Heavenly Father, once again we
thank you for allowing us to gather together via the internet
and we thank you for the technology that's provided. We know that
it's all part of Thy eternal plan and all according to Thy
purpose. in order that the gospel may
go out into all the world, O Lord, and we thank you for that. We
thank you for the different mediums that you've provided for that,
and we give you all the glory and honor and praise. And we
pray you be glorified tonight through the preaching of your
word that, O Lord, that you be lifted up high and mighty, Our
eyes, the eyes of your people would be drawn to you. And Lord,
as this message goes forth, we pray you use it to draw on your
lost sheep and be your will and to edify your people and build
them up in thee, oh Lord. May you be lifted high and mighty. May you be glorified through
the preaching of your word, Lord, and in the minds of your saints.
In Jesus' name, amen. Tonight's message is called The
Eternal Lamb. The Eternal Lamb, or The Benefits
of the Eternal Lamb, we could call it that. the benefits of
the eternal Lamb. Tonight I'd like to consider
more about the wonderful Lamb that was slain from before the
foundation of the world, which we looked at this morning. And
we're going to look at those same verses again quickly that
we looked at this morning. Revelation chapter 13 verse 8
will be the first one we'll return to. And this morning we looked
at how the Word of God, the second person of the Trinity, became
flesh and dwelt among us. And of course his name is the
Lord Jesus Christ. And he is the one who is identified,
we looked at scripture today, he's identified as the Lamb slain
from before the foundation of the world. And we looked at and
considered this morning how the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain
from before the foundation of the world, was pictured and introduced
in Eden, prophesied by Abraham, portrayed in the Passover Lamb
and Levitical offerings, and characterized by Isaiah and presented
by John the Baptist and manifested on Calvary's cross, or manifested
actually when he came into this world and held high above on
Calvary's cross as a sacrifice, a great substitute of his people,
a great substitute of sinners. So let's go to Revelation chapter
13, verse 8, then we'll go to John 17, 24. Revelation 13, verse eight, and
it says, all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,
and that being the Antichrist, whose names are not written in
the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world. That's the key there, the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. And we looked at who
that is this morning, that's the Lord Jesus Christ. And then
go to John 17, 24, And we also see there that there's
a book of life, and there's names written in the book of life.
Now, Revelation 13, verse 8 speaks of those whose names are not
written in the Lamb's book of life. Let's look at John 17,
24. It says, Father, I will that
they also whom thou hast given me, so the Father has given to
Christ a people, be with me where I am. they may behold my glory
which thou has given me for thou lovest me before the foundation
of the world now let's go to Ephesians chapter 1 and 1st Peter
chapter 1 we're going to Ephesians chapter 1 first and then we'll
go to 1st Peter chapter 1 Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3 to 6 blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Paul is paying homage to the
blood-washed saints. And he says, according as he
has chosen us in him. Well, remember John 17, our dear
Lord, he said, the people whom thou hast given with me, be where
I am. Well, here, it says here, that God has chosen his people,
us, in Christ. When? Before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy. My, that means set apart
and without blame before him in love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, and
we looked at this marvelous close of this verse here, according
to the good pleasure of his will. There's only one free will in
all the universe. And that's God's. God does whatever
he pleases, whenever he pleases. We're bound to our nature. God's
the only one who's got free will to do whatever he wants. Oh my. And then, of course, the doxology
of praise that comes out of it, of us finding out that we're
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world and being predestined
to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ according to the
good pleasure of God's will, while we go to the praise of
the glory of His grace wherein He hath made us accepted in the
Beloved. And again we looked at accepted
in the Beloved there is accepted in the Lord Jesus Christ in Him
alone. That's who we are accepted in.
