Five truths. Five truths and
five effects of those truths. I'd like us to consider that
these are five truths that stand forever. And the effect that they have
on the believer, the one who didn't believe at one time, the one who shook their fist
at God. And then now the effect that these precious, precious
truths have upon we who are believers. Now each point will have its
own scripture. That's why I'm not reading just
a portion of scripture right now. Each truth will have its
own portion of scripture. Why do we have to be reminded
in the preaching of the gospel of these precious truths. Because in our frailty, we often
forget. We do. And so these are reminders for
us of the great things that God has done for us. These truths
are precious to God's people. They bring joy amidst sadness
and amidst trials. They give us strength as we journey through this world.
And we need strength, don't we? I'm needy, I need strength. I
want to be joyful. I need strength. We're constantly
reminded in our lives how weak we are. how absolute weak we
are. And we are constantly reminded
that in our weakness, He is strong. In these precious truths, continuously
draw the sinner, draw the believer, because the believer is sinner,
draw the believer to see our constant need for Christ. And our need is constant. Our need is constant before we're
saved and even after we're saved. We're needy, aren't we? We're
very needy. Turn, if you would, to Romans
chapter 5. Romans chapter 5. The first truth I'd like us to
look at is that this poor sinner and believers in Christ, all
believers, have complete and continual access unto the God
of all grace. And may this truth just burn
into your heart, beloved of God. The elect of God, sinners, this
poor sinner, and if you're a believer, you could say this poor sinner
too, have complete and continual access unto the God of all grace.
Complete and continual. Romans chapter 5, verses 1 to
5. Therefore, being justified by
faith, we have peace with God. Now we could stop right there. We have peace with God. How?
Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace with the holy, sovereign
God of the universe. Look at verse 2. By whom also
we have access by faith into this grace, wherein we stand. We only stand by the grace of
God in Christ and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. God's people stand in the grace
of Christ, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. This is Christ. And not only
so, but we glory in tribulations, also knowing that tribulation
worketh patience. and patience, experience and
experience hope and hope. Make it not a shame because the
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost,
which is given unto us. Now, note in verse two, beloved
of God, vote in verse two. By whom we also by whom also
we have access by faith into this grace, wherein we stand
and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. This access to
the God of all grace is not by the strength of our faith. It's not by the strength of our
faith or the clearness of our understanding. The access to the God of all
grace is not by the power of my will or by yours. or by the warmness of my affections
to my Savior, because the complaint of the
believer in Christ is of our weakness, our coldness, our lack
of strength, and our affections to God and our Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Do you not wish that our hearts
would burn even more for Him? We do, don't we? This access
here spoken of in Romans chapter 5 verse 2 for the believer is
by Christ and through Christ alone. Therefore being justified by
faith we have, I love that, we have peace with God. What do
we have as believers? We have peace with God. through
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have access by faith into
this grace, wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the
glory of God. Our access is through Christ,
who is now in glory, interceding for every single one of his people. Contemplate the boundless mercy
before us here in this verse. We who are, actually in verse
1, we who are the redeemed, the blood-bought saints have peace
with God. Peace with God. Peace through
the blood of the cross. We who were enemies to God by
wicked works have He now reconciled in the body of His flesh through
death to present us holy. Sinners presented holy. This
is a miracle of grace. Sinners presented holy and unblameable. We who are full of blame are
presented unblameable and unreprovable in His sight. Contemplate the
blessedness of the justified state of the believer in Christ. And now contemplate the effect
that this has on the believer. It brings us great comfort. To
know that we have complete and continual access to the God of
all glory in and through Christ Jesus, our Lord, no matter what
our circumstance, no matter what we're going through. To know that we have that. Oh,
it fills the believer. The effect it has on the believer
is it fills us with joy. It fills us with joy. And what comfort this can bring
to the believer. We have access to the throne
of grace. We have access to the sovereign
of the universe. We stand in this grace before
the God, our God, the sovereign God of all, in and through Christ
alone. What a blessed effect this has
on the believer to know this truth. and contemplate this precious
truth that for the believer, our access to the throne of grace
will never be denied. He'll never turn us away, beloved. Nothing's too small to bring
to our King. And He'll never turn us away. We'll
never be denied, beloved God. Never. And this is through Christ. And
this is God's will. And so it'll never change. It'll
never change. What does this do? What effect
does this have on the believer? It encourages us to pray, doesn't
it? It encourages us to come to our Savior. No matter what. To pray to our great God, who's
the God of all mercy. And the God of all grace. What a wonderful truth. The second truth I'd like us
to consider for the believer is this. It's
found in Psalm 73, that God is my portion forever. And every believer can say this.
