WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.580 It's great to be with you today. I'm back in Ealing. I don't know if you remember, back in 2017 I did a placement for three weeks here, so some of you might recognise me. You're wondering, I recognise his face. Is that the guy from 2017? I can confirm I am that guy. 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:39.560 Please do tend to be to Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 1, page 976. We're going to be looking at passions that we just read earlier in a few chunks, and so today we're going to be looking at verses 3 to 6. 00:00:39.560 --> 00:01:09.540 Let me read that out again. 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:12.100 Let me pray for God's help. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:26.500 Lord God, we thank you for your word. We thank you that you have spoken to us, and that Christ has come in the flesh, and we can hear of him this morning. 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:38.079 We ask for your help by your spirit. Open our ears, open our hearts today. Turn to know Christ better. And in his name we pray. Amen. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:48.780 My favourite thing to do on a snow day when school was cancelled was to watch the behind the scenes of the Lord of the Rings movies with my mum. 00:01:48.780 --> 00:02:00.260 And me and my mum would watch hours of behind the scenes footage of how they made the film and all the unseen stuff, all that went into making it happen. 00:02:00.260 --> 00:02:12.640 And it was pretty amazing to see all the thousands of artists and technicians and producers and all the makeup and lights, set design, how they do orcs and stuff like that. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:19.339 And all the direction and purpose and effort that went into it. It was just amazing. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:31.300 You had all these huge decisions going on behind the scenes. And there was so much detail and intention and purpose that went into every single shot. 00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:38.719 All this stuff that we would have seen until me and my mum were shown it and we watched the behind the scenes. 00:02:39.300 --> 00:02:50.820 All this to just get one beautiful image on the screen. And it just makes you think after watching it, wow, this film is even more impressive than when I watched it. 00:02:52.280 --> 00:03:00.700 Well, you can think of the letter to the Ephesians as a behind the scenes. But not to a film. It's a behind the scenes to the church. 00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:09.960 In this book, Paul pulls back the curtain of reality to show us what's really going on behind the scenes of the church. 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:15.280 All the direction and purpose and inner workings of it all. 00:03:16.180 --> 00:03:23.680 So we see spiritual realities and spiritual warfare in the church. The inner workings of salvation and sin. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:28.400 What God has done with Jews and Gentiles. The divine work in Paul's ministry. 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:35.080 What's really going on behind marriage. What's going on in heaven. God's grand design behind it all. 00:03:35.939 --> 00:03:38.500 All this is the behind the scenes of the church. 00:03:39.920 --> 00:03:46.659 And here in Ephesians 1, Paul is pulling back the curtains to show something quite spectacular. 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:53.620 Paul is pulling back the curtain to give us a glimpse into eternity. 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:58.939 And to answer the question, why? 00:04:00.219 --> 00:04:01.819 Why the church? 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:07.039 Now, the church is a bit of a funny thing, if you think about it. 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:13.500 You have preaching and singing and elders and water, bread, wine, lots of people. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:18.339 It's strange on the surface. I'm not saying anything about Eden. Eden's a great church. 00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:20.800 But the church itself, it's a bit funny. 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:28.319 And Paul is pulling back the curtain to reveal what's really going on behind the scenes of all of this. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:32.079 Why all of this exists in the first place. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:35.079 Why did God create the church? 00:04:35.819 --> 00:04:39.000 Why did he gather a people like us today? 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:41.539 Why does he save some people? 00:04:42.359 --> 00:04:43.899 Why does he save any people? 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:49.819 Today we'll ask the question, why did God save you, Christian? 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:58.079 Paul is pulling back the curtain to reveal God's sovereign master plan from eternity past. 00:04:58.459 --> 00:04:59.779 The plan to form the church. 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:01.659 The plan to redeem a people. 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:04.040 The plan to save you. 00:05:05.259 --> 00:05:07.920 Paul is showing us why God did all of this. 00:05:09.159 --> 00:05:11.680 The passage is here to answer, why did God save the church? 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:13.759 Why did God save you? 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:21.360 But before Paul directly answers this question, he begins with a praise and blessing to God. 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:22.480 So look at verse 3. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:32.719 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:37.180 Paul bursts into praise for God. 00:05:37.180 --> 00:05:44.699 And this is so appropriate because you can't peek behind the curtain into eternity without praising God. 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:48.180 In fact, this whole passage is one big praise. 00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:51.500 In fact, in the original language, it's actually just one big sentence. 00:05:52.460 --> 00:05:57.639 This passage needs organs and quiet, blaring as you read it. 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:02.719 I was thinking of playing a bit of music as I preached through the sounds of my voice. 00:06:02.919 --> 00:06:03.839 Probably a bit too edgy. 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:06.120 But that's the vibe going on here. 00:06:06.659 --> 00:06:10.500 We're opening the curtain onto praiseworthy things. 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:17.539 And the first glimpse behind the curtain into why we're saved is actually a glimpse in what it means to be saved. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:23.240 It's a glimpse into heaven to show what it means to be saved right now. 