Outside of Christ, as I said this morning, outside of Christ
we are not accepted before God. In Christ we are accepted by
God. And then let's go to 1 Peter
1 and we'll read verses 18 to 21 For as much as you know that
you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold From
your vain conversations received by tradition from your father's
this verse tells us you can buy your way into heaven No matter
how much money a person has It will never gain the merit and
favor with God never You cannot purchase salvation It's not for
sale beloved It's a free gift from God to his people. And it
says here, from your vain conversations received by tradition from your
fathers. Just because one's parents are born-again believers does
not mean children are born-again believers. We know that. No. Not at all. But this is especially
speaking of religious traditions. Religious traditions. Religious
traditions can't save anyone. The scripture says, you must
be born again. And when you're born again, you
are granted faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And
you rest and trust in his finished work. And you are accepted in
the beloved, nowhere else. And by nothing we do, it's all
by what Christ has done. And look at this, we're redeemed
with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot. That tells us that Christ was
absolutely sinless. And we know, we know from the
scripture, He's sinless in His life, and beloved, He is sinless
in His death. He's sinless. And He rose from
the grave sinless, beloved. Never forget that. He's God incarnate
in the flesh. You cannot separate the Godhead
from His manhood. He is God incarnate in the flesh. He's perfect. He's spotless.
The opposite of what we are. We are sinners, full of sin.
As a picture of the leper that went up to the Lord and said,
Lord, if thou will, thou can make me clean. Full of leprosy. That's what we are. We're full
of sin. And the Lord says, I will be thou clean. What happened?
He was clean and instantaneous. Praise be to God. you're under
the blood of Christ, you'd be washed clean in that fountain
filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel's veins. Oh my! And you're spotless in God's
eyes, clothed in the perfect righteousness of Christ. And
all God's people say is Hallelujah. And then it says, who verily
was foreordained before the foundational world, but was manifest in these
last times for you, for us. our sins, to die on Calvary's
cross for our sins, beloved, to redeem us, to redeem His people,
who by Him do believe in God, were granted faith to believe,
were regenerated, born again, granted faith to believe that
God raised Him from the dead and we give Him all the glory,
that your faith and your hope might be in God. Our faith and
our hope is in the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,
the Lord Jesus Christ, in Him alone. Beloved, I'd like us to
consider seven eternal blessings that God's people have in Christ. In Christ. We could call this
message, Blessings of the Eternal Lamb. Blessings of the Eternal
Lamb. My, and we know that believers,
as believers, we have all eternal blessings in Christ. All spiritual
blessings in Christ, and through Him, and by Him alone. All of
God's spiritual blessings flow to the believer through one conduit,
just one. All God's eternal blessings of
salvation come to the believer through the Lamb that was slain
from the foundation of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal
Son, and that's what He is. He's the Eternal Son. He's the
Eternal Word of God, beloved. That's who He is. And we are
saved by His glorious work and by His glorious work alone. We'll
see that more as we go through these wonderful blessings that
we have, these eternal blessings that we have in Christ. And again, all spiritual blessings
flow through Him. Through Him. And He did His glorious
work in our place before our great and holy God to appease
His law. And to appease His justice. Think
of that. We are the offenders. We are the guilty ones. And God Himself, beloved, remember
God will provide Himself a lamb. God Himself comes to this earth
and fulfills His own law in our place. And then He goes to that cross
and He suffers the wrath of God. The Lord Jesus Christ, the wrath
of God was poured out upon him so that the justice of God would
be satisfied. His justice. His justice. Have you ever heard of a king
dying in the place of a lowly subject? That's unheard of in
this world, isn't it? It's unheard of that a king would
die in the place of the lowly subject. But beloved, God's thoughts
are not our thoughts, and God's ways are not our ways. And the blessed King of Glory
laid aside His glory, and came to this world to redeem His people
from their sins. And He did that in our place,
before our great Holy God. And when the redeeming death
of Jesus Christ was by God foreordained before
the foundation of the world, even before it was manifest in
these last times, it was considered as already performed and its
saving benefits already applied. Because remember, our great God
is outside of time and space. He dwells in eternity. He is
not bound by time. And the Scriptures declare that
He knows the end from the beginning. And we know from our studies
in Scriptures that our Lord Jesus Christ died upon the cross at
the appointed time. Turn, if you would, to Acts 2. Acts 2. Our great God, our Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ, died at the appointed time according
to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, beloved. Did not, as I said, go to plan B. Oh, now you gotta go to the world,
Jesus. God didn't say that. Anyone who
tells you that God said that, that's a different God than the
Scriptures. Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world, beloved. Acts 2, verses 22-24. Ye men of Israel, hear these
words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved
of God. A man approved of God. Perfect,
sinless, spotless. In ourselves, we're not approved
of God, beloved. In Christ we are. We're qualified
for heaven, aren't we? Paul wrote in Colossians. But
we're not in ourselves. But look at this. Christ, He's
a man approved to God. He's perfect. He's sinless. He
approved to God among you by miracles and wonders and signs.