God is my portion. Forever. I have complete and
continual access to the throne of grace, and God is my portion
forever. Not because of anything I've
done. God is the believer's portion
forever. And here is the Christian's heavenly
and earthly portion and treasure. He has his God. God. The God
of the universe. Here and hereafter. And this
is what one commentator said, this is better than all that
can fall to the lot of the worldly. Think of the richest person in
the world. Again, we're far richer. I know
I keep saying that, but it's true. We're far richer than the
richest person in the world in Christ. Look at Psalm 73. Look at this. This is wonderful.
Verses 25 and 26. Whom have I in heaven but thee?
I ask you, beloved of God, is there anyone you have in heaven
but him? No. Whom have I in heaven but thee?
Oh, our great God. And there is none upon the earth
that I desire beside thee. Brother Tim, hit on that. He's
the one we love and adore. There was a time when we didn't.
Now He's everything to us. He's everything to us. And there
is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my
heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion
for how long? Forever, beloved. Forever. How many have possessed a great
portion of this world only to lose it? Only to lose it. How many have gained much in
this world, but have lost everything, perishing in their sins? Is there anything that a man
can give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16, 26 says this,
here's the answer. For what is a man profit if he
shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? What shall a man give in exchange
for his soul? Nothing. Think of this. The Jews had the
land of Canaan and they lost it. Judas had an apostle ship
and lost it. Countless numbers have had great
portions in this world and yet perished in their sins, entering
into a Christless eternity. But here, those who, like David,
have God as their portion, they have everything. And you know,
they can't lose this portion. They can't lose it. The believer in Christ has God
as their portion. Turn, if you would, to Psalm
16. We can sing. If God is our portion, then we
can sing out with the psalmist here. We can sing out with the
psalmist in Psalm 16, verses 5 and 6. Oh, the Lord is the portion of mine
inheritance, and of my cup thou maintainest my lots. The lines
are fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea, I have a goodly
heritage. Psalm 16, verses 5 and 6. The
Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Thou maintainest
my lot. Who maintains us? Who keeps us? The Lord. The Lord. He keeps us. The lions are falling
unto me in pleasant places. Yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Think of this. To have an eternal inheritance
reserved for us in heaven is a wonderful truth. A wonderful
truth. To have God as our portion, to
have Christ as our exceeding reward, and to know that this
is not dependent upon us, upon anything we do. But it's all
based on what Christ has done. This will leave us speechless. It leaves us speechless. It's
truly grace beyond words. Think of that, you who believe. to have God as your portion.
Is there anything greater in this world than that? Nothing
even compares. Nothing even compares. One grace
preacher said, who would want to muckrake in the things of
this world when God is our portion? So what's the effect this has
on the believer? When this truth is revealed to us, it fills us
with awe and wonder. I know it does me. It fills me
with awe and wonder. It amazes me that God chose me
in eternity. Me. Does it not amaze you who
believe? We know who we are. We know what
we are. And to think that God chose me.
Yeah, He did. It's incredible. It fills you with with awe and
wonder. And for all that he chose, God
is their portion. God is their portion. It amazes us that God chose us
in eternity. And it amazes us that God saves
us by his shedding of his precious blood on Calvary's cross. And
we're still amazed when we find out that He's our portion. And
again, it fills us with joy and thankfulness. Does it not? Joy
and thankfulness. God is the portion of His people.
