36.099
 or video game

00:57:36.099 --> 00:57:37.379
 if we can speak

00:57:37.379 --> 00:57:37.960
 profusely

00:57:37.960 --> 00:57:39.279
 about our best friend

00:57:39.279 --> 00:57:41.439
 or about how

00:57:41.439 --> 00:57:41.619
 the

00:57:41.619 --> 00:57:43.039
 or about the amazing

00:57:43.039 --> 00:57:43.699
 Super Bowl game

00:57:43.699 --> 00:57:44.159
 last year

00:57:44.159 --> 00:57:46.259
 then we can

00:57:46.259 --> 00:57:47.379
 praise God

00:57:47.379 --> 00:57:48.139
 profusely

00:57:48.139 --> 00:57:48.960
 our praise

00:57:48.960 --> 00:57:50.019
 our blessing

00:57:50.019 --> 00:57:51.019
 should freely

00:57:51.019 --> 00:57:51.980
 and voluntarily

00:57:51.980 --> 00:57:53.179
 just profusely

00:57:53.179 --> 00:57:53.639
 flow

00:57:53.639 --> 00:57:54.259
 roll off

00:57:54.259 --> 00:57:54.659
 our tongues

00:57:54.659 --> 00:57:55.659
 that should be

00:57:55.659 --> 00:57:56.559
 a proper response

00:57:56.559 --> 00:57:57.359
 because we can't

00:57:57.359 --> 00:57:58.559
 help as believers

00:57:58.559 --> 00:57:58.960
 who have been

00:57:58.960 --> 00:57:59.759
 recipients of such

00:57:59.759 --> 00:58:00.759
 amazing grace

00:58:00.759 --> 00:58:02.359
 to bless the God

00:58:02.359 --> 00:58:03.359
 who blessed

00:58:03.359 --> 00:58:14.579
 God

00:58:14.579 --> 00:58:15.159
 we

00:58:15.159 --> 00:58:17.219
 want this

00:58:17.219 --> 00:58:18.739
 not just to be

00:58:18.739 --> 00:58:19.859
 an idea

00:58:19.859 --> 00:58:20.779
 in our heads

00:58:20.779 --> 00:58:22.459
 but a firm

00:58:22.459 --> 00:58:23.459
 belief

00:58:23.459 --> 00:58:24.179
 in our hearts

00:58:24.179 --> 00:58:25.759
 we want to live

00:58:25.759 --> 00:58:26.659
 by this reality

00:58:26.659 --> 00:58:28.139
 not just

00:58:28.139 --> 00:58:29.759
 think of it

00:58:29.759 --> 00:58:31.119
 theorize about it

00:58:31.119 --> 00:58:32.199
 but please

00:58:32.199 --> 00:58:32.939
 by your spirit

00:58:32.939 --> 00:58:34.000
 transform us

00:58:34.000 --> 00:58:35.159
 move us

00:58:35.159 --> 00:58:37.119
 captivate us

00:58:37.119 --> 00:58:38.519
 with the

00:58:38.519 --> 00:58:39.319
 triune love of God

00:58:39.319 --> 00:58:40.759
 in Jesus name

00:58:40.759 --> 00:58:41.079
 we pray

00:58:41.079 --> 00:58:42.440
 what

00:58:42.619 --> 00:58:52.819
 our

00:58:54.019 --> 00:58:54.940
 minds

00:58:54.940 --> 00:58:55.539
 what

00:58:55.539 --> 00:58:55.840
 have

00:58:55.840 --> 00:58:56.319
 been

00:58:56.319 --> 00:58:58.059
 and

00:58:58.059 --> 00:58:58.340
 Yah!