He manifested His deity in all that He did. Which God did by
Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. Him. being delivered by the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked
hands have crucified and slain. They took him, and they cried
out, Crucify him, crucify him, according to the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God. That's what that scripture
is saying. And then look at this, Whom God
hath raised up, He's satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ.
See, the grave couldn't hold Christ. He's sinless. Has no claim on Him, beloved.
He's sinless. He was raised up, having loosed
the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should
be holding of it. Couldn't hold Him. The grave
couldn't hold Him, beloved. Let's go back to our text in
Revelation. chapter 13, verse 8, and we read
there again, and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship
Him, and again that's speaking of the Antichrist, whose names
are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. So we see in this verse clearly
that Jesus is referred to as the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. Again, in the book of Acts, we
saw that Christ went to the cross at an appointed time and specific
place in time, which was just over 2,000 years ago. But it
had all been planned and purposed in eternity, beloved. Because
this scripture brings forth that he is the lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. And when you look at the context
of this verse, some things become quite clear that our great God
is speaking about the eternal election of grace also in this
verse, which spans time, as the Scriptures bring forth that those
who die in their sins unsaved do not have their names written
in the Lamb's book alive. Those names written in the Lamb's
book alive, they were written in eternity,
beloved. I remember reading a track one time. I just threw it away
after. I couldn't handle it. It said, bow your head and repeat
this prayer. Of course, they all say that.
And it says, now if you did that, now your name is written in the
Lamb's Book of Life. What? At that time. Well, that's just
a lie. God is the one who penned these
names. I like what some commentator
said, in indelible ink. Penned these names, beloved,
in the Lamb's Book of Life. And he did it in eternity. And
the names which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, in eternity,
signifies God's record of those who will be regenerated or raised
up into new life in Christ Jesus our Lord. They will be born again. And they were purchased by the
blood of the lamb, the lamb slain from before the foundation of
the world. They were purchased on Calvary's
cross by the Lord Jesus Christ. They were given to Him in eternity.
Their names are written in the book of life. Eternity. And then in time, beloved, at
the exact, specific time that God has appointed, not a second
earlier, not a second later, Christ is born into this world. The king of kings and the lord
of lords. He's king in eternity. Before
he comes, he's king while he's on this earth. And he's king
again in eternity. He's never ceased being king,
beloved. Even when he laid aside his glory,
he's still king. Oh, this is our great God. And
at that appointed time, by God, according to the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God, Christ went to that cross. The Scripture says He set His
face like a flint to Jerusalem. He knew exactly what He had to
do, beloved. And He goes to that cross at
the exact appointed time and dies on Calvary's cross in the
room and place of His people. And at the exact appointed time,
He rose from the grave, beloved, and ascended into heaven, where
He's seated right now, where He's our mediator. He's the King
of kings and the Lord of lords, and He's seated at the right
hand of the Father. Praise His mighty name. And this
was all according to the absolute, immutable purpose and plan of
our great God, Jehovah. Philippians chapter 4, the Scriptures
say this, And I entreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help
those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement
also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in
the book of life. Philippians chapter 4, verse
3, and then Paul, right after that Paul pens, Rejoice in the
Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Names were written,
beloved. Now, this blessed me as I was
going through this study this week, because I thought, my,
me? My name was written in the Lamb's book of life from eternity? Just makes you want to weep,
beloved. We always say, why me? Because it pleased God to do
so. It is God to pen your name in eternity in the Lamb's Book
of Life, if you're one of His people. And this is why we preachers
say, He will not lose one of His own. He will not lose one. He purchased them. Christ purchased
them all on Calvary's cross. The Father gave them to Him in
eternity. Their names are written in the
Book of Life. My, what a wondrous thing to
contemplate. Turn, if you would, to Revelation
chapter 20. We see here a picture of the
final judgment. The great white throne. Revelation
chapter 20 verses 11 to 15. And I saw a great white throne. Him that sat on it. from whose face the earth and
heaven fled away. Men say, I'm not afraid of God.