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:25.599 But Paul doesn't use the word saved. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.060 He says, if you notice, that we're blessed. 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:31.720 And as we open the curtain, this is the first thing to see. 00:06:32.140 --> 00:06:34.000 You are blessed. 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:36.180 You are blessed. 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:37.920 Look again at verse 3. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:46.920 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:49.900 This is what it means to be a Christian. 00:06:50.820 --> 00:06:52.080 What it means to be saved by God. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:53.939 We're blessed in Christ. 00:06:53.939 --> 00:06:55.980 And what does he bless us with? 00:06:56.139 --> 00:07:00.060 With every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:05.879 Now the word blessed is perhaps a bit of a mishandled word nowadays. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.160 You might have seen it on Twitter or Instagram. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:10.659 The hashtag blessed. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:11.720 I don't know if you've seen that before. 00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:13.519 You know, pumpkin spice latte. 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:14.480 Hashtag blessed. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:18.800 And we see the word blessed in the Bible. 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:20.540 God blesses Israel. 00:07:20.860 --> 00:07:22.160 David blesses God. 00:07:22.660 --> 00:07:24.020 Solomon blesses the people. 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:26.520 There is blessing throughout the Bible. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:33.100 But to put it simply, when God blesses us, it means he confers benefits to us. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:37.720 A fancy way of saying God gives good things to his people when he blesses them. 00:07:37.720 --> 00:07:41.960 So in one sense, hashtag blessed, it's kind of right. 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:45.580 Because everything good in this world is from God. 00:07:45.660 --> 00:07:46.280 Even Starbucks. 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:49.900 But that misses the force behind what blessing is. 00:07:50.640 --> 00:07:53.680 When God blesses, he blesses his covenant people. 00:07:53.780 --> 00:08:01.220 His special, especially chosen people for himself that he's adopted and loved and saved. 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:06.880 And he blesses them with good things to do with redemption in particular. 00:08:08.080 --> 00:08:12.040 In other words, to be blessed by God is to receive his grace. 00:08:13.140 --> 00:08:15.860 Do you remember the words of that famous hymn? 00:08:16.520 --> 00:08:22.020 Come thou fount of every blessing, shew my heart to sing thy grace. 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:25.460 Blessing and grace go together. 00:08:26.440 --> 00:08:28.940 So you hear blessing, think grace in your head. 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:33.519 And that's why Paul says, we're blessed with every spiritual blessing. 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:36.820 And when you see the word spiritual, here's a tip. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:38.960 It usually means it's something to do with the Holy Spirit. 00:08:39.580 --> 00:08:41.980 So we're blessed with every Holy Spirit blessing. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:47.240 And so all that the Holy Spirit does, we're blessed with that. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:48.879 That means faith. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:50.799 That means new life. 00:08:51.100 --> 00:08:51.580 Justification. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:52.519 Sanctification. 00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:54.360 The guarantee of eternal life. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:56.100 The power to fight sin. 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:57.480 The grace to forgive. 00:08:57.559 --> 00:08:58.480 The forgiveness of sins. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:01.920 All the wonders and blessings of salvation. 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:05.659 And so it's no wonder where this blessing lies. 00:09:05.800 --> 00:09:06.700 Look at verse 3 again. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:10.920 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us. 00:09:11.060 --> 00:09:11.360 Where? 00:09:12.180 --> 00:09:13.220 In Christ. 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:16.500 Our blessing lies in Christ. 00:09:17.300 --> 00:09:18.759 In fact, our blessing is Christ. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:22.940 And that's why Paul also says, we've been blessed in the heavenly places. 00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:25.940 Christ right now is at the right hand of the Father. 00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:26.820 In heaven. 00:09:27.320 --> 00:09:29.500 And so all our blessings are in him. 00:09:29.940 --> 00:09:30.780 In heaven. 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:37.379 That doesn't mean that all the blessing we have is up in heaven. 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:39.419 And that there's no way of getting it. 00:09:39.699 --> 00:09:42.339 You know, it's up there but we can't just get it. 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:45.220 That would be useless if that was the case. 00:09:45.699 --> 00:09:46.659 We wouldn't be blessed. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:47.799 No. 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:51.979 But we, Christian, we are in Christ right now. 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:53.500 We're blessed in him. 00:09:54.779 --> 00:09:58.240 So as Christians, we have that blessing right now. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:02.940 If you are a Christian, God has specially blessed you. 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:04.519 And you are a little bit blessed. 00:10:05.180 --> 00:10:08.120 God hasn't given you a few good things in Christ. 00:10:09.060 --> 00:10:12.960 He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing. 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:16.440 So do you realise what that means? 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:24.220 If you are in need of God's grace and the work of the Spirit in your life to help you with your marriage. 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:29.620 If you are struggling and you feel like your marriage is just being held together by strength. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:34.860 You are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:42.740 And he is able to give you the patience, the love, the forgiveness, the humility that you need for your marriage. 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:47.200 If you think that the Christian walk is just too hard. 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:50.759 That sin is just too strong a force to battle. 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:53.980 That the life requires of you, it's just too much. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:56.399 And you think, this is too great a task for me. 00:10:57.460 --> 00:11:00.960 God has blessed you with every spiritual blessing. 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:04.460 To equip you and strengthen you in your weakness. 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:07.179 And God hasn't given you some blessing. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:09.659 He doesn't lead you halfway in the Christian life. 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:11.960 And tells you, just make the rest on your own. 00:11:12.939 --> 00:11:16.600 No, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:20.740 You are blessed more than you could even think or ask. 00:11:22.820 --> 00:11:26.680 And it's at this point, Paul begins to open the curtain even more. 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:29.500 It's at this point, we need to ask why. 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:33.460 Why has God blessed us in this unimaginable way? 00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:34.879 Why the church? 00:11:35.060 --> 00:11:36.259 Why did he save you? 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:41.700 And the next thing we need to see behind the curtain is, God chose us. 00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:43.940 And this is the second thing to see. 00:11:44.140 --> 00:11:45.400 You are chosen. 00:11:46.140 --> 00:11:47.600 You are chosen. 00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:49.240 Look at verse 4 with me. 00:11:50.680 --> 00:11:52.720 So God blessed us in Christ, verse 4. 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:57.700 Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. 00:11:59.140 --> 00:12:00.200 Why are you here today? 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:02.220 Because God chose you. 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:05.520 And look, when he chose you? 00:12:06.140 --> 00:12:08.680 Before the foundation of the world. 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:12.659 So, wind the clock back through history. 00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:14.579 As far back as you can go. 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:15.879 Rewind time. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.319 As far back as time will go. 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:19.919 Before the mountains were made. 00:12:19.959 --> 00:12:21.399 Before the oceans were filled. 00:12:21.719 --> 00:12:23.979 Before God said, let there be light. 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:26.439 Before even time began. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:27.759 In eternity past. 00:12:28.479 --> 00:12:30.239 God had a plan. 00:12:31.199 --> 00:12:32.639 A plan to save sinners. 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:35.240 And he knew exactly who he was to redeem. 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:39.159 And not because they had done anything to make them worthy. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:40.480 No, no, no. 00:12:40.580 --> 00:12:42.000 They didn't even exist yet. 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:44.960 It was God's choice and his alone. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.700 His choice to save us. 00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:50.799 And verse 5 adds more detail to God's choosing. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:52.340 Verse 5 with me. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:56.399 In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself. 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:58.779 As sons through Jesus Christ. 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:01.000 According to the purpose of his will. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:03.559 He predestined us. 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:08.379 Now, predestined just means God writes the end of our story. 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:11.279 Before our stories even begin. 00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:15.299 And that ending that he's written for us. 00:13:15.700 --> 00:13:16.879 If you are a Christian here today. 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:20.059 That ending is a happily ever after. 00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:23.960 Of being adopted as God's sons and daughters. 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:26.840 God chose us. 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:29.139 And predestined us to be his sons. 00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:29.800 His church. 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:30.720 His redeemed people. 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:33.860 So, think of it this way. 00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:38.040 If we could somehow put on paper God's eternal decrees. 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.900 His plan for an eternity past. 00:13:39.900 --> 00:13:42.740 If we could somehow get that on paper. 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.580 Which would be impossible. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.980 But God's mind is infinite. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:47.480 We couldn't even begin to get on paper. 00:13:47.680 --> 00:13:48.340 But if we could. 00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:52.440 You could find on that paper somewhere. 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:55.180 A list of every single Christian. 00:13:55.940 --> 00:13:57.700 That he has chosen to save in Christ. 00:13:59.580 --> 00:14:00.440 And brothers and sisters. 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.500 If you are in Christ. 00:14:01.920 --> 00:14:02.899 Your name is there. 00:14:04.180 --> 00:14:05.680 It's always been there. 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:07.899 God has known you. 00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:10.519 And chosen you for all eternity. 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.519 Now, you may think. 00:14:13.920 --> 00:14:15.560 But I remember choosing Jesus. 00:14:16.280 --> 00:14:18.040 I remember the prayer I prayed. 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:21.660 And I remember the moment when I decided to follow him. 00:14:22.660 --> 00:14:23.540 And that's true. 00:14:24.680 --> 00:14:25.500 That really is true. 