Now think upon this. God is the portion of His people
both in life and in death. In life and in death. And to
all eternity. When scripture says forever,
it means forever. It's wonderful. What a precious
truth. What a precious truth. Leaves
us in wonder and awe. And it's all in Christ. Nowhere
else. All in Him. The next truth I'd
like us to consider, turn if you would to Philippians chapter
4. Philippians chapter 4. Is that God supplies all my need.
Now I'm needy. I'm a needy sinner. I need Christ
desperately. I need Him more now than I've
ever needed Him before. And if you look at Paul's progression
as he grew in the grace and knowledge of Christ, at the very end of
his life in ministry, he said, I'm the chief of sinners. I remember,
I think I've told you all, I called Donny Bell one time and I said,
Donny, man, I'm more of a sinner now than I've ever been. He says,
well, you're growing in grace, brother. Because as we grow in grace,
the Lord reveals to us more and more our sinfulness. And more
and more our need for Him. And more and more how undeserving
we are of this marvelous grace in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now
Paul knew what this meant, that God supplied all his need. He
knew it both physically and spiritually. So in Philippians chapter 4 verses
10 to 19, we see it proclaimed here. And in verse 9 of chapter
3, Paul proclaimed that he wanted to be found in Christ, not having
his own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ, because
he knew that all that a sinner needed was found in Christ. So with this in mind, let us
look and consider verses 10 to 19 in Philippians chapter 4.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care
of me hath flourished again, wherein ye were also careful,
but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of
want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content."
How could Paul be content in all circumstances? And we've
read some of the circumstances through the years, the study
in the scriptures of what Paul's went through. And he writes here,
I've learned to be content. Why? Because he knows that God
supplies all his need in and through Christ. He knows that.
He knows that God is the sovereign God of the universe. He knows
it. He's been taught of God. He didn't
know it in his natural state, right? He was out persecuting
Christians and hauling them away. But now, by God's grace, he's
been regenerated, born again by the Holy Spirit of God. He's
a new creature in Christ. And he writes here, I've learned
in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased
and I know how to abound. So he knows what it's like to
be in poverty and he knows what it's like to be in riches. Everywhere
and all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry,
both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through
Christ which strengthen me. Notwithstanding ye have well
done that ye did communicate with my affliction, Now, you
Philippians, know also that in the beginning of the gospel,
when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me
as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica
ye sent once and again to my necessity, not because I desire
a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all and abound. I
am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from
you in odor of a sweet smell and sacrifice. Sweet smell, a
sacrifice accepted, well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply
all your need according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus. How could Paul pen that? Because
he knew. He knew. He knew that God supplies all
his need, physically and spiritually. All his need in Christ Jesus.
Look, it says here, but my God shall supply all your need according
to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus. in and through Christ
alone. In times of sorrow, and sickness,
and sadness, in times of health, or wealth, or prosperity, or
whatever, times of poverty, God supplies all our needs. All our
needs. And the believer can look back
and see in their life, He's done that. He's done that. time after
time after time after time now under God and our father
be glory forever and ever amen now think on this beloved we
who are the elect of God we who are the redeemed of the Lord
instead of standing before God in our nakedness we're clothed
in the righteousness of Christ Instead of being filthy in the
eyes of the Lord and our own self-righteousness, we are made
clean, washed clean by the precious blood and righteousness of Christ. Isaiah says this, come now, let
us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be scarlet,
double-dye red. Some folks say, well, you don't
know how much of a sinner I am. Well, no, I don't know how much
of a sinner you are, but I know how much of a sinner I am, and
God saved me. And like John Newton said, who wrote Amazing Grace,
if God saved me, he can save anyone. Come. Come. Come now. Let us reason together, saith
the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet,
double-dye red, horrendous. Oh my, there's me. They shall
be white as snow. Isaiah 1, 18. They shall be white
as snow. Though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as white. You ever see after that snowfall
that perfect, beautiful snow? We see it a lot here, don't we?
Perfect, beautiful, undisturbed, just beautiful, pure white. It's beautiful. It takes your
breath away to see that. pure, though your sins will be
red like scarlet. You'll be white as snow. How? Because God supplies all my need
through Christ Jesus my Lord. Him dying as a substitute upon
Calvary's cross for me. And now I'm clothed in his perfect
spotless righteousness. Oh my. We are saved in Christ
Jesus our Lord, we who are redeemed, instead of lost in our own sins. And if God hadn't saved us, we'd
be lost in our sins. We are justified in Christ before
God, instead of being guilty before God. And we'd have been
guilty before God, left in our own sins. We are fed by the Word
of God. We come and we feast on the Word
of God, right? Instead of being like the prodigal
and feasting on the starving, starving on the husks of our
own sins. Who made us to differ? God. Who supplied all our needs? It's
wonderful. It's a precious truth. We believe
and hope on the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of this. Some folks have
come and professed and then out the door they go. You never see
them again. Why does the believer, the true
believer keep on keeping on? Because God keeps us. He supplies
all our needs. Christ supplies all our needs.