Earth and heaven flees away. You better fear God. Oh my. And there was found no
place for them. And I saw the dead, small and
great, stand before God. These folks say, I don't believe
in God. You're going to stand in front of Him one day. And
if He lets you die in your sins, you're going to stand in front
of Him in judgment. Look at this. And I saw the dead, small and
great. That's everyone. Stand before God and the books
were opened. And another book was opened,
which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out
of those things which were written in the books according to their
works. And the sea gave up the dead
which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which
were in them, and they were judged, every man, according to their
works. The unsaved are going to get
just what they deserve. They're going to get paid the
wages. The wages of sin is what? or they're going to die the second
death. Or they say, born once, die twice. Born twice, die once. And what that means is the believer
is born again. Born in the flesh with their
mom and then born again by the Holy Spirit of God. In hell and death, were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Look
at this. And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. You see
why we grace preachers say we don't want what we deserve? And
do you see why we say we don't get what we deserve? We deserve
that. Everyone does. God, in His mercy and in His
grace, penned the name of His chosen people in the Book of
Life, beloved, in eternity. And those who are found written
in the Book of Life shall enter into glory, because their sins
have already all been judged, beloved. Their works have already
all been judged at Calvary's cross, when the wrath of God
fell upon the Great Substitute. And the word of God's being slain
from the foundation of the world illustrates not only that he
was foreordained to be slain, but also that the efficacy or
the beneficial effects of that death is the same as if that
sacrifice had been made before the creation of the world. Thus Old Testament saints are
washed clean in Christ's blood, the same as we are today. They
look to Christ, beloved. They look to Christ. In other words, the efficacy
of Christ's sacrifice is not limited by time. God had already
chosen who he would save before creation, and thus already ordained
the Savior to shed his blood for them, to make this possible. So rejoice, beloved of God. The
salvation of God's elect is not something that can be thwarted
by anyone or anything. It was something which was as
good as done from the time that God ordained it. And when did he ordain it, beloved?
In eternity. See, that's why I was talking
to Bruce Crabtree one time years ago. And he said, I'm so thankful,
brother, that we can't mess up our salvation. That's true. Doesn't give us a license to
go crazy. We know that. That's not what he was saying.
But our salvation's in Christ. It's in Him. And we were chosen
in Christ before the foundation of the world. Marvel, marvel
at that precious, precious truth. And we saw in 1 Peter there that
our Lord Jesus Christ was manifested, was manifested for His people in these last
times for you. Turn, if you would, to Isaiah chapter 53. I brought
this up this morning. And think upon this, Isaiah the
prophet, 750 years before the incarnation of the Lord Jesus
Christ, described Christ's death in the past tense, as I mentioned
this morning, as already wrought. Let us look at that again, again
paying attention to the past tense verbiage. Look at this. Isaiah 53 verses 4 to 11. And this is speaking of Christ.
We know that, remember, because we looked at in Acts this morning
where Philip interpreted this and preached Christ, preached
Christ to the eunuch from this very passage. Listen to this.
Listen to the past tense verbiage. This is marvelous. 750 years
before Christ was even born. Surely he hath borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows. Past tense. Yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted. Again, past tense. He was wounded for our transgressions.
He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace
was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. Past tense again. All we like sheep have gone astray.
We have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid
on him the iniquity of us all. Past tense. He was oppressed
and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is bought
as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is dumb. So he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison,
from judgment. Who shall declare his generation?
For he was cut off out of the land of the living. That's when
he died. That's talking about when he
dies. For the transgression of my people was he stricken. This
is 750 years before Christ was even born. Past tense. And He
made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death.
He's buried in a rich man's tomb. Because He had done no violence,
neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord
to purge Him. Oh, beloved, this is speaking
of his death on Calvary's cross. He hath put him to grief, when
thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. That occurred at Calvary. He shall see his seed, he shall
prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in
his hands. He shall see the travail of his
soul and shall be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many. For he is raised for our justification,
beloved. For he shall bear their iniquities.
My, it's all past tense. Now remember who the author of
the Scriptures are. It's the Holy Spirit of God.