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.600 Don't ever forget that. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.080 But we need to realise. 00:14:29.180 --> 00:14:30.340 We only chose him. 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:32.379 Because he chose us first. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.580 We love him. 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:36.220 Because he loved us first. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:38.960 And this is important to remember. 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:40.139 Because this means. 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:42.800 Every bit of our salvation. 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:44.360 Is from God. 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:48.639 But was there anything. 00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:51.399 He did to kind of persuade God. 00:14:51.800 --> 00:14:53.320 And twist his arm a bit. 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:54.340 To save us. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:56.840 Did he maybe look into the future. 00:14:57.580 --> 00:14:59.220 And see something worthy in me. 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:00.800 And then save me. 00:15:01.800 --> 00:15:03.340 Well look to the end of verse 5. 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:05.700 It is all. 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:05.780 It is all. 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.759 According to the purpose. 00:15:07.920 --> 00:15:08.560 Of his will. 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.160 To put it simply. 00:15:12.040 --> 00:15:13.820 God chose us. 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:16.580 Because he chose to choose us. 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:19.399 Paul's emphasis here is. 00:15:19.660 --> 00:15:21.379 It is nothing to do with you. 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:24.040 This was all God's. 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:26.460 The emphasis here is God's utter. 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:28.280 Amazing grace. 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:31.360 And it wasn't because of anything in us. 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.519 That he chose us. 00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:34.699 We have nothing to add. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.059 Nothing to give God. 00:15:36.939 --> 00:15:38.179 God saved you. 00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:40.220 Because he decided to save you. 00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:42.039 We didn't deserve it. 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.259 We didn't ask for it. 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:44.399 We didn't earn it. 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:45.100 No. 00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:46.179 It is all his grace. 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.319 So let's be clear here. 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:50.159 God saved us. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.679 Now. 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:54.379 Some people. 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:55.319 Making. 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:57.439 This is a bad quality of God. 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:57.760 God. 00:15:58.140 --> 00:15:58.600 As if. 00:15:58.920 --> 00:15:59.520 He is somehow. 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.640 A reckless God. 00:16:00.760 --> 00:16:01.600 Just randomly. 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:02.460 Peeping people. 00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:03.980 To save. 00:16:04.920 --> 00:16:06.520 Maybe that is how you feel about it. 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:08.560 Maybe this is something you have been wrestling with. 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.280 The God. 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:11.780 Choosing us. 00:16:12.520 --> 00:16:13.860 And predestating us. 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:15.960 It is not a bad quality. 00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:16.780 This is. 00:16:17.280 --> 00:16:17.980 Jaw dropping. 00:16:18.260 --> 00:16:18.820 Amazing. 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:19.540 Grace. 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.300 Because. 00:16:22.780 --> 00:16:23.900 If he didn't choose us. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.700 If he didn't do this. 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:27.640 Do you know what the other option is. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.280 No one is saved. 00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:32.860 No church. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.980 No salvation. 00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:38.100 If he doesn't choose us. 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:39.580 We're lost forever. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.780 In our sin. 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.080 But. 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.740 Blessed be the God. 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.879 Who chose us. 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:48.620 And predestined us. 00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:51.120 Your salvation. 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.539 The church. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:55.360 It's not a last minute. 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:56.159 Back up plan. 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:56.779 For God. 00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.139 Christian. 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.360 You were chosen. 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.460 Before the foundation. 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.259 Of the world. 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:02.679 And the church. 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:04.140 Is God's master plan. 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.599 From before the dawn of time. 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.559 And why? 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.519 Because in his grace. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.380 He decided. 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.599 To save you. 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.000 You. 00:17:12.439 --> 00:17:12.879 You. 00:17:13.199 --> 00:17:13.480 Are. 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:14.139 Chosen. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.480 And you're chosen. 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.339 With a purpose. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.519 And this is their third thing to see. 00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:20.859 God. 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.619 Chose you. 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.099 To be. 00:17:22.399 --> 00:17:22.679 Holy. 00:17:22.899 --> 00:17:23.539 And blameless. 00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:24.740 God. 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.339 Chose you. 00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:25.679 To be. 00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:26.079 Holy. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.439 And blameless. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.740 Look back. 00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:29.879 Verse four. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.299 With me. 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.579 He chose us. 00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:33.000 In him. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.879 Before the foundation. 00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:34.559 Of the world. 00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:35.939 That we should be. 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:36.480 Holy. 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:37.519 And blameless. 00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:38.179 Before him. 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.900 Christian. 00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:41.460 This is your purpose in life. 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.880 This is why God chose you. 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:44.720 From all eternity. 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.480 He wants you. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.440 To be holy. 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:49.360 And blameless. 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.400 I have a vague memory. 00:17:52.820 --> 00:17:54.160 Of when I was a child. 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.420 I was about five or six. 00:17:55.820 --> 00:17:56.799 And I was digging. 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.600 In the garden. 00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:58.380 In the soil. 00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.160 In the flower bed. 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:00.720 Just down the side of the house. 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:01.740 I was just digging. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.220 In the dirt. 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.140 With my little trowel. 00:18:03.560 --> 00:18:05.100 And I was digging up stones. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:07.160 And I would find a stone. 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:08.100 I guess I thought it was. 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:08.440 A treasure. 00:18:08.560 --> 00:18:09.080 Or something like that. 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:11.060 I dug up stone. 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.180 And then I would take it. 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:12.640 To the tap. 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.440 At the back of the house. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.820 And rinse it off. 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.660 And polish it off. 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.600 Get all the dirt off. 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:17.539 Turn the tap off. 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.980 And I'd bring the stone back. 00:18:19.060 --> 00:18:19.860 To the brick wall. 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.680 And I guess I'll just. 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.680 Place on the brick wall. 00:18:21.840 --> 00:18:22.600 I've got my stones. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:22.860 You know. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.680 I think I was a weird kid. 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.039 But yeah. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.400 What I was doing. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:27.560 That. 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:30.240 In a vague way. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.560 It's a reflection. 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.240 Of what God. 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.539 Has done with us. 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:36.119 That God looked. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.720 From eternity. 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.980 And saw us in the dirt. 00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.619 As worthless sinners. 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:43.099 And he knew. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.960 They're going to hate me. 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:47.779 They're going to break my law. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.420 They're going to reject me. 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.960 They'll be festering. 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:52.619 In the dirt of their own sin. 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:55.359 And they're going to crucify my son. 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:57.939 And he knew that. 00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:01.039 But in his grace. 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.039 And his mercy. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.799 He looked on you Christian. 00:19:05.459 --> 00:19:06.240 And he said. 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.399 But I choose her. 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:11.179 And I choose him. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.459 I'm going to take them. 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:15.779 Out of the dirt. 00:19:16.219 --> 00:19:17.240 Out of their sin. 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:18.979 And not just dust them off. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.699 Under the tap. 00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:21.779 I'm going to transform them. 00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:22.719 To be holy. 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.279 And blameless. 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:27.779 This is why God saved us. 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:29.779 This is your purpose. 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.879 To be purified. 