According to His riches. In Christ Jesus our Lord. We
live and move and have our being all because God carefully watches
over us. Now, let that sink in for we
who are individual believers. God watches over. And I move and have my being
all because God carefully watches over me and supplies all my needs
and every believer can say, that's me. That's me. all according to His riches in
Christ Jesus our Lord. Turn, if you would, to Proverbs
chapter 3. Proverbs chapter 3. God supplies all our needs. And
what is the effect on the believer when they have this truth revealed
to them? That all they need is found in Christ? Or it encourages
us to trust Christ, doesn't it? It encourages us to rest in Christ. It encourages us not to lean
upon our own understanding, because we're prone to do that. We're prone to do that. Even
after we're saved, we're prone to do that. I know I am. Oh, my. So knowing that God supplies
all our needs, the effect on the believer is that it encourages
us to trust Christ for all, no matter what the circumstances,
no matter what the trouble we're going through, to trust Christ
and Him alone, to not lean on our own understanding. Look at
Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine
heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. Don't lean
on your own understanding. Trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord, you who are
lost in your sins. I pray that God would reveal
himself to you, and that you would trust in the Lord with
all thine heart. This is what the believer does. We trust in
the Lord with all our heart. We try not to lean on our own
understanding. We struggle with that, don't we? In all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. And he directs
his people. The steps of a good man are ordered
by the Lord. He directs His people. Think
of this, you who are redeemed. He directed you to a place where
you heard the gospel. That's not by chance. He directed
you to be sitting in that pew when that preacher preached the
gospel. And the Holy Spirit regenerated you. It's marvelous. It's absolutely marvelous. It's
all His doing. And if you're here today, it's
not by chance. Saved or lost. It's not by chance.
It's a divine appointment. He's directed you here. It's
wonderful. It's absolutely amazing. But for the believer in all thy
ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. The fourth truth I'd like us
to consider for the believer is this. Turn, if you would,
to Colossians chapter 3. Colossians chapter 3. Verse. Verses 5 to 15. For truth, I'd like us to consider
is Christ is my all. Christ is my all. Is he your
all? Is he everything to you? Colossians chapter 3 verses 5
to 15 mortified therefore your members which are upon the earth
fornication uncleanness and inordinate affection evil conspicuousness
and covetousness which is idolatry for which things sake the wrath
of God cometh on children of disobedience now we look at that
and go oh yeah look at all that but look what the next verse
says in which he also walks sometimes that was us that was us when he lived in them But now,
well, the believer is born again by the Holy Spirit of God. But
now, you also put off all these anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy,
filthy communication out of your mouth, lie not one to another,
seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds and
have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after
the image of him that created him. Look at this in verse 11,
where there's neither Greek nor Jew, Circumcision nor uncircumcision.
Barbarian. And we know the barbarians were
pretty bad, but then the Scythians are mentioned. Well, the Scythians
were supposed to be the barbarians and the barbarians. They were
the worst of the worst. Well, they're mentioned here.
Lord, save some Scythians. This is wonderful. Bond or free. Whether you're
a slave or free. But look at this. But Christ
is all and in all. Put on, therefore, as the elect
of God, holy and beloved, vows of mercy, kindness, humbleness
of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another and forgiving
one another. Why do we do that? If any man
have quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also
do ye. And above all these things, put
on charity, which is love, which is the bond of perfectness. And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also
ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful. Now we all look
to self in our natural state, but God commands us to look to
Christ, to look to Christ. And we're even guilty as believers
to look into ourselves. to looking at something we do
to command us for God. I gotta keep beating myself down,
because when I was in religion, they used to tell me, well, if
you don't read your Bible this much, if you don't do this this
much, if you don't do that this much, well, you might not even
be saved. Do you know my salvation is not
dependent upon how much I read the Bible, but do you know that
I get to read the Bible? It's a privilege. Do you know
my salvation is not dependent upon how much I pray, but I get
to pray? My salvation is dependent upon
Christ and Christ alone. So we have to beat down all the
time that our standing before God is not based upon us. That now we, even guilty as believers,
of looking to ourselves are commanded by God to look to Christ and
to be reminded. And this is what the preaching
of the gospel does. It continuously reminds us. Because
remember, again, I said we're forgetful. We are. But the preaching
of the gospel continually reminds us that we are, we are, we are
accepted in Christ, in Christ alone, by God. And this is precious. Now, outside of Christ, we're
not accepted by God. But in Christ, I'm accepted by
God. By God himself, the sovereign
God of the universe. This is wonderful news for sinners,
and it makes the believer's heart leap for joy. Leap for joy. The effect it has, our heart
leaps. We're accepted in Christ alone.