He inspired Isaiah to write these words. He knows the end from
the beginning, beloved. And beloved of God from eternity,
God calleth these things which be Not as though they were. I'll read that again. God calleth these things which
be not as though they were. In Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
today, and what? Forever. He's the unchanging
Lamb of God. He's the Lamb slain from before
the foundation of the world. He's the immutable Lamb of God
slain from eternity. And all for whom He died shall
be saved. There won't be one of them left
behind, because they were all given to Him by the Father. And what are some of the blessings
that God's people have in and through the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, first, God's people have
in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb slain
from before the foundation of the world, eternal grace. We
have eternal grace. God's grace is eternal, just
like Him, isn't it? Anything from God is eternal. If He loves us, it's eternal
love. If He's shown us grace, it's eternal grace. If He's had
mercy upon us, it's eternal mercy. If salvation comes from Him,
which it does, it's eternal salvation. Isn't it wonderful? It's just
wonderful, beloved. Turn if you would to 2 Timothy
1, we'll read verses 8 to 11. Look at this. Oh my, remember Christ is the
Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. He's the unchanging
Lamb of God, beloved. 2 Timothy 1, verses 8 to 11. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. But
be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the
power of God. Who has saved us? God saves his people. We're but
receivers of this mercy and grace. We can't save ourselves, let
alone anyone else. Who has saved us? God saved us,
and called us with a holy calling. were made willing in the day
of his power to flee to Christ. Not according to our works. OK,
there it is, right? Easy language. Not according
to our works. There is nothing that you and
I can do to save ourselves. That's what
that scripture's saying. Not according to our works. There's
nothing we can do to save our eternal souls. God saved us and
He called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to His own purpose and grace. Look at that. And that's eternal purpose, and
beloved, that's eternal grace. Which was given to us in Christ
when? Before the world began. Oh my. So one of the benefits
that we have in and through Christ is eternal grace has been given
to us. But look what goes on in verses
10 and 11. But is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. So His eternal purpose
and grace is made manifest. Oh, it's made manifest by the
appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ who has abolished death
and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Whereunto I appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher
of the Gentiles." Look at that. So we clearly see in verse 9
that God's people received His grace, God's grace, before time
began. Even before we physically existed. That's what that's saying. In Christ we received those things. Beloved of God, salvation is
of the Lord from beginning to end. And we are saved. We are
saved with an eternal salvation. And it's God who called us by
His Holy Spirit. And with a holy calling, too.
And note also how clearly the truth that it is Christ who redeemed
us is brought forth by His work. Because it says, not according
to our works. Not according to our works, it
says. We're saved by the work of Christ
and what He's done. And it's all according to God's
purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ before
the foundation of the world. The Lord God chose us in Christ,
gave His beloved Son, and then He gave His beloved Son to redeem
us, beloved. And He called us to Himself.
And he accepted us in his blessed son, our great savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ. And then he keeps us, praise
be to God, by his almighty power. He keeps us. We know what would
happen to us if we were left on our own. We'd be gone jessies,
as Brother Donnie says. And I found out what that means.
That means when you're getting a little scrap, right off. We're supposed to be there with
you. That's what we would be. We would be gone. We'd be flying
out the door, beloved. My goodness. So it's so clear
that it's Christ who redeemed us by his work. And the Lord
God chose us in Christ, oh my, marvel at that. Gave his beloved
son to redeem us, marvel at that. Called us to himself, oh, and
accepted us in the beloved. And then he keeps us, that's
just wondrous. And note how clearly the sovereignty
of God is brought forth also in this wonderful verse in verse
9. It just trumpets out the sovereignty of God, beloved. God who saved
us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. This speaks
of His sovereignty. Absolute sovereignty. My oh my. He saved us. He called us. And this grace,
eternal grace was given to us in Christ before the world began. And He did all this according
to His eternal purpose and according to His eternal plan. My oh my. You know, God called us also,
all according to his eternal purpose. That's amazing, isn't it? Grace
provided the way, beloved, and it was all freely given to us. It wasn't earned and it never
could be. No merit, no merit, no merit is our cry, isn't it? Grace provided the way in Christ
Jesus before the world began. What do we say? All we can say
is praise your name, Lord Jesus. Praise your name. The next benefit
that God's people have in and through the Lord Jesus Christ The lamb slain from before the
foundation of the world is eternal sanctification. I'll read Ephesians
1 again, verses 3 to 6. We looked at it earlier, and
I'll just read it again. It said, blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he has
chosen us in him, that being Christ before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love. There's a whole bunch of people
trying to sanctify themselves by their works. The believer in Christ is sanctified
in Christ. Now do we grow in grace? Absolutely. Do we learn to hate sin more
and more as we grow in grace? Absolutely. And we hate it more
right away than anywhere else in ourselves. more than anywhere
else, to see ourselves, as Paul said, as the chief of sinners. The chief of sinners. That's
growing in grace, beloved. According as He has chosen us
in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love. having predestinated
us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according
to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. God's
chosen and predestinated children were highly favored to be accepted
in Christ as holy." They're sanctified. They're set apart. They're set
apart, beloved. Before the foundation of the
world, too. Not by anything they've done. By God. See, that's the difference
between religion and grace. Religion always has something
you have to do. Grace says Christ did it all.