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.740 In your heart. 00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:32.599 And your life. 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.379 And to live a life. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.359 Pleasing to God. 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.500 Now. 00:19:37.639 --> 00:19:38.980 This will not happen perfectly. 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:40.099 Until Christ returns. 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:42.740 And gets rid of all the sin. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.160 In the world. 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:44.920 But his purpose for you. 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:46.440 Has already begun. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.339 In part. 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:49.639 You. 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.480 Are already being sanctified. 00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:53.819 And so. 00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:56.519 This is our underlying purpose in life. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:58.139 It's our holiness. 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.299 So. 00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:02.279 So you may have many plans in life. 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:04.559 Plans for when you're older. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.799 Plans for after school. 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.539 Goals in life. 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.519 Hopes for your family. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.579 Hopes for your children. 00:20:10.419 --> 00:20:11.359 Hopes for your career. 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:13.460 And that may be really great. 00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:15.240 But this. 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.819 Is your purpose. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.179 That underlies. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.339 All those other purposes. 00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:22.220 This is why you're here today. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.759 This is why God has saved you. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.519 To be holy. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.059 And blameless. 00:20:29.459 --> 00:20:30.579 Our sanctification. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:32.179 Our fight with sin. 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:34.859 Our strive to lead holier lives. 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.759 It can so often seem like. 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.319 Like the unglorious part. 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.180 Of the Christian life. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.680 Can't it? 00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.839 It can feel embarrassing. 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.480 Or shameful. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.640 But actually. 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:46.059 If you're a fight with sin. 00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.720 It's a really good thing. 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.119 Now. 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:49.920 Let's be clear here. 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:51.539 The sin isn't a good thing. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.039 That's bad of course. 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:54.279 That's why we fight it. 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:56.440 But the very fight itself. 00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:59.660 That's a part of your purpose. 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:03.359 That is God polishing off the dirt. 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:04.480 More than that. 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:06.339 That is God changing the stone. 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.399 Into the diamonds. 00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:10.559 It's why he chose you. 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:14.139 But there's one more thing to see. 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.839 Behind the curtain. 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.720 Another purpose. 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:18.440 And another reason why God saved you. 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:20.039 And it's the final thing to see today. 00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:22.019 That God chose you. 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.539 To praise his grace. 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:26.839 God chose you to praise his grace. 00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:30.240 So let's read from verse 5 again with me. 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:36.980 In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ. 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:39.460 According to the purpose of his will. 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:43.259 To the praise of his glorious grace. 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:46.000 With which he has blessed us in the beloved. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.259 Here. 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:51.119 Paul takes us deep behind the curtain. 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:53.740 He's taking us behind the scenes. 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:54.759 And here. 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:58.059 We get to glimpse at the director's grand plan. 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.399 Why the church? 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:02.599 Why did God redeem our people? 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.379 Why did God choose you? 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.660 And save you? 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.899 And sanctify you? 00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:09.019 Verse 6. 00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:11.119 So that we would exist. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:14.899 To the praise of his glorious grace. 00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.580 He chose us. 00:22:15.580 --> 00:22:15.900 He chose us. 00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:17.580 He chose us. 00:22:17.580 --> 00:22:19.880 So that we would praise him. 00:22:20.300 --> 00:22:21.980 For his saving grace. 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:25.560 That is why the church exists. 