In Christ alone, all that God requires and needs to satisfy
His justice and law is found in one place. A sinner's substitute. Christ
Jesus our Lord. And in Christ, now let this sink
in, beloved. This is wonderful. In Christ,
the believer is completely accepted by God. Completely. completely accepted by God. There's
not anything else, or anything else required for
our justification, or our sanctification, or our salvation, than what Christ
did for us. And this is why Paul says, Christ
is my all. He's my all in all. And he knew this personally.
And a believer says, I know this personally, too. In regeneration, think of this.
In regeneration, Christ is all. In righteousness, Christ is all. In sanctification, being made
holy, Christ is all. In acceptance with God, Christ
is all. In redemption, Christ is all. Therefore, the believer concludes
with Paul that Christ is my all in all. I'm a poor sinner and nothing
at all. But Jesus Christ is my all in all. Are you trusting Christ today? If you are, then you're safe
in him, safe in him alone. But if you're not, I pray that
God would save your soul. I grant you faith to believe
and trust Christ today. Today is the accepted time. What effect does this have on
the believer? Turn, if you would, to Philippians chapter 3. This
brings comfort to the believer's heart and soul. This puts my
poor heart upon making sure that Christ
is mine. that I am His, oh, to know Him and the power of His
resurrection. Philippians chapter 3, verses
7 to 12. But what things were gained to
me, those I counted lost for Christ. Some speculate Paul was
quite a wealthy man before the Lord saved him. He had prestige. Some even say that he might have
been in line to be the next high priest. But what things were gained to
me, those I counted lost for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I
count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things. And do count them but done that I may win Christ,
and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which
is of the law, but that which is through the
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that
I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death, if
by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead,
not as though I had already attained either, were already perfect,
but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also
I am apprehended of Christ, and to be found in him. Oh, to be
found in him, beloved. Not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith. The believer
marvels in this, marvels in this. Brings us great joy. The fifth
and last truth I'd like us to consider is this, that God's eternal purpose in the salvation of His elect
is eternal and unchanging. It's eternal and unchanging. Turn, if you would, to Romans
chapter 8. I remember talking to a dear brother one time, and
we were talking about God's salvation. About how we can't mess it up.
We can't mess it up. That's pretty amazing. Look at
Romans chapter 8. We'll read verses 18 to 30. where
I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
in us. So the sufferings of this present
time, what we go through in this world, and we all suffer, don't
we? We all go through things, whether it be times of anxiety,
or times of depression, or times of struggle, or times of trial,
or times of sickness. We all go through things. There's
not one of us that hasn't went through these things. It says
for the Lord's people, for I reckon that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us for the earnest expectation of the creature for
the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has
subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall
be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation
groaneth and travails in pain together until now. And not only
they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption
to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope,
but hope that is seen is not hope. If you can see something,
you're not hoping for it. Right? You see it. But it says here, We are saved
by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth,
why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope, for that we see
not, then we do with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought. But the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And
he that searches the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the
will of God. 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. Now here we see that the salvation
of his people is eternal and unchanging. For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son. He might be the firstborn among
many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate,
them He also called. Whom He called, them He also
justified. And whom He justified, them He
also glorified. Note, it's all in the past tense.
It's pretty incredible. Because God dwells in eternity.
He sees the end from the beginning, beloved. For whom He did foreknow, He
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of the Son. When
did He choose us in Christ? In eternity. In eternity. He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn
among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate,
them He also called. When were we called? When we
heard the Gospel. when the Holy Spirit regenerated
us, and the invincible, invincible, invincible work of the Spirit
occurred. It's amazing. We're born again
by the Holy Spirit of God. And who do we flee to? Christ.
Then he also justified, and whom he justified, then he also glorified.
One day we'll be in his presence. all the trials of life, whatever
they are, whatever they are, not even the
wretched doubts we have or the sinful fears we have will so
much as hinder the final and eternal destiny of the objects
of God's love. No matter what we go through,
no matter what our doubts are, no matter what our sinful fears
are, they will not hinder the final and eternal destiny of
the objects of God's divine love. Those who are the objects of
His divine love now will forever be the objects of His divine
love. Forever. And think of this, they've been
the objects of His divine love from eternity. And does God change? He's the same yesterday, today,
and forever. So amidst all our doubts, amidst
all our fears, God never changes. He never changes. Never. And his love towards us never
changes. May we let this precious truth
sink deep into our souls, beloved God. God's purpose is history. And history can never be rescinded.