Praise His name. And I am what? We could all say
this. I am complete in Christ. That's what Paul wrote. He said,
yield and plead in Christ. Isn't that wonderful? I came
out of religion. I don't want to have them chains
bound on me ever again. Oh my. The next blessing, the
next blessing that God's people have in and through the Lord
Jesus Christ who is the lamb slain from before the foundation
of the world is eternal glorification. Turn, if you would, to Romans
chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. We'll read verses 28 to 30. God's
people and Christ were prepared for glory from eternity. Did
you know that? When in God's eternal decree
He foreknew, predestinated, called, justified and glorified them.
And note again, the verbiage in these verses we see is in
the past tense. when we get to the verse that
I indicate. Romans chapter 8 verse 28 to 30. And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to His purpose. Always important
to finish the latter part of that verse. To them who are the
called according to His purpose. Many people say they call upon
God, but they are not called according to God's purpose. They're
false professors. But look at that. We know, this
is something God's people know, that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are called according
to His purpose. For whom he did foreknow, past
tense, he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover, look at this, it's all past tense again. Moreover,
whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called,
them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he
also glorified. But when were we called? In time
and space, right? It's as good as done in God's
eyes, beloved. He's decreed and purposed it.
He knows the end again. He knows the end. He knows everything
that's going to happen. He knows. He knows the end all
the way to the beginning, all the way into eternity. He's eternal, beloved. He's an
eternal being. He is not constrained again by
time and space. My oh my. The next blessing that
God's people have in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, who is
the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world, is eternal
redemption. Turn, if you would, to Psalm
74, and then put your finger in Hebrews chapter 9. Psalm 74
in Hebrews chapter 9. Psalm 74 verses 1 and 2, it says
this, O God, why hast thou cast us off forever? Why doth that
anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Remember thy
congregation, which thou hast purchased of old. Purchased of
old? of thine inheritance, which thou
hast redeemed, this Mount Zion wherein thou hast dwelt." Now,
beloved of God, again at that appointed time, Christ, the great
High Priest of good things to come, such as peace, righteousness,
reconciliation, grace, and mercy, came in a body prepared for Him
by the Father. And He tabernacled among men. And in Him men met God, and in
Him God deals with men. He is here upon this earth as
the representative of His people. Again, He's weaving a perfect
coat of righteousness for His people before the law of God. And He is all our redemption. In Christ, though sinless, was
numbered with the transgressors and died under the penalty of
our sins which were imputed to Him. But marvel at the fact that
the sinless one dies for sinners. He's perfect. He's spotless.
And the justice of God falls upon him in our place. As I said
earlier, death couldn't hold him. He's sinless. Death can't
hold him. And he rises from the grave. My. The holy one died for the undaunted. The sinless one died for sinners. And our great high priest rose
from the grave for our justification. And he, as our great high priest,
entered into the once. He entered in once into the presence
of God, having made a once for all atonement for the sins of
his people, never to be repeated. And when we have the Lord's Supper,
we're simply remembering this once forever atonement, aren't
we? And we're remembering that Christ
did that for us. We who are his people. I'll turn,
if you would, to Hebrews chapter 9. Hebrews chapter 9. Look at verse 11 and 12. Look at this. As I said, one
of the blessings we have as God's people is eternal redemption.