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:28.180 That is why you were predestined. 00:22:28.820 --> 00:22:30.080 That is why you were saved. 00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:32.560 That is what all of this is about. 00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:36.759 This is what the whole plan of redemption was for. 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:40.160 So God would be praised. 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:42.879 But did you notice? 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:47.160 Paul doesn't say we're chosen for the praise of his glory. 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:51.779 He doesn't say that the church exists to the praise of God's glory in general. 00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.480 Which is true. 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:54.740 Please don't get me wrong there. 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.839 That is absolutely true. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.799 It can be more true. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.659 God does all things for his glory. 00:22:58.659 --> 00:23:01.740 But Paul is more specific than that here. 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:08.099 The church exists and you were saved to the praise of his glorious grace. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:12.339 Grace is the thing being praised here. 00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:15.879 Grace is what we were saved to marvel at. 00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.500 And he's even more specific. 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:20.500 Look how verse 6 ends. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:23.639 To the praise of his glorious grace. 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:32.720 The grace we're to praise is found in the beloved. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.340 That's Jesus Christ. 00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:39.600 The grace we're to praise is the saving grace of Christ. 00:23:40.520 --> 00:23:43.800 The grace of Christ crucified, buried and raised. 00:23:45.020 --> 00:23:47.820 We're saved to praise Jesus Christ. 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:51.120 Human history. 00:23:52.020 --> 00:23:52.400 Adam. 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:54.560 Abraham. 00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.220 Israel. 00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:55.880 The church. 00:23:56.080 --> 00:23:56.940 Your salvation. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.660 Human history. 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:03.720 It all happened so that we would praise God for one thing in particular. 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.820 Jesus Christ. 00:24:07.060 --> 00:24:11.680 It all happened so that we would praise Jesus for saving us. 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:15.740 So we would marvel at the cross and just think, what a saviour. 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:20.000 So we would cry out, hallelujah, Jesus loves me. 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:25.180 So we would praise Jesus because he's defeated death and reigns victorious. 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:30.059 So we would confess, Jesus, I am a lost sinner without you. 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:35.620 So we would sing to God of how he has saved us in Jesus Christ. 00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:36.619 This is God's grand plan of redemption. 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:40.419 This is God's grand plan of redemption. 00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:44.139 This is the reason for your existence, Christian. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:48.419 And this is exactly how our story will end. 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:52.960 This is our destination that we were predestined for. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.759 Praising Jesus. 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.080 Jesus. 00:24:55.079 --> 00:25:04.399 When Jesus returns and all history reaches its purpose and its climax, what will we be doing? 00:25:05.399 --> 00:25:07.480 We'll be praising Jesus Christ. 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:11.220 What is sung around the throne of Revelation? 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:15.059 Worthy is the lamb's slave. 00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:19.059 What do the multitudes cry out at the end of time? 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:24.179 Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb. 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:32.679 It's the cross of Christ, the suffering saviour, the blood of Jesus, the one who became sin for us, the saviour of the world. 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:36.319 We were saved so we would praise God for him. 00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:40.960 To the praise of his glorious grace. 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:49.680 So can you see why gathering together on a Sunday like this is so important? 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:58.579 Can you see why worshipping our God together as his redeemed church should be the number one thing in our lives? 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:02.059 Because that's why we're saved. 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:07.779 Or can you see why celebrating the Lord's Supper is so important? 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:17.420 In the Lord's Supper we're proclaiming, Jesus I'm lifeless without your body and blood shed for me. 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:21.279 So why did God choose us? 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:24.940 Why did he even begin the work of redemption? 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.740 Or why did God create a church? 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.700 Why did God save you? 00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.920 Why did God save anyone? 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:35.440 So we would praise him for his glorious grace in Jesus Christ. 00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:39.200 This is what lies behind the curtain. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:42.000 This is what lies behind the scenes of the church. 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:45.059 It is your ultimate purpose in life. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:49.779 And the whole reason for the church, it is all to praise Jesus. 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:52.019 Let me pray. 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.019