And this strips the believer of human merit. And the effect
it has on the believer in Christ is it fills us with praise to
our God who is sovereign. That He chose me. That He saved
me. That He redeemed me. Turn, if
you would, to Ephesians chapter 1 and we're closed with this. Ephesians chapter 1. Brother
Tim read a little portion of this. We're going to read a little
bit further down too, including what little portion he read there
too. Ephesians chapter 1. Look at
this marvelous truth. We're close with this and may
this just sink into our soul. Remember this, the eternal purpose
in the salvation, God's eternal purpose in the salvation of His
elect is eternal and unchanging. It's eternal and unchanging.
Now let us read that with this in mind. Blessed be the God and
Father, verse 3 of Ephesians chapter 1. Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, where? In Christ. In
Christ, beloved. According as He hath chosen us
in Him. Who have we been chosen in? Christ. When? Before the
foundation of the world. Before the foundation that we
should be holy. and without blame, before Him,
before God, in love, having predestined us into the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to Himself. Look at this. There's only one
sovereign will in the universe, and it's God. The only one who
has free will is God. Our wills are bound to our nature. Our wills are bound to our nature.
But look at this. Having predestinated us into
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to
the good pleasure of His will. Now let that sink in for a moment.
If you're saved, if you're redeemed, it's according to the good pleasure
of His will. That's the only reason. It's
not because God looked down through time and saw who would choose
Him. I remember one old timer I was reading, he said, when
God looked down in time, all he saw was us all dead in trespasses
and sins. And he chose to have mercy. According
to this verse, according to the good pleasure of his will. He said, you're mine. You're
mine. You're mine. based upon absolutely nothing
in us. Now think of the sea of humanity
who have lived upon this earth. And he chose me. If you're a
believer, he chose you. And it's all according to the
good pleasure of his will. Of the glory of his grace that
this is the effect it has on us well to the praise of the
glory of his grace We're in he hath made us. We don't make ourselves
accepted right we can't No, but look at this marvelous truth.
We're in he hath made us accepted in the beloved. We're accepted
in Christ Whom we have redemption all here's the price through
his blood and Here's the result the forgiveness of sins, and
it's all according to the riches of his grace wherein he hath abounded toward
us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the
mystery of his will. Remember in Colossians, when
we were studying Colossians, it says that this mystery's been
ahead from ages and generations, but now revealed unto us the
mystery of his will. according to the, again, according
to His good pleasure, which He hath purposed, did He ask anyone?
Did He take counsel with anyone? No, no, which He hath purposed
in Himself. And in the dispensation of the
fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even
in Him. in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose, here it is again, according
to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel
of His own will. He does what He pleases. And
if He saved you, it pleased Him to do that. This is overwhelming. Wonder and awe it leaves us in.
Overwhelming grace, isn't it? that we should be to the praise
of His glory, who first trusted in Christ, in whom ye also trusted,
after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel, you heard
the gospel of what? Your salvation. Your salvation. In whom also, after that ye believed,
you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Sealed by the Holy Spirit of
promise. which is the earnest of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession under the praise of
His glory. Now what's the effect that these
precious, precious truths have on the believer? Oh, it just,
we could just sit for hours and be in wonder and awe that He
had mercy on me, that His grace was bestowed upon me, that Christ
Himself died for me. And we're going to take the Lord's
Supper and let us reflect upon these precious truths, that if
we're saved, And we partake in the Lord's Supper as a believer
in Christ. The only reason we're saved, the only reason is according
to the riches of his grace and according to his will. He'll
leave you in awe, Father. He'll leave you in awe. Gracious
Heavenly Father, we thank thee for these precious truths which
we looked at today. Thank you, Lord Jesus, we who
believe, we who are redeemed by thy precious blood. or leaves
us in awe and wonder that you even, that we were even chosen
in you before eternity and that you left heaven to redeem us
by thy precious blood. But this is a precious truth
which we read in scripture. And knowing that our salvation
is in no way dependent upon us, again leaves us in awe. knowing
that we are saved by your grace and your grace alone. Undeserved
grace, undeserved favor bestowed upon us. Oh Lord, we long for
that day when we will worship you in glory and we will see
you face to face and our hope will be sight. In your name we
pray, amen.