Now we know that we can't purchase that from Peter. We can't purchase
that silver or gold, two of the most precious metals in this
world. We can't gain it from tradition. We also know from
2 Timothy 2.9 that it's not according to our works so we can't earn
it at all. Not at all. Well then how do
we have it? Well look at this in Hebrews
chapter 9 verses 11 and 12. But Christ being come, he came
into this world. See we're born into this world,
he came in. He came. being come, and high priest of
good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle,
and this is speaking of his sinless body, he's perfect, he has a
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not
of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
look at this, having obtained what? Eternal redemption for
us. The way we have the blessing
of eternal redemption is in and through the Lamb slain for us
from before the foundation of the world, who came into time
and space and went the Calvary's cross at the exact appointed
time of God, and died in the room and place of His people,
shedding His precious, precious blood. By His own blood He entered
in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption
for us. He did it, beloved. He is the
one who's obtained eternal redemption. Doing something that we could
never ever do. And through this one offering,
He perfected all believers and obtained eternal redemption for
us. And that's clearly bought forth.
Now look at one chapter over. Look at one chapter over, Hebrews
chapter 10. Look at verses 11 to 14. And every priest standeth daily,
ministering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take
away sin. So all those Old Testament sacrifices,
that scripture's proclaiming right there, they could never
take away sins. But they were pointing to one.
They were pointing to the Lamb slain from before the foundation
of the world. That's who they were pointing
to. That's who they were pointing to. The one who attained salvation
by the shedding of his own blood. But look at this. But this man,
that's Christ. After he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever. One sacrifice for sins forever.
Never needs to be repeated. When he cried, it's finished.
You know what? It's finished. And that's what we rest in as
believers, isn't it? The fact that the work of our salvation
is complete. After He had offered one sacrifice
for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, from henceforth
expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one
offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Now
we know we're still sinners, don't we? But you know that in
God's eyes, clothed in that perfect righteousness of Christ, He looks
at us in Christ, beloved. That's glorious. That's glorious. And now God's people are all
priests in Christ. Our great high priest, therefore. God's people are all priests
in Christ, and we can come boldly in Christ before the throne of
grace. And we find grace to help in
our time of need, don't we? Yes, we do. And we only come
to that throne of grace in and through Christ Jesus our Lord.
And Christ's church, even in the Old Testament, acknowledged
that her redemption was of Him. Christ declared His people were
redeemed by Him even before His incarnation. Look at this. Isaiah
43, verse 1 and Isaiah 44, verse 22. I'll read these two verses.
Listen to this. If you want to turn there, you can. Isaiah 43,
verse 1. But now, thus saith the Lord. This is what the Lord says. Thus
saith the Lord that created thee. O Jacob, And He that formed thee,
O Israel, fear not, for I have what? Redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name.
Thou art mine. Just let that sink in, beloved.
He's redeemed us. He's called us. Why? Because
He says, thou art mine. You're mine. Oh my. My, oh my, oh my. In Isaiah 44, 22, our Lord says
this, I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions. Our
sins are like a thick cloud below. So many in a lifetime. Thought,
word, deed, Numberless that we can't even
number them. And he says this, I blotted out as a thick cloud
thy transgressions. I blotted them out. And as a cloud thy sins, return
unto me, for I have redeemed thee. I purchased you. Oh my gosh. What a savior. What a savior is Jesus Christ
our Lord. And Job had the assurance of
being redeemed 2,000 years before the manifestation of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Turn, if you would, to Job 19,
verse 25. He was looking to Christ just
like we do. Oh, and he had the assurance of being redeemed.
And again, this is 2,000 years before the manifestation of our
great God. Job confesses, my Redeemer. Job 19, verses 25 to 27. For I know that my Redeemer liveth.
He lives. I know it. How does he know it? Well, he's born again. He's been
given faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows his
Redeemer liveth. And that he shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I
shall see for myself. God had saved him. He's saying,
I'll see Him for myself because I know my Redeemer lives. He
saved me. And mine eyes shall behold and not another, though
my reins be consumed within me. Wondrous verses. And our dear
brother Job was looked unto Christ by God-given faith, beloved. Next point is God's people, next
blessing that God's people have in and through the Lord Jesus
Christ, who is the Lamb Slaying from before the foundation of
the world is eternal salvation. Eternal salvation. Paul wrote
these words by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God in the
book of Hebrews. In Hebrews chapter 5, verses
8 to 10, Paul penned these words. Though he were a son, yet learned
he obedience, speaking of Christ, by the things which he suffered.
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation.
unto all them that obey Him, called of God and high priest
after the order of Melchizedek. God's salvation, beloved, is
just like Him, eternal. We have an undefiled, the faith is not away,
beloved. Oh my, where moth and rust cannot
get at it, beloved. It's in Christ, in Christ alone. And oh, what a Savior we have. Even before His incarnation,
believers in Him were confident that by and through Him all their
iniquity was forgiven, and all their sin was covered, and all
God's wrath had been taken away from them. Listen to Psalm 85,
verses 2 and 3. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people. This
is before His incarnation. Thou hast covered all their sins,
Selah. Thou hast taken away all Thy
wrath. Thou hast turned Thyself from
the fierceness of Thine anger. He's turned. His anger is turned
from us, beloved, because it fell upon the Great Substitute
in our place. Oh, what a Savior! And now, when
it says, Thou hast taken away all Thy wrath, Thou hast turned
Thyself from the fierceness of Thine anger, this has only occurred
with God's people in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, who died
before God as a ransom for His people. The last point I'd like
us to consider is that God's people, a last blessing, God's
people have in and through the Lord Jesus Christ who is the
lamb slain from before the foundation of the world eternal enrollment again Revelation 13 8 and all
that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not
written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation
of the world God's people by God's mercy and by God's grace
and according to the divine will and purpose of God have had their
names written in the Lamb's Book of Life from before the foundation
of the world. Let's go to Revelation chapter
5. Revelation chapter 5. We read this this morning. I'd
like us to read it again. Revelation chapter 5. Is it any
wonder then that the redeemed saints in glory cry out, worthy
is the Lamb? Revelation chapter 5. And I saw
on the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written
within and on the backside sealed with seven seals. And I saw a
strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to
open the book and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in
heaven nor on earth, neither under the earth, were able to
open the book, neither to look thereon. Now John starts to weep. And I wept much, because no man
was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to
look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto
me, Weep not. Behold. And here's another name
for our king. The lion of the tribe of Judah,
the root of David, hath prevailed. to loose. perhaps prevailed to
open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof and be and
I beheld and lo in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as it had
been slain having seven horns and seven eyes which are the
seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth and he came
and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon
the throne and when he had taken the book the four beasts and
four twenty elders fell down before the lamb having every
one of them harps and golden vials full of odiers, which are
the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof,
for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and hast
made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign on
the earth and I beheld and I heard the voice of many angels round
about the throne and the beasts and the elders and the number
of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands, that's
a number no man can number, saying with a loud voice worthy is the
lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and
strength and honor and glory and blessing in every creature
which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and
such as that are in the sea and all they that are in them heard
I say blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that
sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb forever and the four
beasts and The four beasts said, Amen, and the four and twenty
elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever. So marvel then, marvel at this,
you who are the born-again, blood-washed saints of God. Marvel at this,
in the beginning, when this great universe lay
in the mind of God, like unborn force in an acorn cup. Long before
the mountains were brought forth, long before the light flashed
through the sky, God loved His chosen people in Christ. Before there was creatureship,
before there was ever in space itself, had not an existence,
when there was nothing except God alone, even then in that
deep quiet in greatness, His love moved for His people in
Christ. Even then their names were written
on His heart, and they were dear to His soul. And take great comfort,
beloved, in the fact that all God's elect shall be saved. We do not know who they are,
but we can say with full assurance that not one of them shall ever
perish. And every sinner redeemed by
the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved by grace and crowned
with glory, having been kept by the power of God. The purpose
of God demands it, beloved. The law of God demands it, because
justice has been satisfied, and it cannot punish those for whom
it has been satisfied. So rejoice and give all glory
to the great I Am, beloved. who chose us in the blessed lamb,
while millions of the human race will never know or taste his
grace. Truly, God has had mercy upon
his people in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. And what do
we say? To God be the glory, great things
he hath done. Amen and amen. Heavenly Father,
we thank Thee for allowing us this time to look into Thy Word,
to see the wonderful benefits that God's people have in Christ,
the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. Lord,
I pray that as this week comes upon us, let us remember these
precious truths that we've looked at this morning and also that
we've looked at this evening. May they be balm to our souls,
Lord. May they help us to just rest
and trust in Thee, O Lord. And may you receive all the glory,
honor, and praise for the great things you have done. In Jesus'
name, amen.